This Financial Aid Offer Letter Guide explains what types of aid are available to SWIC students and the federal and state requirements that need to be met in order to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Types of Financial Aid

Descriptions

• Grants: Need-based gift aid, the student does not pay back
• Scholarships: Talent-based gift aid, the student does not pay back
• Federal and Regular Work Studies: Campus jobs to earn money for educational expenses
• Loans: Students MUST pay back with interest
  • Subsidized: the government pays the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time in financial aid-eligible classes
  • Unsubsidized: student is responsible for interest while enrolled at least half-time in financial aid-eligible classes

Federal Financial Aid

• Pell Grant: based on financial need
• FSEOG: based on financial need
• Subsidized Loans: unmet need based on student’s cost of attendance and other aid
• Unsubsidized Loans: non-need based
• Parent PLUS Loans: Parental credit check required

State Financial Aid

• MAP Grant: financial need and Illinois residency; details at isac.org

Institutional Financial Aid

• Scholarships: Academic/talent-based

Visit the SWIC financial aid handbook for additional information on types of financial aid.

Impacts to Aid Award

Your award may change if your cost of attendance changes, federal/state funding is limited, you drop or withdraw from a course or a course is canceled.

Add the items below for Cost of Attendance:

• Tuition (changes based on the number of enrolled credit hours)
• Books/supplies
• Loan fees
• Food and housing
• Transportation
• Personal expenses

Financial Aid Eligibility Based on Enrollment

Credit Hours in an Eligible Financial Aid Program

Loan Processes

To activate your student loan, you must complete:

1. Master Promissory Note (MPN): the agreement to repay the loan in full
2. Entrance counseling: an online session explaining the loan process

To complete MPN and entrance counseling visit studentaid.gov.

Students must be enrolled actively in six financial aid-eligible credit hours.

Census Date

The census date is the second Friday after the start of classes in the fall and spring semesters and the first Friday after the start of classes in the summer semester.

ALL enrollment and program changes must occur by the census date to ensure financial aid awards accurately reflect your aid eligibility!

Veteran Services

Veteran Services is now located in IS 1035 to assist eligible veterans and their dependents with their federal and state education benefits.

State Benefits

• IVG: military tuition entitlement based on active military service; details at isac.org
• ING: tuition scholarships for active drillist in Army/Air National Guard; details at isac.org
• MIA/POW: tuition scholarships for family members of service missing in action or prisoners of war; details at isac.org

Federal Benefits

• Montgomery GI Bill® (Ch. 30)
• Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserves (Ch. 1606)
• Vocational Rehabilitation (Ch. 31)
• Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33)
• Post 9/11 GI Bill® Transfer of Entitlement (Ch. 33 TOE)
• Survivor and Dependents Educational Benefits (Ch. 35)

Visit the SWIC Veteran Services page for additional information on veteran services.

Bookstore

Financial aid must be awarded before students can charge books to their accounts.  Students must press the big green button (“Apply Financial Aid Charges” on the eSTORM Student Center Financial Aid award page) to use their award funds for books.

SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)

Three Academic Requirements

1. Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA
2. Complete at least 67 percent of all attempted credit hours
3. Complete your program of study within 150 percent of the timeframe allotted for your particular program of study

Visit the Satisfactory Academic Progress page for details regarding SWIC’s financial aid SAP policy.

Repeats/Remedials

• Students receiving aid may repeat a course once after receiving a passing grade. If a student decides to repeat a course with a passing grade for a second time, the student is responsible for payment.
• FA will pay up to 30 credit hours of remedial courses (course numbers below 100). Students exceeding 30 credit hours are responsible for payment.

Refund Dates

Make sure your address is up to date with Enrollment Services.

Grants

Fall Sep. 29, 2023

Spring Feb. 23, 2024

Summer June 28, 2024

Grant Information

Loans

Fall/Spring Sep. 29, 2023 & Feb. 23, 2024

Fall Only Sep. 29 & Nov. 3, 2023

Spring Only Feb. 23& Apr. 5, 2024

Summer — Prior Borrower June 28 & July 12, 2024

Summer — First Time Borrower July 5 & July 12, 2024

Loan Information

Notes

• Grants and loans are mailed every week after the first disbursement.
• There is a second loan disbursement for fall-, spring-, and summer-only loan students.
• Dates reflect when refund checks are mailed. You will receive a refund via mail if you have excess funds after tuition/fees/bookstore charges are paid.
• SWIC is transitioning to Direct Deposit. To set up your preference for an electronic payment or check by mail, visit refundselection.com.

Return of Financial Aid Refunds

Students who withdraw or are withdrawn by an instructor from all eligible enrolled hours are affected.

Visit the SWIC financial aid handbook for more information.

Be Sure to Check Your Accounts

All communications from the Financial Aid, Veteran Services, and Student Employment will be sent to your SWIC email. Check your eSTORM account for award activity.

Contact the Financial Aid Office

• Email: fin_aid@swic.edu
• Veteran Services Email:  veteranservice@swic.edu
• Belleville Campus Room IS 1035: 618-235-2700, ext. 5288
• Sam Wolf Granite City Campus: 618-931-0600, ext. 5288
  • Financial Aid Room 420
  • Veterans Services Room 435
• Toll-Free in Illinois: 866-942-SWIC (7942), ext. 5288

Please visit the SWIC Financial Aid page and click on the drop-down menu for additional information on all topics discussed in this brochure.

Complete your FAFSA now