Lottery Tuition Assistance To Pay Up To $900 per semester for the 2009-2010 year.

The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education finalized the 2009-2010 per-student dollar amount of lottery-funded tuition assistance.  For 2009-2010 year, eligible South Carolina residents can receive up to $900 (full-time) per semester toward tuition at any of the state’s 16 technical colleges provided the student meets all requirements.  Be sure to check the eligibility criteria below.

Lottery Tuition Assistance Program

The Lottery Tuition Assistance Program (LTAP) was created to supplement financial assistance to students who wish to attend two-year public or independent colleges in the state.  The award is not based on need.  There has been a FAFSA waiver option added to the requirements for applying for the LTAP program. This waiver is described below:

 FAFSA Waiver for Lottery-Funded Tuition Assistance

One important change in the lottery-funded tuition assistance application process that will benefit students has been made. Most students who want to receive lottery funding must complete a 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), however, students may not have to submit a FAFSA if:
1.) they are high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs;**(See additional information.)
2.) they have already earned a bachelor's degree and provide a transcript or copy of their diploma;
3.) they are not enrolled in a program that is eligible for Title IV aid: or
4.) they are dependent students who cannot obtain their parents' or guardians' tax forms.

If students fall into one of these categories, they may chose to submit a FAFSA Waiver form instead of completing the FAFSA. Support documentation must be submitted with the FAFSA waiver form. If they submit the FAFSA Waiver form only, they will not be eligible for any Title IV financial aid, including Pell grants and loans.

**TTC is using the application document(s) provided by the high school or home school organization in place of the FAFSA Waiver form for dual credit and home schooled student - no FAFSA or FAFSA Waiver for is required. Please contact the Office of High School Programs at 843.574.6312 for additional information.

If you wish to apply for Title IV financial aid, as well as LTAP, then students must meet the following :

• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and complete the process to determine eligibility for federal student aid each academic year;
• Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State residency statutes;
• Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes;
• Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement as a degree-seeking student in a minimum of six credit hours for the term and be making satisfactory academic progress*; Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan program; and
• Not be a recipient of the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.
• Not have completed an associate degree within the last five years.

*Satisfactory Academic Progress for renewal of the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program requires that students who have attempted 24 or more hours must have a  minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. SAP status is determined for LTAP at the end of each summer term. If at the end of the summer term, a student has attempted 24 or more hours and the student's cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, then eligibility to receive the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program is lost until the beginning of the next academic year.  For example, if at the end of Summer 2009 the cumulative GPA is 1.9 with 25 hours attempted, the student will not be considered for LTAP eligibility until Fall 2010.

Trident Technical College is required to apply all Federal and State grants before the Lottery Assistance.  LTAP will only cover tuition and fees not covered by grants up to the amount of the award.  Therefore, if your tuition and fees are covered by grants, you will not receive the LTAP award.  Student loans do not affect your eligibility.  Lottery Assistance cannot be used for books or supplies.

If your tuition and fees are partially covered by grants, the Lottery Assistance award will cover the remaining unpaid amount up to the award limit or your tuition costs, which ever is less.  If you do not receive any grants, you will receive the Lottery Tuition Assistance up to the maximum award amount if you are full-time (12 or more hours) or at a rate of $75 per credit hour if you are less than full-time.  You will be responsible for paying the remaining tuition amount as indicated on our fact sheet.

** If you are applying for Lottery Tuition Assistance after the semester has begun, your FAFSA date of submission must be prior to the end of the semester you are requesting the award for.  For example; you may not apply in January for Lottery Assistance from the Fall semester.  The submission date would have had to have been prior to the end of the Fall semester.

If you feel you have met all of the requirements for the Lottery Tuition Assistance Award (LTA), but did not receive it, please fill out the Lottery Assistance Appeal form and submit for review by the Financial Aid Staff.  You will be notified of the Financial Aid Office's decision by Campus Cruiser.  Check all items on the form that apply and offer information as appropriate.

For more information and frequently asked questions, you may visit the State Technical College System website.

LIFE Scholarship

The South Carolina LIFE Scholarship program, TTC scholarships, the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit help eliminate the No. 1 reason people do not go to college:

MONEY

If you qualify, these programs can open the door to earning a certificate, diploma or associate degree at Trident Technical College.

South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program

South Carolina National Guard members who are enrolled or planning to enroll in an eligible institution may qualify for the College Assistance Program (CAP).  To qualify, an applicant must:

1. Be in good standing with the active National Guard at the beginning of each academic year and remain a member in good standing with the active National guard throughout the entire academic year for which benefits are payable;

2. Have valid tuition and fee expenses from an eligible institution;

3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average that the institution requires to remain as a student; and

4. Satisfy any additional eligibility requirements as may be promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education.

Individuals joining the South Carolina National Guard become eligible for CAP grants on the day of enlistment.

South Carolina National Guard members receiving a full Reserve Officer's Training Cops (ROTC) scholarship are not eligible for the CAP grant.

South Carolina Need-based Grant.

The South Carolina Need-based Grant (SCAN) is designed to assist the State's neediest students. The public college at which the student is enrolled determines the exact amount, less any other gift aid received.  The Grant must be applied directly towards the cost of attendance at the college for a maximum of eight full-time equivalent terms.  Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree. Student who are in or have been in the Foster Care System can qualify to receive an additional funding from the SC Need Based Grant Program.  Students must self identify their Foster Care status(click here) with the Financial Aid Office.

In order to qualify for consideration for a South Carolina Need-based Grant, a student must meet ALL of the following minimum requirements:

• Be a needy student as defined by Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs for determining eligibility for federal student financial aid.  The student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form;
• Be a legal resident of South Carolina as defined in applicable State statutes governing the determination of residency for tuition and fee purposes; 
• Be enrolled at the time of the grant disbursement in a minimum of twelve credit hours if full-time or six credit hours if part-time for the term at an eligible public or private college or university;
• Certify that he or she has not been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offenses within the past academic year by submitting a signed affidavit to the financial aid office at the institution at which the student is enrolled; and
• Verify that he or she does not owe a refund or repayment on a State Grant, Pell Grant or a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and is not in default on a loan under the Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Stafford Loan Programs.

Printable Affidavit