Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step all students must take in obtaining student financial aid (grants, loans and work study). Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each academic year. Include South Central College's federal school code (005537) to have your FAFSA information electronically sent to South Central College.

Students who are not eligible for the FAFSA due to citizenship status can apply for state financial aid by completing the Minnesota Dream Act.

Students who are required to provide parental information but are not able to, or whose parents refuse to provide it, should refer to the information on petitions related to parent status.

When applying for financial aid, you may be eligible for one or more of the following types of aid:

• Grants
• Loans
• Work Study
• Scholarships
• Lifesaver Grant

FAFSA processing takes time. SCC receives your FAFSA after about 5 business days, and it may take up to 10 more days to review your information and update your eServices account. Be sure to check your eServices account regularly!

Enrollment

• You must be enrolled in a certificate, diploma, or degree program that is at least 16 credits long
• You can receive financial aid for development credits (coursework below 100 level) up to 30 attempted credit hours
• Classes with a grading method of Audit or Test Out are not eligible for financial aid
• Courses added after the last day to add/drop full-term courses are not eligible for Federal Pell grant
• Courses you do not attend are not considered eligible for financial aid
• Continuing education and customized training courses are not eligible for financial aid

Other Qualifications

Students must:

• Have a high-school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Not currently be receiving financial aid at another college
• Not be in default on a federal student loan
• Demonstrate financial need for need-based aid programs

Maintaining Eligibility

Once you are a student at South Central College, in order to continue to be eligible for financial aid you need do the following:

• Make satisfactory academic progress as measured by your GPA (minimum 2.0) and rate of completing courses (minimum 67 percent). Progress is evaluated at the end of each semester.
• Finish within your program's maximum timeframe (up to 150% of the number of credits required in your program) as outlined by SCC's satisfactory academic progress policy.
• Attend your classes (including participation in online courses). If the College administratively withdraws you from a course because you have not attended, you may have to pay back all or part of your financial aid.
• If you stop attending, your financial aid will be recalculated based on the number of days you attended. This recalculation could result in a reduction of your financial aid that will create a bill on your account.
• Complete any development credits for which you want financial aid in less than 30 credit hours.
• Limit repeating a course to one time. Federal financial aid regulations have limits on the number of times a course can be repeated and be eligible for financial aid.

View the basic student eligibility criteria at studentaid.gov.

Petition for Independent Student Status due to Unusual Circumstances

If you indicated you’re not able to provide parental information due to unusual circumstances when you submitted the FAFSA, you may be eligible for Independent Student Status. Some examples of unusual circumstances include human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment and incarceration.

A parent’s unwillingness to complete the FAFSA or assist in financing the student’s education is not considered unusual circumstances. The choice of a student to no longer live with a parent is not considered unusual circumstances.

In order for the school to determine your dependency status, we need additional information from you. Listed below is the information you will need to submit to our office. Submit the documentation by using the SCC Document Uploader. Other ways to submit the paperwork include by mail, fax, or in person at either campus.

1. A personal letter from you explaining why you are unable to provide parental information. The letter should be one to two pages and you should provide as much detail as possible describing your separation from your parents. You are required to include the following information in your letter:
   1. Why you are not able to provide parental information on the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Describe in detail when and why the permanent separation from both your parents occurred.
   2. The whereabouts of your biological father and his current living arrangements. If you do not know, explain why. Include the date and nature of the last contact you had with your biological father and the frequency of contact with him over the past three (3) years.
   3. The whereabouts of your biological mother and her current living arrangements. If you do not know, explain why. Include the date and nature of the last contact you had with your biological mother and the frequency of contact with her over the past three (3) years.
   4. Your living arrangements over the past three (3) years. Include the names with whom you resided, the addresses and the dates.
   5. For each of the past three (3) years, explain how you have paid for rent, food, transportation, utilities, etc. Be specific.
   6. Your name, signature and date, SCC student or star ID.
2. Two letters from individuals from the community who can attest to your situation. Examples of individuals from the community include, a school official, clergy, social worker, counselor, landlord, employer, medical authority. Their letter should be one to two pages and provide as much detail as possible describing your permanent separation from your parents. They are required to include the following information in their letter:
   1. Why you are not able to provide parental information. They need to describe in detail when and why the permanent separation from both your parents occurred.
   2. They’ll need to clearly outline their knowledge of you and how you are self-supporting.
   3. The individual’s name, title or position, address, the date and their signature.
3. A copy of your 2024 and 2025 Federal Income Tax Return Transcripts (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ). To request a Tax Return Transcript go to IRS.gov and Select ‘Get Your Tax Record’. Or use the automated phone system by calling 1-800-908-9946. If you did not file a federal tax return contact our office.
4. A completed and signed 2026-2027 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If you have not already filed your FAFSA, file it electronically at www.studentaid.gov and send the results to South Central College (005537).

