Fees & Financial Aid

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Fees and Expenses

Gwinnett Tech assesses fees based on policies of the Technical College System of Georgia for all technical colleges in Georgia. Certain student fees are required to be paid each semester as flat fees. These fees include registration, library, student activity, parking, instructional, technology, facility access and student accident insurance. Online students are not subject to the student activity, parking and student accident insurance fees. Fees are subject to change at the end of any semester.

A $105 technology support fee, a $75 facility access fee and a $50 instructional fee are assessed as a part of the flat each semester fees. Fees are subject to change at the end of any semester.

A current schedule of tuition and fees can be found on our website at GwinnettTech.edu. A hard copy of tuition and fees may also be obtained at the reception desk in the One Stop Center in building 100 at the Lawrenceville campus and building A at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus.

Course fees are calculated based upon the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15, a student registers for each semester. Some courses and/or programs may be subject to a supply replenishment fee.

Payments may be made in person at the Bursar Office locations on both the Lawrenceville and Alpharetta-North Fulton campuses. Payment can be made with cash, check, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) or online at gtc-web.org by credit card. All fees are due by the early or late registration payment deadline published in the academic calendar. Credit card payments are not accepted by phone. For all students who register during the late registration period, a non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed. Failure to fulfill financial obligations will result in denial of registration, transcripts, certification of degrees/diplomas, and other services.

Course Fees

The following is the current fee schedule for students enrolled in classes on campus. Course fees and tuition are subject to change at the end of any semester.

Fee schedule subject to change by Technical College System of Georgia

Mandatory and Discretionary Fees

Mandatory fees are defined as fees which are paid by all students as required by the Technical College System of Georgia. Mandatory fees shall include, but are not limited to, the technology support fee, instructional fee, application fee, registration fee, library fee, parking fee, student activity fee, and the student accident insurance fee.

Additional fees may be assessed to students at the discretion of the technical college. These discretionary fees shall include, but are not limited to, parking fees and fines, late fees, library fees and fines, course fees, supply replenishment fees, facility access fee, and food service fees.

For transient students enrolled in more than one technical college during the same term, only the home technical college shall charge the technology support fee. All other transient students shall pay the technology support fee.

Legal Residence and Residency Status Determine the Tuition Rate

Residency Categories for Purposes of Tuition Rate Determination

Georgia Resident: an individual or the status of such individual who is a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen and is Domiciled in the State of Georgia and meets the in-state tuition requirements of TCSG. To register as a legal resident of the State of Georgia students must provide supporting documentation as required by the Registrar’s Office. Residency requirements for State of Georgia Scholarship and Grant fund recipients may differ from this definition. Please review specific residency requirements for state funds within the State of Georgia Financial Aid Funding section of the catalog.

Eligible Non-Citizen: a person who, in accordance with the Federal Title IV definition, is a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired; or Cuban-Haitian Entrant. Also accepted are “Victims of Human Trafficking” T-Visa holders with T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4 visas.

Non-Citizen Student: a person who is not a United States born or naturalized citizen of the United States, including individuals with an F1 and F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa and who do not otherwise meet the definition of an eligible Non-Citizen.

Out-of-State Student: Students who are residents of the United States but do not otherwise qualify as Georgia Residents. A person who has not established domicile in the State of Georgia for a period of at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the person is intending to enroll.

Eligibility for Out-of-State Tuition Exemptions: Students in the following classifications are eligible for out-of-state exemption. These exemptions do not affect the student’s eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship or Grant, except for exemptions for military personnel and their dependents as provided for in the GSFC regulations.

• Employees and their children who move to Georgia for employment with a new or expanding industry as defined in OCGA 20-4-40.
• Full-time employees of the Technical College System of Georgia, their spouses, and dependent children.
• Full-time teachers in a public school, a military base, or a public postsecondary college, their spouses, and dependent children.
• United States military personnel stationed in Georgia and on active duty and their dependents living in Georgia.
• United States military personnel, spouses, and dependent children reassigned outside Georgia, who remain continuously enrolled and on active military status.
• United States military personnel and their dependents that are domiciled in Georgia, but are stationed outside the State.
• Members of a uniformed military service of the United States who, within thirty-six (36) months of separation from such service, enroll in an academic program and demonstrate an intent to become domiciled in Georgia. This exemption may also be granted to their spouses and dependent children or individuals eligible for GI Bill benefits.
• Career consular officers and their dependents that are citizens of the foreign nation which their consular office represents, and who are living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments. This exemption shall apply only to those consular officers whose nations operate on the principle of educational reciprocity with the United States.
• Residents of the State of Alabama who attend an Alabama public community, junior, or technical college who apply and if accepted by a Georgia public postsecondary vocational institution will pay tuition and fees at the same rate as charged to Georgia resident students (for at least 12 consecutive months prior to date of registration) These students are eligible for in-state tuition rates by virtue of a reciprocity agreement with the State of Alabama.

