Types of Financial Aid

1. Pell Grant
2. Tennessee State Assistance Award (TSAA)
3. Tennessee Hope Scholarship
4. Tennessee Promise Scholarship
5. TN Reconnect Scholarship
6. Stafford Loans
7. Military, VA, and Voc Rehab

Federal Pell Grant

A Pell grant is funded by the federal government and does not have to be repaid. The Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate, degree-seeking students who have not already obtained a bachelor’s degree. The award amount is based on a student’s financial need as determined by the FAFSA and enrollment status. Students’ awards will be adjusted based on number of hours enrolled if less than full-time (12 hours). The U.S. Department of Education guarantees that eligible students will receive their awarded amount. An otherwise eligible student can receive the Federal Pell Grant until the earliest of a bachelor’s degree or until the student has received the Federal Pell Grant for an equivalent of 12 full-time semesters. This limitation includes the percentage of Federal Pell Grant the student has received from all post- secondary institutions.

Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)

The Tennessee Student Assistance Award Program (TSAA) provides non-repayable financial assistance to financially-needy undergraduate students who are residents of Tennessee.

Award Information: Maximum aware amount for an academic year at John A. Gupton College is $4,000. Funds are disbursed to the institution on behalf of the recipient for educational expenses and will be credited to the student’s account in accordance with the institution’s published policy.

Eligibility:
Award recipients must attend an eligible Tennessee postsecondary institution and be enrolled at least half-time. Applicants must select an eligible institution as a first choice when completing the FAFSA.

To be eligible, the applicant must:

Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and have a valid Student Aid Index (SAI) of 3500 or less; be a Tennessee resident, if a dependent student, parents must also be a Tennessee resident; maintain institutional satisfactory academic progrress according to the institution attended; and not be in default on a loan or owe a refund on any grant previously received at any institution, and not previously received a baccalaureate degree.

To receive priority consideration:
Students are strongly encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1st each year. Students who are awarded TSAA will also receive the award in the following academic year if they meet all eligibility requirements and complete the FAFSA on or before April 15. After all returning students are awarded, all remaining funds will be awarded to the neediest applicants who did not receive the award the prior year and completed the FAFSA by April 15. Awards are based on availability of funds.

Tennessee Hope Scholarship

The HOPE Scholarship is establihsed and funded from teh net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution within sixteen (16) months after graduating from an eligible high school in Tennessee.

Hope Award for John A. Gupton College is up to $1,600 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshman and sophomore. Only courses leading to a student’s eligible program of study (associate or baccalaureate degree program) can be awarded under the HOPE Scholarship program. Award amounts are available for summer enrollment and determination of class status is made by the postsecondary institution.

Eligibility:

Apply by completingthe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at www.fafsa.gov. Applications must be received by September 1st for fall semester, February 1st for spring and summer semesters. Early application is recommended.

Entering freshmen must meet the following requirements:

Be a Tennessee Resident as classified by teh Tennessee Board of Regents; Graduate from an eligible high school in Tennessee; enroll in one of the Tennessee public colleges, universities, or private colleges.

• Entering freshmen must achieve a minimum of a 21 ACT (1060 SAT), exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests OR overall weighted* minimum 3.0 grade
  point average (GPA) based on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors, or other similiar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by teh State Board of Education.
• Home School graduates – minimum 21 ACT, exclusive of the essay and optional subject area battery tests. Home school GPAs are not considered. If a minimum 21 ACT is not achieved, students may qualify for HOPE by completing at least two dual enrollment classes at an eligible postsecondary insitution while enrolled in the home school program totaling at least six semester hours and achievinga minimum 3.0 college GPA in each of the two dual enrollment courses and achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative college GPA in all dual enrollment courses attempted.
• GED ® and HiSet information can be found at https://www.collegefortn.org/tennessee-hope-scholarship-3/.
• ACT/SAT exams must be taken on a national test date or state test date and prior to the first day of college enrollment. The ACT Residual test and the ACT Superscore are not accepted.
• Enroll within 16 months following high school graduation at any eligible postsecondary institution or any regionally accredited out-of-state post-secondary institution.
• More information can be found at https://collegefortn.org/tennessee-hope-scholarship-3/

*Weighted grade point average means a grade point average on a 4.0 scale calculated with additional internal quality points awarded for advanced placement, honors or other similar courses according to the Uniform Grading Policy adopted by the State Board of Education.

