Financial Aid Eligibility

Requirements you need to meet to qualify for financial aid at SPC

• Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Demonstrate financial need based on the results of the FAFSA
• Be enrolled in and attending classes. Most financial aid programs require at least half-time enrollment (6+ credits per term, including summer). View enrollment status definitions.
• Be a degree-seeking student in an A.A., A.S., bachelor's degree, financial aid eligible certificate program or financial aid eligible clock hour program. Some certificate programs of 16 credit hours or more qualify.
• Register with Selective Service if required
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in your course of study
• Document any Unusual Enrollment History 
• Not be in default on any state or federal grant or loan received at any institution
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or trust territories
• Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes

High school Diploma types needed to qualify for financial aid

Eligible Diplomas

Students who receive the following types of high school diplomas from approved schools are eligible for financial aid:

• Standard Diploma (Passed FCAT)
• Standard Diploma (GED Exit Option)
• Adult Standard High School Diploma
• Adult Standard High School Diploma (Alternate Assessment)
• Standard Diploma (18-Credit College Prep)
• Standard Diploma (18-Credit Career Prep)
• Standard Diploma (18-Credit College Prep, Alternate Assessment)
• Standard Diploma (18-Credit Career Prep, Alternate Assessment)
• Standard Diploma (Accelerated Alternate Assessment)
• Standard Diploma (FCAT Waiver)
• Standard Diploma (GED Exit Option, Alternate Assessment)
• State of Florida Diploma (GED only)
• Adult State of Florida Diploma (GED)

Diplomas that are not eligible - GED is needed

Students who receive the following types of high school diplomas are not eligible for financial aid until they obtain a General Education Diploma (GED): 

• Special Diploma (Option One)
• Special Diploma (Option Two)
• CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion
• Certificate of Completion
• Special Certificate of Completion
• Adult Certificate of Completion
• Adult CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion

What if I have a change in my income or would like to be considered for a Dependency Override? 
See more information on Professional Judgment.

What classes are used in the calculation of your financial aid awards? 
At the time of registration in MySPC, you will be informed if the coursework you are registering for satisfies a requirement for your current degree program.

Financial Assistance Services wants you to maximize your federal financial aid eligibility. To do so, make sure to register only for courses that are within your current degree program. For this purpose, students who are working towards an Associate's Degree in Arts (AA), regardless of the degree plan and including those in AA-Transfer Plans, are viewed as though they are in a General AA degree. This is also true for Program Based Academic Standing.

If you choose to register for classes that do not complete requirements of your current degree program, those courses will not be used in the calculation of your financial aid awards. If the financial aid package for your other courses is not enough to cover the full cost of your classes, you will be responsible for any unpaid tuition and fees.

If you have any courses for which you will be requesting a course substitution (also known as alternative satisfaction or "alt sat"), you must request approval from the academic dean of those courses.

Financial aid does not pay for credit hours that are audited. Non-credit continuing education and non-credit Corporate Training classes are not eligible for financial aid funding.

Remedial credit hours 
Federal aid is available for up to 30 remedial credit hours. Once a student attempts 30 remedial credit hours, federal aid will be awarded for college-level credits only. The following required prerequisites - MAT 1033, MAT 1033L, and MAT 1100 - can be paid with financial aid as remedial courses when considering the 30 remedial credit hour limit; however, unlike the typical remedial courses, these courses will be counted when calculating Completion Ratio and Maximum Time Frame for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Transfer and transient students 
See more financial aid information for transfer students and transient students.

Study Abroad 
Students enrolled in an approved Study Abroad program can be reviewed for financial aid eligibility.

Transcripts
You must submit all required transcripts and allow time for their evaluation before you are eligible to receive financial assistance. In order to be degree-seeking at SPC, you must have a high school diploma or GED.