Federal and State Awards
Federal Awards
Effective for the 2012 – 2013 academic year, students will be eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant for a maximum of 12 semesters (or its equivalent of 600 percent). Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100 percent, the six-year equivalent is 600 percent. Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) includes Pell Grants received from any college at any point since the program was established.
State Awards
Effective for the 2012 – 2013 academic year, any students who receive the North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (NCELS) and/or the North Carolina Community College Grant (NCCCG), and withdraw prior to completing 35 percent of the semester, will be required to repay a portion of these funds.
Effective for the 2014 – 2015 academic year, and retroactive to the 2008 – 2009 award year, there will be a state limit of 10 semesters or 15 trimesters across the NCCCG, NCELS, the University of North Carolina Need-Based Grant and the North Carolina Need-Based Scholarship. Each grant is also limited to 10 semesters individually, except for the NCCCG, which is limited to six semesters.
General Information
Final approval of eligibility will be determined upon review of the 2020 spring and summer semester academic transcripts. All transcripts will be evaluated for grade point average, hours attempted, hours completed, time limitation and eligible program of study. The remaining Time Limit for students who change their major to a Diploma or Certificate program may be considerably reduced. Students will only be notified in the event that they are not considered eligible based upon the evaluation of spring and/or summer semester transcripts. Notification will also be made when program changes significantly affect the time limit remaining.
Please be aware that all funds listed on your 2020 – 2021 Financial Aid Offer are contingent upon receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of Education or other sources and may be adjusted or denied at any time.
Your actual financial aid amounts may be different from your Financial Aid Offer. Reasons for the difference may include:
- Taking fewer than 12 required credits (or 15 required credits for North Carolina Community College Grant) — offer letters are based on anticipated full-time enrollment
- Enrolling in late starting classes — funds cannot be disbursed until attendance in a class is verified
- Adding a late-starting class after the Census Date of the semester
- Taking classes not required for graduation from your program
- Exceeding the Developmental Time Limit — financial aid is available for up to a maximum of 30 credit hours of developmental coursework
- Exceeding your Program of Study Time Limit
- Not meeting the enrollment requirements for your funds
- To establish and retain eligibility for North Carolina State grants, students must obtain and maintain North Carolina residency, as determined by the State of North Carolina.
- Recipients of North Carolina grants/scholarships must be enrolled for at least 6 required credits to be considered for a reduced amount
- The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and COA Foundation scholarships may be offered to alternate eligible students if the original recipient is not enrolled by the census date of a semester
This web page contains information about Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, enrollment requirements for funding, ordering/charging books at the COA Bookstore, the 2020 — 2021 Pay Schedule and other aid opportunities. Should you need additional assistance with tuition, fees or books, please consider the Automatic Payment Plan our college offers.
Academic Programs Eligible for Federal/State Aid
2020 – 2021 Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
2020 – 2021 Pay Schedule
*Subject to change without notice.
Fall 2020
| File Completion | Pay Date* |
|---|---|
| Aug. 31 | Sep. 24 |
| Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 |
| Nov. 9 | Nov. 20 |
Spring 2021
| File Completion | Pay Date* |
|---|---|
| Jan. 29 | Feb. 25 |
| March 12 | March 31 |
| April 14 | April 28 |
Summer 2021
| File Completion | Pay Date* |
|---|---|
| May 26 | June 17 |
| July 1 | July 20 |
All checks will be mailed to students. Attendance will be verified before any type of Financial Aid check will be issued.
Cost of Attendance
Each institution determines its own cost of attendance or budget. This includes both direct educational costs (such as tuition, fees, books and supplies) as well as living costs (room and board, transportation and personal expenses). Financial aid can be applied toward direct educational costs as well as living costs.
Estimated College Cost (Nine Months)
| Educational/Living | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (12 credit hours, fall and spring semesters) | $2,123 |
| Fees (full-time, fall and spring semesters) | $147 |
| Books and supplies | $1,107 |
| Miscellaneous | $1,125 |
Other costs may vary upon dependency status. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 252-335-0821 ext. 2355 for additional information.
Students: Withdrawing from a class may affect your Federal Student Aid eligibility for future terms of enrollment. All students are advised to seek guidance from the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from any class(es).
Enrollment Status
| Status | Hours |
|---|---|
| Full-time plus | 15 credit hours or more (North Carolina Community College grant only) |
| Full-time | 12 credit hours or more |
| Three-quarter-time | nine to 11 credit hours |
| Half-time | six to eight credit hours |
| Less than half-time | five credit hours or less (State grants are not available to students at this enrollment status) |