FINANCIAL AID

Students beginning the process of selecting a college find that the cost of an education is likely to be a major commitment. SCI-Arc offers assistance to students with these educational expenses through a variety of financial aid programs. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, loans, and part-time workstudy employment. SCI-Arc offers a combination of these types of aid from various sources in an award package. Financial aid is awarded based on financial need and/or academic merit. Continued financial aid eligibility is based on financial need and academic progress. Eligibility for financial aid is established through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). SCI-Arc’s Title IV Code is: 014073. An application for financial aid does not affect the student’s chances of admission.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students who wish to be considered for assistance are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and SCI-Arc Financial Aid forms by the established deadline. You can apply for the FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

New students must be accepted for admission to SCI-Arc before an offer of financial assistance can be made. California residents will meet the Cal Grant program deadline by filing their FAFSA on or before March 2. The Cal Grant program also requires that students who have not previously been recipients of a Cal Grant file a GPA Verification Form with the California Student Aid Commission no later than March 2. The GPA Verification Form is available through high school guidance offices, local college financial aid offices, or on-line at http://mygrantinfo.csac. ca.gov.

Financial aid is awarded on a yearly basis for the traditional academic year of fall and spring semesters. Students interested in summer funding should inquire during the preceding semester about availability of aid. Financial aid is not automatically

renewed each year. Students must reapply each year by completing a new FAFSA and providing the required verification documents.

Forms and Publications

Students may download most forms from my.sciarc.edu on the Financial Aid pages (no login is required). Faxed and/or emailed documents are accepted.

The FAFSA form will be available for completion on October 1, 2022. FAFSA will now use tax information from two years prior (2019) as opposed to the previous year. Students are required to complete the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Data Retrieval Tool on their FAFSA application. Students must provide the Financial Aid Office with a 2019 Tax Transcript from the IRS if the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is unsuccessful. Once all final documents are received, the reverification process may affect financial aid eligibility.

Who is Eligible?

In order to receive federal financial assistance through SCI-Arc, a student must meet the following criteria: · Be a US citizen or an eligible noncitizen · Have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau) · If a male between the ages of 18 and 25, they must be registered with Selective Service · Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program · Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds · Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school · Sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) stating that: — They are not in default on a federal student loan and does not owe money on a federal student grant — They will use federal student aid only for educational purposes

· Show they are qualified to obtain a college or career school education by:

— Having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate — Completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential, completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law), OR — Enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the “ability-to-benefit” alternatives described below

Registering for Selective Service

Most male students must be registered with Selective Service to receive federal student aid. The student is required to register if not currently on active duty in the US Armed Forces. If the student is a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, they are exempt from registering. Students can call Selective Service toll-free at 1-888655-1825 for general information about registering, or register online at www.sss. gov or via the FAFSA.

Ability-to-Benefit Alternatives

If a student was enrolled in college prior to July 1, 2012, or if they are currently enrolled in an eligible career pathway program*, they may show they are qualified to obtain a higher education by: