Financial Aid and Fees

Tuition and Fees

Since the Catalog must be published well in advance of the beginning of each school year, it is not always possible to anticipate fee changes. If the tuition and fees printed here have to be revised, every effort will be made to publicize the changes as far in advance as possible. The most current tuition and fees are available at any Cashier’s Office or on the College website at www.fsw.edu.

The College accepts cash, check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or debit cards. Payment may be made in person at any campus Cashier’s Office or online through the College’s Web registration system. The College also offers a Tuition Installment Plan (TIP). TIP is available online at my.fsw.edu and may only be accessed after a student has registered for courses. The College reserves the right to drop a class, or classes, from a student’s registration if fees are not paid in full by the payment due date. All fees are payable by the date shown on the student’s fee receipt unless enrolled in TIP.

Students who receive financial aid should check with the Office of Student Financial Aid prior to withdrawing from any classes. Students who withdraw from classes and had received financial aid may have to repay all or part of their financial aid award.

Student financial responsibilities include library fines, book replacement costs, parking and traffic fines, returned checks, short-term loans, veteran deferments, employer or other third-party delinquent payments, and return of borrowed equipment. Official transcripts of the student’s record will not be made unless all college-related financial responsibilities have been satisfied.

Fee Payment Information

1. Checks should be made payable to Florida SouthWestern State College for the amount of fees. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards are also accepted at the Cashier’s Office or through the Web registration system at my.fsw.edu. Payment by check can also be made via the Web.
2. Veterans who are eligible to receive monthly educational benefits should be prepared to meet ALL expenses since the first checks are often delayed until after a semester is in session.
3. The College reserves the right to withhold students from classes, final examinations, and graduation unless tuition and fees are paid in full. No grades, degrees, statements of honorable dismissal, or transcript of credits will be issued until satisfactory settlement of college fees and other financial obligations has been met. This includes loans to students.
4. The cost of books and supplies varies with the program of each student.
5. The College reserves the right to change its fees at any time without notice.   

Application Fees

Tuition, Fees, and Multiple Attempt Charge

Fees for recreation and leisure programs, seminars, conferences and other self-supporting programs will be determined for each activity and will be listed in the individual activity announcement.

Insurance Fees (that are charged to students enrolled in health technology programs that require liability insurance)

Other Fees and Charges

Test Administration Fees

How to Apply for Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid provides financial assistance to eligible students to attend Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) using the programs administered by the College. To apply:

1. Students must submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year at https://studentaid.gov.
2. To apply for FSW scholarships, students must also complete the FSW Scholarship Application each year at https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/scholarships#one.
3. Students who qualify for financial aid will be provided a financial aid offer detailed in their FSW portal (my.fsw.edu).
4. Students will receive an email to their FSW Bucs email account with instructions to view and accept awards. Financial aid offers may contain grants, scholarships, work-study, and/or loans, depending on demonstrated financial need and other eligibility requirements.
5. Students are responsible for meeting all eligibility requirements and submitting required admissions and financial aid documents, including submission of proof of Florida residency for tuition purposes.
6. Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements will not be considered or remain eligible for FSW scholarships. More information about SAP requirements can be found at https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/sap or by reading the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy located in the catalog.

Financial aid information is available at https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid. Students may log in to their portal at my.fsw.edu and click on the Financial Aid & Student Services tab to view information on their financial aid status.

Types of Financial Aid

A variety of financial resources are available for those who need assistance paying for college. Financial assistance is commonly awarded to degree-seeking students enrolled in six or more credit hours in each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) based on financial need and academic achievement. In order to continue receiving aid, students must meet eligibility requirements specific to each award as well as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards required for federal student aid. FSW offers the following types of aid:

Institutional scholarships & grants.

Florida SouthWestern State College offers a variety of institutional scholarships that consider merit, financial need, academic level, special talents, and/or participation in specific programs. For information regarding available institutional scholarships and related requirements, visit https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/scholarships.

Through the generosity of donors and the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation, Inc., funds are available to support the academic vision and priorities of the College. Through positive community relations and the development of private funds and partnerships, the Foundation strives to advance the education and welfare of the institution, its students, its faculty and staff, and its community.

The Foundation’s donors commit to making a difference for FSW students and provide funding for a variety of scholarships each year. The criteria for each of these scholarships vary depending on the donor’s direction. Tuition and book scholarships are also awarded to hundreds of students each year from endowments established by community residents.

Scholarships and grants are “gift” aid available to eligible students. “Gift” aid does not need to be repaid later, and it helps students pay for their education. As with other types of aid, eligibility and renewal requirements often apply.                                          

Federal Pell Grants.  Awarded based on demonstrated financial aid as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), these federal grants are awarded to admitted, degree-seeking students who qualify. These funds do not need to be repaid unless the student ceases to meet eligibility requirements or ceases attendance in their classes. Amounts vary by need and by enrollment. Students may be eligible for a Pell grant if they qualify and are enrolled less than half-time. Eligible students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, though Florida residency is not required.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Awarded based on demonstrated high financial[GKF1]  need as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), these federal grants are awarded to admitted, degree-seeking students who qualify and are enrolled at least half-time. These funds do not need to be repaid unless the student ceases to meet eligibility requirements or ceases attendance in their classes. Amounts vary by need and, due to their limited availability, are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. A student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, though Florida residency is not required.

Bright Futures. The Bright Futures Academic Scholarship covers 100% of in-state tuition and state approved fees for qualified Florida residents. There are some specific course-related fees that are not included in this scholarship.

The Medallion Scholarship covers 100% of in-state tuition and state approved fees for qualified Florida residents seeking an Associate’s degree. The Medallion Scholarship will cover 75% of in-state tuition for students in a Bachelor’s program.

The Gold Seal and Gold Seal Cape Scholarships cover a “flat rate” of $48 per credit hour of in-state tuition for qualified Florida residents. Students must be admitted to an Associates of Science degree program in order to receive this scholarship.

Florida Student Assistance Grant. Awarded to full-time students with demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Funding for part-time students may be available on a limited basis. Florida residency required.

Florida Career Education Student Assistance Grant. Awarded to Florida residents enrolled at least half-time in aid-eligible certificate programs with demonstrated financial need. Funds available on a limited basis.

First Generation Matching Grant. Awarded to Florida residents with demonstrated need who are pursuing an undergraduate degree and whose parents have not earned baccalaureate degrees. Available state funding is contingent upon matching contributions from private sources on a two- dollar state funds to one-dollar private basis up to the individual institution’s allocation. Due to its limited funding, not all students who meet eligibility requirements will receiving this grant. This grant provides its funding for one year only and is not guaranteed to renew.

Federal Work Study. Available to qualified students based on demonstrated financial aid as determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Federal Work Study allows students to earn money to help pay educational expenses.

Students must be enrolled for six or more hours toward a degree program and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to be eligible. Part-time jobs are available on campus, and off-campus employment opportunities for community service may also be available. FSW is an equal opportunity employer.

For more information about Federal Work Study, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/work-study, https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/workstudy, or contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Federal Student Loans. Available to qualified U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education to degree-seeking students at FSW. Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA, and students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen in order to qualify. As long as the student remains enrolled at least half-time (at least 6 credit hours in a semester), payment is not required on these types of loans.

• Direct Subsidized Loans are available to degree-seeking students with financial need, and the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours each semester), for the first six months after the student leaves school (the “grace period”), and during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to eligible degree-seeking students, and there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. FSW determines the amount a student can borrow based on the student’s cost of attendance and other financial aid a student receives. Unlike Direct Subsidized Loans, the student is responsible for paying the interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during all periods.
• Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to parents of dependent degree-seeking students to help pay for education not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need; however, a modest credit check is required and borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.

For more information about Federal Student Loans, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans or contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Scholarships and Awards

Florida SouthWestern State College offers students a variety of scholarship opportunities to assist with the cost of education and to facilitate student success. Scholarships are an award of financial aid beyond federal and state programs that are generally based on merit, special talents, participation in certain activities, and/or financial need.  Scholarship requirements vary depending upon the criteria for the award.  By reducing financial concerns, students are better able to focus on their academic endeavors and overall college experience, which can lead to better grades and higher retention rates.

Scholarship Application Process

To be considered for FSW scholarships, students must successfully submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and are encouraged to complete the FSW Online Scholarship Application each academic year at https://fsw.academicworks.com/users/sign_in. Students are responsible for meeting all eligibility requirements and submitting required admissions and financial aid documents, which may include submitting proof of Florida residency for tuition purposes.

Students not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will not be considered or remain eligible for FSW scholarships. The FSW SAP policy can be found at https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/sap.

Florida Bright Futures

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards are determined by the Florida Department of Education and may be used by qualified high school graduates to pay for tuition expenses at Florida SouthWestern State College.  Certain eligibility requirements are attached to this state scholarship program and more information can be found at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org.

Scholarships - Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation, Inc.

The purpose of the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation, Inc. is to raise funds to help support the academic vision and priorities of the College. Through positive community relations and the development of private funds and partnerships, the Foundation strives to advance the education and welfare of the institution, its students, its faculty and staff, and the community it serves.

