Financial aid at South Central College helps make your education affordable. It includes grants, scholarships, work study, loans, and SCC’s Life Saver Fund. Our Financial Aid team is here to help you apply and get the support you need.
The Financial Aid Office Provides:
- Clear Cost Breakdown: Get details on SCC's educational expenses.
- Guidance on Aid Processes: Receive expert advice on navigating financial aid procedures.
- Federal and Private Aid Info: Explore comprehensive information on both federal and private student aid options.
- Forms and Financial Guidance: Access essential forms and gain valuable money management insights.
- On-Campus Work-Study Opportunities: Explore work-study positions that match your interests, allowing you to work on campus while attending classes.
- Scholarships and Grants Info: Learn about available scholarships and grants tailored to your needs.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with any of our Financial Aid staff. You can contact us directly at
Applying for 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.
When applying for financial aid, you may be eligible for one or more of the following types of aid.
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!
Related Links
Eligibility for Financial Aid
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 (Cost of Attendance) 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 classes, you may have to pay back all or part of your financial aid (see Return of Financial Aid Funds Policy).
- 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 (see Return of Financial Aid Funds Policy).
- 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.
Cost of Attendance
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. The Need determines the eligibility for the different types of financial aid.
COA – SAI = Need
The SAI is determined by the information you provided on the FAFSA and it is calculated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the total cost to attend SCC. The COA includes tuition, fees, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, living expenses, transportation and personal expenses such as internet service, loan fees, utilities, certification, etc. The estimates for these categories are based on information from College Board, MN Employment and Economic Development and USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The figures listed 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. The amount of financial aid and scholarships you receive cannot exceed the COA.
Once the Need is determined, the types of financial aid will be identified as either need-based or non-need based.
Need-based aid: Grants (federal and state), work study and subsidized loans are need-based aid. Some scholarships are also based on need.
Non-need aid: Unsubsidized loans and private loans are considered not based on need. The COA will limit the amount of private loan money you can borrow.
| Category | Fall | Spring | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $3,217 | $3,217 | $6,434 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment* | $600 | $600 | $1,200 |
| Direct Costs (Tuition + Fees + Books) | $3,817 | $3,817 | $7,634 |
| Food and Housing | $4,700 | $4,700 | $9,400 |
| Transportation | $1,050 | $1,050 | $2,100 |
| Personal / Miscellaneous | $1,980 | $1,980 | $3,960 |
| Indirect Costs | $7,730 | $7,730 | $15,460 |
| Total Direct + Indirect Costs | $11,547 | $11,547 | $23,094 |
* Note: Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment are estimates and may vary by program.
* Some programs require special course fees, special tools, supplies and certifications and licensures that could increase this projected expense. Requests for an adjustment to the Cost of Attendance should be sent to
SCC's current Tuition and Fees page shows a detailed breakdown of course specific costs.
Location and Hours
Financial Aid Offices:
- North Mankato: One Stop, B-100
- Faribault: Student Affairs Center
Financial Aid Office Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Summer hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Send Paperwork To:
South Central College
Financial Aid Office
1920 Lee Boulevard
North Mankato, MN 56003
FAX:507-389-7419
Contact Us
Email:
Phone: 507-389-7220
Financial Aid Staff
Resources
Next Steps After Completing the FAFSA
1. Track Your Financial Aid Status
Log in to eServices. If SCC has received your FAFSA, you will meet the minimum payment requirement and your courses will not be dropped for non-payment.
You may be asked to provide additional information.
- Document Review: The school needs to complete a review process. Allow 10 days for the school to complete this step. You might be asked for more information after this review is complete.
- Ready for Letter: You will be asked for more information.
- 1st Track Letter Sent: We have sent you a request for additional information. Nothing will move forward until you have submitted the documents.
- 2nd Track Letter Sent: We have sent a second request.
- EDE Corrections Transmitted: We have sent corrections to your FAFSA and should receive a response in five to seven days.
- Ready for Packing Edits OR Award Notification: Your application is complete. Expect a financial aid award letter shortly.
- Ready for Payment: You have been awarded financial aid. Grants will be disbursed. You may apply for a loan.
- Applicant Cancelled OR Cancel Code: Your financial aid application has been cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
2. Complete Required Documents (If Requested)
Some students are selected for verification or asked to submit additional documentation.
- Verification: If your application is selected for verification, South Central College will request that you submit documents to verify income, household size, or other information reported on your FAFSA.
- Other examples: You may be asked to submit other information such as documentation of your citizenship status, high school transcript, or an institutional form.
- Document Uploader: Submit documents securely to the Financial Aid Office with the SCC Document Uploader (requires your StarID). Acceptable formats are .doc, .docx, .jpg, and .pdf.
- After all, required documents have been submitted and processed by the Financial Aid Office, your financial award offer will be posted to your eServices account
If you do not follow the steps to complete your financial aid file within the required timeline, or you are not eligible for financial aid, you are responsible for payment of tuition and fees.
What to Do After You Receive Your Award Offer
1. Review Your Award Offer
Your financial aid award offer will be available in eServices once your file is complete.
- Awards are estimates based on enrollment level
- Set up direct deposit if your aid exceeds your bill
- If your bill is greater than your financial aid, make arrangements for another payment option.
2. Review Your Bill and Payment Options
View your bill in eServices > Bills & Payment > View Account Detail > Term PDF.
- If a FAFSA is on file, tuition payment is deferred until after the third week of the term
- An informational Financial Aid Calculator (Excel spreadsheet) to estimate whether your financial aid will cover your SCC bill, using your enrollment level, award amount, and current bill from eServices—helpful for budgeting and deciding whether to borrow a student loan.
Paying Your Bill Video Tutorial and Financial Aid Dates
3. Receive Your Financial Aid
Financial aid disbursements begin the third week of the term.
- Aid is applied to your charges first
- Remaining funds are refunded via direct deposit (recommended)
Financial Aid Dates related to disbursement
Additional Resources
SCC Financial Aid Resources
- Document Uploader - Submit documents securely to the Financial Aid Office. Acceptable formats are.doc, .docx, .jpg, and .pdf.
- eServices Tutorials
- Financial Aid and Registration Forms
- Financial Aid Calculator (Excel spreadsheet) - This calculator helps estimate whether your financial aid will cover your SCC bill. You’ll need your credit level, aid award, and bill from student eServices. Use it for budgeting and deciding whether to borrow a student loan. For informational purposes only.
- Financial Aid Handbook
- Important Dates
- Lifesaver Fund
- Net Price Calculator
External Financial Aid Resources
- Consumer Information
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – The application for financial aid. SCC’s school code is 005537.
- FSA ID – The FSA ID is used to sign your FAFSA. You and your parent should create one.
- GradReady - learn more about paying for college, money management and student loan repayment
- Loan Entrance Counseling – Required for new student loan borrowers.
- Loan Exit Counseling – Required for all loan borrowers when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.
- Loan Servicer – Your loan servicer helps with loan repayment and will help you choose the best repayment option.
- Master Promissory Note – The legal contract to borrow a student loan.
- Student loan repayment and COVID-19
- Tax Return Transcript – This is the IRS site for requesting a copy of your tax return transcript.
