November 21, 2008... Students attending Trident Technical College in January can receive up to $900 in lottery-funded tuition assistance, which will cover more than half the cost of tuition and fees at the college.

Lottery tuition assistance is available to most South Carolina residents, regardless of income. The maximum lottery tuition assistance award amounts for Spring Semester 2009 are $900 for eligible full-time students (12 or more semester hours) and $75 per credit hour for eligible part-time students (6-11 semester hours).

To be eligible for lottery funding, a student must qualify for in-state tuition rates, enroll in a certificate, diploma or associate degree program, and take at least six credit hours a semester. For complete eligibility requirements, visit www.sctechsystem.com/lottery/eligibility.htm or call TTC’s recorded lottery information line at 574-6000.

“Lottery tuition assistance has never been more needed or beneficial,” said TTC spokesman David Hansen. “Students can attend TTC full time for just $765 a semester with lottery tuition assistance. Some students use the money to get the training and education to land a first job. Others need to update their skills to remain marketable in the new economy. Many students spend two years with us before transferring to a four-year college and cut the cost of their bachelor’s degree by a third or more.”

To receive lottery-funded tuition assistance, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filled out online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The eligibility requirement relating to the submission of the FAFSA is waived for certain applicants, including high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs and applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Funds for the lottery tuition assistance program come from the S.C. Education Lottery, and a total of $47 million from lottery proceeds was designated by the General Assembly for use in the program this year. More than 175,000 students have received lottery tuition assistance awards since the program’s inception in 2002.

TTC’s admission application deadline for Spring Semester is Dec. 5. Spring Semester classes begin January 12. For more information about TTC, visit http://www.tridenttech.edu/ or call 574-6111.