Dec 10, 2024  
2023-2024 CATALOG 
    
2023-2024 CATALOG [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Financial Aid


diverse students
 
 

The purpose of the Financial Aid Office is to support and assist students in completing their educational goals. Financial Aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.  Most federal and state financial aid programs are awarded on the basis of financial need.  Need is defined as the difference between the cost of attendance and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is determined by a standard formula established by the federal government.

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA);
  • Apply and be admitted to Chattanooga State;
  • Declare an eligible major (degree or certificate) for financial aid;
  • Complete Chattanooga State Financial Aid student requirements listed on the student’s Tigerweb Self-Service account;
  • Enroll in classes;

Types of aid available are listed below; refer to the Financial Aid website https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/financial/types-financial-aid for details.

  • Grants: Federal PELL Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award Wilder Naifeh Technical Skills Grant (TCAT)
  • Scholarships: Tennessee Lottery Scholarships, Chattanooga State Scholarships (Academic Service, Foundation, and Empowerment), TN Promise, TN Reconnect, TCAT Reconnect
  • Federal Direct Loans
  • Federal Work Study

Financial Aid Refund, Withdrawal, and Repayment Policies

Withdrawal and Repayment

The Financial Aid Office encourages students to read the withdrawal policy carefully https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/withdrawalrepayment-policy to understand your financial responsibility if you change your enrollment status.  Students considering withdrawing from all classes should contact the Financial Aid Office to review how the withdrawal will affect his/her financial aid and possible repayment. Financial aid is paid to students based on the student’s attendance.  There are unforeseen events that can occur in a student’s life that may result in the withdrawal from college.  If this occurs, it is important you follow the proper steps to withdraw and understand the policy.

Federal Regulations

  • Students that receive Federal Title IV Financial Aid and withdraws from school during the period of enrollment in which they began attendance must return the percentage of unearned funds.
  • The Financial Aid Office recalculates the amount of Financial Aid a student is authorized to receive when a student officially withdraws from college OR stops attending all classes.
  • A student changing their enrollment status within the first 14 days of the semester will have their financial aid automatically adjusted to the adjusted enrollment.  The student is responsible for any balance due on the student’s account created by the enrollment change.

Repayment Policy

  • The Financial Aid Office will notify the student of the amount of repayment due within 30 days of determining the student’s withdrawal date.
  • The student must make repayment in full or make repayment arrangements with the Chattanooga State Bursar’s Office.
  • If money is owed back to the Department of Education, a student has 45 days to repay the debt through the Chattanooga State Bursar’s Office before it is referred to the Department of Education as a federal aid overpayment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards For Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

When students accept financial aid, they accept responsibility for making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students must be in compliance with the SAP Policies as a condition of initial and continuing receipt of funds. Students in both credit and clock hour classes must meet SAP guidelines for:

  • Minimum GPA
  • Completion rate
  • Maximum timeframe

Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed each term, or payment period, for all students, regardless of whether or not they received financial aid. Students are notified of their academic progress standing in TigerWeb Self-Service and by email after grades post each semester. If they have not reached maximum timeframe, students have one more payment period in a “warning” status in which they can receive aid. If credit hour students fail to meet SAP guidelines in a second consecutive semester, or reach maximum timeframe, then they are suspended from receiving further aid (except TN Promise and TN Reconnect) and must submit an appeal. There is no appeal process for TCAT students. More information about SAP guidelines and the appeal process can be found on the website at https://chattanoogastate.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap.