Financial Aid comes from many sources: Federal and state funds, foundations, community organizations and private individuals. The money goes to students in many forms: Scholarships, grants, and jobs. Usually we offer a combination of these awards in a package tailored to meet your needs. Some scholarships are awarded to students for academic merit and promise alone; however, most other forms of aid are awarded on the basis of financial need alone.
To determine your need and to estimate your family contribution, we follow the nationally-accepted standards and procedures of federal methodology. This procedure is required (by the institution as well as the state and federal governments) in order that all applicants will be treated equitably, according to a standardized need analysis system.
In completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), families have the opportunity to state their financial situation. In the computer analysis such factors as income, assets, and number of family members are taken into consideration. The result of this procedure is the expected family contribution (EFC), which is sent to the college the student plans to attend. Since your education is your number one priority, we expect you and your family to do everything you can to pay for it. Financial assistance is offered to students who cannot provide all the funds needed and is intended to be a supplement to what the student’s family can contribute toward educational costs. For financial aid purposes, need is defined as the difference between your estimated family contribution and the allowable educational expenses of attending Chipola College.
Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution = FINANCIAL NEED.
Don’t rule yourself out because you think your family income is too high. There’s only one way to find out if you’re eligible for financial aid, and that is by submitting the necessary forms in a timely and accurate manner. Conflicting information will delay your application and you will be asked to verify any inconsistencies.
If you need financial aid in order to attend Chipola College, we’ll work with you and your family to ensure access to higher education.