School of Graduate Studies

Financial aid is any grant, loan, part-time employment, graduate assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship offered for the purpose of helping graduate students meet their educational expenses. This aid is usually provided by federal, state, institutional, or private agencies. For the majority of financial aid, a graduate student must complete the most current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal Application.

Remember that you must reapply for financial aid each academic year.

Where Can I Get This Application?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be obtained online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Armstrong’s Title IV School Code is 001546. You must list this on your FAFSA so AASU will receive your information.

How is Financial Aid Awarded?

In determining your maximum eligibility for financial aid (financial need), the Office of Financial Aid looks at the estimated cost of attendance (total costs) and deducts the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward these costs.

You may hear the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) referred to as the needs analysis document since this application is used in determining your financial need and family's ability to contribute to the cost of your attendance. The FAFSA collects information on your family situation (income and assets, number in household, and other items). The infor-mation submitted on the FAFSA is included in a federally-mandated formula; this formula then calculates your expected family contribution (EFC).

What if I Have Attended Another College?

You should to contact the Office of Financial Aid and notify your Financial Aid Counselor that you attended another school and whether you received any aid at that school.

How Do I Apply?

By completing either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application must be used to help determine the student's eligibility. Information used in determining eligibility includes family income, assets, number of family members, number in college, etc. The university will attempt to assist the student with the difference
between the total expected family contribution and the cost of attending
the university.

When Will I Receive My Financial Aid?

Disbursement of financial aid will be made only if the applicant has completed all requirements for receipt of aid, which includes submission of verification documents, if necessary. Students applying for loan funds must make an acceptance of this award, by following the instructions on their award letter, before the financial aid office will process or disburse such funds.

Your student loan funds will not disburse until the lender has guaranteed your loan and your enrollment has been verified by each of your professors after the semester begins. Your student loan funds should disburse approximately three weeks from the first day of the semester. If you are not verified as attending each of your classes, your loan funds will not disburse.

You must be continually enrolled in at least half time to qualify for a student loan. For Graduate Students, beginning the 2007/2008 academic year, this means half time enrollment equals four (4) semester hours Fall and Spring, and three (3) hours for Summer semester.

Your student loan funds will disburse to your student account and pay any outstanding balance you may have. The remaining student loan funds will be mailed to you in an excess check. You must have an active mailing address on S.H.I.P. in order to receive your excess check.

If you are enrolling in flex term courses that do not begin until later in the semester, the disbursement of your loan funds will be delayed. You will not be eligible for your loan funds until your attendance has been verified. If you borrow loan funds for one semester only, you will receive the all loan funds your attendance is verified.

What General Guidelines Apply to Financial Aid?

After the payment of fees, the application of financial aid to fees, or application of support by outside agencies, you are considered as registered, and there are no adjustments for dropping a course.

All tuition and fees are due at registration according to the guidelines of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. There are no deferment of fees or payment plans.

Students whose fees were paid by financial aid, and who withdraw from school, will have their refund returned to the source based upon federal regulations and university policy.

If a student adds a class, does not pay the additional fees, and does not officially drop the course, the student will be billed for the course and will receive a grade.

The university reserves the right to apply all payments or financial aid to any unpaid student balances.

In order to receive financial aid at Armstrong Atlantic State University, a student must maintain a satisfactory grade point average and make satisfactory progress as outlined in the school catalog. These requirements apply to any federal or state funds. Students whose aid eligibility is terminated as a result of failing to meet the standards of academic progress may appeal. If you choose not to appeal or your appeal is not approved, you may have aid reinstated when you have taken, paid for, and successfully passed 12 semester hours with a C or better while attending Armstrong Atlantic State University. You must be in compliance with all Standards of Academic Progress.

Assistantship Programs

A number of qualified students may be given financial aid in the form of an assistantship while pursuing work leading to a graduate degree. To be eligible for appointment as a graduate assistant, the student must have degree admission to the School of Graduate Studies. Persons holding assistantships are expected to render certain services to the university. The supervisor to which the student is assigned will outline the required duties. During each semester of the assistantship, a graduate assistant must register for and earn credit for a specified number of credits leading to a graduate degree. A graduate assistant must also maintain a 3.0 GPA. A tuition waiver and stipend are included. Further information is available in the Graduate Assistantship Guidelines. Applications for graduate assistantships may be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies. No financial eligibility requirements apply.

Employment Programs

The Institutional Work Study Program helps students find part-time jobs in various departments on campus. All enrolled students may participate, and no financial eligibility requirements apply. Interested students should seek employment from departments on campus. Applications for institutional work study students may be obtained from the Office of Human Resources.

Grant Programs

Graduate students and students holding baccalaureate degrees are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.

Loan Programs

Federal Stafford Loans are available through local lending institutions and state agencies. Students may defer repayment until they have stopped attending at least half time for six consecutive months. Student loans are considered to be financial aid by the Federal Department of Education. There are two types of Stafford loans, the Subsidized and the Unsubsidized Stafford loan. If you demonstrate sufficient financial need, you may qualify for a subsidized Stafford loan - which means the federal government will pay the interest that accrues while you are in school; enrolled at least half time, during a six-month, post-school grace period or in any authorized period of deferment. If you fail to show sufficient need, you may still qualify for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Unsubsidized loans are loans in which the student is responsible for the interest which accrues.