Students who enter Gwinnett Tech as non-residents and subsequently qualify as legal residents must submit verification of Georgia residency to the Registrar’s Office. The student’s residence status is not changed automatically. A request must be made for the change at the proper time, and the student must provide proof of change of residence status. Changes made during a semester will be effective for the following semester. Requests for change of classification will not be considered more than twice in one year.

Senior Citizen Waiver Students

Residents of Georgia who are 62 years of age or older are accepted to the college and eligible to enroll in Gwinnett Tech credit courses only on a space available basis during late registration. (This excludes courses which involve external agencies or individual instruction and Continuing Education or noncredit courses.) Senior citizen waivers must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office during the late registration period. These students will receive a registration time ticket for late registration only. Students who have been approved for a senior citizen waiver will not be considered for other types of financial aid. Senior citizen students must pay all course related fees, application fees, lab fees, and/or supply replenishment fees assessed. Tuition is waived when the waiver is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. A senior citizen waiver student may elect to audit courses, but must complete an audit form at the time of registration. For more information, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Fees Paid by Outside Agencies

If student fees are to be paid by an agency outside the school, students are responsible for ensuring that the school has received proper written assurances from the outside agency before registration each term. Students may be dropped from classes for non-payment of tuition and fees if agency’s promise to pay has not been received by the payment deadline date as published in the class schedule. Any invoice submitted to an agency will be payable upon receipt. If a sponsoring agency does not pay the required fees, the student will be responsible for all obligated fees.

Other Expenses

Students should consult with their academic advisors concerning these additional costs such as course fees, books, supplies, uniforms or tools that may be required to purchase prior to school beginning and/or financial aid availability.

Refund/Return Check Policies

Credit Classes Refund Policy. It is the policy of Gwinnett Tech to refund for credit classes as follows:

• If a student drops a class during the drop/add period on or before the third day of the term for a full semester class, or on or before the second day of the term for a term C class, the student will receive a 100 percent refund for course tuition and fees.
• If a student withdraws from a class after the drop/add period, no refunds will be given and a grade of W or WF will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
• If a student drops for documented active military reserve or National Guard duty, the student will receive a 100 percent refund for course tuition and fees.
• Each change in enrollment will be considered as a separate transaction. Therefore, charges for credit classes which a student may elect to add after the beginning of the semester will be assessed in full.
• In addition to the portion of a student’s charges that are non-refundable as listed above, the application fee, late registration fee, and any other special fees are non-refundable. Stop payment of a check does not constitute formal withdrawal. A fee will be charged for returned checks or stop payments.

Exceptions to this policy will be made automatically for the following situations:

• Classes cancelled by Gwinnett Tech: 100 percent refund or credit will be given.
• Changes in schedule required to meet academic eligibility based on assessment results: 100 percent refund or credit will be given.

Note: Financial aid may be adjusted if/when a refund for course credit is provided after the drop/add period.

Any other exception to this policy must be justified in writing and approved by the Vice President Of Administrative Services. In no case will the total applicable tuition charges for credit students exceed the maximum allowable charges.

Continuing Education Refund Policy

Gwinnett Tech makes every effort to assure a quality learning experience. If Gwinnett Tech cancels a Continuing Education class, registered participants will automatically receive a 100 percent refund. If a participant elects to withdraw from a course, a refund will be given minus a $15 processing fee provided the withdrawal from a course is received by Continuing Education at least two business days prior to the class start date. Students, who withdraw after the two business day deadline, but before the second class session, will receive a 50 percent refund. No refunds are given after the second class session and no refunds are given after the two business day deadline for one- or two-session seminars. Participants who cannot attend are encouraged to send a substitute or transfer their enrollment to another course in lieu of withdrawal to avoid paying a processing fee. Registered participants who fail to attend or send a substitute are liable for the full registration fee. Stop payment of a check does not constitute formal withdrawal. A $30 fee will be charged for returned checks or stop payments.

Unpaid Obligations

Students are responsible for satisfying any unpaid obligations to the college. These unpaid obligations include, but are not limited to, unpaid tuition and fees, returned checks, financial aid reversals, fines and course supply fees. Any obligations that are not satisfied in full may be referred to an outside collection agency and to appropriate credit bureaus. Resulting collection costs will be added to the original debt and the student must pay these costs, as well as attorney’s fees, if applicable. Furthermore, all unpaid obligations will result in a hold on student records, diploma, transcripts and future registration activity.

Return Check Policy

It is the policy of Gwinnett Tech to assess a $30 penalty on all returned checks. Penalties must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, credit card or money order only. Application for admission, registration, or issuance of grades will be put on hold until payment is made. The school reserves the right to request cash only payments from students with repeated returned checks. The school also reserves the right to refer unpaid obligations to collection services.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office follows the guidelines for Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States policy. For further information, please review Verification of Lawful Presence found within the General Admissions Procedures  section of the catalog.