The Foundation’s donors are committed to making a difference for FSW students.  Their donations allow the Foundation to award a variety of scholarships to students each year including hundreds of tuition and book scholarships. The criteria for each scholarship will vary depending on the direction of the donor.

Florida SouthWestern State College Institutional Scholarships

Florida SouthWestern State College offers a variety of institutional scholarships that consider merit, financial need, academic level, special talents and/or participation in specified programs. For information regarding available institutional scholarships and related requirements go to https://www.fsw.edu/financialaid/scholarships.

Financial Aid Recipients Rights and Responsibilities

Rights:

• Federal financial aid recipients have the right to be informed about financial aid application procedures, cost of attendance, aid available, and requirements for renewal.
• Students have the right to confidential protection of their financial aid records, maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Students have the right to appeal a financial aid decision made by the FSW Office of Student Financial aid by submitting an Appeal Form. All appeal decisions are final.

Responsibilities:

• Students will complete all applications in a timely manner.
• Students will read and understand all materials sent to them from the Office of Student Financial Aid as well as other financial aid agencies by email and/or letter. Students should keep copies of all submitted forms and materials.
• Students will understand and comply with the rules and renewal requirements governing any financial aid they receive.
• Students will comply with the provisions of any promissory note and/or all agreements they sign.
• Students will be responsible for registering for the number of required credits to receive aid.
• Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals

The obligations in this Code of Conduct are in addition to any requirements imposed by state ethic laws, federal laws, or Florida SouthWestern State College Operating Procedure (COP). The COP will be applied first in all instances.

1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
   1. Employees within the Office of Student Financial Aid will not counsel, process or award aid to themselves, their family members or friends. Financial aid employees will reserve this task to another financial aid employee not familiar with their family members or friends, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Financial aid employees must disclose their interaction with a family member or friend and transfer the case to another financial aid staff member as soon as possible.
   2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete, and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender. Currently, Florida SouthWestern State College does not have a preferred lender list.
   3. A borrower’s choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution’s preferred lender list.
   4. No amount of cash, gift, or benefit shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
2. Information provided by the Office of Student Financial Aid is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
3. Institutional financial aid offers and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
   1. A breakdown of individual components of the institution’s Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
   2. Clear identification of each award offer, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work, or loan.
   3. Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of award offer terms.
   4. Renewal requirements for each award offer.
4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional website and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as “Consumer Information.”
5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy and Procedure

Federal and state regulations require that all students make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward completion of their degree, certificate or licensure requirements in order to receive financial assistance.  All academic terms of attempted enrollment are considered when evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress regardless of whether financial aid was offered for the term or not.

Failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards results in a student being ineligible for federal, state and most institutional aid programs (this includes grants, institutional scholarships, work study, and loans).  Failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards may also affect a student’s eligibility for outside scholarships or third-party funding.

Completion Rate (Pace): Quantitative Standard

Satisfactory Academic Progress standards require students to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 2/3 (two-thirds), or 66.67%, of their total cumulative attempted credits.  Transfer credits accepted and applied to the student’s program requirements count as credits attempted and completed for calculation of completion rate.  Grades of “F”, “W”, “WF”, “M” and “I” count as credits attempted but not completed in this calculation.

The calculation for completion rate is as follows:

Earned credit hours divided by attempted credit hours = completion rate (for example 18 earned credits divided by 27 attempted credits, 18/27 = 66.67%). 

Grade Point Average (GPA): Qualitative Standard

A student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) represents a qualitative measurement within the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.  Students must earn and maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester (based on their total attempted credits).  Specific federal, state, institutional and external scholarships or grants may require a higher cumulative or semester GPA for continued eligibility. This is a separate and distinct factor for renewing or continuing eligibility for these specific funds. The GPA requirement for specific scholarships or grants supersedes the minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA required for SAP.  Information on the terms and conditions of specific financial aid programs that have higher GPA requirements is available to students.

Maximum Time Frame (Attempted Credits): Quantitative Standard

Students must obtain their degree objective within a specific maximum time frame.  The maximum time frame is currently 150%.

a)         For baccalaureate programs (generally 120 credit hours), students must obtain a degree within 180 attempted credit hours.  (120 credit hours X 150% = 180 attempted credit hours).

b)         For associate programs (AA and AS, generally 60 credit hours), students must obtain a degree within 90 attempted credit hours. (60 credit hours X 150% = 90 attempted credit hours).

c)         For certificate programs (generally 24 credit hours), students must obtain a certificate within 36 attempted credit hours. (24 credit hours X 150% = 36 attempted credit hours).

