LOTTERY TUITION ASSISTANCE for TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Lottery-funded tuition assistance now pays more than half of technical college tuition for SC residents!

Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA) is available for eligible full-time students (12 or more credit hours) and eligible part-time students. The maximum award for Summer 2008 is $840 for eligible full-time students and $70 per credit hour for eligible part-time students. If you have not already submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will need to do so before your college's financial aid office can determine your eligibility for lottery-funded tuition assistance.

According to state law, federal grants and need-based grants will be applied against Technical College tuition before lottery-funded tuition assistance will be applied. For example, if a student receives $400 in federal grants and $200 in need-based grants, $600 will be applied against the student's tuition before lottery-funded tuition assistance will be applied.

The law also states that students can only apply lottery tuition assistance toward one certificate, diploma or associate degree program every five years, unless the additional certificate, diploma or associate degree is necessary for progress in a field of study.

Please note that Lottery Tuition Assistance award amounts are subject to change each term based on the number of eligible recipients and available funding.

IMPORTANT: may use their LIFE Scholarship award at a Technical College; however, they will not be eligible for lottery-funded tuition assistance.

LOTTERY-FUNDED TUITION ASSISTANCE - Q & A

Eligibility

Who is eligible for lottery tuition assistance?
You must qualify for in-state tuition rates and be a legal South Carolina resident for a minimum of one year. Please see the Eligibility page for complete eligibility requirements.

Is eligibility based upon income or need?
No. However, there are general eligibility requirements. Please refer to the Eligibility page for complete eligibility requirements.

What academic progress do I need to make in order to keep receiving tuition assistance?
You must have earned a grade point average of 2.0 or better after attempting 24 academic credit hours in order to retain lottery tuition assistance.

Is graduation from high school a requirement?
A high school diploma or GED is not a prerequisite for admission to a technical college, but the diploma or GED may be required for admission into specific academic programs. Students who are admitted to a technical college, enrolled in six or more credit hours, and who meet the other eligibility requirements may receive lottery tuition assistance.

Am I eligible if I am employed full time in SC but not a resident of SC?
No, the student must reside in South Carolina and qualify for in-state tuition rates.

Are international students eligible for tuition assistance?
In order to be eligible for lottery tuition assistance, a student must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-student under state residency statues.

If someone has a college degree, can they still receive lottery tuition assistance?
Yes.

If I am a part-time student, can I qualify for tuition assistance?
Students who are enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester are eligible. Lottery tuition assistance will be pro-rated based on the number of hours each student is taking.

If a student leaves a 4-year college to get the first two years at a technical college, can the student receive lottery funding?
Yes.

Are there any high school GPA or SAT requirements for eligibility?
No.

Can I receive lottery tuition assistance and a LIFE scholarship?
No. Students may use their LIFE Scholarship award at a technical college; however, they will not be eligible for lottery-funded tuition assistance.
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Applying

How do I apply for lottery tuition assistance?
IF YOU ALREADY ARE A TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENT and you want lottery-funded tuition assistance, you must apply for federal financial aid using the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY A TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENT and you want lottery-funded tuition assistance, you must apply for federal financial aid using the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and also complete the admissions, advising and enrollment processes at the technical college you plan to attend.

There are two ways to apply using the FAFSA:
ONLINE: You can log on to the FAFSA website at www.FAFSA.ed.gov to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. You may also access this site through most technical college web sites. This online application can be processed much faster than the paper application.
PAPER: You can complete the paper application form and mail it in. You can pick up this form in the financial aid office of any technical college campus. Completing the printed application will take much longer to process than completing the form online.

When do I apply?
If you are a technical college student now and plan to attend in the fall, complete the FAFSA form immediately. If you are not currently a student, you should apply for admission to a technical college now AND complete the FAFSA.

Do I have to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid)?
Yes, this is an eligibility requirement for the lottery tuition program.

What is a FAFSA?
A FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is the application you must complete in order to take advantage of lottery-funded technical college tuition assistance.