Gwinnett Tech Financial Aid Office offers federal, state, and institutional financial aid to eligible students to assist with the cost of attending school. Financial aid may take the form of:

1. Federal Financial Aid
   1. Federal Pell Grant
   2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
   3. Federal Work-Study (FWS)
   4. Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans
2. State Financial Aid
   1. Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE)
      1. HOPE Grant (certificate/diploma programs only) 
      2. Hope Scholarship (associate degree programs only)
      3. General Educational Development (GED) Voucher
   2. Zell Miller Grant (certificate/diploma programs only)
   3. Zell Miller Scholarship
   4. Move on When Ready (MOWR)
   5. Helping Educate Reservist and their Offspring (HERO) Scholarship
   6. Georgia Access Student Loans (SAL/SALT)
   7. Strategic Workforce Investment Scholarships (SWIG)
3. Institutional and Private Scholarships
4. Veterans Educational Benefits

FAFSA

To be considered for any federal or state aid programs, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA must be completed each academic year. Be sure to use Gwinnett Technical College’s federal school code - 016139 while completing your FAFSA to ensure that it will be received and reviewed appropriately.

Financial aid priority deadline dates are as follows:

• Fall 2016 semester - May 13, 2016
• Fall Term C - September 1, 2016
• Spring 2017 semester - November 3, 2016
• Spring Term C - January 27, 2017
• Summer 2017 semester - March 30, 2017

Students selected for verification will be notified by the Department of Education via their Student Aid Report (SAR) and by the Financial Aid Office, if required to submit documentation. Students will receive correspondence via their personal email address prior to enrolling, then their Gwinnett Tech email thereafter. Failure to submit required documentation results in financial aid not being awarded.

Students who do not meet the priority deadline date for the term of attendance must make payment arrangements if applicable to secure their classes. Eligible financial aid will be reimbursed appropriately.

Students must be accepted into an eligible program of study to receive financial aid. Programs must have at least 16 credit hours or more to qualify for federal financial aid. Learning Support and General Studies are not financial aid eligible programs. Financial aid cannot be used prior to the semester of acceptance. Students may only use federal financial aid funds for courses required in their programs of study. The only exceptions to this are the GED Voucher and MOWR funding.

Students receiving Title IV financial aid funds while concurrently enrolled at Gwinnett Tech and another school are required to notify the Gwinnett Tech Financial Aid Office. It is strongly encouraged that students select one school to receive financial aid funding, however, a determination of concurrent aid eligibility will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss this policy in detail. 

Federal Student Aid Requirements

To receive federal student aid, students will need to meet the following criteria:

1. Qualify to obtain a college or career school education, either by having a high school diploma or GED certificate, or by completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
2. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for an eligible degree or certificate program. A certificate program must have a minimum of 16 credit hours to be eligible for federal student aid.
3. Be registered with Selective Service, if you are a male (you must register between the ages of 18 and 25).
4. Have a valid Social Security number unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau
5. Sign certifying statements on the FAFSA stating that:
   1. you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe a refund on a federal grant and
   2. you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
6. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in college and
7. Be a United States Citizen or U.S National
   1. You are a U.S. citizen if you were born in the United States or certain U.S territories, if you were born abroad to parents who are U.S. citizens, or if you have obtained citizenship status through naturalization. If you were born in American Samoa or Wains Island, then you are a U.S. national
8. Have a Green Card
   1. You are eligible if you have a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C, also known as a green card, showing you are a U.S. permanent resident
9. Have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) that shows one of the following
   1. Refugee
   2. Asylum Granted
   3. Cuban-Haitian Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
   4. Parolee
10. Have Battered Immigrant Status
    1. Must be a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse, or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act
11. Have a T-Visa
    1. You are eligible if you have a T-visa or a parent with a T-1 visa.

Title IV Funding

Gwinnett Technical College complies with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. Gwinnett Tech is authorized to participate in Title IV student financial assistance programs by the U.S. Department of Education, as evidenced by our Program Participation Agreement which is valid through June 30, 2019.

Steps to Completing Your Financial Aid File

1. Go to gtc-web.org.
2. Enter “Student/Faculty Secure Area”.
3. Login using your user ID (Student 900# or SSN) and PIN (six-digit date of birth MMDDYY) click on login.
4. Go to “Student Services & Financial Aid.”
5. Go to the Financial Aid Folder.
6. Go to the My Award Information folder.
7. Click on “Award Package for Aid Year” Select Aid Year 2016-17, and click on submit.
8. Click on the “Accept Award Offer” tab and see if you have any unsatisfied Financial Aid requirements.
9. Click on the required document(s) and print.
10. If the required document is a “Tax Transcript” you will need to do one of the following:
    1. Click on the link which directs you to the IRS website where you can order the document (irs.gov);
    2. Successfully use the FAFSA’s IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).
11. Please submit all completed documents to the Financial Aid Office at one time to ensure timely processing of your file.
12. Be sure all required signatures are on all forms.
13. If you do not see any documents listed on the “Accept Award Offer” tab, and you have not been awarded aid, click the “Overall Financial Aid” link at the bottom of the General tab to see if any “Student Requirements” exist.

