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A variety of financial assistance is available at Trident Technical College to help you with the cost of attending college.  TTC's Financial Aid department assists prospective and current students and their families by providing information about financial resources and the application process.

Financial aid priority dates for each semester are shown below:

Semester	Priority Date
Spring 2009	October 21, 2008
Summer 2009	April 3, 2009
Fall 2009	June 5, 2009
Spring 2010	November 6, 2009
Summer 2010	April 2, 2010

General Information

If you apply for financial aid after the priority date, be prepared to pay your tuition, fees and book costs. If you become eligible for financial aid awards after the payment deadline, the college will refund any financial aid that you are eligible to receive. Students can view fall financial aid awards in their TTC Express account.
Go on line to www.fafsa.ed.gov  and apply NOW!
View  "Your Guide to Financial Aid"
View  "Understanding Your Award Letter"

Award Periods

Trident Technical College makes financial aid awards based on a student's program of study. Most students will receive their entire annual financial aid award over the Fall and Spring semesters. This allows for a larger amount of aid for each semester, however, if you plan on attending the summer session, you may not have additional funds available and must plan accordingly. There are a small number of programs that require summer attendance and those students will have their awards split over Fall, Spring, and Summer. Click here to view these programs. It is important to review your award letter to see how your awards are allocated.

Application Process

Students wishing to apply for financial aid should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  This can be done on-line or by completing a FAFSA form and mailing it to the Federal Student Aid Program in the envelope provided with the application.  You may obtain an application at any TTC financial aid location, other colleges, or your high school guidance counselor. The student and the schools listed on the FAFSA will be notified by the U.S. Department of Education once processed.  Allow four - six weeks for processing if submitting by mail and two - three weeks if applying on-line.  *It is important to respond promptly to any requests for corrections or additional information!*

Information for Families Affected by Current Economic Uncertainties

The recent downturn in the U.S. economy has likely presented you with unanticipated questions and possibly with unexpected financial challenges.  If you have concerns about financial assistance for the balance of the current academic year or for 2009-10, you may be assured that the College’s Financial Aid/Veterans Assistance office is working diligently to avoid any interruption to the availability and flow of financial aid. We will continue to do our best to provide excellent information, assistance, and service.  Families whose financial situations have changed dramatically since filing their FAFSA earlier this year may now be eligible for resources for which they didn’t qualify based on earlier application information. Contact our office about these dramatic changes.

Communication with Students

Trident Technical College furnishes an e-mail account to all students via Campus Cruiser.  The majority of communications from financial aid will be sent to this account only.  You must review your e-mail and announcements regularly to ensure you have the latest information concerning your financial aid awards.  Your actual account may be viewed on TTC Express. 

Basic Eligibility

Eligibility for federal, and some state, awards requires the following:

• A high school diploma, equivalent, or meeting Ability to Benefit regulations.
• A valid financial aid application (FAFSA).
• Enrollment in an eligible program of study.
• No default status on previous student loans.
• Not in overpayment status on previous Pell or FSEOG awards.
• Meeting Standards of Academic Progress.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Possess a valid social security number.
• Comply with Selective Service registration, if required.
• Demonstrate financial need, except for some loans and Lottery Assistance.

Application of Funds

All financial aid funds are transferred to student accounts.  The funds are then applied to any outstanding balance the student may have, including bookstore charges.  The student is responsible to pay any remaining balance.  If there are excess funds, the student will be sent a check via U.S. mail on the published date for the semester.  This will always be after drop/add to ensure all tuition charges are reflected prior to disbursing checks.

Financial Aid and Withdrawing from Classes or School

If you have financial aid, and withdraw from ALL your classes OR stop attending ALL classes before the 60% completion period (Summer 2009 - July 20, 2009 / Fall 2009 - October 28, 2009 / Spring 2010 - March 16, 2010 / Summer 2010 - July 17, 2010), you may have to pay a portion of your financial aid funds back to the federal government. You may owe funds back to Trident Technical College (TTC).

The US Department of Education requires students to attend classes for at least 60% of the semester in order to qualify for their full amount of aid. If you withdraw from all classes prior to the 60% completion period you will have to pay back the "unearned" funds to the federal government:

• Summer 2009 - July 20, 2009
• Fall 2009 - October 28, 2009 
• Spring 2010 - March 16, 2010
• Summer 2010 - July 17, 2010

You will also have to repay "unearned" funds to TTC. You will be ineligible to receive any future financial aid at any college or university until you repay the debt. You will not be able to continue to attend TTC until you satisfy the debt owed to the College either by paying all of the funds or making arrangements to carry your balance forward into another term.

As you can see, it is very important for you to consider the financial implications of withdrawing from all of your classes or not attending all of your classes prior to July 20, 2009 for Summer 2009 or October 28, 2009 for Fall 2009 or March 16, 2010 for Spring 2010 or July 17, 2010 for Summer 2010, which is the 60% completion date.