This maximum time frame is based upon the specific student degree or certificate classification in the FSW academic records.

Note: Students pursuing second degree programs continue to remain eligible for financial aid as long as the qualitative, quantitative and maximum time frame measurements for Satisfactory Academic Progress are met.

Evaluation Period:

Monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress begins with the first credit attempted and is completed at the end of every semester (fall, spring and summer).

Failure to Meet Standards:

Completion Rate (Pace): Quantitative Standard

Students who are in good standing at the beginning of the semester but fall below the 2/3 (two-thirds), or 66.67%, completion rate standard at the end of the semester will be placed on financial aid warning which will allow the student to continue receiving financial aid for one semester.

If at the end of the warning semester a student meets FSW’s 2/3 (66.67%) completion rate standard, FSW will end the student’s warning status and the student will regain eligibility for financial aid.

If at the end of the warning semester a student fails to meet all of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (completion rate, GPA, and maximum timeframe), the student will be placed on financial aid suspension and will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid.

Grade Point Average (GPA): Qualitative Standard

Students who are in good standing at the beginning of the semester but fall below the minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA standard at the end of the semester will be placed on financial aid warning which will allow the student to continue receiving financial aid for one semester.

If at the end of the warning semester a student meets FSW’s minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA standard, FSW will end the student’s warning status and the student will regain eligibility for financial aid.

 If at the end of the warning semester a student fails to meet all of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (completion rate, GPA, and maximum timeframe), the student will be placed on financial aid suspension and will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid.

Maximum Time Frame (Attempted Credits): Quantitative Standard

When a student’s total attempted credits exceed the maximum time frame for degree completion, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. 

If the student chooses to pursue the option to appeal, appeals for credits in excess of the maximum time frame solely to improve GPA will not be approved unless the course is part of an approved academic plan.

Students may immediately be suspended from financial aid eligibility in the event of extraordinary circumstances where it becomes readily apparent that a student has not maintained Satisfactory Academic Progress with respect to maximum time frame.

Other Factors:

It is possible for students to be placed on financial aid suspension for failure to meet more than one type of satisfactory academic progress standard.

Students who have not received financial aid in the past are immediately subject to standards when they apply for financial aid.

If Incomplete (I) credits are a factor in failure to maintain satisfactory progress, subsequent successful completion of these credits may be used to re-establish eligibility for financial aid.

Paying for classes out of pocket or sitting out a period of time in and of itself is not sufficient to re-establish a student’s financial aid eligibility.

Notification:

Students who fail to meet the minimum standards will be notified of their warning or suspension status through the student’s portal.

Appeal Process for Grade Point Average and Completion Rate

In some cases, a student may not complete his or her degree objective within the maximum time frame as a result of a change of an academic program, transfer credits not applicable to the student’s current degree program, or extenuating circumstances. If this occurs and the student wishes to appeal the suspension of financial aid eligibility, a Financial Aid SAP Appeal must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Extenuating circumstances may include personal injury or illness which occurs during an enrollment period; death of an immediate family member during an enrollment period; or other documented circumstances that were unexpected in nature and beyond the control of the student.

An appeal must include a signed statement explaining why the program has not been completed within the allowable maximum time frame, an academic plan approved and signed by the student’s Student Success Advisor indicating the semesters remaining for degree completion, a course plan for each remaining semester, and projected graduation date. 

If applicable, the appeal should include appropriate documentation regarding the extenuating circumstance(s) and what has changed that will allow the student to achieve successful academic progress at the next evaluation. Incomplete appeal forms will not be reviewed.

Appeals will be reviewed within 14 days of submission only if the student meets the priority deadline.  Evaluation and decision are based upon the information provided in the student’s appeal. Students will be notified of the decision through their student portal or an email from their Financial Aid Specialist.

Students who are granted an appeal will be expected to meet the terms of the academic plan up to graduation.  No withdrawals, failing grades or no shows will be allowed. Only courses required for the current degree program will be used to determine financial aid eligibility. More stringent conditions may be required on a case-by-case basis, and the student will be notified of the decision through the student’s portal or an email from their Financial Aid Specialist.  The decision of the review is final.

A review will be completed at the end of each enrollment period to ensure the student is meeting the terms of the academic plan. If the academic plan requirements are not met, the student is no longer eligible for further financial aid to complete their program of study.                                                                 

 Click here for the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeal Form[CG1] 

If an appeal is denied, the student is no longer eligible for further financial aid from FSW until such time the student becomes compliant with the SAP policy standards.

Deadlines:

Priority Deadline Date:       

• Fall 2022: 7/29/2022
• Spring 2023: 12/12/2022
• Summer 2023: 5/04/2023

Last day to submit an appeal for Fall, Spring and Summer Terms:  Last day of the Drop/Add period for that term (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis).

Common Terms:

Academic Forgiveness: Credits for courses previously taken, for which academic forgiveness is granted, count in calculating percentage completion, GPA and maximum credits attempted for financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Academic Plan: A student who successfully appeals for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility is placed on probation and is required to complete specific requirements contained in an academic plan developed for that student by the college.

Academic Year: The period from August to May (Fall and Spring Semesters). Summer is a semester trailing the academic year.

Audit Courses: Courses taken for audit are not funded with financial aid, are not used in calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress and do not count as credits attempted or earned for purposes of financial aid.

Calendar Year: The period from January through December.

Consortium Agreements, Study Abroad and other travel programs: Credits attempted and earned while participating in these programs are included in calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Evaluation Period: Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured at the end of each semester.

Financial Aid Suspension: A student on financial aid suspension is not eligible to receive financial aid.

Maximum Time Frame: The maximum number of cumulative attempted credits within which a student must complete their academic program.

Probation Status: A student who successfully appeals a financial aid suspension and regains their financial aid eligibility for one evaluation period (one semester) is placed on probation. At the conclusion of the semester, the student must meet the college’s cumulative GPA (see Qualitative Standards) and Completion Percentage standards (67% cumulative completion); or have successfully completed the probationary term by meeting the requirements of their individual academic plan.

Qualitative Measure: The Grade Point Average (GPA) a student must maintain in order to retain financial aid eligibility.

Quantitative Measure: The “pace” at which a student must progress through their program in order to retain financial aid eligibility.

Remedial/Developmental Credits: Identifies credits attempted for courses numbered less than 1000.  Up to 30 remedial credits are excluded in calculating maximum credits attempted but included in grade point average and completion percentage calculations.

Repeated Courses: Courses in which a student has enrolled previously and is enrolled again.  For Satisfactory Academic Progress purposes, each time a course is taken counts as an attempt; but only the first time a passing grade is received is it counted as completion.  If a student passed a class once and then is repaid for retaking it and fails the second time, that failure counts as their paid retake and the student may not be paid for retaking the class a third time. 

Required Completion Percentage: The percentage of cumulative attempted credits that a student must successfully complete in order to retain financial aid eligibility.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credits accepted by and applied by FSW toward a student’s general education, program, or degree requirements apply toward the percent completion, cumulative GPA, and maximum credits attempted calculations.

Treatment of Grades:

Credits attempted: the number of credit hours for which a student is officially enrolled at the end of the drop/add period each semester. Credits with grades of “F, W, M, and I” count as credits attempted.

Credits earned: grades designated as A, B, C, D (including pluses and minuses), or P and S. Credits with grades of “F, W, WF, M and I” do not count as credits earned.

Percentage completion is calculated by dividing the number of earned credits by the number of attempted credits: earned credits ÷ attempted credits = percentage completion

GPA calculation: includes grades of A, B, C, D, F, and pluses and minuses associated with a letter grade.

Warning Status: A status under which a student shall continue to retain their financial aid eligibility for one semester despite a determination that the student has not met the college’s grade point average standard, completion percentage standard, or both.

Withdrawals: If a student withdraws from FSW before eligible financial aid awards are disbursed, the student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement of financial aid earned; or may forfeit financial aid, as defined by Federal and State program regulations. If a student withdraws from all enrolled courses for any reason during the semester after financial aid has been disbursed, the college refund policy will be followed.

Financial aid may be used for no more than 30 developmental (remedial) credit hours. Developmental (remedial) credit hours beyond 30 cannot be used to establish enrolled hours for financial aid purposes unless the student did not receive financial aid for all 30 credit hours.

1. Developmental, remedial, and/or most EAP coursework do not count toward degree requirements. However, developmental and remedial courses are calculated in the quantitative and completion rate measures.
2. EAP courses that do not apply toward degree requirements are excluded from the quantitative and completion rate measures.
3. Students who have taken developmental and/or remedial coursework that affect maximum time frame eligibility calculation should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to have a review done on a case-by-case basis. This request for review is not considered an Appeal.
4. All repeated courses will affect the qualitative, quantitative and time frame measures even if they are not eligible courses to establish Financial Aid enrollment status.

Common Reasons for Financial Aid Denials

Automatic Graduation

Students who have completed their degree requirements at FSW, (even if they opt out of Automatic Graduation) will have their name and completion requirements forwarded to the Financial Aid Office for a review of their eligibility status. Regardless if a student chooses to continue to take classes, pursue another degree or opt out of receiving their certificate or degree, Financial Aid recipients are considered ineligible for Financial Aid if all current degree requirements are met.