Check for Authorized Financial Aid

1. Go to gtc-web.org and log in
2. Go to “Student Services and Financial Aid”
3. Click on “Student Records”
4. Click on “Account Summary by Term”
5. Click on the current semester typed in blue
6. Your itemized account balance for the term will be listed at the top of the page
7. At the bottom of the page, you will see your authorized financial aid

Important: If you have authorized aid greater than your “Account Balance Due”, no further action is required. If you have authorized aid less than your “Account Balance Due”, you will be required to pay the difference before the payment deadline. If you do not have authorized aid, it will state, “No authorized financial aid exists on your record for the selected term” and you will be required to pay your full balance due by the payment deadline.

8. Payment plans are available through Nelnet which allows students to pay for tuition and fees in installments rather than all at once. You can also find more information at GwinnettTech.edu/enrollment/financial-aid/payment-plans/
9. Dates and Deadlines can be found at GwinnettTech.edu/enrollment/dates-deadlines. You can then select the appropriate Academic Calendar. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require schools to establish a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. These standards must be maintained for continued financial aid eligibility. Gwinnett Technical College calculates standards of progress for financial aid purposes at the end of each semester after official grades have posted. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to be awarded financial aid.

All financial aid recipients are required to maintain the minimum requirements outlined within the policy. These requirements are in addition to Gwinnett Tech’s academic or program requirements. SAP Standards are as follows:

• Maximum Time Frame (Quantitative): Students must complete and be on track to complete their programs within 150 percent (1.5 times) of the published credit hour length of their program.
• Completion Rate (Quantitative): Hours attempted/completed - Students must complete 67 percent of attempted hours; and
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (Qualitative): GPA - Students must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

Students failing to maintain cumulative quantitative and/or qualitative SAP standards related to completion rate and/or cumulative GPA are given a one-semester financial aid warning. Students who are on financial aid warning will remain eligible for aid, provided all other eligibility requirements are met, during their warning semester. If the student fails to regain cumulative SAP standing at the conclusion of the warning term, he or she is then placed on financial aid suspension. Students who are placed on financial aid suspension are not eligible for financial aid. Students may appeal their financial aid suspension by submitting the following documents to the Financial Aid Office.

1. SAP Appeal application
2. A letter explaining the extenuating circumstance(s) that have prevented them from being successful to-date.
3. Supporting documentation related to extenuating circumstance(s).

Students must provide sufficient documentation in one packet to the Financial Aid Office through the Enrollment Support Center prior to the semester appeal deadline. If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an “Academic Plan” status. The education plan is a contract between Financial Aid Office and the student. The student is required to meet the conditions of the academic plan for the duration of their program or until they meet the minimum standards. Failure to meet the requirements will result in termination of the education plan; the student will be placed back in a “Suspension” status and will be ineligible for financial aid. Students are permitted submission of only one SAP appeal per academic year. Appealable extenuating circumstances include (but are not limited to):

1. Medical emergency leading to the hospitalization of the student or a member of the student’s immediate family (mother, father, spouse, children, and siblings);
2. Death of a member of the student’s immediate family (mother, father, spouse, children, and siblings);
3. Unexpected military service; and
4. Verifiable error on the part of the college.

Acceptable documentation may include (but is not limited to):

1. Physician or hospital statement verifying dates of illness and a release that the student may return to school activities;
2. Obituary or funeral program that lists student’s name;
3. A letter from the Commanding Officer or a copy of the official activation orders; and
4. Documentation of error on the part of the college.

Students returning from Academic Dismissal will not automatically regain financial aid eligibility.

In addition to the quantitative and qualitative components of the SAP policy, financial aid students are also required to complete their programs of study in a timely fashion. Students who do not complete their program of study by the time they have attempted credits in excess of 150 percent (including all transfer hours) of the total hours required for their program will be placed on “Max Hours” reached status. Students are placed on this status once it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within 150 percent of the published length. Students who have 180 attempted credit hours or more are ineligible to appeal or receive federal financial aid. To learn more about maximum credit hours, visit GwinnettTech.edu/enrollment/financial-aid/maintaining-your-financial-aid/. You can also speak with an Enrollment Advisor in the Enrollment Support Center.

There is no appeal process for students who are notified of “Max Hours” (150%) Reached status for state HOPE funding. HOPE limits are imposed by state regulations and must be enforced by Gwinnett Technical College.

Students changing their programs of study may be in jeopardy of losing eligibility for financial aid. Students are encouraged to consult with their Enrollment advisor if they intend to receive financial aid for their new program.

