Financial Aid-How to Apply for Financial Aid

Southwest Tennessee Community College offers several types of financial aid, including Pell grants, scholarships, state and institutional grants, and student employment. These funds come from federal and state governments as well as the college. Most awards are based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). "FAFSA ON THE WEB" allows faster processing and instant access to your application. A "PRE-APPLICATION" is available to assist you in gathering and sorting the information needed for FAFSA on-line applications.

How Do I Apply For Financial Aid?

Step 1. Apply for admission to the College. To be considered for financial aid, you must complete all admission requirements and be admitted to an eligible degree or certificate program. You must also maintain satisfactory academic progress once you are enrolled.

Step 2. Apply on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov and select the 2008-2009 FAFSA option. (Note: if you applied for financial aid for the 2007-2008 school year, you may use your pin number and complete renewal FAFSA on-line. If you use the Renewal FAFSA, be sure to update all income information to reflect the 2007 tax year income amounts.

In filing out the FAFSA, you will be asked to provide 2007 income from taxable sources such as wages, and from untaxed sources such as child support or TANF.

Southwest Tennessee Community College School Code is 010439.

After completing the application on-line, print a copy for your records.

Step 3. Approximately 2 weeks after you apply on-line, you will receive an email notification from the Department of Education. Please read the email and check to see if additional information is needed or if corrections are required. If you are selected for a process called verification, the financial aid office will ask you and your family to submit copies of your 2007 federal income tax returns or proof that you did not file a tax return for the 2007 tax year.

Step 4. If you want to be considered for an academic or service scholarship you must complete the FAFSA. A separate application is needed only for Foundation scholarships. Foundation Scholarship applications are available online at the following secure address: https://www.southwest.tn.edu/apps/scholarship1.htm.

Step 5. If you are a resident of Tennessee your FAFSA information will automatically be released to the state’s grant agency, TSAC. You will be considered for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA) when you file the FAFSA. However, as funds are limited, you should apply on-line as soon as possible, and no later than April 1. TSAC will send you an award or non-award letter.

Please call or stop by the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions or need help completing your FAFSA.

Financial Aid Office Locations:
Union Avenue - Campus M Building Room 112 (901)333-5960
Macon Cove Campus - Farris 2102 (901)333-4184 or (901)333-4186