Will my previously filed FAFSA be acceptable?
You must file a 2008-2009 FAFSA form to be eligible for funds for the Fall 2008 semester. If you filed a form prior to January 1, 2007, you must file again. For example, the Fall Semester 2008 uses the 2008-2009 FAFSA.

How long will it take before the FAFSA is processed?
The amount of time it takes to process the FAFSA varies, but the FAFSA website estimates that, depending on the time of the year, it can take three to six weeks.

Will the rules/regulations for lottery tuition assistance be the same at every Technical College?
Yes.

Tuition

Will lottery tuition assistance provide completely free tuition?
NO, the maximum amount for the 2008 fall semester has not been decided but you must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to be eligibility for assistance.

Will lottery tuition assistance cover college fees above and beyond tuition?
Lottery tuition assistance may be applied to the cost of tuition and academic fees. Academic fees include the technology fee and the student activities fee.

Will my Pell Grant be affected by lottery tuition assistance?
Pell Grant funds will be applied toward tuition before lottery-funded tuition assistance is applied toward tuition.

Will lottery tuition assistance go directly to the college or the student?
The funds will go to the college, not the student.

Can money from the lottery funds be used to cover the cost of textbooks, childcare, transportation, etc.?
No, lottery tuition assistance funds will only be applied to the cost of tuition and academic fees.

If I have not been told that I have been awarded lottery tuition assistance by the time classes start, will I be required to pay tuition?
College practices may differ. Please direct this question to the Admissions Office at the technical college you plan to attend.

Will I be required to repay lottery tuition assistance if I drop or withdraw from a course or program?
No, however, dropping a course or withdrawing from a program may affect your eligibility for the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program in the future.
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Courses and Programs

What courses and programs are eligible for lottery tuition assistance?
All courses and programs are eligible for lottery tuition assistance; however, the law also states that students can only apply lottery tuition assistance toward one certificate, diploma or associate degree program every five years, unless the additional certificate, diploma or associate degree is necessary for progress in a field of study.
Students enrolled in degree, diploma or certificate programs that have been authorized by the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education or the Commission on Higher Education may receive lottery tuition assistance.

Can lottery tuition assistance pay for remedial or developmental courses?
Students enrolled in an eligible program of study may include remedial courses as part of the minimum number of required credit hours needed to participate in the lottery tuition assistance program as long as the courses carry institutional credit hours and meet Title IV limitations on remedial coursework.

Will the lottery tuition assistance pay for continuing education and or non-credit courses?
No.
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Scholarship and other Financial Aid

Will lottery tuition assistance be provided in addition to all other scholarship or funding I may receive?
Federal grants and need-based grants are applied toward tuition before lottery tuition assistance. If the total amount of these grants is less than the tuition of the college, lottery tuition assistance will apply. If they cover the full cost of tuition, no lottery tuition assistance will be available.

What form of assistance pays first?
Federal grants and need-based grants are applied toward tuition before lottery tuition assistance. Will LIFE Scholarships be available to students that want to attend technical colleges?
Yes. Students may use their LIFE Scholarship award at a technical college; however, they will not be eligible for lottery-funded tuition assistance, even during summer terms when they do not receive LIFE scholarship funds. If students receive all of their Pell Grant eligibility in fall and spring semesters, can they receive Lottery tuition assistance for the summer semester?
Yes, to the extent that lottery tuition assistance funds are available. Will a student who receives lottery funds be required to repay, if the college subsequently receives notification of other financial aid?
Adjustments to the financial aid package will be made to lottery tuition assistance when federal and need-based grants can be applied to the cost of tuition and academic fees.

If I have a private scholarship, will it be used in the calculation to determine whether I am eligible to receive lottery tuition assistance?
No.

If I don't qualify for financial aid but do qualify for a loan, will I be required to take out the loan before receiving lottery funds?
No, student loans will not impact the availability of lottery tuition assistance.

How will lottery funding affect college work-study programs?
Lottery tuition assistance will not affect work-study programs.
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