Frequently Asked Questions

Is it too late to apply for financial aid for the 2009-10academic year?

No, it is not too late!  Students can apply for financial aid for the 2009-10 academic year through June 30, 2010.

I received a Pell Grant for the fall and/or spring semester, and I plan to attend summer semester.  How do I find out if I am eligible for Pell Grant for the summer semester?

If you were a full-time student and received Pell Grant for both the fall and spring semesters, you will not be eligible to receive Pell Grant money for the summer semester.  However, if you were enrolled less than full-time for fall and/or spring semester, you may be eligible for some Pell Grant money for the summer semester.  To determine your eligibility for summer, you will need to bring a copy of your summer schedule to the Financial Aid Office.  If you are eligible for Pell Grant money, a revised Award Notification will be posted to the student's account in Web Advisor.  State grants are not available for the summer semester.

What type of assistance is available?

Federal and state grants, loans, work-study, scholarships, and emergency loans are available to students based on eligibility.

What is A-B Tech's Federal School Code?

A-B Tech's Federal School Code is 004033.

How does the government determine if I am eligible for financial aid?

The U.S. Department of Education determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on the information you provide on the FAFSA.  Each academic institution that you included on your FAFSA will use the EFC and your enrollment status to determine which aid programs you are eligible for and the amount you are eligible to receive.

I am 21 years old and have been on my own since I was 18.  Do I have to include my parents income on the FAFSA?

The U.S. Department of Education deems that if you answer yes to one of the following criteria, you do not have to include your parent's income on the FAFSA:

• Were you born before January 1, 1986?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced)
• At the beginning of the 2009-10 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?
• Are you currently servicing on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010?
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
• Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
• At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

If you could not answer yes to at least one of the questions above, then you are required to provide your parent's income information on the FAFSA.

How long will it take to find out if I will receive financial aid?

The application process takes a minimum of eight to twelve weeks and can be longer during peak times of the year.  Once your application is complete and eligibility has been determined, an Award Notification will be posted in Web Advisor indicating what aid is available to you and how to use that aid to pay for your tuition, fees, and books.

How will I be notified what financial aid is available to me?

An Award Notification email will be sent to your A-B Tech student email notifying you that your Award Letter is ready to be viewed in Web Advisor.

How do I fill out the FAFSA if I did not file a tax return?

For the question "Have you completed your IRS income tax return or another tax return?" answer by selecting "I'm not going to file."

Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive aid?

Although it is not necessary to be enrolled full-time to be eligible for financial aid, the amount of financial aid awarded to less than full-time students is reduced accordingly based on enrollment status.  The Financial Aid Office will adjust award amounts based on enrollment status after the semester begins.  Students need to remember that being eligible for assistance at one enrollment status (i.e.-Full-Time, 3/4 Time, 1/2 Time, or Less Than 1/2 Time) does not automatically guarantee that the student will remain eligible should the student change to another enrollment status.

Are certificates covered under financial aid?

Twelve certificate programs qualify for financial aid at A-B Tech: Early Childhood, Infant/Toddler Care, Fire Protection Technology, Cake Designs, Restaurant Desserts, Networking, Air Conditioning and Heating- Basic, Air Conditioning and Heating-Commercial HVAC Maintenance Tech, Automotive, Construction Management Technology, Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology, and Welding.

What is verification?

Because every FAFSA can not be checked for accuracy, the U.S. Department of Education has set up the verification process as a "checks and balances" system.  At least 30% of the students applying for financial aid are chosen for verification either by the U.S. Department of Education or by the academic institution.  If your application is chosen, you will receive a letter from the Financial Aid Office at A-B Tech requesting additional documentation.  You will need to provide this information to the Financial Aid Office in the K Ray Bailey building as soon as possible so that we can determine your eligibility for financial assistance.  Your application will not be processed further until the requested verification documentation has been received.

How can I get a copy of my tax return?

You can request a copy of your tax return by calling the IRS Customer Service number at (800) 829-1040.

How can I get a copy of my W2 Forms?

You can request a copy of your W2 Forms from your employer or by calling the IRS Customer Service number at (800) 829-1040.

I have viewed my Award Notification in Web Advisor.  What do I do now?

When registration opens, register for your classes.  If you have been awarded a Pell Grant or other grant funds, your tuition and fees will automatically be charged to your aid.  If you have remaining funds, you may pick up your bookstore voucher in the Bailey Building to purchase books.  See the Financial Aid Calendar for specific dates.

If you have been awarded work-study and are interested in applying for a position, you will need to submit a resume to the Financial Aid Office.  For more information on the work-study program, click here.

If you are interested in applying for a student loan, see below.

How do I decline financial aid that I do not want, such as work-study?

You will need to contact the Financial Aid Office to decline aid.

How do I apply for a student loan?

When you fill out the FAFSA, you will need to answer "Yes" to Question 27: "In addition to grants, are you interested in student loans (which you must pay back)?"  When the Financial Aid Office processes your application, we will determine if you are eligible to apply for a student loan.  If it is determined that you are eligible to apply for a student loan and you have indicated on your FAFSA that you are interested in loans, a loan package will be mailed with your Award Notification.  You will need to complete the Master Promissory Note and Budget Sheet and return them to the Financial Aid Office for processing and to schedule a pre-loan conference. A-B Tech will certify your loan and send it to the lender.  The lender will then process your application for a student loan and will notify you by mail regarding your approval.

Why do I have to complete pre-loan counseling?

All first-time federal loan borrowers at A-B Tech must complete pre-loan counseling before the College can disburse loan checks.  Pre-loan counseling is available online. Click here for more information or to start your pre-loan counseling session.

Why was my loan check held for 30 days?

Disbursement of loan checks for first-time borrowers who have never previously attended A-B Tech must be delayed for 30 days from the beginning of the borrower's enrollment.

Will my financial aid be affected if I withdraw from a class or all of my classes?

Before withdrawing from a class, financial aid recipients should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine what effect dropping and/or officially withdrawing from a course will have on subsequent financial aid eligibility and/or repayment of assistance previously credited to their account or disbursed by check.  If an aid recipient withdraws from all classes before the 60% point of the semester, a percentage of Federal aid received may have to be repaid based on the Federal Formula Calculation.

What are contact hours and how does that relate to my financial aid?

Students enrolled in vocational programs that typically lead to a diploma and not a degree program are enrolled in "contact hours" instead of "credit hours".  Enrollment status for these students is computed by converting semester contact hours to credit hours for payment purposes using a federal formula.  Generally, 23 or more contact hours is considered full-time, 17-22 is 3/4 time, 12-16 is 1/2 time, and less than 12 contact hours is considered less than 1/2 time.

I received my Pell refund check and it was less than I was awarded.  Why?

There are several reasons why the refund check may be less than the student was awarded. 

First, remember that if the student reported on Financial Aid Day, the tuition, fees, and books were taken out of the Pell Grant money that the student was awarded.  The student receives a refund check for the remaining balance of Pell funds. 

Another possibility is that the student did not turn in all of his instructor's signatures on the Verification of Class Attendance Form.  Payment is only made for the signatures turned in with the Verification of Class Attendance Form!  Any missing signatures can be turned in later with subsequent VCA's.   The student will be paid for the remaining classes at that time. 

Finally, if a student's enrollment status has changed, Pell funds will be reduced to reflect the student's actual enrollment status.  Award notifications are based on a student being enrolled full-time.  If a student enrolls less than full-time, the award will be adjusted for the correct enrollment status.