Ways to Pay for College

BRTC offers several options to help students continue their education by offering financial assistance. Students may receive college employment opportunities, loans, scholarships, grants, or a combination of these types of aid.  All financial aid forms as well as information about each program are available online at the Financial Aid website.

Tuition and fees for classes must be paid for or arrangements must be made by the deadline each semester. Failure to do so will cause the student to be dropped from all classes.

Federal Financial Aid Programs
Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online so that it can be processed and students' eligibility for all federal funding can be determined.  There are two kinds of federal funding available to students:

• Grants - Grants are based on need and do not have to be paid back  

  • Eligibility is based on results of the FAFSA  

  • Maximum award amount for 2010-2011 is $5,550 or $2,775/semester

  • Eligibility amount is constant regardless of where the student goes to college

  • If grant amount covers the tuition costs, any funds remaining will be refunded to the student for educationally related expenses 

   

• Loans - Federal loans are low interest but must be repaid   

  • Eligibility is based on results of the FAFSA  

  • Funds are guaranteed by the Federal Government and borrowed from the U.S. Government

  • Two types of loans:  subsidized and unsubsidized

  • Interest rates are variable every academic year, with a rate cap at 8.25%

  • Repayment begins 6 months after graduation - payments are deferred if student maintains enrollment of at least 6 credits/semester excluding summers

   

• Regulations 

  • May receive federal aid ONLY for those classes within their degree plan  

  • Financial Aid Offices are required to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy - BRTC requires students to maintain a 2.0 term and cumulative GPA

  • Must work on one degree at a time to be eligible for financial aid

   

• Financial Aid Process:  Application & Notification  

  • Step 1.  Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 

    • Must submit online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

   

• Step 2.  Notification of Eligibility  

  • You will receive a SAR (student aid report) from U.S. Department of Education

  • BRTC Financial Aid office will mail you a letter to indicate we have received your application results

  • Complete and return any enclosed forms immediately

  • FA office will determine your federal aid eligibility  (grants and loans) and mail you an AWARD LETTER

  • Aid awarded is to be first applied to tuition, fees and books

  • Any unused eligibility that semester will be refunded to you

   

• Step 3.  Refund Checks

  • ALL refund checks will be mailed to the student's current address on file

  • Campus Connect will post a message indicating the refund has been mailed

  • An Email will be sent to student's BRTC email account indicating the refund has been mailed.  Instructions to activate the student email account can be found on the Check Email page of the BRTC website.

• Return to Title IV Funds Regulation

• The Federal Government requires students receiving Title IV (federal aid) funding to attend 60% of the semester before earning all aid received (ex. Pell, student eligibility is based on results of the FAFSA  

Scholarships
There are many state funded scholarships available to students as well as publicly and privately funded scholarships offered by BRTC. All scholarship information available by BRTC may be accessed at http://finaid.blackrivertech.edu.

Career Pathways
The BRTC Career Pathways program provides financial assistance with books, tuition, childcare, gasoline, obtaining a GED/Certificate/Degree, and possible job placement upon completion for those who meet the criteria.

FACTS Tuition Management
BRTC offers FACTS, a tuition management plan, as a convenient budget plan for paying tuition in payments.

If you have questions regarding financial assistance, contact one of the Financial Aid staff members.