Other Financial Aid Information

To be eligible for federal or state aid programs, students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Documentation of a GED or an associate degree or higher will be considered as meeting the equivalency requirement. Options may be available for students who meet the Federal Ability to Benefit criteria. Please contact the Office of Admissions for additional details.

Enrollment Status:

Financial aid enrollment status guidelines are as follows:

1. Full time enrollment is defined as 12 or more credit hours
2. Three Quarter time enrollment is defined as 9-11 credit hours
3. Half time enrollment is defined as 6-8 hours and
4. Less than half time status is defined as 5 hours or less

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is available to students who demonstrate financial need according to federal guidelines as outlined by the Department of Education. The maximum Pell award for the 2016-2017 academic year is $5,815.00. This grant does not have to be repaid. Students must meet all federal student aid requirements to receive the grant. The amount of Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years or 600%, where each full time award year is equal to 100%. Federal Pell Grant awarding requirements are as follows:

• Students must meet all federal student aid requirements
• Have a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) between 0 and 5234

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

The SEOG may be awarded in the amount of $250 to $500 per academic year to students with exceptional financial need, subject to availability of federal funds. Because SEOG funds are extremely limited, students are strongly encouraged to complete and submit their FAFSA early each year. This award does not have to be repaid. SEOG awarding requirements are as follows:

• Students must meet all federal student aid requirements
• Students must be enrolled at least half time status (6 credit hours) in a degree, diploma or certificate program.

Federal College Work-Study (FWS) Program

Federal Work Study (FWS) may be awarded in the amount of $1000-$4500 per academic year to students who demonstrate financial need, subject to availability of federal funds. This program provides students part-time jobs on campus with flexible hours revolving around their school schedules. Students are limited to 20 hours per week. Awards received in FWS are paid in the form of monthly paychecks. This award does not have to be repaid. Because funds for FWS are very limited, students are strongly encouraged to have their financial aid file complete by the priority deadline. Federal Work-Study awarding requirements are as follows:

• Students must meet all federal student aid requirements
• A background check will be performed on all new work-study students as part of the hiring process through the Gwinnett Tech Human Resources Office.

How to Apply for a FWS Position:

Eligible students can review current work-study positions by following these steps:

• Go to GwinnettTech.edu
• Click on Career Opportunities at the bottom of the page.
• Click on the Federal Work-Study link under the Student Employment section
• Students must complete the employment application online

FWS employment applications will be forwarded to the hiring department for review. Departments will then interview and select the applicant they wish to hire. Once a background check has been completed and cleared, the applicant will be contacted to complete required employment paperwork.

Maintaining FWS Eligibility:

Students are only permitted to work during scheduled office hours; and will not be permitted to continue to work once their work-study funding has been exhausted for the academic year. Eligibility will be monitored throughout the year and termination may result if at any time a student does not meet requirements of the program. The Financial Aid Office maintains a Student Employee Handbook, which lists additional requirements for FWS students. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for specific details.

Federal Subsidized Direct Stafford Loan

The Federal Subsidized Direct Stafford loan is a need-based program that provides low-interest loans. Students are required to repay all loans. Student’s must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) to be eligible for this loan. The federal government pays the interest while the student is in school and repayment is deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time. There is a limit of $3,500 per academic year for students with 30 earned credits or less and a limit of $4,500 for students with greater than 30 earned credits. Loan entrance counseling and a master promissory note is requireed before funds can be applied. Exit counseling is also required when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time or upon program completion.

Effective July 1, 2013

• Students are eligible for a subsidized student loan for up to 150% of their published program length. This time frame includes any prior course work. For example:
  • Students who are enrolled in an eligible certificate or diploma program that is one year in length, are eligible to receive Federal Subsidized Stafford loan for a maximum period of 1.5 years, including any prior coursework.
  •  Students who are enrolled into an associate degree program are eligible to receive Federal Subsidized Stafford loan for a maximum period of 3 years, including any prior coursework.

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

This program has the same requirements as the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan except that this loan accrues interest over the life of the loan. In addition, students do not need to demonstrate financial need to receive this loan. Students receive the same deferred payment benefit while maintaining at least half-time enrollment (6 credit hours). Interest compounds while students are enrolled and is added to the principal balance. Students may choose to pay the interest each quarter. Students maybe eligible for $2,000 per academic year for dependent students and $6,000 per year for independent students. If students do not qualify for a subsidized loan these amounts may increase (see chart below). Loan entrance counseling and a master promissory note is required  before funds can be applied. Exit counseling is also required when the student ceases at least half-time enrollment or upon program completion.

Students can complete entrance and exit counseling as well as sign a master promissory note at studentloans.gov. Students can also review their Title IV borrowing history and grant usage at nslds.ed.gov. For more information about federal student aid, visit studentaid.gov.

