Financial Aid

Qualification Requirments

1.	Enrollment Fees
2.	2009-2010 Processing Update
3.
4.	Change of Enrollment Status
5.	Return to Title Regulations
6.	SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy)
7.	Have You Got Your PIN Yet?
8.	Photocopy Policy
9.	Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)
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	​Enrollment Fees - Effective Fall 2009, enrollment fees are $26 per unit. California residents, who complete and submit a FAFSA and qualify for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGW), will continue to have their Community College Enrollment fees waived.  Please note that Health Fees will no longer be covered by the Board of Governors Grant Program. We urge all students to apply for federal and state financial aid funds each year, if they have not already done so.
	​2009-2010 Processing Update Students who miss the priority application deadline may still apply for the remaining funds available. Please note that if you provided your email address on the FAFSA, we will communicate to you via email; otherwise, we will use the address listed on your FAFSA.  Students who list Pierce College (Federal School Code 001226) on their FAFSA will receive a Document Tracking Letter which will list the documents needed to complete their file.  Document Tracking Letters will not be sent to students with rejected (invalid) Student aid Reports (SAR's).  Invalid SAR's result when key information and/or signatures are missing.  If you think that you have applied for 2009-2010 FAFSA and have not yet received a Document Tracking Letter via email or by mail, please come to the Financial Aid Office during our business hours. Eligibility for federal and state financial aid depends (among other factors) on making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).  Students are notified of their SAP via email, if an email address has been provided, or by mail of their SAP status after filing the FAFSA.  Students who are disqualified should contact the Financial Aid Office regarding the procedure for appeal. - The 2009-2010 FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA is now available at www.fafsa.ed.gov  Students who want to apply for financial aid for Summer 2009, Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 must submit their 2009-2010 FAFSA prior to the primary application deadline of March 2, 2009.  The priority funding deadline for the limited funding programs (such as Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant and Perkins Loan) is April 2, 2009.  The priority deadline to complete a 2009-2010 file at Pierce College is May 1, 2009.  Students who meet the priority deadline of May 1st will have their files reviewed prior to the beginning of the Fall 2009 semester.
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	​Change of Enrollment Status- Colleges must review payments of funds to students each enrollment period to determine if students have received an overpayment.  If you are paid at one level of enrollment and then drop units, you may be subject to repayment of some of the funds you received.  It is your responsibility to drop your classes through the Admissions Office if you do not attend.  Failure to drop classes may reuslt in a financial aid overpayment, which may require repayment of the financial aid you received.  No further award adjustments will be made after the second disbursement run date of the semester.  If it is determined that you owe a repayment, and you DO NOT repay the funds, a hold will be placed on your academic record, your debt will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education for collection, and you will not be eligible for further financial aid at any postsecondary institution until the debt is paid in full.
	​Return to Title IV Funds Policy- Students who receive federal financial aid and then withdraw from ALL classes may have to repay some of the federal funds they received.  All students receiving federal aid, who withdraw from the institution in the first 60% of the term, are subject to Return Regulations.  The Financial Aid Office will calculate the amount of federal funds earned by the student up to the point of withdrawal and students will be billed and must repay any federal funds received but not earned.  Failure to repay these funds will result in the denial of future federal financial aid at all colleges.  Nonpayment of the unearned amount will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education for collection.  It is advised that you contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from all of your classes so you understand the results of your actions.   For refund policy on enrollment fees and non-resident tuition, please see the College Catalog or Schedule of Classes.
	​ SAP (STANDARDS OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS) Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be eligible for federal and state aid at Pierce College. Your academic records will be evaluated after the Spring 08 semester in order to determine eligibility for 2008-2009. The SAP Policy can be summarized briefly as follows: At the end of the Spring semester all aid applicants must have: 1.      A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher 2.      Completed at least 67% of all (cumulative) units attempted 3.      Attempted less than 90 total units (or 150% of required units if enrolled in a certificate program), excluding remedial and ESL coursework. 4.      Not yet obtained an A.A. /A.S. or higher degree at any other upper division school or college. These standards apply to all coursework attempted in the Los Angeles Community College District and apply to all financial aid applicants, whether or not financial aid was received in prior terms.
	​Have You Got Your PIN Yet? - Students can apply for a U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow access to their information in several Student Financial Aid (SFA) on-line systems. The most valuable application of the PIN is to allow the student (and his/her parent, using their own separate PIN) to electronically sign the FAFSA, Renewal FAFSA, Corrections on the Web forms. Anyone interested in obtaining a: PIN should go to www.pin.ed.gov and choose "Apply for a PIN".
	​Photocopy Policy - The Financial Aid, Scholarships and Veterans Office can no longer make photocopies of your required documents. Applicants must bring or mail in complete, readable, signed copies of any documents (for example: tax returns) requested on Document Tracking or Pending Letters. Copy machines are available in the Library, the new Copy Center (located on the south side of the College Services Building), and at various local merchants.
	​Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) - Financial Aid recipients may sign up for Electronic Fund Transfer. EFT eliminates the need to produce checks for student financial aid grants, loans and work-study earnings. Instead, a computerized record is created that automatically transfers money into the student's bank account (savings or checking) on the date of disbursement. To sign up, please go the College Business Office located in the College Services Building. You will need to complete and submit an EFT Authorization Form, together with your voided personal check or bank account statement.