Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based student financial aid program that provides grants (aid that does not have to be repaid) to undergraduate students. The Federal Pell Grant program is open to SCC students accepted for enrollment or who are enrolled in a certificate or degree seeking program, have not already earned a bachelor’s degree, and meet requirements that apply to Title IV student aid programs in general. To apply, an applicant must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When the FAFSA is processed, the individual’s expected family contribution (EFC) is calculated and the applicants Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) is sent to SCC, which contains the information necessary for the Financial Aid Office to determine the amount of the Federal Pell Grant.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program is administered by the Shawnee Community College Financial Aid Office. The FSEOG is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. To be considered for the FSEOG, students must submit the FAFSA to SCC. As a participating school, Shawnee Community College receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education. Once the full amount of SCC’s FSEOG funds have been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for the year.
Monetary Award Program (MAP)
MAP grants, which do not need to be repaid, are available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). You are not required to submit high school grades or test scores when applying for a MAP grant. MAP grants are not limited to traditional college-aged students. If all eligibility requirements are met, adult and non-traditional students (older than recent high school graduates) may also qualify. MAP grants can be applied only toward tuition and mandatory fees.
Shawnee Community College uses the MAP formula to determine eligibility. The formula distributes the appropriated funds so that the neediest students receive grant assistance. Several components are used to determine eligibility, including: information provided on your FAFSA [from which your expected family contribution (EFC) is calculated], the cost of attendance at the college you plan to attend, and the amount of other financial aid you are receiving.
Because MAP funding is historically insufficient to meet the demand, several allocation measures have been put into place to provide for as many awards as possible. One of those is limiting MAP awards to fall and spring terms only; there are no summer term MAP awards. Additionally, a suspension date is typically implemented early in the spring term each year, after which time no further awards are announced.
Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program
If you are a member* of the Illinois National Guard, you may be eligible to receive the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant. This grant can pay for eligible tuition and certain fees (i.e., registration, graduation, general activity, matriculation and term fees) for undergraduate or graduate study. Benefits are limited to use only at Illinois 2- or 4-year public colleges as follows:
- If you have completed less than ten years of active duty ING service, your grant can be used for a maximum of the equivalent of four academic years of full-time enrollment.
- Once you have completed ten years or more of active duty ING service, your grant can be used for a maximum of the equivalent of six academic years of full-time enrollment (note that the six-year maximum eligibility is cumulative, and includes benefits received when you had less than ten years of service).
Contact the SCC Financial Aid Office to determine what portion of your total tuition and fees will be covered by this grant.
If you qualify for the ING Grant and the Montgomery or Post-9/11 GI Bills, you may be able to receive benefits from both programs during the same academic year for eligible educational expenses.
To obtain information and an online application for GI Education benefits, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 888.GI BILL1 or visit their website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
To assist veterans in navigating the complex web of services and benefits available, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) runs 49 full-time and 35 part-time (itinerant) offices in 80 out of the 102 counties in Illinois. You can look up your nearest Service Office at the IDVA website.
For more information, contact ISAC, your National Guard unit, or the SCC Financial Aid Office. You may also wish to review the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program – Additional Important Information document, which is included in all benefit notifications that are sent to applicants.
Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) Program
If you have served at least one year of federal active duty service in the Armed Forces of the United States; or served on federal active duty service in a foreign country during a time of hostilities in that country and were honorably discharged after each period of federal active duty service; and/or are honorably serving** you may be eligible for the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program.
Any member of the Illinois National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who meets the eligibility requirements is considered a qualified applicant for the IVG Program. Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit an IVG Program application if they anticipate attending college at any point in the future. While program eligibility can be confirmed for qualified applicants at any time, funds will be disbursed only for terms in which you are enrolled at Shawnee Community College.
This program pays eligible tuition and mandatory fees. Mandatory fees are those assessed by Shawnee Community College to every full-time student for each term. Benefits are limited to use only at Illinois public colleges or community colleges. Qualified applicants may use this grant at the undergraduate or graduate level for the equivalent of four academic years of full-time enrollment, which is measured in eligibility units. With the exception of Veterans who are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at less than 100% (based on length of service) and choose to use those benefits during the same term that IVG benefits are used. IVG Program eligibility units are based on the enrolled hours for a particular term, not the dollar amount of the benefits paid. Charges for noncredit courses that meet the definition of tuition and mandatory fees may be covered by IVG benefits. Eligibility units used for a noncredit course are the same as those assessed for a credit course having the same number of faculty contact hours. Contact the SCC Financial Aid Office to determine the amount of the eligible tuition and mandatory fees that can be covered by this grant.
If you qualify for IVG and the Montgomery or Post-9/11 GI Bills, you may be able to receive benefits from both programs during the same academic year for eligible educational expenses.
To obtain information and an online application for GI Education benefits, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 888.GI BILL1 or visit their website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
To assist Veterans in navigating the complex web of services and benefits available, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) runs 49 full-time and 35 part-time (itinerant) offices in 80 out of the 102 counties in Illinois. You can look up your nearest Service Office at the IDVA website.