State of Georgia Financial Aid Funding:

Georgia Student Finance Commission Residency Requirements for State Funds

1. A student attending a University System of Georgia (USG) or Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institution who meets the Georgia residency requirements of the Board of Regents (BOR) or TCSG at the time of his or her high school graduation, home study program completion or successful GED test, must also meet such Georgia residency requirements for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the school term for which the state scholarship or grant is sought.
   1. A student who does not meet the Georgia residency requirements of BOR or TCSG at the time of high school graduation, home study program completion or successful GED test must meet such Georgia residency requirements for 24 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the school term for which the state scholarship or grant is sought.
2. Military personnel, his or her spouse, or dependent child, shall be treated as a Georgia resident for purposes of state scholarship or grant eligibility if the military personnel is stationed in Georgia on active duty or lists Georgia as his or her home state of record.
3. A student attending a USG or TCSG institution as a Move On When Ready student must meet the Georgia residency requirements of BOR or TCSG for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes of the school term for which the state scholarship or grant is sought.
4. The full-time employees of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) who are recognized by the United States Department of State as based in Georgia, their spouses, and their dependents are considered to meet the Georgia residency requirements for participation in the state scholarship or grant program, regardless of the length of time they have resided in the State of Georgia.
5. A student who was correctly determined to meet the Georgia residency requirements for purposes of state scholarship or grant eligibility and began receiving a state scholarship or grant payment, will continue to meet the Georgia residency requirements for purposes of state scholarship or grant eligibility unless he or she has a break in enrollment of two or more consecutive semesters or quarters and resides outside of Georgia for 12 or more consecutive months.
   1. If such student later returns to Georgia, he or she must re-establish Georgia residency for 12 consecutive months, (refer to Section 304.2.1.), before regaining state scholarship or grant eligibility.
   2. A student who has a break in enrollment of two or more consecutive semesters or quarters, and who resides outside Georgia for less than 12 consecutive months, and then later returns to Georgia and enrolls in an eligible postsecondary institution within 12 consecutive months from his or her most recent date of enrollment in an eligible postsecondary institution will continue to meet the Georgia residency requirements for purposes of state scholarship or grant eligibility.

Georgia HOPE Grant

This grant program is available to all Georgia residents who meet the following educational requirements:

1. Be accepted into an eligible certificate or diploma program.
2. There is no initial GPA requirement to receive Hope Grant. However, students who attempted 30 semesters or 45 quarter hours of Hope-paid grant hours must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for Hope Grant.
3. Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
4. Meet HOPE’s Georgia residency requirements.
5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
6. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the college.
7. Not be in default or owe a refund on any student financial aid program.
8. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
9. Students are limited in receiving Hope Grant funds to no more than 63 semester or 95 quarter hours of HOPE grant payment.

Hope Grant pays $67.00 per semester credit hour and will not pay for any fees or books. This is based upon Georgia Student Finance Commission regulations and can be subject to change.

Georgia HOPE Scholarship

Students who have demonstrated academic achievement and are Georgia residents may be eligible to receive HOPE Scholarship to assist with tuition and fees at Gwinnett Technical College.

To receive HOPE Scholarship funding, students must:

1. Meet one of the following academic requirements:
   • Graduate from a HOPE eligible high school with a 3.0 grade point average.
   • Complete a HOPE eligible home study program with a 3.0 grade point average.
   • Graduate from an ineligible high school, complete an ineligible home study program, or earn a GED, and score in the national composite 80th percentile or higher on the SAT or ACT tests.
   • Graduate from an ineligible high school or complete an ineligible home study program, and then earn a 3.0 grade point average on 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework. This option allows for payment of the first 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours after they are taken.
   • Earn a 3.0 grade point average at the college level on degree coursework after attempting 30, 60, or 90 semester hours or 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours, regardless of high school graduation status.
2. Meet HOPE’s U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
3. Meet HOPE’s Georgia residency requirements.
4. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student into an associate degree program.
5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
6. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by Gwinnett Tech.
7. Not in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program.
8. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
9. Meet additional rigor requirements, beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015.

NOTE: Hope scholarship is not available for:

1. Students with an earned bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
2. Students currently enrolled in in Developmental Studies.

Hope Scholarship pays $67.00 per semester credit hour and will not pay for any fees or books. This is based upon Georgia Student Finance Commission regulations and can be subject to change.

Georgia Zell Miller Grant

Georgia’s Zell Miller Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working towards a certificate or diploma at a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or University System of Georgia (USG) institution.

To receive Zell Miller Grant funding, students must:

1. Be accepted into an eligible certificate or diploma program.
2. Have earned a minimum 3.50 Cumulative Grade Point Average (excluding Learning Support and Dual Credit Enrollment Hours) at the end of each term the student is enrolled at the attending eligible postsecondary institution in order to be eligible for Zell Miller Grant the following term of enrollment.
3. Meet Zell Miller Grant U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements.
4. Meet Zell Miller Grant’s Georgia residency requirements
5. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements.
6. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the college.
7. Not be in default or owe a refund on any student financial aid program.
8. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
9. Students are limited in receiving Zell Miller Grant funds to no more than 63 semester or 95 quarter hours of Zell Miller Grant and HOPE Grant payment.

