Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is federal or state money to help a student pay educational expenses such as tuition, fees, and books.
What types of financial aid are offered at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College?
WGTC offers a variety of financial aid programs that include grants and scholarships that do not have to be repaid.
When should I apply for financial aid to ensure I will have funds available before the first day of class?
You should apply as early as possible, but no later than the priority date set by the college.
- Fall Semester 2026: July 13, 2026
- Select the 2026-2027 FAFSA and use 2024 taxed and untaxed income
and/or benefits
- Select the 2026-2027 FAFSA and use 2024 taxed and untaxed income
- Spring Semester 2027: November 9, 2026
- Select the 2026-2027 FAFSA and use 2024 taxed and untaxed income
and/or benefits
- Select the 2026-2027 FAFSA and use 2024 taxed and untaxed income
- Summer Semester 2026: April 20, 2026
- Select the 2025-2026 FAFSA and use 2023 taxed and untaxed income
and/or benefits
- Select the 2025-2026 FAFSA and use 2023 taxed and untaxed income
Will my financial aid pay for my books and tuition?
It will depend on the program of study, the enrollment hours, the type, and amount of financial aid for which you are qualified.
What is the preferred method of applying for financial aid?
The preferred method is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/.Ensure you put the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College school code, 005256, on the application so it can be downloaded into our system. The FA Office will use your FAFSA to help determine what aid you qualify for.
How will I know my application has been processed?
You will should receive an email from the school. You can also view your award in your student Ellucian Experience account. If there is a question, call or email the Financial Aid Office at any campus location.
I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Yes. Requirements can change from year to year, so you may be eligible for some type of aid.
Do I use the FAFSA to apply for the HOPE Grant or Scholarship?
Yes, you can. Students who are applying for the HOPE Scholarship should also complete the HOPE Scholarship Eligibility form.
Is there another application other than the FAFSA that I can use to apply for the HOPE Grant?
Yes. Students can apply for the HOPE grant and scholarship using the Georgia Student Financial Aid Application (GSFAPP) online at www.gafutures.org. WGTC recommends completing the FAFSA and GSFAPP if you think you may be HOPE eligible.
Note: The GSFAPP is good for ten years.
Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid?
No. You can apply for FA first; however, you must be accepted and enrolled at the college before you can receive any type of aid.
Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes. The FAFSA must be completed each academic year. The FAFSA for the subsequent academic year is available online starting October 1st and should be completed before the following Fall term begins.
I did not file an income tax, what do I do?
You must report any W-2 income earned from working (or non-W-2 income) from whatever source as well as support documents from Social Service agencies and other people such as friends and relatives. Contact the Financial Aid Office for additional forms that must be completed to certify how you were supported for the past year.
Questions about your 1098T tax form?
Click to see FAQs for 1098Ts. For further assistance, contact the business office at studentbalance@wiregrass.edu
Do I need to apply every semester?
No. The financial aid academic year is July 1 through June 30. You can complete your FAFSA for the next academic year on or after October 1 but no later than 6-8 weeks before the start of the term.
How do I know if I have been approved for financial aid?
You should receive an email from the school. You can also view your award in your student Ellucian Experience account.
Will I receive all the financial aid listed on the website or on my financial aid award letter?
- Financial Aid is awarded assuming full-time status. If you do not register as a full-time student, your FA will be adjusted to your actual enrollment hours.
- FA will only pay for classes that are in your program of study.
- You must submit all documents requested by the FA Office.
- You must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the college's SAP policy.
What happens if I do not use all the money that is disbursed to my account each semester?
WGTC has partnered with BankMobile to deliver your financial aid refund. For more information about BankMobile, visit http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices.
Click to view our institution's contract with BankMobile, a Division of Customer Bank.
For questions regarding BankMobile, contact the Business Office at studentbalance@wiregrass.edu
Can I receive PELL and SEOG if I am enrolled in a certificate program?
PELL and SEOG can be received for certain certificate programs. Check with the FA Office for programs that are approved for federal aid.
What will happen if I drop a class?
- If you drop before the first day of classes all financial aid will be cancelled.
- If you drop a class within the first
threefive days of the term allofyour financial aid will be cancelled. - If you withdraw from ALL classes after the
4th5th day, your financial aid will be recalculated based on the actual number of days attended. If you have received a refund check, you may also owe back the refund amount, as well as any bookstore charges.
