The Financial Aid & Scholarships office at Sinclair Community College will make every effort to help students meet their educational expenses.
· Assistance given to students to help meet the difference between the student’s costs and the amount they are able to pay. Financial aid can be one of four types:
* Grants (Federal and State)
* Federal Loans (Subsidized/Unsubsidized/PLUS)
* Federal Work Study (Money earned while working on campus)
* Scholarships (Foundation, Institutional, External, State)
How do I apply for financial aid?
· Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. List Sinclair as the school to receive your information (School Code: 003119).
What is a FAFSA?
§ This is the application the federal government, the state agency and the school uses to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
What if I need help completing the FAFSA?
· The financial aid staff provides workshops to help students complete the application online. The workshop dates and locations are available in the financial aid office and at www.sinclair.edu/stservices/fas/calendar/index.cfm.
What is the next step?
· The results from the FAFSA will be received electronically. Students will be sent an e-mail to their Sinclair e-mail address if additional documentation is needed to complete the file.
How will I know when my file is complete and I have been awarded?
· Students will be sent an e-mail to their Sinclair e-mail address when their file is complete and their financial aid awards are available to review on Web Advisor at my.sinclair.edu. They will need to accept the awards before the funds will be available to pay their tuition.
How will my tuition be paid?
§ Once you are registered for the quarter, scholarships and/or state grants will be applied toward tuition. Ten (10) days before the quarter begins, your accepted federal financial aid will be applied toward any remaining tuition and fees. If students have accepted the awards but the balance has not been paid, they need to contact the Financial Aid office.
Can I use my financial aid to buy books?
· After tuition and fees are paid, students may use remaining federal financial aid or scholarships up to a maximum of $500 per quarter to purchase books in the Sinclair Bookstore. Students must show their Tartan Card for identification. Book charge dates can be found at www.sinclair.edu/stservices/fas/calendar/index.cfm.
Can I put financial aid funds on my Tartan Card?
· Students who have remaining federal financial aid available after the tuition and fees are paid and their book charges are complete, may put up to $100 per quarter on their Tartan Card in the Sinclair Bookstore.
Can I use financial aid for all four quarters?
§ It is possible to use financial aid for all four quarters. State grants and federal loans can be used for all four quarters. The Federal Pell Grant will be awarded over three quarters with a possible option for the fourth quarter if funds remain. The number of quarters in which scholarships are awarded will vary based on the criteria of each scholarship.
Do I have to be enrolled full time to receive financial aid?
§ Students are not required to attend full time, but most financial aid is prorated for students enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours per quarter. Some financial aid requires the students to be enrolled at least 6 credit hours--such as loans, some scholarships, work study, etc. Contact a financial aid representative for more information.
How often do I apply for financial aid?
· Apply once each academic year. The academic year at
What are the important dates for financial aid?
§ The guarantee date is the date that all required documents must be received by the Financial Aid office in order for the financial aid process to be complete by the payment due date. The following are the dates for each quarter:
Summer May 1
Fall August 1
Winter November 15
Spring February 15
What happens if I miss the guarantee date?
§ The financial aid will still be processed as quickly as possible. However, students may
have to pay tuition charges by the payment deadline date or enroll in the Payment
Plan at facts.sinclair.edu. Check the Facts Payment Plan web site for the enrollment
deadline dates. Once the financial aid process is complete, students may be reimbursed
up to the amount of the accepted awards, if any.
How do I apply for a student loan?
· When students complete the FAFSA, their eligibility for federal loans will be determined. Students do not need to complete a separate application (except for the PLUS loan). When they go into Web Advisor to review their Financial Aid Awards, they will be able to accept or reject the student loans offered. If students accept the loans, they will receive an e-mail outlining the steps needed to complete the loan process. This could include completing Promissory Notes. Students new to Sinclair and new to the loan program will be required to complete the Loan Entrance Counseling Session available online at www.dl.ed.gov.
Note: If students do not have an offered loan on web advisor, they may not be eligible for a loan. Contact a financial aid representative for more information.
What is a subsidized, unsubsidized and PLUS loan?
· Subsidized: The federal government pays interest while borrower is in school or under a deferment status.
· Unsubsidized: Borrower is responsible for interest during life of the loan.
· PLUS: Loan available to parents of dependent students.
§ The parent must complete the Parent Loan form to apply for the PLUS loan. These forms are available in the Financial Aid & Scholarships office or on the web site. The parent will also be required to complete promissory notes.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
§ Scholarship applications are available in the Financial Aid & Scholarships office and on the web site. Scholarships may also be included in your financial aid package.
What if one of my classes is cancelled?
· Since the class is no longer on the students’ schedule, financial aid may need to be adjusted. Depending on the time of the quarter, you may be able to add a class to avoid any changes with your financial aid. Students will be responsible for updating their schedule or paying any balance caused by a reduction in financial aid.
Will my financial aid be affected if I drop classes?
· There are several points to consider before dropping classes. These are reviewed on the “Dropping a Class” flyer at www.sinclair.edu/stservices/fas/pub/dropclass.pdf. Please contact a financial aid representative before dropping a class.
Are there academic requirements for maintaining my financial aid?
§ There are minimum requirements the federal government feels that students should be able to meet and still be progressing toward a degree or certificate. The Standards of Satisfactory Progress policy includes:
o Credit hour requirement: Successfully complete 75% or more of hours attempted since first quarter at Sinclair.
o Grade point average requirement: Maintain a 2.0 cumulative average.
o Maximum time frame requirement: Complete a certificate program within 77 credit hours and a degree program within 153 credit hours.
Note: Sinclair’s Fresh Start Policy has no bearing on the Financial Aid Standards of Satisfactory Progress requirements.
Can I work on campus?
§ Sinclair offers students part-time employment opportunities on campus. Students can look for job postings and apply for positions in Career Services, Room 10312, or at www.sinclair.edu/stservices/careers/index.cfm.
§ Positions are categorized as Regular or Work Study. Any student can apply for regular positions. Students must have a Federal Work Study award on Web Advisor to apply for Work Study Only positions. Students who do not have a Federal Work Study award may contact a financial aid representative to see if you qualify.