Zell Miller Grant pays $89.00 per semester credit hour and will not pay for any fees or books. This is based upon Georgia Student Finance Commission regulations and can be subject to change.

Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship

Students who have demonstrated academic achievement and are Georgia residents may be eligible to receive Zell Miller Scholarship to assist with tuition and fees at Gwinnett Tech. In addition to the requirements listed below, students must also meet the HOPE scholarship criteria. To receive Zell Miller Scholarship funding, students must:

1. Graduate from an eligible high school as the valedictorian or the salutatorian.
2. Graduate from an eligible high school with a minimum 3.7 grade point average combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration.
3. Complete an eligible home study program with a 3.7 grade point average combined with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT in a single national test administration.
4. Complete an ineligible home study program with a minimum score of 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT test or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT test in a single national test administration, and then earn a 3.3 grade point average on 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level coursework taken after home study completion. This option allows retroactive payment of the first 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours after they are taken.
5. Enroll in an eligible post-secondary institution in 2007 or later, as a freshman, meeting one of the academic qualifications listed above and earn a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at the most recent Zell Miller Scholarship checkpoint.

Zell Miller Scholarship pays $89.00* per semester credit hour and will not pay for any fees or books. This is based upon Georgia Student Finance Commission regulations and can be subject to change.

Georgia Student Access Loan (SAL/SALT)

The Georgia Student Access Loan (SAL) is a limited resource loan program that is designed to assist undergraduate students who have a gap in meeting their educational costs. The program is also designed to provide interest rate and repayment incentives to those who complete their program of study within the designed program length. For more information, please visit: Gafutures.org

Gwinnett Tech Foundation Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to students meeting various specific requirements as outlined by each scholarship foundation. Scholarships do not need to be repaid, and eligibility may or may not be dependent on financial need. There are several scholarships issued by area businesses and civic clubs that are available to Gwinnett Tech students. Interested students should contact the Gwinnett Tech Foundation, Inc. or visit them online at GwinnettTech.edu/scholarships. Scholarship funds are distributed evenly between 2-semester periods unless specified by the donor to apply differently.

Veteran’s Education Benefits/GI Bill/Institutional Support

Credit programs offered at Gwinnett Tech are approved for VA benefits; Continuing Education is not approved. Interested students should contact the VA Regional Office in Atlanta at 1-888-442-4551 for specific information concerning eligibility and benefits.

Additional resources are available for qualifying veterans through the Gwinnett Technical College Foundation. For information on those resources, contact the Gwinnett Tech Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator at 678-226-6841.

Federal VA benefits application procedures are as follows:

• Complete the Application for Benefits (Veterans -22-1990) (Dependents/Spouses-22-5490) available by logging onto benefits.va.gov and entering the requested information.
• All GI Bill beneficiaries are required to attend a mandatory Information Session, schedule an appointment with the Office of Veterans Affairs by calling 678-226-6841.
• Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 beneficiaries must register for classes, submit certification request form, and pay tuition. Chapter 33 and 31 beneficiaries must register for classes and submit certification request form.
• The Gwinnett Tech VA Certifying Official will forward the appropriate Enrollment Certification form (22-1999) to the VA.

After the VA regional office processes the enrollment certification form (22-1999). Chapter 30, 35, 1606 beneficiaries are required to confirm class attendance monthly with the VA regional office monthly via WAVE. Benefits are paid directly to students by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. There is no advance payment. Students are required to submit schedules each term for certification via the certification request form obtained through the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Veteran’s education beneficiaries who seek to change their programs of study must seek approval from the Veterans Affairs Coordinator who will notify the VA certifying official. Failure to follow this process may delay enrollment certification.

Books and Supplies

The Financial Aid Office will grant students who are receiving federal financial aid the option to use a portion of awarded funds to purchase books and supplies at the beginning of the academic semester. Students must have remaining federal financial aid availability after tuition and fees have been assessed. The Financial Aid Office will send an electronic book authorization up to $1,100 (depending on the student’s eligibility and the type of federal aid available) to the on-campus bookstore. Students are not required to participate in the process of obtaining or purchasing books and supplies using this method. However, students who choose to purchase books through a different means will be required to use a different method of payment and be refunded the excess financial aid intended for their books during the normal refund timeline (generally 4 weeks after the start of the semester; see the Gwinnett Tech Business Office for specific dates). Students who begin during the Term C, condensed semester are not eligible for the electronic book authorization process.

