What is Student Financial Aid?
Simply put, financial aid is a combination of Grants, Scholarships, Loans and Work programs that help you fund your education.
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Grants are financial aid programs that do not have to be repaid and are usually based on financial need.
Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree to promote access to postsecondary education. Grant amounts are dependent on your family’s ability to help contribute to your educational costs based on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and your enrollment status throughout the academic year. You may only receive the Pell Grant from one school at a time.
EGSC credits the Pell Grant directly to your school account, each term that you are eligible.
Pell Grant Chart
Based on your Student Aid Index (SAI), if you are eligible for the maximum grant, the chart below demonstrates how your Pell Grant will change based on changes in your enrollment.
| 2024 - 2025 Academic Year |
||
| Pell Grant Enrollment Intensity Chart | ||
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Percentage | Eligible Amount |
| 12 or more | 100% | $7,395 |
| 11 | 92% | $6,803 |
| 10 | 83% | $6,138 |
| 9 | 75% | $5,546 |
| 8 | 67% | $4,955 |
| 7 | 58% | $4,289 |
| 6 | 50% | $3,698 |
| 5 | 42% | $3,106 |
| 4 | 33% | $2,440 |
| 3 | 25% | $1,849 |
| 2 | 17% | $1,257 |
| 1 | 8% | $592 |
Note: If you are not eligible for the maximum Pell Grant based on your SAI, the amount of your grant will be based on your maximum eligibility times the enrollment percentage according to the number of credit hours you have enrolled for.
FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant)
The FSEOG is a need-based grant to help low-income undergraduate students finance the costs of their education. FSEOG awards are made to those students with “exceptional need” (those with the lowest Student Aid Index) and those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients.
The FSEOG is a grant and does not need to be repaid. If you're eligible, EGSC will credit your student account.
Scholarships are financial aid programs that do not have to be repaid and are usually based on some type of excellence, such as academic, athletic or service.
HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarships
Georgia's HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships are available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with their educational costs of attending eligible postsecondary institutions located in Georgia.
The HOPE Scholarship requires a high school GPA of 3.0 or better and that you maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in college to renew the scholarship. The Zell Miller Scholarship requires a high school GPA of 3.7 or better, with a 1200 SAT or 26 ACT score.
Additional criteria can be found at www.GAFutures.org
EGSC Scholarships
EGSC has a number of private and Foundation scholarships that you can apply for. Go to our Scholarship Page for more information on these programs.
Work programs enable students to earn money while attending school, to help cover day to day expenses.
Federal Work-Study
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. FWS is available to full-time or part-time students. Students work no more than 19 hours a week. The hours worked cannot interfere with your class schedule.
Student Assistant Positions
For students who do not qualify for the FWS Program, EGSC offers a limited number of Student Assistant positions on campus. Like the FWS program, students work no more than 19 hours a week and the hours worked cannot interfere with your class schedule.
Student loans are a type of financial aid that must be repaid. Most loans are low interest and repayment is deferred until you are out of school.
Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal Direct Student Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student's education not covered by grants and scholarships. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. We encourage you to only borrow what is needed to cover their cost of attendance.
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- Direct Subsidized Loans are for students with financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, and no interest is charged while you are in school at least half-time, during your 6-month grace period, and during deferment periods.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not based on financial need. Interest is charged during all periods, even when you are in school and during grace and deferment periods.
- Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are unsubsidized loans for the parents of dependent students. PLUS loans help pay for education expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods.
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Interest Rates (for loans made after July 1, 2024) |
|
| Type of Loan | Interest Rate |
| Direct Subsidized - Undergraduate | 6.533% |
| Direct Unsubsidized - Undergraduate | 6.533% |
| Direct Parent PLUS Loans | 9.083% |
Private Lenders
EGSC is providing this list as a service to students and parents in finding private educational loans. EGSC does not endorse lenders and recommends that students research terms and conditions of private loans.
Students should apply for federal and state grants, scholarships and loans before considering a private loan option.