Prior Associate of Arts Degree

Students who have completed a baccalaureate, professional or Associate of Arts degree from an institution recognized by Florida SouthWestern State College and from which the College accepts transfer credits are not eligible for financial aid for a second Associate of Arts degree.

Prior Baccalaureate Degree

Students who have completed a baccalaureate or professional degree from an institution, regardless of whether the institution is an unaccredited or foreign school, are not eligible for Pell, FSAG or FSEOG funds. Whether the degree is accepted or recognized by Florida SouthWestern State College does not change the student’s eligibility status.

Change of Circumstances

Some families experience an unexpected change to their household income during the course of an academic year after the completion of their FAFSA.  Some common occurrences that can cause a change to household include:

• A change in employment status (full-time to part-time/loss of employment) Reduction in salary or wages
• Medical expenses that are not covered by insurance
• Uninsured losses or funeral expenses
• Catastrophic property damage
• Recent change in marital status

Change in Circumstance does not include discretionary expenses such as home improvements, credit card debt, weddings, purchase of a car, private school tuition, or anticipated loss of overtime pay or income.  Students and parents are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to discuss their situation and determine what details and documentation will be required to fully evaluate the review.  All requests must be in writing and include documentation of the reasons for requesting the re-evaluation of eligibility.  While the review decision is pending, students are responsible for their tuition balance due.

Student Fees

Student fees are payable by the dates  published by the college and prior to the first day of classes. Financial aid recipients may have their fees covered by approved financial aid funds. The student’s financial aid offer process must be finalized to have tuition covered by this process. Financial aid recipients who receive funds that exceed the charges to their student accounts will receive a refund. Federal regulations allow institutions up to 14 calendar days from when the funds are posted to a students’ account to process refunds.  The Bursar’s office processes all student account refunds.

Financial Aid Eligible Hours

Students can use their financial aid  to help cover the costs of enrollment for Full, A and/or B Term of each semester. In order for courses to be paid by financial aid, students must be enrolled in all courses for all terms by the Add/Drop Deadline for Full and/or A Terms. If the students is ONLY enrolling in B Term classes, the student has until the Add/Drop deadline for B Term to receive financial aid for those courses.  If enrolling for B Term class after the Add/Drop deadline, financial aid will not pay for those courses.

Repayment of Title IV Funds

Students receiving financial aid who withdraw or cease attending will, in most cases, be required to repay a portion of the aid received. Federal regulations allow students to retain only the amount of federal aid, also referred to as Title IV aid, that is earned. When a recipient of federal financial aid withdraws from or ceases attendance in all classes prior to completing more than 60% of the semester (see FSW Official College Calendar), federal regulations require the student to return the unearned portion of financial aid received. Students who are enrolled for the entire term but fail to successfully complete any classes may also be required to repay a portion of the financial aid funds they receive.

To calculate the amount of aid which must be returned, the last date of attendance will first be determined (keep in mind that simply logging into an online class is NOT considered attendance). FSW will calculate the number of days attendance and the total number of days the student was scheduled to complete within the term, including weekends. Periods of no classes which are five days in length or greater are excluded. The number of days attended are then divided by the number of days the student was scheduled to complete within the term to determine the percentage of the term completed. This percentage is then multiplied by the total aid for which the student is eligible to determine the amount of aid earned.

Example:

% completed x total aid = earned aid

Total aid - earned aid = unearned aid (aid to be returned)

  After performing this calculation, FSW determines total institutional charges and multiplies that figure by the percentage of unearned aid (100%-% completed = % unearned). Federal regulations assume Title IV aid paid institutional charges before other types of resources, regardless of which type of resource actually paid the school bill. Institutional charges x % unearned = amount returned by FSW on the student’s behalf.

Federal financial aid will be returned in the following order, up to the net amount disbursed from each source:

1. Unsubsidized Direct Loans (other than Direct PLUS Loans)
2. Subsidized Direct Loans
3. Direct PLUS Loans
4. Federal Pell Grants for which a Return is required
5. FSEOG for which a return of funds is required

The school then determines the amount for which the student is responsible by subtracting the amount returned by the school from the total amount which is unearned. The remaining amount is the student’s share and is allocated in the same order as above. The total amount unearned - amount returned by FSW = amount the student is required to return/repay to Title IV funds.

In some cases, students must repay a portion of the aid they received, and payment  is required in order to remain eligible for aid and to re-enroll in subsequent semesters.

In some cases, a refund may be due to the student.