Return to Title IV Withdrawal Policy

Federal Title IV funds are awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire semester or program for which the financial aid has been awarded. Federal regulations require Gwinnett Tech to perform a return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation for students who did not receive at least one passing grade (F,WF,I,W) for the semester. Due to the specific requirements, applicable to leaves of absence under Title IV, any Gwinnett Tech approved leave of absence and all withdrawals are treated as withdrawals for Title IV purposes. This calculation is performed using a specific formula required by the U.S. Department of Education. During the first 60% of the semester, a student earns funds in direct proportion to the length of time they remain enrolled. Students who have completed more than 60 percent of the term, will have earned 100 percent of the aid for that period. If a student completed less than 60 percent of the term, the student will have earned the financial aid equivalent to the percentage of the period completed.

The percentage completed will be calculated using the following method:

Determine the percentage of the enrollment period completed by the student

• Days attended / Days in Enrollment Period = Percentage Completed
  • If the calculated percentage exceeds 60%, then the student has earned all Title IV aid for the enrollment period.
  • Days in enrollment period includes all calendar days but excludes breaks of five days or longer

Multiply the percentage completed by the student’s Title IV aid eligibility to determine the earned aid

• Title IV Aid Eligibility x Percentage Completed = Earned Aid

Determine the amount of unearned aid to be returned to the appropriate Title IV aid program

• Total Disbursed Aid - Earned Aid = Unearned Aid to be Returned

If the aid already disbursed equals the earned aid, no further action is required. If the aid already disbursed is less than the earned aid, a late disbursement will be made to the student. If the aid already disbursed is greater than the earned aid, the difference must be returned to the appropriate Title IV aid program. The student will then be responsible for returning the unearned portion of aid and any tuition, fees, and other applicable charges not covered by aid to the Gwinnett Tech Business Office.

Title IV aid is returned in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
• Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

If the student withdraws or drops to less than 6 credit hours and they have a work-study award, their employment under the Federal Work-Study program will be terminated.

Unofficial Withdrawal Policy

Students are expected to follow the Withdrawal Policy  process if they are unable to meet the attendance requirements for a course. Gwinnett Tech abides by the federal regulation (HEA, Section 484B 34 CFR 668.22), stipulating that an institution must determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid as of the date the student ceased attendance. In addition, colleges are required to review students who received federal financial aid and did not successfully pass any courses. An assessment must be made to determine whether the student earned the non-passing grades while attending classes or stopped attending classes but did not officially withdraw. Students who stopped attending classes may be required to repay a portion of the federal financial aid for that semester. If it is determined that a student never began attendance in some or all classes, aid may be cancelled.

Federal financial aid recipients who did not earn at least one passing grade are identified on a grade report at the conclusion of the semester. The Last Date of Attendance (LDA) is also listed along with each grade and a determination is made as to whether this grade is considered an earned or unearned grade. Unearned grades are any grades with a date reported prior to the last date of class for the term. The institution has 30 days from the time the Financial Aid Office is notified to perform a complete withdrawal calculation.

If a student follows institutional procedures and officially withdraws during the semester, their financial aid refund calculation will be completed according to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds Refund Policy, currently outlined above.

Verification of Attendance

• The date provided by the instructor as the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) will be the official date used to determine student’s percentage of completion within the course.

• The Gwinnett Tech Financial Aid Office will not adjust these dates, however, a student who does not agree with a date will be directed to discuss this with their instructor and/or provide evidence of academic activity to the Registrar to request a revision. Any revisions made to an LDA date must be provided to the Financial Aid Office within 15 days of the calculation for any changes in the calculation to be made.

• If attendance can be verified to confirm an earned grade, in even a single class at the end of the semester by an instructor, the student may not need to repay any financial aid.

The federal financial aid repayment amounts will be determined in accordance with the Title IV Refund Policy.  Any amount owed to a federal financial aid program is the student’s responsibility and will appear as a charge on their Gwinnett Tech Student Account. Students with outstanding balances are unable to register for classes and cannot receive official Gwinnett Tech transcripts.

Financial Aid and Repeat Coursework

Federal regulation permits student’s to receive financial aid for not more than two attempts of credit for the same course.  This policy will apply at Gwinnett Technical College regardless of whether financial aid funding was used toward the course credit. Transfer credit will also be counted as an attempt.

Financial Aid Fraud Policy

Federal regulations [34 CFR 668.16(g)] require a school to refer to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Education for Investigation of any information indicating that an applicant for Title IV Federal Student Aid may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with his or her application. Fraud is the intent to deceive as opposed to a mistake. Examples of commonly falsified items include but are not limited to:

• False claims of independent student status
• False claims of citizenship
• Falsification of identities and the use thereof
• Forgery of signatures of certifications
• False statements of income

If such intent is suspected of a student, parent, or third-party servicer the case will be forwarded to the Technical College System of Georgia’s legal counsel immediately for initial investigation, followed by a formal report made to the Department’s Office of Inspector General.

Financial Aid Office Contact Information

E-mail: FinancialAidOffice@GwinnettTech.edu
Phone: 678-226-6677
Fax: 678-226-6916
GwinnettTech.edu/enrollment/financial-aid/