Financial Aid - Eligibility

The following conditions are necessary for students to qualify for any federal, state, or institutional financial aid. Other types of aid may require different qualifications, but the points below are essential.

 

Enrollment and Attendance

  • Only students registered in at least 12 credit hours qualify as “fulltime” students, regardless of what program they are in.
  • Students will only receive financial aid for courses that are required for their current program of study.
  • Students only receive financial aid for classes they attend. Students who never attend or stop attending will be subject to repaying financial aid.
  • Students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program of study; transient and non-degree students are not eligible for aid.
  • It is your responsibility to either attend or withdraw from classes. Students must resolve any account balances not paid by financial aid.
  • Financial aid cannot be paid until after the 14th day of the semester (Census date).

 

Federal Loans

  • Loans require a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester without exception.
  • Students in loan default are ineligible for all federal and state aid.
  • You must accept loans in TigerWeb and complete Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory to receive payment.
  • First-time loan borrowers are subject to a 30-day waiting period to receive loan payment.
  • Students enrolled in single-semester programs of study must have their loan payments separated into two disbursements.

 

TN State Aid

  • Only Tennessee residents will qualify for Tennessee state aid, including TN Promise, Hope Scholarship, and TN Reconnect.
  • TN Promise requires at least 12 hours of enrollment each semester and only pays for mandatory tuition and fees not covered by other gift aid (Pell Grant, Hope, etc.).
  • TN Reconnect requires at least 6 hours of enrollment each semester and only pays for mandatory tuition and fees not covered by other gift aid (Pell Grant, Hope, etc.).

 

Continuing Eligibility & Financial Aid Limits

  • Students must meet federal Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, including a 2.0 minimum GPA, 67% completion rate, and completion of a degree before 90 attempted hours.
  • Students can qualify for a maximum of 600% of Pell Lifetime Eligibility. This is the equivalent of 12 semesters of fulltime enrollment, far more than what is required to complete a degree at Chattanooga State.
  • Students can receive aid for one additional attempt of a previously passed course. Example: If you make a C in BIOL 2020, your next attempt is the final time you can receive aid for that class.
  • Students can receive aid for up to 30 credits of developmental/remedial/learning support classes.
  • Students selected for Verification must complete all verification requirements to receive any federal or state financial aid.

 

Bookstore Charges

  • Only students whose financial aid eligibility exceeds their tuition costs can qualify for bookstore charges.
  • Bookstore charges are deducted from a student’s financial aid refund.
  • Students can only qualify for one bookstore charge each semester, typically up to two weeks before classes begin.