Federal Pell Grant Program

The Federal Pell Grant Program — https://studentaid.gov/ - is a federally funded award to help persons who have not earned a bachelor’s degree pay for their education after high school. The amount a student receives will depend on the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) shown on the SAR (Student Aid Report) or ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record), how many registered course credit hours, the cost of attendance, program eligibility, and the size of the federal appropriations. Lifetime Pell Eligibility is limited to 600% or 18 semesters.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) – https://studentaid.gov/ - is a federal program that provides assistance for students with exceptional needs. Need is determined by the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) shown on the SAR or ISIR. Awards range from $400 to $1000 per term. Priority is given to students who have maximum eligibility and have a higher cumulative grade point average. Students must not be receiving assistance from any other service or form of Financial Aid other than the Federal Pell Grant and HOPE to get FSEOG. Students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant to be considered.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The Federal Work-Study Program — https://studentaid.gov/ - is a federal program that provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Students must be enrolled in a Title IV eligible program to be eligible.

The procedures for applying for Federal Work-Study are as follows:

  1. Once registered for class(es), interested students should come by the Financial Aid Office to complete an application and notify Financial Aid they are interested in Work-Study.
  2. The Financial Aid Office calculates the student applicant’s need according to the Federal regulations to determine eligibility for Federal Work-Study and forwards eligibility to Career Services.
  3. The Career Services Office instructs eligible students to apply on the College's website and forwards eligible student’s applications to the hiring department.
  4. Work-Study candidates will be contacted for an interview by the department hiring.
  5. Departments will select those to be employed and notify the Career Services Office.
  6. The Career Services Office will submit a completed background check form to Human Resources for processing. Work-Study contract information will be submitted to the departmental payroll person upon clearance and approval of the background check.
  7. The newly hired student will complete all required payroll paperwork and return it to the departmental payroll person.
  8. Student employees will be assigned an employee ID number to clock in and out on either a biometric clock or Coastal Pines Technical College’s web-based time card system. At the end of each work week, student employees will need to verify their time on the web-based time card system. Their weekly time will then be verified by their direct supervisor and the director of the assigned department.
  9. The Career Services Office receives hours worked and salary information on student employees on a monthly basis.

Zell Miller Grant

The Zell Miller Grant – https://www.GAfutures.org – is a state-funded award that will pay 100% of the approved standard tuition rate for eligible students seeking a diploma or technical certificate of credit. Students must have a Cumulative HOPE Grant GPA of 3.5. A student must be eligible for HOPE Grant. Students may receive 63-semester credits combined with HOPE Grant and Zell Miller Grant Paid Hours.

HOPE Scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally)

The HOPE Scholarship - https://www.GAfutures.org -is a state-funded award that will pay a percentage of tuition based on a factor rate set by the Georgia Legislature each year for all eligible students seeking an associate degree. Georgia residency documents are required as proof to be considered for eligibility of this grant. To be eligible as a first-year student, a student must be a 1993 or later graduate of an eligible high school and earn a "B" average as determined by Georgia Student Finance Commission. A "B" average is a 3.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale. If ineligible as a first-year student, a student may gain eligibility by maintaining a 3.00 HOPE scholarship cumulative grade point average after the school term in which 30 or 60 transferable semester hours of degree credit has been attempted. Students who have not received the HOPE Scholarship prior to July 1, 2011, and meets all other eligibility requirements for HOPE Scholarship, may receive the HOPE Scholarship until June 30 following the completion of the seventh full year after the first of one of the following events has occurred:

  1. His or her high school graduation date; or
  2. His or her Home Study completion date; or
  3. His or her successful GED test date; or
  4. His or her petition date where his or her diploma was received pursuant to the local school board in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.

A student is not eligible for payment for any term prior to the date used to determine his or her Seven Year Limit. A student that serves on active duty in the military during the seven-year period after his or her high school graduation, Home Study completion or successful GED test date will have that active duty period of his or her military service added to the Seven Year Limit. A student who is Enrolled during a term that begins prior to his or her expiration of eligibility date and ends after his or her expiration of eligibility date may be paid for the term. A student who received a HOPE Scholarship award prior to Summer term 2011 (FY2012) is not subject to the Seven Year Limit. A student must not have already earned a baccalaureate degree or have attempted more than 127 semester hours of college credit.

Students must maintain a HOPE scholarship cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better at the end of spring term (unless they are a less-than-full-time student who has taken less than 30 credits) and in the terms in which they have attempted 30, 60, and 90 credit hours. Failure to meet the cumulative GPA requirements at these checkpoints will result in the loss of the HOPE Scholarship. A HOPE Scholarship recipient who has lost HOPE Scholarship Eligibility at two Checkpoints since Fall term 2011 cannot regain Eligibility. A student must have been receiving HOPE to be considered as having lost HOPE. More detailed information on eligibility and how a HOPE scholarship cumulative grade point average is calculated may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.

