Students who submit their required financial aid documents by the May 1st priority deadline may expect to receive their first financial aid disbursement during the first week of the Fall semester, provided that all established deadlines have been met.
New financial aid applicants to the LACCD will be issued a debit card, called myLACCDcard. The myLACCDcard is the key for unlocking student’s refund preference. Students can choose to activate the card to receive financial aid disbursements or direct refunds to an account of their choice. It is critical that students update their address on file with Admissions and Records Office to ensure receipt of their debit card. If students do not choose a refund preference, financial aid refunds will be delayed.
The award amount reflected on the Award Notification is for full-time enrollment. Disbursements will be adjusted if enrollment is less than full-time at the time of disbursement. Supplemental disbursements occur throughout the academic year. Disbursements will be adjusted if enrollment increases or decreases. After the second disbursement run date of the each semester, no further award adjustments can be made.
Any outstanding institutional debt will be deducted from the finan- cial aid disbursement. Student must be an active student (enrolled in
at least one approved unit) at Pierce College to be eligible for financial aid disbursement. Payment for late-starting classes will not be issued until the class begins. Students are encouraged to log-on the Student Information System (SIS) at www.laccd.edu/student_information
to view their refund information. Please note that the disbursement schedules are based on full-time enrollment. The actual refund amount will depend on the enrollment status at the time of the disburse- ment run. Please note that if you are in an Extension Appeal due to satisfactory academic progress, you must be enrolled in approved units, meaning classes listed in your Student Educational Plan (SEP). If the class you are enrolled in is not listed on your SEP, the units will not be included in the calculation of approved units.
Full–time is considered 12 or more units per semester; three fourths time is considered 9-11.5 units per semester; half-time is considered 6-8.5 units per semester; less than half-time is 1-5.5 units per semester. Federal PELL Grant is scheduled for payment twice a semester. FSEOG and Cal Grants are scheduled once per semester and require an enrollment of six (6) or more approved units. Federal-Work Study (FWS) is paid through payroll every two weeks. Federal Student Loans are disbursed in two equal payments, once per semester, for students attending two semesters in the academic year. Federal Student Loans require an enrollment of six (6) approved units. For students request- ing a loan for one semester only, the loan will be disbursed in two equal payments within the one semester.
CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT
If your enrollment status changes during the semester please inform the Financial Aid Office. Your financial aid award may be modified to reflect the correct number of units in which you were enrolled at the time of the second disbursement run. The adjustment of enroll- ment may cause an overpayment of financial aid funds. Repayment of financial aid funds is necessary if the adjustment of enrollment causes an overpayment. You must resolve your overpayment prior to receiving any additional financial aid. Having an overpayment of federal funds will prevent you from receiving federal financial aid from any institution.
FEDERAL REFUND REQUIREMENTS – RETURN TO TITLE IV
The student’s eligibility for financial aid is based upon enrollment. The Higher Education Amendment of 1998 governs the Return of Title IV funds policy for a student who completely withdraws from a period of enrollment (i.e. semester). These rules assume that a student “earns” aid based on his/her semester enrollment. “Unearned” aid, other than Federal Work-Study, must be earned. Unearned aid is the amount of federal financial aid received that exceeds the amount the student has earned. Unearned aid may be subject to repayment.
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID AND
TOTALLY WITHDRAW FROM ALL CLASSES MAY HAVE TO REPAY SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED PRIOR TO WITHDRAWAL.
All students receiving federal aid, who withdraw from the institution in the first 60% of the term, are subject to Return Regulations. The
Financial Aid Office will calculate the amount of federal funds earned by the student up to the point of withdrawal and students will be billed and must repay any federal grant funds received but not earned.
Failure to repay these funds will result in the denial of future federal financial aid at all colleges. Nonpayment of the unearned amount will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education for collection. The college is also required to report grant overpayments to the National Student Loan Data System.
If you owe a repayment, students will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office. The student will have 45 calendar days from the date of notification to repay; otherwise, a hold will be placed on the academic and financial aid records which will prevent the student from receiving college services and will jeopardize future financial aid.
It is advised that you contact the Financial Aid Office before with- drawing from all of your classes so you understand the results of your
actions. For the refund policy on enrollment fees and non-resident tui- tion, please see the College Schedule of Classes or the College Catalog.
Determining Financial Need
Most financial aid awards are based on demonstrated financial need which is the difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
COA minus EFC = Financial Need COST OF ATTENDANCE
In order to treat all students equally, standardized budgets (Cost of Attendance) are established and applied to all applicants. This means all students with similar circumstances will receive the same allowance for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses and transportation.
Other expenses may include, but are not limited to, child care expenses, vocational/technical expenses and handicapped expenses. Exceptions may be made to the budget in the cases where need can be shown and documented.
LIVING WITH PARENTS
9 MONTHS LIVING AWAY FROM HOME
Fees $ 1,220 $ 1,220
Books & Supplies $ 1,746 $ 1,746 Room & Board $ 4,599 $ 11,493 Transportation $ 1,134 $ 1,278 Personal Expenses $ 3,132 $ 2,871
Total $11,831* $18,608*
*Please note that this Cost of Attendance is estimated. The actual Cost of Attendance will be determined and provided to you in your Award Notification.
EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION
Students and/or their parent(s) are expected to contribute something to the cost of higher education. Parental and/or student contribution (EFC) are determined from the information reported on the FAFSA and take into account the resources available such as income, assets, liabilities, size of family, number in college, taxes paid, etc. CHILD CARE EXPENSES
This is an adjustment to the Cost of Attendance provided to students with unusual and reasonable expenses for dependent/child care up to a maximum of $1,000. If you are paying for Child Care expenses during the academic year, you must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing to request for an adjustment to your Cost of Attendance.
TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL EXPENSES
Institutions may make adjustments for students in trade vocational programs that require supplies and equipment above and beyond the normal budgeted allowance for books and supplies. Some of these programs include: Registered Nursing, Physical Therapy, Animal Health Technology, Auto Mechanics, Photography and others where documentation is submitted to support the additional cost.
HANDICAPPED EXPENSES