Admissions

How do I apply for Financial Aid?

hands completing online app

NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON YOUR AID APPLICATION UNTIL THE (5) FIVE ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE COMPLETED.  

1.  Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on line at www.FAFSA.ed.gov . You (and your parents if dependent) will need a PIN number to do this; you can apply for a pin number at www.pin.ed/gov. You will also need SwVCC FAFSA code: 007260

If you do not want to complete the FAFSA online, you may complete a hard copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and mail to the Federal Processor as instructed.   If mailing your form, you should do so at least 6 weeks prior to the semester beginning date of the semester you wish to enroll.  If you are filing late, please hand deliver or mail the FAFSA and a copy of the appropriate federal tax forms (1040, 1040a, 1040ez) to the SwVCC Financial Aid Office for electronic filing.  If you need help in completing the FAFSA, call or visit the SwVCC Financial Aid Office.

SAR - Student Aid Report The SAR you receive is for your records. The SAR will be mailed to you and also to Southwest electronically within 72 hours of your application and is used to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal  Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), the Federal Work Study (FWS)  Program, the College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP), the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), Commonwealth Grant (COMA)  and other grants, scholarships or work programs.

2.  Complete and return the SwVCC Institutional Financial Aid Application to the SwVCC Aid Office.

 

3.  PROMPTLY complete any FAFSA SAR award verification requested. Your Student Aid Reports are sent to you from the processor about 4-6 weeks after you submit your FAFSA (the SARs will be on green paper). An applicant's SAR may instruct the student to submit  the appropriate federal tax return (IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ), copy of your social security card, drivers license and/or other documentation to the SwVCC  Financial Aid Office. 

      This process is called award verification.  In these cases,  further processing of the financial aid request will not be made until the tax return and verification worksheet is received.  Applicants needing to contact the IRS, may call toll-free at 1-800-829-1040.
 

4.  Make sure the SwVCC Admissions Application process is complete.  This includes:

-having all official academic transcripts from all prior schools or colleges on file

-ASSET, ACT or SAT Test scores (WONDER LIC scores for non-graduates, non-GED recipients) 

-an interview with a SwVCC counselor/advisor.

5.   You must be accepted by the SwVCC Admissions Office in an approved  program of study before an award can be made.

ELIGIBILITY: In order to receive Federal/State Financial Aid you must:

-Show need, based on the appropriate criteria

-Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

-Have a high school diploma or GED, have passed the WONDER LIC test administered by SwVCC

-Be admitted to an approved program of study at SwVCC-which is a minimum of 2 semesters in length and 24 credits

-Be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (six credit hours) NOTE:  Some aid programs  provide assistance for enrollment less than half-time

-Certify that you are not in default on a federal insured loan or owe a repayment on federal grant

-Be registered with the Selective Service, if required

-Maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the SwVCC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic  Progress Policy (a hard copy is available in the SwVCC Financial Aid Office or in the SwVCC Catalog & Student Handbook)

Exception to any of the above standards will be handled on a case by case basis by the Financial Aid Director.  Students wishing to petition for a waiver or special circumstance must submit their request to the Financial Aid Director.   Supporting documentation must accompany any such request. See the Financial Aid Office staff for more information.

Contacting Financial Aid

If you need assistance in applying for financial aid or would like other aid information publications,  please write: SwVCC's Financial Aid Office: P.O. Box SVCC, Richlands, VA 24651-1510 or
Visit on the 1st floor of Tazewell Hall Rm104 or Telephone - 276.964.7291 or if calling long-distance in service region - 1-800-822-7822;residents in the  exchange areas of 495, 738, 762, 794, 859, 873, 880, 889 & 991 may call SwVCC at 880-3230. or Email: SwVCC Financial Aid