Tennessee Promise Scholarship

Tennessee Promise is a scholarship, mentoring, and community service program that can help cover tutition and mandatory fees not covered by teh Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, or Tennessee Student Assistance Award.

Eligibility Requirements:
Tennessee resident/U.S. citizen complete the Tennessee Promise application (in the TSAC Student Portal) by November 1 and complete the FAFSA by May 15 of the high school senior year/graduate from an eligible high school, homeschool, or earn a GED/HiSET (prior to 19th birthday) can receive an award at an eligible postsecondary institution toward tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been first applied. High School students must attend mandatory meetings and participate in a mentoring program. College students must attend full-time, continue to participate in the mentoring program, perform 8 hours of community service prior to each term the award is received and complete the FAFSA by the state determined deadline.

Award Facts:
Award amount varies based on amount of remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been applied. Please note your benefit for Tennessee Promise does not cover last dollar at John A. Gupton College.

TN Reconnect

The Tennessee Reconnect Grant can also be used at John A. Gupton College toward an eligible associate degree, but it is not a last-dollar grant.

Eligibility Requirements:

Be a Tennessee resident; be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; qualify as an independent student on the FAFSA or be at least 23 years of age on or before January 1 of the academic year of initial enrollment; not be incarcerated*; not have previously earned an associate or baccalaureate degree; not be in default on student loan; must submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions; be admitted to and enroll in a Tennessee public community college at least part-time (minimum 6-hours) in courses leading to a certificate or associate degree.

*Currently incarcerated individuals (if eligible) may work with Re-Entry Navigators to prepare for attendance upon release.

To receive and maintain this grant, an adult learner must:

Enroll in at least six (6) credit hours in the fall and spring semesters through degree completion (Summer term is the only optional term and is covered if eligibility is maintained); maintain a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA); complete the renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year; continue to participate in the Reconnect Success Plan and update the plan each academic year; and complete degree/certification within five (5) calendar years.

Award Facts:
Award amount varies based on amount of remaining tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has first been applied.  Please note your benefit for TN Reconnect does not cover last dollar at John A. Gupton College.

 

Federal Stafford Loan

There are two Stafford Loan programs available for undergraduate student borrowers.
The Subsidized Stafford Loan is a federal loan that must be repaid, but the interest is paid for by the government rather than the borrower while the student is enrolled in school. The ability to receive the Subsidized Stafford Loan is based on calculated need as determined by the FAFSA. The current interest rate is 6.53%.

The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is also a federal loan that must be repaid. If the student is not eligible for the Subsidized Stafford Loan, as determined by the results of the FAFSA, the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan will be used to meet the student’s borrowing eligibility as determined by the Federal Stafford Loan limits listed below. “Unsubsidized” means that interest will accrue while the student is enrolled in school. The student can choose to pay the interest while in school or defer the interest and have it added to the principal balance after the student completes his/her schooling. The interest rate is determined by the federal government and is currently6.53% for undergraduate students.

Currently, the Department of Education charges a 1.057% origination fee for all Stafford Loans.

First-time Stafford Loan borrowers are required to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note with the Department of Education at https://studentaid.gov/  To log in, you will need your FAFSA FSA ID. If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Military, VA, Voc Rehab Benefits

The Financial Aid office administers the Military, VA, Voc Rehab Benefits. All programs are eligible for military, VA and Voc rehab benefits. Both Associate Degree programs at John A. Gupton College are approved by the state-approving agency for all eligible persons under the laws administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Submit your DD-214 and Certification of Eligibility to the Financial Aid office. After the semester census date, your information will be entered into the VA Enrollment Manager system for payment.

John A Gupton enrolled students that have completed a FAFSA and are using Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits will be given a Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. The Shopping Sheet is a standardized form designed to help students make informed decisions about funding their education.