Grant Program for Dependents of Police of Fire Officers
If you are the spouse or child of an Illinois police or fire officer who was killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty, you may be eligible for the Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers. This grant provides assistance toward college tuition and mandatory fees* for undergraduate or graduate study at an ISAC-approved Illinois college. You may receive assistance for a maximum of the equivalent of four academic years (eight semesters or 12 quarters) of full-time enrollment. You do not need to be an Illinois resident at the time of enrollment to receive this grant.
- Recipients attending approved public colleges in Illinois shall receive full payment of tuition and mandatory fees on their behalf. The grant will cover the difference in costs for courses taken at an out-of-district college that are not offered at a recipient’s in-district college. Recipients attending approved private colleges in Illinois shall receive payment of tuition and mandatory fees in an amount not to exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public college in Illinois. Mandatory fees are those assessed by a college to every full-time student for each term. Examples include fees for activities, facility operations, grants, health, registration, technology, transportation and others. SCC determines which fees are considered mandatory.
Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers
If you are the spouse or child of a State of Illinois Department of Corrections officer who was killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty, you may be eligible for the Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers. This grant provides assistance toward tuition and mandatory fees* for undergraduate or graduate study at ISAC-approved Illinois colleges. You may receive assistance for a maximum of the equivalent of four academic years (eight semesters or 12 quarters) of full-time enrollment. You do not need to be an Illinois resident at the time of enrollment to receive this grant.
* Recipients attending approved public colleges in Illinois shall receive full payment of tuition and mandatory fees on their behalf. The grant will cover the difference in costs for courses taken at an out-of-district college that are not offered at a recipient’s in-district college. Recipients attending approved private colleges in Illinois shall receive payment of tuition and mandatory fees in an amount not to exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public college in Illinois. Mandatory fees are those assessed by a college to every full-time student for each term. Examples include fees for activities, facility operations, grants, health, registration, technology, transportation and others. SCC determines which fees are considered mandatory.
Grant Program for Exonerees
If the Governor of the State of Illinois has issued you a pardon on the grounds of innocence of the crime for which you had been imprisoned, or you have received a certificate of innocence from a circuit court, you may be eligible to receive funds from the Grant Program for Exonerees. This grant provides assistance toward tuition and mandatory fees for no more than two semesters per regular school year (the grant is not available for summer terms) for undergraduate or graduate study at Illinois public colleges and community colleges. You may receive assistance for a maximum of the equivalent of four regular school years (eight semesters) of full-time enrollment.
In addition, the grant may be used to pay costs associated with obtaining:
- a high school equivalency certificate from an Illinois Community College Board-approved provider (currently GED®or HiSET®), and up to one retest on each test module, and/or
- an official transcript of test scores after successful completion of the high school equivalency test.
ISAC will accept and consider for reimbursement expenses paid on or after January 1, 2016.
Work Study Program
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based financial aid program that allows you to work part-time to help pay for college. A Federal Work-Study job is different from other jobs for the following two reasons: (1) the hours are flexible to ensure that you have enough time to study, and (2) when you apply for financial aid the following year, the money you earned through this program isn’t used to determine your financial need.
To be considered for Federal Work-Study, be sure to indicate that you’re interested in this program on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Funds for this program are limited, so it is important to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible. If you are eligible, SCC will list the amount you can earn on your financial aid offer letter.
Once you find a job, you’ll receive a paycheck for the hours you work. If you don’t work enough hours, you may not earn all of the funds you have been awarded. The money you earn through the Federal Work-Study program is paid directly to you. It is up to you to use this money wisely.
In addition to the financial benefits, there are other reasons to consider a Federal Work-Study job. Working on campus allows you to meet other students, network with teachers and administrators, and may even give you the opportunity to gain career experience. There are even Federal Work-Study jobs in not-for-profit community outreach organizations. Money earned from a Federal Work-Study job will not be counted as income when you complete the next year’s FAFSA. Explore your options and find the job that works best for you.
If you decide that you don’t want to work while you’re in college, let the SCC Financial Aid Office know that you no longer want to participate in the Federal Work-Study program.
Since eligibility for the Federal Work-Study program is limited, and is based on need, you may not qualify to participate in this program. If you are still interested in working on campus, SCC may be able to offer other employment opportunities. Check with the Student Success Center – Career Services Office about non-FWS employment opportunities. Money earned from a non-work-study job will be counted as income on the next year’s FAFSA.
Additional information regarding Federal Work-Study is available online via the U.S. Department of Education’s “Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Apply for Federal Student Aid” publication, which may be accessed via the Information on College Preparation and the Federal Student Aid Programs section of the Resources page at Federal Student Aid’s StudentAid.gov. You may also visit the Federal Work-Study section at StudentAid.gov.
Private Alternative Loans
Private student loans are made by private organizations such banks, credit unions, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations, and have terms and conditions that are set by the lender. Private student loans are generally more expensive than federal student loans.
Students who wish to borrow money to help pay for college may use a private lender of their choosing. In this case, the private lender determines the student’s eligibility and amount they can borrow. Credit checks and promissory note co-signers are typically required.
Visit ELMSelect to view private alternative loan information.