Q? What options do I have for paying my college expenses?

You have four options to choose from.

1. If you choose to pay using your own monies, you can pay by cash, check, or money order.  Your tuition and fees will be billed four to six weeks prior to the start of classes, but if you register late, you can call Tuition Accounts at 803.786. 3616 and request a bill. You can visit the Office of Tuition Accounts on the third floor of the Allison building to make your payment or mail a check or money order to
Office of Tuition Accounts
1301 Columbia College Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
 
2. You may pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted). You will be billed four to six weeks prior to the start of classes, but if you register late, you can call Tuition Accounts at 803.786. 3616 and request a bill. You can make a credit card payment by phone by calling 803.786.3616 or you can visit their office on the third floor of the Allison building to make your payment.
 
IF YOU PAY BY CASH, CHECK, MONEY ORDER, OR CREDIT CARD, PLEASE DO SO BY THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS!
 
3. You can make monthly payments by setting up an account with Tuition Management Systems. This company has an enrollment fee but does not charge interest on your account. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SIGN UP FOR THIS OPTION AT LEAST A MONTH BEFORE THE START OF THE SEMSETER. You can find out more about this option by clicking here.

4. You can apply for federal financial aid and information follows:

Q. When should I apply for financial aid?

A. It is important that you apply for financial aid the day you submit your application for admission.

Q. How do I apply for financial aid?

A. You apply for financial aid by filing the FAFSA, Free Application For Federal Student Aid. This form determines your eligibility for receiving Stafford Federal Loans.

Q. Am I eligible to receive financial aid if I am a non-degree student?

A. No. Only students who are degree seeking can apply for and receive federal financial aid.

Q. As a degree seeking student, am I eligible to receive a Pell Grant or South Carolina Tuition Grant?

A. No. Graduate students are not eligible to receive either federal or state grants.

Q. I’ve never filed a FAFSA; what do I do?

• Go online to www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a PIN (personal identification number)

  Your PIN can be used each year to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your U.S. Department of Education records online. If you receive a PIN, you agree to not disclose or share your PIN with anyone. Your PIN serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records. You should never give your PIN to anyone, including commercial services that offer to help you complete your FAFSA. Be sure to keep your PIN in a safe place.

• The PIN will be emailed to you within 5-7 days.
• Once you receive your PIN, go online to www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the online application for federal student aid.
• If you are filing the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the first time, it will probably take you about an hour to complete the form, so plan on filing when you have some quiet time and can concentrate..
• When you are asked for the federal code for Columbia College, the number is 003430.
• Sign the FAFSA with the PIN you received and Columbia College will receive the FAFSA results within 3-5 days.
• You will receive an e-mail notification that your FAFSA has been processed and will be able to view your Student Aid Report (SAR). It is your RESPONSIBILITY to check the information carefully and make sure that it is correct.
• The Office of Financial Aid, OFA, at Columbia College will NOT open a financial aid file in your name until you are accepted into the Evening program. Once an applicant is accepted to Columbia College, it takes 5-7 business days for the OFA to receive your information and set up a file in your name.

Q. What do I do when I receive the SAR?

A. If the information is incorrect, make the corrections online as directed. A new SAR will be processed and Columbia College will receive your updated SAR electronically. Once your admission file is complete and you are accepted for admission, you will receive a financial aid award.

If the information is correct, you do not have to do anything. A SAR will be sent to Columbia College and once your file is complete and you are accepted for admission, you will receive a financial aid award.

Q. What does it mean when the SAR indicates that I have been selected for verification?

A. If the federal government selects your SAR for the verification process, you will receive a letter and verification worksheet from the Financial Aid Office at Columbia College. This letter will ask that you send a signed copy of your federal tax return, copies of your W-2 forms, and the completed verification worksheet back to the financial aid office at Columbia College within five days. Once the Financial Aid Office processes your verification documents, THEN financial aid can be awarded.

Q. What should I do when I receive my financial aid award packet from Columbia College?

A. Review the instructions in the packet and complete the required
steps. You will receive two copies of your financial aid award letter and instructions to go to the website, www.mappingyourfuture.org to complete an Entrance Interview. You only have to complete the Entrance Interview one time; it is not done on a yearly basis.

• You must sign and return one copy of the Financial Aid Award Letter to the office of Financial Aid at Columbia College. If you decline part or all of the financial aid award, you must indicate that on the award letter. When you return the award letter, this gives Columbia College permission to notify the appropriate agencies that you want to accept the grants and/or loans for which you are eligible, and only after this is done can the money be processed and applied to your account. If you do NOT sign and return the award letter, no money will be credited to your account to pay your tuition, books, and fees.
• You must complete the Entrance Interview at www.mappingyourfuture.org. If you do not complete this process, the award package can't be processed and this will delay your loan money being applied to your account and it will delay your receiving a refund, if you are eligible for one.
• You will receive a Master Promissory Note, MPN, from the institution that is lending you the Stafford Loan money. Columbia College does not lend you money, so the MPN is not sent to you from Columbia College. You must complete the MPN and return it as quickly as possible to the correct address. (The MPN is similar to the paperwork you fill out when buying a car or house.) You only have to complete a MPN note one time; it is not done on a yearly basis.

It is your responsibility to complete all paperwork in a timely manner. If you have questions about the financial aid process, please call the Office of Financial Aid at 803.786.3612.

Q. Can I take only one class a semester and still receive financial aid?

A. No. You must be enrolled in at least six semester hours to receive financial aid.

Q. Can I use financial aid to pay for books and other items in the bookstore?

A. The financial aid office will award you financial aid to cover tuition, fees, and books. Should you require additional funds to cover your costs, you will need to contact the Financial Aid Office and speak with a counselor.

Q. I am in default on a previous student loan; what should I do?

A. Call the lender and make arrangements to begin the repayment process. Then contact the Evening College and explain your particular situation so you can be advised as to your best course of action concerning admission.