IMPORTANT – You are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office before you drop or withdraw from your classes so you can be advised on how the drop/withdrawal will affect your financial aid standing.
Do I have to be a full time student to get my financial aid?
No. You will be paid for the number of hours that you are enrolled each semester.
Do I have to pay my financial aid back?
You do not have to repay a grant unless there is an unforeseen change in your enrollment status after you have received your money; or, if you withdraw from all or some classes and your institutional charges exceed your new aid amount. If you are overpaid Pell, you will have to repay the overpaid amount. If you receive the PELL Grant and you withdraw (officially or unofficially) your aid will be recalculated and you may owe money if your bookstore charges or other institutional charges are more than the new PELL amount. You can read more information in the Section “Refunds & Disbursements” for the Return of Title IV policy. You may also owe money back if you have a federal or state overpayment at another school that is not known at the time you were awarded financial aid. You may owe money back if you go into DEFAULT on a federal student loan received at another school during your enrollment.
Do you have to be a HOPE Scholar to receive HOPE funds?
You do not have to be a HOPE Scholar for diploma and technical certificate programs. You can receive the HOPE Grant for diplomas and technical certificates.
If I am in an associate degree major, can I still receive HOPE funds?
You must be a HOPE Scholar to receive the HOPE Scholarship for an associate degree major. Wiregrass must have ALL official transcripts from any previously attended colleges to be evaluated for the HOPE scholarship. If you graduated after 1993 and were a high school HOPE Scholar your high school grade point average (GPA) might have to be reevaluated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. If you graduated from high school before 1993, or if you graduated after 1993 but were not a HOPE scholar after graduation, you may gain eligibilty eligibility after you have attempted 30, 60, or 90 hours. Students who receive their first HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment during the Summer term 2019 or later may receive HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment until ten years after the date of their high school graduation, GED test date, home study completion date, or the date of their petition to receive a high school diploma, whichever occurs first. If you were a previous HOPE scholar and lost your eligibility, you may be able to regain eligibility one time.
Students who received their first HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship payment between Summer term 2011 and Spring term 2019, may receive HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship funding until seven years after the date of their high school graduation, GED test date, home study completion date, or the date of their petition to receive a high school diploma, whichever occurs first.
How often is my GPA checked for the HOPE Scholarship?
At the 30, 60, and 120 semester hours. Also, each Spring Semester. If less than full-time for the first 30 hours, at the end of the third term. See the Financial Aid Office for more details.
Why do I have to include my parents’ income if I no longer live with them or they do not support me?
You must meet certain conditions established by the U.S. Department of Education for independent status to be exempt from using your parent’s income. Contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if you are independent or dependent. For further information, see this article from FAFSA:
https://studentaid.gov/2526/help/need-parent-info
https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency
Is there a limit on the number of hours that HOPE will pay?
Yes. You can receive the HOPE Grant for 63 semester paid hours for technical certificate or diploma programs and 127 semester hours for degree program (which could be less if you received the HOPE Grant for a technical certificate or diploma program). The HOPE grant/scholarship hours are cumulative of all technical colleges you have attended.
What happens if I have to quit school because of personal or other reasons? Will I be eligible for aid the following semester? Will I have to pay my financial aid back?
You will be checked for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). All courses taken at WGTC will be considered in the GPA and/or percentage of classes completed in computing your eligibility for remaining in good standing with financial aid. If your SAP status results in financial aid suspension you will have to pay out of pocket until you have met the required standards. You have the right to appeal your financial aid suspension. Only extraordinary or extenuating circumstances that can be properly documented will be accepted. Failure to "show-up" for classes will not be accepted as extraordinary or extenuating circumstances.
Will financial aid pay for audit or exempt classes?
No.
How do I check to see how many HOPE paid hours I have used?
Students can review the number of HOPE paid hours they currently have used by logging into their GA Futures account at GAfutures.org
Federal regulations require that you must ATTEND the classes for which aid is awarded. Verification of attendance is the process of having your professor instructor indicate whether or not you have been in attendance. If you are NOT verified in attendance by faculty, your aid may be reduced or cancelled. You should be aware that your registration for classes that begin in the later part of the term also may result in a delay of your financial aid disbursement as attendance cannot be verified until the classes begin. Verification of attendance usually takes place during the first week of the class period and disbursement of aid happens in the second week.
For more information, email financialaid@wiregrass.edu.
