Grants, Loans, Scholarships

Grants & Loans

FEDERAL PELL GRANT The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is your application for a Federal Pell Grant. Pell grants are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the federal government. Grant amount is determined by the student’s “Expected Family Contribution” (EFC), which is indicated on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that you receive after filing the FAFSA.

Eligibility Requirements:
1. Having earned less than a bachelor degree.
2. Having graduated from high school or earned a GED.
3. Enrolling at least half-time in a program of study.
4. Not be in default on prior student loans.

PHEAA STATE GRANT The State Grant Program provides grant aid to applicants who demonstrate financial need. To be considered for a PHEAA State Grant you must meet the following criteria:
• Have earned less than a bachelor degree.
• Have financial need as determined by the submission of a FAFSA and a PHEAA status form.
• Graduated from high school or earned a GED.
• Be enrolled in a two-or three-year program.
• Be a resident of Pennsylvania for the past year.
• Made progress at prior institution if you received a PHEAA State Grant.

Filing deadlines for incoming students, present students, and transfer students who have not previously applied for or received a PHEAA State Grant is August 1. For students who are present recipients of a PHEAA State Grant the deadline is May 1.

FEDERAL SUBSIDIZED STAFFORD STUDENT LOANS • Available to students that enroll at least half-time in a program of study.
• You may complete your loan application online at www.aesSuccess.org or by completing the paper application that may have been mailed to you.
• The loan amount a student may borrow is determined by the grade level
• First-year student may borrow $2625.
• Second-year student may borrow $3500.
• Third-year student may borrow $5500.
• Loan repayment begins six months after graduation or separation from school.
• A first time borrower must be enrolled in school for 30 days before the school may disburse the first-term loan.
• Loans are disbursed one-third per term.

FEDERAL UNSUBSIDIZED STAFFORD STUDENT LOAN
• Available to independent students or those dependent students whose parents were unable to obtain a Federal Plus Loan.
• Unsubsidized maximum is $4000.
• Interest rate is variable not to exceed 8.25%.
• Repayment on principal begins six months after graduation or separation from school.
• Interest payment begins during enrollment unless capitalized by the lender at the student's request.

FEDERAL PLUS LOAN
• Available to parents of dependent undergraduate students.
• Parent may borrow difference between a student’s cost of education less any financial aid.
• Eligibility is based on credit worthiness.
• Interest rate is variable not to exceed 9.0%
• Plus loan applications are available online at www.aesSuccess.org or by calling AesSuccess at 1-800-692-7392.
• Plus pre-approval can be completed by the financial aid office at 814-234-7755 or may be completed online at www.aesSuccess.org.

SCHOLARSHIPS

SOUTH HILLS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP

South Hills School of Business & Technology will offer a maximum of eight new scholarships each year. There are four scholarships awarded at State College, two at Altoona, one at Lewistown, and one at Philipsburg.

The scholarship is valued at 25 percent of tuition. If the balance of tuition due after applying grants, agency sponsorship, and/or other scholarships is less than 25 percent of total tuition, the SHSBT Scholarship will be limited to that amount. The scholarship will be awarded each term the student maintains eligibility. It will not be awarded retroactively. Qualifications are as follows:

• Students must show academic potential by meeting the school’s regular admissions requirements.
• Students must prove financial need, which will be set by the scholarship committee each year.
• Students must be enrolled fulltime in a program of study.

Students meeting the guideline must submit a letter of application to the school Director indicating why he/she feels that he/she should receive a scholarship no later than December 20 of the current academic year. Students receiving a scholarship must
• Maintain a “C” average in each term.
• Maintain fulltime enrollment
• Maintain acceptable behavior while in attendance at South Hills School of Business & Technology

Students may only apply for a scholarship after satisfactorily completing their initial (first) term at South Hills School. Currently enrolled students may apply for scholarship funds at any time during their training, but the deadline for the current academic year is December 20.

The school Director will notify each applicant of the committee’s decision within thirty days of the above deadline.

NEW ECONOMY TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP This scholarship provides up to $1000 per year based on total educational costs for a full-time student.
Eligibility requirements:
• Must be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Must be enrolled in the Engineering Technology (Code 653), Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 6 or 9 term, (Code 548) or Computer Information Systems Program (Code 599).
• Student must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average after completion of the first year received.
• Be employed in an approved site within one year of graduation and agree to work in Pennsylvania one year for each year you received the scholarship.
• Scholarship will turn into a loan if you do not meet the eligibility requirements.
• Applications for this scholarship may be completed online at www.pheaa.org.
• Applications must be received by PHEAA no later than December 31 of the school year for which you are applying

OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES OF SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION INCLUDE:
• www.fastweb.com
• www.finaid.org
• www.collegeboard.org
• www.pheaa.org
• www.nasfaa.org

AGENCY FUNDING
• WIA (Workforce Investment Act) –The Pennsylvania CareerLink System offers assistance and other supportive services to economically disadvantaged people, adult learners, dislocated workers, and youth. Log onto the CareerLink website at www.paCareerLink.state.pa.us to find the CareerLink office nearest you.

• OVR (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation) - Offers assistance to persons with disabilities. Contact your area CareerLink Office to find the OVR representative nearest you.

• Department of Public Welfare - If you are currently receiving services from the Department of Public Welfare, you may be eligible for school benefits. Contact your area office for information.

• TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance) - Available to workers who may have lost their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. Contact your area CareerLink office to talk to a Trade representative.

• VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) - A variety of education benefits is available to you if you are a veteran. Log onto www.va.gov for additional information.