FAFSA

The college uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial need. The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.gov.

Applicants for financial aid are requested to have the results from the FAFSA and all other required documentation in the Office of Financial Aid by May 1st for returning students and July 1st for new students to ensure completed processing for fall term. Applications received after this date will be considered provided funds are available, in the order of the date of receipt. Students enrolled less than full-time will receive full consideration for financial aid. In planning for their college years, students should understand that all financial aid programs operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to make application for financial aid (merit or need-based) at least 10 weeks in advance of the time they intend to enroll. Failure to apply on a timely basis may significantly reduce the amount of aid students receive.

Eligibility for receiving financial assistance at ABAC is determined by comparing the cost of attending college with the ability of the students (and parents or spouse) to satisfy these expenses. Cost of attendance is calculated for each of several groups of students at ABAC using criteria such as resident status and living accommodations. For each of these student groups, cost of attendance includes anticipated expenses such as room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and the ability of the students (and parents or spouse) to contribute to college expenses. The ability of the students (and parents or spouse) to contribute to college expenses (also called the Expected Family Contribution) is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using criteria established by that agency. Factors used in determining ability to pay include, but are not limited to, all appropriate assets and income (earned and unearned). The factors vary from year to year.

A FAFSA must be filed for each year that students wish to be considered for aid. Awards for each year are based upon proper completion and timely filing of the FAFSA; completion of the verification process, if warranted; the availability of federal, state and/or institutional funds; and eligibility for the individual programs for which students are applying and the applicants’ continued enrollment and ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The amount of assistance may increase or decrease from one year to the next depending upon educational costs, the financial circumstances of the family and the level of program funding.

A number of applications are randomly selected for verification purposes each year. When students’ applications are selected, they will be required to submit documentation as requested to verify specific information from their financial aid application. Failure to submit the appropriate documentation in a timely manner will prevent the award of federal financial aid.