Petition to Receive Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Only due to Parent Refusal to Provide Information

If your parents are refusing to provide their information on the FAFSA, you may be eligible to receive an Unsubsidized Federal Student Loan.

Federal law states that a dependent student (based on the federal financial aid definition) whose parents (both mother and father) have permanently ended all financial support of the student and refuse to complete the parent section of the FAFSA, may be eligible for ONLY a Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan at the dependent yearly loan limits. No other aid is allowed.

The South Central College Financial Aid Office will make the final determination whether or not to allow the student to borrow a Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan without parental information.

In order for SCC to make this determination, the following four items must be submitted to our office.

1. The 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov
2. A personal letter from you. The letter should be one to two pages and provide as much detail as possible and include the following:
   1. Why you are asking this petition to be considered.
   2. The names, addresses, and phone numbers for both your father (step-father) and your mother (step-mother).
   3. Why you believe both of your parents have permanently ended all their financial support of you. Provide the date which this occurred and why.
   4. Why you believe both of your parents are refusing to complete the parent section of the FAFSA application. Describe the conversations you have had with them and the outcome of those conversations.
   5. Your living arrangements over the past two (2) years. Include the names with whom you resided, the addresses, and the dates.
   6. For each of the past two (2) years, explain how you have paid for rent, food, transportation, utilities, insurance, etc. Be specific.
   7. Your name, date, signature and Star ID.
3. A letter from your mother/stepmother/parent 1. Their letter should be one to two pages and provide as much detail as possible and include:
   1. Why they have permanently ended all financial support of you. Provide the date in which this occurred and why.
   2. Why they are refusing to complete the parent section of the FAFSA application.
   3. Why they feel it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide financial support to you when they are refusing that parental responsibility.
   4. Their name, address, phone number, date, and signature.
4. A letter from your father/stepfather/parent 2. Their letter should be one to two pages and provide as much detail as possible and include:
   1. Why they have permanently ended all financial support of you. Provide the date in which this occurred and why.
   2. Why they are refusing to complete the parent section of the FAFSA application.
   3. Why they feel it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide financial support to you when they are refusing that parental responsibility.
   4. Their name, address, phone number, date, and signature.

Submit the required documentation by using the SCC Document Uploader. Other ways to submit the paperwork include by mail, fax, or in person at either campus.

Eligibility for financial aid is calculated by subtracting the FAFSA's Student Aid Index from the school's Cost of Attendance (COA). The difference equals the student's Need, which determines eligibility for the different types of financial aid.

COA – SAI = Need

The SAI is determined by the information you provided on the FAFSA and calculated by the U.S. Department of Education. The COA is an estimate of the total cost to attend SCC, including tuition, fees, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, living expenses, transportation, and personal expenses. The figures below do not represent the amount the student pays the school. Your actual costs will vary depending on your program, enrollment level, and personal spending choices.

Need-based aid includes grants (federal and state), work study, and subsidized loans. Non-need aid includes unsubsidized loans and private loans.

* Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment are estimates and may vary by program.

* Some programs require special course fees, tools, supplies, certifications, or licensures that could increase this projected expense. Requests for an adjustment to the Cost of Attendance should be sent to financialaid@southcentral.edu.

SCC's current Tuition and Fees page shows a detailed breakdown of course specific costs.