CAUTION: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is still a factor in determining eligibility in future semesters.

Students who withdraw and are granted a fee appeal may still be subject to the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.

If a student is considering withdrawing, they should meet with the Office of Student Financial Aid to discuss any financial implications.

Students withdrawing from the College, who are eligible for federal financial aid, will have their aid eligibility evaluated using a federal formula. The amount of federal aid that will be received is based on the portion of the semester completed prior to the date of withdrawal. State financial aid is adjusted according to applicable state guidelines. For example, if 40% of the semester has passed when the withdrawal process is initiated, then 40% of the federal aid originally scheduled for disbursement has been earned. However, if more than 60% of the semester has been completed, a student is considered to have earned 100% of the federal aid they were eligible to receive for the semester.

Students who need to change their course registration by adding or dropping a course, must follow registration procedures. Financial aid recipients are responsible for completing the change in registration no later than the last day of the published add/drop period for the term for payment to be made by a financial aid program.

Last Date of Attendance

The last date of attendance is the last date the student participated in an academically-related activity.

Academically-related activities include but are not limited to the following:

• Attending class in person with the opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students.
• Submitting an academic assignment.
• Taking an exam, participating in an interactive tutorial, or gaining computer-assisted instruction.
• Attending a study group assigned by the instructor.
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters.
• Initiating contact with an instructor to ask a question about an academic subject studied in the course.

Examples of acceptable online academically-related activities include:

•  Submitting an academic assignment.
•  Submitting an exam.
• Documented participation in an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction.
• Posting in a discussion forum in an on-line discussion about academic matters.
• An email from the student or other documentation showing the student initiated contact with an instructor to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Academically-related activities do not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

• Living in on-campus housing.
• Participating in an FSW meal plan.
• Logging in to an online class without active participation.
• Participating in academic counseling or advising.

The Office of Student Financial Aid has 30 days from the date the school determined the student had withdrawn to determine the last date of attendance.  A student’s certification of attendance that is not supported by school documentation would not be acceptable documentation of the student’s last date of attendance at an academically related activity.

Using Veterans Education Benefits

In order to use VA education benefits at FSW Veterans or dependents of a veteran who are eligible for educational benefits must:

1. Apply for VA education benefits via VA.gov
   • If you have never used your benefit: VA.gov/education/how-to-apply/
   • If you have used your benefit elsewhere: va.gov/education/change-gi-bill-benefits/
2. Apply to FSW for admission as a degree seeking student.
3. Request and send their official military transcript as well as official transcript(s) from previous college(s) to Florida SouthWestern State College*.
4. Submit the Certificate of Eligibility, and additional documents if requested, to the Veteran Services Office.
5. Submit Veteran’s Deferment Request form as soon as possible after registering for classes for the term. Submission of this form initiates processing schedule certifications to the VA. This form must be submitted every term after the student registers for classes and every time the student changes their schedule.
6. Contact the Veteran Services Office if considering withdrawing from a class.

*Joint Services Transcripts (JST) or other military and/or public or private college transcripts must be on file and evaluated before a student can be certified for VA Educational Benefits prior to starting school.  Although Veterans Affairs may allow two (2) terms to be certified without military transcripts being received/evaluated, Florida SouthWestern State College uses a consistent policy for all college transcripts.

The Florida Bureau of State Approving Agency has approved Florida Southwestern State College for veteran education and training.

Please Note: a student must be working toward a degree or certificate program in order to receive VA benefits. We encourage students to work closely with their academic advisor to ensure that the classes they plan to take are required for the degree/certificate selected. Only classes required for the student’s degree will be certified for VA funding.

A student will not receive funding for a course repeated to earn a higher grade, or that has been transferred in from a Joint Services Transcript, other military transcript, and/or a previous college unless the student received an “F” in the course (or a “D” when a “C” is required).  The student remains responsible for any charges not covered by VA benefits.

Veterans’ Dependents

• Dependents using transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill® should provide the Certificate of Eligibility received after your application was approved by the VA.
• Dependents of veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability or died as a result of service connection may be eligible for VA education benefits.
• More information on VA education benefits for dependents and how to apply can be found at www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
• Please contact the Veteran Services Office for any questions you have about using dependent VA education benefits at FSW. 

Veteran Transfer Students

A transfer student must have their military transcript(s) as well as transcripts from the previous college(s) forwarded to Florida SouthWestern State College before transferring. Veterans can attend one term until transcripts are received. The student’s certification for benefits will not be processed by the Veteran Affairs office until the transcript(s) is received and evaluated by Florida SouthWestern State College after the first term.