Zell Miller Scholarship

The Zell Miller Scholarship -https://www.GAfutures.org- is a state-funded award that will pay 100% of the standard tuition rate for eligible students seeking an associate degree. Students must have a Georgia High School GPA of 3.7, as determined by O.C.G.A 20-2-157, and receive a score of at least 1200 combined critical reading score and math score on a single administration of the SAT or an ACT composite scale score of at least 26, or graduated as a valedictorian or salutatorian from an eligible high school. Students must have a 3.3 GPA at all checkpoints (30, 60, 90, 3-term, and End of Spring). Students who lose eligibility at a checkpoint may regain eligibility once. Students who lose eligibility for Zell Miller Scholarship but still have at least a 3.00 GPA at a 60 or 90 checkpoint may continue to receive HOPE Scholarship.

Georgia College Completion Grant Program

The Georgia College Completion Grant program— https://www.GAfutures.org - is a state grant for Georgia residents up to a maximum lifetime limit of $2500 that can be awarded one or multiple terms. The grant can be applied toward a current term outstanding tuition and fee balance for students who have completed at least 80% of their program of study and meet the other general eligibility requirements. In order to be considered a student must complete the current year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), complete any FAFSA verification requirements, and complete a CPTC Foundation Scholarship Application for each term they wish to be considered. The CPTC Foundation Scholarship Committee will review all eligible applicants. Awards will then be made according to the established criteria.

HOPE Career Grant (formerly Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG))

The HOPE Career Grant is a state-funded award for students enrolled in a Commission-approved, designated diploma or certificate program of study who meets all eligibility requirements for the HOPE Grant and is receiving a HOPE Grant award for a term is also eligible for a HOPE Career Grant award for that term. High school students participating in dual credit enrollment are not eligible for the HOPE Career Grant award. HOPE Career Grant awards are based on the student’s program of study and the number of hours of enrollment.

Private (Alternative) Educational Loans

Sallie Mae Student Loans - https://www.salliemae.com/student-loans/ - is a private loan and should be used as a last resort to pay for tuition and fees only. Applicants must complete a FAFSA application and submit any necessary verification documentation if selected for verification. This will ensure that the student has been awarded all applicable Federal and State Aid before applying for a Private Student Educational Loan. CPTC will only certify a private educational loan for up to the amount of tuition and fees.

Please remember that private student loans have much more in common with credit card debt than Federal Student Loans and should be handled responsibly. They are NOT guaranteed by the Federal Government and have different requirements and regulations.

Veterans Assistance

Credit programs at Coastal Pines Technical College are approved for Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits. Students eligible for Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits should contact the Financial Aid Office. Application forms and assistance in filing for education benefits are available online at www.va.gov.

  • Veterans must attend scheduled classes and continue to show satisfactory progress. Benefit payments will not be made for courses from which the student does not continue to attend.
  • Receiving Veterans Affairs Education Benefits does not prevent a student from applying or receiving other forms of financial aid.

For specific questions regarding individual eligibility, call the VA Atlanta Regional Processing Office at 1-800-827-1000 or visit https://www.va.gov.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Georgia HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring)

Georgia HERO is a state-funded award created to give financial assistance for college to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves who have served in a combat zone. The children of such servicemen and women and their surviving spouses are also eligible to receive the scholarship. Recipients may receive up to $2,000 per academic year. For eligibility criteria and official program regulations, please visit https://www.GAfutures.org.

Scholarship Opportunities

Various scholarships are available on a limited basis. For more information, contact the College Foundation Office or apply here.

Other Financial Aid Options

WIOA: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - the purpose of this act is to prepare economically disadvantaged youth and unskilled adults, or persons facing serious barriers to employment, with the training necessary for entry into the labor force. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information, or click one of the links below:

Division of Rehabilitation Services: Assistance is available for qualifying handicapped students. Students should contact their local office of the Department of Human Resources, Division of Rehabilitation Services for details.

General Aid: Various civic, social, professional, and other organizations provide scholarships for deserving students. In most cases, financial aid is awarded based upon academic performance, financial need, and availability of funds. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver

The State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver Program exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees (and where applicable, on-campus housing) for students attending a technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Eligible students must be a youth or young adult under the age of 28 who is currently in foster care, has experienced foster care, or who was placed for adoption by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.

Find more information here – https://dfcs.georgia.gov/services/state-georgia-post-secondary-tuition-waiver

Tuition Payment Plan (NelNet)

Tuition payment plans break down the student tuition and fees balance into monthly payments. There's no interest, payment options are flexible, setup fees are affordable, and it's easy to enroll.

Payments are processed on the 5th of each month and will continue until the balance is paid in full. If a credit/debit card is used, a convenience fee in addition to the enrollment fee will be assessed.

Cost to Participate:

  • $40 non-refundable enrollment fee per semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) to participate, depending on the enrollment date (ACH & credit/debit card)
  • $2 enrollment fee for immediate full payment (Note: Full payments can be made directly to CPTC through BannerWeb at no additional charge.)
  • $30 returned payment fee if a payment is returned
  • A convenience fee of 2.75% will be added to every payment if a credit/debit card is used.

Steps to Enroll:

  • Determine total tuition and fees assessed and the approximate amount of Bookstore credit needed for course materials.
  • Go to www.coastalpines.edu
  • Under the MYCPTC tab click on BannerWeb and log in
  • Once logged in click on the Financial Aid and Student Records tab
  • Click on the Student Records link
  • Click on the Pay online link
  • Under Select Term for Payment choose the semester for the payment plan and click Select Term
  • Enter the amount to be paid by the payment plan and click Pay by Payment Plan with Nelnet and follow the Nelnet instructions