Legal residents of the State of Georgia who are formally admitted to and enrolled in approved programs of study may be eligible for service cancelable loans. Georgia Service-Cancelable Guaranteed Student Loans are offered for certain "critical" health fields. These loans are repaid by service in Georgia after graduation. Because of limited funding, students should complete the FAFSA as early as possible each year to receive full consideration for this award. The following is an example of some of the programs that are eligible for the Service Cancelable loan program:

Health Field Careers
Nursing                                                 Respiratory Therapy
Physical Therapy                                 Radiologic Sciences
Dental Hygiene                                    Medical Technology

For a complete listing, additional information, and applications concerning the Service Cancelable Loan programs visit Georgia Student Finance Commission's website.

Graduate or professional students are now eligible to borrow under the PLUS Loan Program, up to their cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance. The requirements of this loan includes a determination that the applicant does not have an adverse credit history, repayment beginning on the date of the last disbursement of the loan, and a fixed interest rate of 8.5 percent. Applicants for these loans are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Graduate Students are not required to have applied for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program before applying for a Graduate/Professional PLUS loan. However, it is advised that students exhaust their Stafford loan eligibility before applying for the Graduate PLUS loan as the interest rate is much lower for the Stafford loans and repayment of the Stafford loan does not begin until the student has fallen below half time enrollment for six consecutive months.

Out-Of-State Tuition Waivers

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers for graduate students are awarded by the Director of Graduate Enrollment Services in conjunction with the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. All waivers are awarded for one calendar year (fall, spring, and summer terms). All recipients must reapply each year. The waivers are awarded to graduate students who meet or exceed the following criteria:

complete Out-of-State Tuition Waiver Application
be degree-seeking
maintain a 3.0 overall GPA on all graduate work attempted
be enrolled in a minimum of six graduate semester hours (leading to degree) each term

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers are limited and very competitive. Submission of an application for a waiver does not automatically constitute the awarding of a waiver. Students will be notified in writing of any awards or denials of waivers. For more information, please contact the School of Graduate Enrollment Services at 912.927.5377.

Scholarship Programs

HOPE Teacher Scholarship

The HOPE Teacher Scholarship is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and is a component of the HOPE Scholarship Program, a division of the Georgia Student Finance Authority. The scholarship provides financial assistance to teachers and individuals who are seeking advanced degrees in critical fields of study. Scholarship recipients agree to teach in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level after graduation. If a recipient fails to meet this obligation, the scholarship becomes a loan, which must be repaid in cash, with interest. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The maximum award will be up to $10,000 for the cost of attendance for the approved degree program. Awards can be used to attend any semester during the year and will be based on the student's cost of attendance, any other scholarships and grants the student is receiving, and the number of semester hours the student is enrolled in each term. The maximum award for each term depends on the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. In order to be selected you must:

be a legal resident of Georgia
be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien who meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under Federal Title IV requirements
be admitted into graduate school and into an advanced degree teacher education program in a critical field of study (listed in Part A, Item 19 of the application)
be certified by the Department of Education teacher certification official at the eligible institution to be admitted into an advanced degree teacher education program in a critical field of study leading to certification
agree to teach in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level after graduation
not owe a refund on a grant or scholarship previously received under any State of Georgia or federal program for attendance at any post-secondary educational institution
not be in default on a loan previously obtained under any State of Georgia or federal program for attendance at any postsecondary educational institution

When completing the application, you will find a Promissory Note, which you must enter into with the Georgia Student Finance Authority and HOPE Scholarship Program to receive scholarship funds. With a grace period of one year after completing the approved program, recipients agree to teach in their critical field for one academic year for each $2,500 awarded through the scholarship in a Georgia public school at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level. The maximum is four years to repay.

If the scholarship recipient fails to complete the degree program or meet the terms of the teaching obligation, the scholarship becomes a loan, which must be repaid in cash with interest. At the time the recipient enters repayment status, the interest rate will be fixed for the term of repayment based on the prime rate as of July 1 of the then-current calendar year, not to exceed ten percent per year.

To maintain eligibility, a scholarship recipient must complete an Award Maintenance Form for annual renewal of funds which will be sent each year to current recipients. If you need additional information about the HOPE Teacher Scholarship, please call 404.414.3085 or 1.800.546.HOPE. Local information may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid or the College of Education. You may also visit the Georgia Student Finance Commission’s web site.

Academic Scholarship Application and Offerings

There are many scholarships which are awarded on the basis of merit, need, or both. These monies will be awarded by a scholarship committee during spring for the academic year. You must apply for these and other scholarships using the Armstrong Atlantic State University Scholarship Application which is available on the Office of Financial Aid web site. Some of the scholarships for which you are applying were provided by:

Savannah Jaycees

Anthony Porter

Sarah Mills Hodge

L. Pauline Gooch

Eleanor Webster Boyd

Scholarship Fund

Office of Alumni Affairs

Savannah Volunteer Guards

Porter Pierpont Rotary Cub

Melaver Foundation

Belk Stores

Dixie Crystals

Class of '37

NationsBank

The deadline for returning, transfer, and graduate students is May 1.

Scholarships are also awarded by various departments on campus including art, music, and theatre; athletics; biology; chemistry and physics; computer science; dental hygiene; history; mathematical sciences; and radiological sciences. Students may contact these departments for application procedures.

In addition, notices of scholarships requiring special applications or having different deadlines are posted on the Financial Aid web site http://www.es.armstrong.edu/finaid under the heading "Scholarship Bulletin Board" as they become available during the year. Students should check this web site periodically for any new scholarship offerings.

Fellowship Programs

Roger K. Warlick Fellowship in History

The purpose of this fellowship is to attract outstanding scholars who wish to pursue a master's degree in history. Application information may be obtained from the Department of History, School of Graduate Studies, or the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid Guidelines

What is Financial Aid and How Do I Apply?