Northeastern Technical College awarded over two million dollars in financial aid and grants to 1180 students during the 2018 fall semester.
Funding from the federal Pell Grant, and state programs such as Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA), Life Scholarship, SC Promise, and other local scholarships are making college free for many NETC students.
For students planning to attend college, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the most important step in the process. Each year the federal government sets aside billions of dollars that go unclaimed by college students. While the FAFSA form itself is the approval process for Pell Grant funding, it’s also a door opener for many other forms of financial assistance.
“Not qualifying for the Pell Grant is not the end of the road for students needing financial assistance,” said Sheryll Marshall, coordinator of financial aid at NETC. “In fact, students who complete the FAFSA and are denied aid, become eligible for a number of other funding sources, such as the SC Promise.”
According to Marshall, the vast majority of NETC students who fill out the FAFSA are eligible for some sort of federal financial aid, and the steps for applying are fairly simple. To start the application process for financial aid, students should visit www.fafsa.gov and be sure to list NETC’s Federal School Code – 007602, so NETC will receive a copy of your FAFSA results. To apply for financial aid for the 2018-19 academic year, students will need to use their 2016 tax returns. For those applying for Fall 2019, 2017 tax returns will be needed. Computer stations and one-on-one assistance in completing the FAFSA application is available in the Office of Student Financial Assistance at NETC, open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. “Many students and parents may need help getting their paperwork in order. We want to help walk you through the process so you can get the money you need to get your college degree,” Marshall said. More information about financial aid and how to apply is available by stopping by the Financial Aid office, or visiting www.netc.edu and clicking on Financial Aid or by calling (843) 921-6939. Paper applications are available by calling 1-800-4Fed-Aid (1-800-433-3243).