Grants do not have to be repaid. Federal Work-Study awards are earned during the period of enrollment. Most loans must be repaid in cash. You must be enrolled at least half time (6 hours) to receive a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Parent (PLUS) Loan. Federal Pell Grants are available for less than full time students depending on need. HOPE Scholarships are available for one or more hours of enrollment. All student financial aid will be awarded based on anticipated full-time enrollment, unless otherwise noted on your Award Letter.
Direct Loans
Federal Direct and Federal Direct Plus Loans
Direct Subsidized Loan – Available to undergraduate students that demonstrate financial need. The U. S. Department of Education pays the interest on this loan (subsidized):
- while you are in school at least half-time,
- for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period), and
- during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments)
Direct Unsubsidized Loan – Available to undergraduate students, but does not require the financial need to be demonstrated for eligibility. The student is responsible for paying the interest on an unsubsidized loan during all periods. If you chose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan).
For Federal Loan Programs Videos
Direct Plus Loan – Available to dependent undergraduate students but does not require the financial need to be demonstrated for eligibility. The application can be submitted via StudentAid.gov using the FAFSA credentials to access the application. The borrower must not have negative credit history and will be responsible for interest during all periods with payments starting immediately upon signing the MPN. The maximum amount is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid a student receives. NOTE: All direct loans assess a loan fee where the amount of the fee varies depending on when the loan is disbursed. The unsubsidized and parent plus loan interest rate varies depending on the loan period of disbursement. For interest rates, loan fees charts, please visit StudentAid.gov.
Federal Work Study
The FWS program provides on-campus jobs to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need giving priority to Pell receipt students to assist with educational expenses. At ABAC, participants in the program are paid bi-weekly at a rate of $7.25 per hour. The maximum hours per week are 15 and enrollment status must be at least 6 hours. The program encourages work related to your course of study.
Grants
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are usually offered only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula established by Congress. Information provided on the FAFSA is evaluated to determine the Student Aid Index (SAI) which determines the aid amount for the academic (or aid) year. Pell Grant funds cannot be disbursed from more than one institution at a time. Pell lifetime eligibility is prorated for half-time students. Students must be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours to receive the maximum amount of their Pell eligibility.
Beginning Fall 2024, Pell Grant eligibility will be determined in three steps:
- Maximum Pell Grant – Applicants may qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant based on family size, adjusted gross income (AGI), and poverty guidelines. Students qualifying for a Maximum Pell Grant will have a Student Aid Index (SAI) between negative $1,500 (-$1,500) and $0.
- Student Aid Index (SAI) – Applicants who do not qualify for a Maximum Pell Grant may still qualify if their calculated SAI is less than the maximum Pell Grant amount for the aid year (academic year). The applicant’s Pell offer for full-time enrollment will be equal to the maximum Pell for the aid year minus SAI. Pell will be adjusted (prorated) if an applicant enrolls in less than 12 credit hours, or if the applicant’s Cost of Attendance (COA) is less than the calculated Pell Grant offer.
- Minimum Pell Grant – Applicants whose SAI is greater than the Maximum Pell Grant offer for the aid year may still qualify for Pell, based on family size, AGI, and poverty guidelines.
Funds are prorated by Enrollment Intensity, or the number of credit hours enrolled for the semester.
|
Credit Hours |
Enrollment Level (Old) |
Enrollment Intensity (New) |
|
12 (or more) |
Full-Time (100%) |
100% |
|
11 |
Three-Quarter Time (75%) |
92% |
|
10 |
83% |
|
|
9 |
75% |
|
|
8 |
Half-Time (50%) |
67% |
|
7 |
58% |
|
|
6 |
50% |
|
|
5 |
Less Than Half-Time (25%) |
42% |
|
4 |
33% |
|
|
3 |
25% |
|
|
2 |
17% |
|
|
1 |
8% |
Year-Round Pell
Previously, a Pell Grant-eligible student must have been enrolled at least half-time in a payment period during which they received more than 100% of their scheduled aid. Beginning with the 2024-2025 aid year, half-time enrollment is no longer required.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Funds depend on availability, and priority is given to Pell grant receipts.
HOPE
Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Scholarship Program
The HOPE Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides funds to assist students with the educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible postsecondary institution located in Georgia. For more information regarding general information, eligibility requirements, and the GSFAPP HOPE Scholarship application, please visit GAfutures.org. You can review HOPE Scholarship regulations on the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) Website.
The Zell Miller Scholarship Program
To qualify for the Zell Miller Scholarship, students must graduate from an eligible high school with at least a 3.7 grade point average as calculated by GSFC and must have scored at least a 1200 on the math and reading portions of the SAT or a minimum composite score of 26 on the ACT in a single test administration prior to high school graduation, or be their high school Valedictorian or Salutatorian.
Private Loans
Private loans are used to supplement federal student loans when additional funding is needed to cover the full cost of education. Private loans are generally more expensive when entering repayment. Before pursuing a private loan, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine if you have exhausted all other financial aid options. Be aware that private loan proceeds, along with your total financial resources, cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance as determine by ABAC. Requesting a private loan and choosing a lender is completely determined by the student. The ABAC Office of Financial Aid will not assist with the choice of a lender.
CARES
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has been awarded an additional $5.6M to be awarded to directly support ABAC students for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.