Santa Barbara City College Financial Aid Programs

Santa Barbara City College offers several types of financial aid which are funded through federal, state and local agencies and the college, itself. The major categories include:

Grants. These awards are based on financial need and do not require repayment.

Loans. Such awards must be repaid after the student leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment. Most have a relatively low rate of interest.

Employment. This type of award is based on financial need and provides the student with an opportunity to earn money for school through employment with participating Federal Work Study employers.

Scholarships. These awards are based on scholastic achievement and/or financial need and/or student activity involvement. They do not require repayment.

Special Programs. Some students qualify for benefits through the Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, California State Department of Rehabilitation and Bureau of Indian Affairs, among others. Eligibility requirements vary

Where Do You Go To Apply?
Financial aid information and application forms may be obtained from Santa Barbara City College’s Financial Aid Office, Room 210, Student Services Building. Call (805) 730-5157. You may apply for federal financial aid on the Internet at . . . http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

When Do You Apply?
Students should apply beginning January for the following Fall Semester. Priority for aid will be given to students who apply early. A complete application and all corresponding documentation must be in the Financial Aid Office by the date specified in the letter sent by this office. If you apply late, your application will be treated on a "first-come, first-served" basis until funds are exhausted.

There are various Financial Aid deadlines throughout the year. Check with the Financial Aid Advisor for a complete listing of deadlines.

Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGG)
California community college students are charged an enrollment fee. However, there are fee waivers available for qualified California resident students through the Board of Governors Fee Waiver Program.

You may be eligible for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGG) to pay the fee if (1) you or your family are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or State Supplemental Program (SSP); (2) you are qualified for and are receiving other financial aid; or (3) your family’s income meets the established guidelines.

Applications and BOGG-related information are available in the Financial Aid Office, Room SS-210.

Pell Grants
A Pell Grant is federal aid designed to provide financial assistance for those who need it to attend post-high school educational institutions. Basic grants are intended to be the "floor" of a financial aid package, and may be combined with other forms of aid in order to meet the full cost of education.

The actual amount of your grant is determined by eligibility index number, the total cost of attending college and your enrollment status.

After your application is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which constitutes official notification of your expected family contribution (EFC). The lower the EFC, the higher your award will be.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
The SEOG is a federal grant designed for students with financial need who receive the Pell Grant. Funds are limited.

Extended Opportunity Program & Services (EOPS)
EOPS is intended to provide special support services to students with extreme financial need and a history of being economically and educationally disadvantaged. To be eligible for EOPS, a student must . . .
. . . be a California resident;
. . . be enrolled as a full-time student (12 units or more per term);
. . . have fewer than 70 units of degree-applicable college credits;
. . . qualify to receive a Board of Governors Fee Waiver under either Method A or B; and
. . . be educationally disadvantaged.

Student Loans
These loans are available to students who are enrolled at least half-time.
The Federal Government will pay interest on subsidized loans during the in-school period and during the grace period following the student’s termination or graduation. The grace period is for six months. The students is responsible to pay the interest on unsubsidized loans during the in-school and grace periods. Students are eligible if they meet the Department of Education’s criteria, as listed with the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Work Study (FWS)
FWS is a program financed by both the Federal Government and Santa Barbara City College (or some other local nonprofit agency) and is designed to provide part-time employment for students in financial need to continue their educational training.

Whenever possible, students are assigned to work situations which further their educational growth and which also are of value to the college or off-campus agency. Students must be enrolled and be eligible for financial aid.

As with other financial aid, the Work Study award is determined by the Financial Aid Office at a limit that cannot be exceeded. Thus, if you have a $2,700 FWS award, regardless of the number of hours worked, once you earn the $2,700, you cannot continue to be employed under FWS. Funds are limited.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available from various individuals and organizations. The amounts and qualifications for these scholarships vary.

Students interested in scholarships should check periodically with the Financial Aid Office, as new scholarships are constantly being made available to students—thanks to many community supporters of the college.

Summer Financial Aid Awards
Students are encouraged to check with the Financial Aid Office during April as to the availability of funds for summer financial aid.

Packaging
The practice of offering two or more types of aid to a student is known as packaging. A typical package would include aid from at least two of the following sources: grants, employment, loans.

The package or award offer is designed to meet all or part of a student’s established need for financial assistance. The uniform application of packaging policies ensures that each eligible applicant will receive the most advantageous combination of financial aid monies available at the time eligibility is determined.

Packaging policies take into consideration not only the unique needs of each aid applicant, but also emphasize the order in which different funding sources are included in each financial aid package. The initial source of funding considered for all applicants is grant aid. If needed, the second source of funding considered is employment aid. The last source of funding considered in the packaging process is loan aid.

Disbursement
In order to receive a disbursement, a student must have a completed application/file and be enrolled in the required number of units.

Most aid is distributed on a two-payment per semester basis. Normally, the first payment may be expected during the first week of each semester, and the second payment after the mid-point of each semester.

Student loans are disbursed in accordance with procedures set forth by federal regulations.

Federal Work-Study recipients will be paid twice monthly.

Student Consumer Information
Students are advised that the financial aid information included here is limited. Additional information on all financial aid categories is available in brochure form, upon request, at Santa Barbara City College’s Financial Aid Office, Room SS-210.

Financial Aid Appeals
The EOPS/Financial Aid Advisory Committee is available to those students who feel the need to appeal ANY decision, policy, or procedure regarding the distribution of financial aid at Santa Barbara City College. Any committee decision will be final and binding on the Financial Aid Office and the student who registers an appeal—as long as it does not violate any district, state, or federal policy/regulation.

Names of Financial Aid Advisory Committee members will be furnished on request. Direct your request to the Financial Aid Office, Room SS-210.

Satisfactory Progress Standards
Federal regulations mandate that all institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of "satisfactory academic progress" for students receiving financial assistance.

All students who apply for and receive financial assistance are expected to meet the academic standards described in Santa Barbara City College’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Copies of the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, along with related informational materials, are available in the Financial Aid Office, Room SS-210.

Student Budgeting
When Santa Barbara City College uses the term "student budgeting," it refers to the amount of money necessary to complete an academic year with a modest, but adequate, standard of living. A budget does not take into consideration all of the situations in which students find themselves, and it presumes reasonable consumer choices on the student’s part.

Examples of Student Budgets can be found in the current SBCC Catalog and in the SBCC Financial Aid Office, Room SS-210.

**All Fees are subject to change**

Important Note: The amount of funds allocated to Santa Barbara City College, compared to the large number of needy students who qualify for financial aid, rarely allows the college to meet the total needs of an aid recipient.

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