How to Apply

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To determine whether or not a student is eligible for federal and/or state financial aid programs, the student and his or her family must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 1 of each year for priority consideration.

Step 1: Apply for a Personal Identification Number -The ATC FAO recommends applying for a PIN number with the Department of Education at www.pin.ed.gov prior to completing the FAFSA online. Applying for a PIN number in advance will expedite the process. For dependent students, both the student and one parent must request a PIN.

Step 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - The FAFSA must be submitted each year and should be completed on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Financial aid is not automatically renewable.

When completing your FAFSA, don’t forget to include ATC’s Title IV School Code: 010056.

Application Deadlines

Application submission deadline dates are:

Term	Date
Fall	June 1
Spring	October 1
Summer	March 1

Applications submitted after these established dates will continue to be processed but will not be guaranteed to be ready for payment purposes by the fee due date. Students should be prepared to pay for their tuition, fees, books and supplies. If a student is deemed eligible after payment has been made, he/she will be reimbursed based on eligibility after mid-term of the semester.

Students who receive aid in addition to federal student financial aid are required to report the amount and source to the financial aid office.

Financial Aid Admission Requirements

New students, transfer students and previous ATC students that have not attended ATC in the last year must complete an Admissions Application before beginning the financial aid application process.

Applying for Summer Financial Aid

In addition to completing the FAFSA, a separate Summer Aid Application is required for students who wish to be considered for summer financial aid. Applications must be completed and turned into the Financial Aid Office by March 31. Applications received after this date will be processed, however, may not be available at registration for payment purposes. The ATC FAO will begin processing Summer Aid Applications after April 1.

Transferring Aid to ATC

Financial aid awards cannot be transferred from one college to another. Students transferring to ATC must request a duplicate Student Aid Report (SAR) be sent to ATC. This can easily be done by calling the Federal Processor at 1-800-4FEDAID and requesting that our institution be added or by going on-line to make a correction to your FAFSA information at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Our Title IV School Code is 010056.

Special Circumstances

Although the process of determining a student’s eligibility for federal student aid is basically the same for all applicants, there is some flexibility. If mitigating circumstances exist which affect the amount families are expected to contribute, a financial aid counselor may possibly be able to provide options. By submitting a Special Circumstance Form to the financial aid office, a counselor can review the financial aid package and determine whether any adjustments can be made due to the current situation. Written documentation must be provided which verifies the circumstances reported for an adjustment to be reviewed.

Verification Requirement

Approximately 30 percent of all students who apply for federal assistance are selected by the U.S. Department of Education (DOEd) for a process called verification. The verification process requires that you submit documentation to verify the data submitted on the FAFSA. The typical documents needed to complete this process are: a signed copy of the parent(s) and the student’s (spouse’s) federal tax return(s) including all W-2 Forms and any schedules submitted with the federal tax returns, and when applicable copies of untaxed income such as social security, AFDC/TANF, child support, pensions, workman’s compensation etc. Student’s selected for verification will also need to complete the ATC Information Request Form (IRF).

The FAO will send a follow-up letter to identify any missing documentation needed to complete the verification process. Respond quickly to any and all requests for information. You must complete the verification process within 30 days or your original notification.

If you or your parent(s)/spouse are unable to locate a copy of the tax return, you may request a tax return transcript or IRS Form 1722 along with W-2 information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by calling (800) 829-1040.

Awarding Financial Aid

Federal Philosophy

Financial Aid is awarded based on the requirements set forth by the Higher Education Act. The formula used to determine your eligibility is mandated by Congress to ensure equal treatment of all applicants. The philosophy under which Federal student financial aid was created is to provide funds to supplement the family’s ability to pay for their children’s education. Independent students (and their spouses) are expected to contribute toward their own education based on available income and assets. Eligibility equals the colleges’ cost of education minus the expected family contribution determined by the information provided on the FAFSA.

Student Eligibility Requirements

A student must meet the following eligibility requirements to receive federal financial assistance:

Have financial need as determined through the completion of the FAFSA
Enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program of study offering a certificate, diploma, or degree consisting of at least 16 semester credit hours (continuing education and career development are not eligible programs)
Be a regular student (continuing ed and transient students are not regular students)
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Be registered with Selective Service (males only)
Not be in default of a Title IV student loan or borrowed in excess of Title IV loan limits
Not owe a repayment of Title IV aid such as Pell or FSEOG
Maintain Title IV Standards of Academic Progress
Not enrolled concurrently in an elementary or secondary school, and
Have a valid social security number
Have a high school diploma, GED

Eligible Programs and Coursework

A student must enroll in an eligible program to receive any type of federal aid. Continuing Education and Career Development are not eligible programs. Audited courses will not be considered in determining a student’s enrollment status. A student is paid only for those courses required for graduation or as a prerequisite for courses required in the program.

Determination of Financial Need

ATC’s financial aid programs assist students who have financial need determined by the federal processor. One of the principles behind need-based aid is that students and their families should pay for educational expenses to the extent they are able. A financial need exists if the resources of the family (expected family contribution aka EFC) do not meet the total cost of attending the College.

The total costs of attendance (student budget) are estimates of the total costs a student incurs as a full-time student for the nine-month academic period. These costs include tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, personal and transportation expenses. The average 9-month budget for an ATC student ranges from $8,500 to $12,500

Award Notification

Students are notified of their eligibility for aid via an award letter. Traditionally, students are awarded for a full academic year with one half the total award disbursed towards the fall semester and the other half disbursed towards the spring semester. Awards are given on a pro rata basis for less than the full-time enrollment at each registration.

Application of Funds and Settlement Checks

Financial aid, excluding federal work-study, is used to pay for tuition and fees and any other school charges. Remaining funds can be (not required) used in the ATC Bookstore to purchase books and related supplies. Any additional remaining funds will be mailed to the student approximately 3 weeks after mid-term. It is important that your current mailing address be on record with the Admissions Office. The funds from the settlement check can be used towards your cost of education. This may include living expenses such as room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and childcare.