Transient or Guest Students

Transient or Guest students using VA education benefits at FSW must provide the Veteran Services office a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility and a ‘Parent School letter’ from your home school confirming which degree program you are working towards and what classes have been approved to take at FSW. Please contact the School Certifying official at your home institution to request this information. A FloridaShines approval may be used in lieu of a Parent School letter.

Deferment of Tuition

Florida SouthWestern State College offers Veterans and their dependents a deferment of fees in accordance with Florida Statute 1009.27 (2) which states: “Any veteran or other eligible student who receives benefits under chapter 30, chapter 31, chapter 32, chapter 33, chapter 34, or chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 106 of Title 10, U.S.C., is entitled to one deferment each academic year and an additional deferment each time there is a delay in the receipt of benefits.”

To request a deferment of tuition and fees, students must submit a Veteran Deferment form via their student portal. Students must be coded in our system as a veteran or a dependent using VA education benefits otherwise the deferment will be rejected. Please contact the Veteran Services office to update your veteran status.

Change of Status and Attendance

Veterans who are considering to withdraw, drop or add a class are highly encouraged to speak with the Veteran Affairs Office before doing so.  The Veteran Affairs Office can offer advice and discuss the financial implications of making a change in enrollment.  The Veteran Affairs Office must notify the VA on enrollment changes and such notifications could result in the student owing the VA for all or a portion of their payments for the term.

Chapter 33 and 31 Recipients

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill^® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  This school will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution;

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”

Withdrawal of Classes and VA Funding

Students using VA education benefits who are considering withdrawing from a class should contact the Veteran Services Office before doing so.  The Veteran Services Office can offer advice and discuss the financial implications of making a change in enrollment.  The VA will not fund a class that has been withdrawn. Withdrawals may result in the student owing the VA and/or FSW for all or a portion of their payments for the term.

If you withdraw from a class, you must let the Veteran Services office know by submitting a new Veteran Deferment request.

Standards of Progress for Veteran Educational Benefit Recipients

Veterans are required to meet the same standards of academic progress as all students at FSW. Students are considered in Good Academic Standing if they earn and maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA.  Students who do not maintain a 2.0 may be placed on Academic Warning. Students who do not earn a cumulative or term GPA of 2.0 or higher while on Academic Warning are suspended.  Students may petition their suspension to continue their enrollment by completing an Academic Progress Petition obtained from the Florida SouthWestern State College advising web-page at www.fsw.edu/advising.

FSW is required to notify the VA when a student using VA education benefits has been place on Academic Suspension. The law requires that educational assistance benefits to Veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of his or her training objective. Benefits can be resumed if the student re-enrolls in the same educational institution and in the same program. In other cases, benefits cannot be resumed unless VA finds that the cause of the unsatisfactory attendance, conduct or progress has been removed and the program of education or training to be pursued by the student is suitable to his or her aptitudes, interests, and abilities. In this case the student will need to reapply to use their benefits with the VA.

Active Duty Service Members

The Veteran Services office at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) provides a designated point of contact for all questions you may have about studying at FSW. We provide service members with information regarding federal financial aid counseling, FSW scholarship opportunities, and VA education benefits. We also work with service members to ensure access to specialized support across campus which includes academic and career counseling (Advising, Career, and Transfer Center), disability counseling (Office of ADAptive Services), and other student support services (Academic Support and Peer Tutoring).

Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy. Each military branch has its own tuition assistance form and procedures. Students planning to use Tuition Assistance must first obtain approval from their respective service branch. Please contact your local education center for initial approval. Additional information can be found at the links below:

Air Force (https://www.afpc.af.mil/benefits-and-entitlements/military-tuition-assistance-program/)

Army (www.armyignited.com/app/)

Marine Corps (https://usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-do-i-apply-for-tuition-assistance/)         

Navy (www.navycollege.navy.mil/sailors/tuition-assistance-ncpace.htm)            

Coast Guard (www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/VOLUNTARY-EDUCATION/Tuition-Assistance/)                

State, federal, or commercial entities may impose additional requirements related to obtaining credentials in a given field. Additional information can be found within the individual Program descriptions in our College Catalog.

Advisors provide students with the opportunity to clarify career and life goals through one-on-one meetings and specialized assessments. Our goal is to ensure each student fulfills their educational and career goals and reaches their full potential.

Florida National Guard Educational Dollars of Duty (EDD)

Recommended Florida National Guard enlistees may be eligible for funding under Florida’s tuition assistance program Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD). Contact the Florida National Guard Education Services Office.  Once approved, please provide your EDD Authorization Form to the Bursar’s Office on the Lee Campus.