Video: Understanding Your Award Letter

Financial Aid Checklist

Financial Aid Forms

FAQ for Georgia Students

Student Account Payment Options

Federal Aid Estimator
   May be used to estimate your Expected Family Contribution

FAFSA - PDF form also available
   Free Application for Federal Student Aid

William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
   Department of Education Site for Direct Loan information

Federal Student Aid

GI Bill

Department of Education  Material to help students, parents, educators, and community leaders reinforce the importance of higher education and better preparing children for college from a very young age.

Federal Student Aid Ombudsman
   The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman of the Department of Education helps resolve disputes and solve other problems with federal student loans.

FSA - International Students  
   Federal student aid for international students.

 

Exit Counseling for Loans
   This is the web site for completing the required Exit Counseling upon falling below ½ time enrollment.

Loan Repayment Estimator/Plans

National Student Loan Database System
   NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of each recipient's Title IV loans and grants for easy access and inquiry.

Covenant College Net Price Calculator

Better Business Bureau

CollegeBoard.org

EFC Quick Estimator
   This calculator is intended primarily as an educational tool to help students and parents understand the major variables that affect student aid eligibility.

ECMC Financial Aid Literacy
   A financial aid literacy website provided by the Educational Credit Management Corporation.

Federal Trade Commission
   Check the legitimacy of scholarship search services and find information about financial aid scams and tips on how to avoid being scammed.

Tax Laws for Education   

 

FastWeb Search
   Free scholarship and college searches, financial aid tools, and more that 500 scholarships.

Financial Aid Facts
   Free scholarship and financial aid information

Scholarship Experts
   Fill out a free scholarship profile and instantly find out which scholarships fit your unique needs, interests, and background.

Scholaraid
   Scholarship search engine and scholarship advice.

SuperCollege.com
A searchable database of scholarships.

Christian Community Credit Union

Finaid
A national scholarship database to help simplify the search for scholarships.

Going Merry
A national scholarship database to help simplify the search for scholarships.

Honor Society
A national scholarship database to help simplify the search for scholarships.

LawnStarter
The Lawntrepreneur Scholarship is our way of funding tomorrow’s top entrepreneurs. Maybe you sowed the seeds of your entrepreneurial spirit by starting a lawn care company in high school. Maybe you’re planning on building the next big landscaping company. Either way, if you've got the entrepreneurial bug in you, then we want to help fund your dream. We’re fixing the large and disorganized lawn care industry, and we’re willing to grant $1000 to any student we believe has the potential to change the world through entrepreneurship. If you are interested in starting your own business, we'd love to hear from you. We offer the scholarship to a student each semester. The entry for the Fall semester is May 1st to August 20th and it's open for the Spring semester from August 31st to December 31st.. We will announce the recipient on August 31 and January 2nd of the subsequent year.

Nancy Etz
"The Nancy Etz Academic Scholarship was created to recognize an outstanding student and provide them the resources needed to advance in their disciplines and eventually pursue their dream careers. Please prepare a 500-word essay that answers the following prompt: “Describe an area in your life where you demonstrated leadership and overcame obstacles in either your school, society, or family life”."

North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines, one of the leading moving companies in the United States, is committed to supporting the community as well as the growth and development of the moving services and logistics industries. We believe education is the best way to ensure our industry has qualified professionals for years to come. Because of this belief, we are proud to announce our first annual Logistics Scholarship contest. Three lucky qualified entrants will each win a $1,000 scholarship towards their degree in logistics or supply chain management at the college or university of their choice.

Peterson's
A national scholarship database to help simplify the search for scholarships.

Slumber Yard
Our annual scholarship program allows us to assist driven students to better themselves by earning a degree. The reality is that college is expensive and the costs continue to rise. Expensive to the point that people weigh the benefits of getting the degree against the amount of debt it will take. We want to help get people a little closer to their goal, whatever it may be.

The Hatfield Prize
The Hatfield Prize is awarded annually to three student-faculty pairs from Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) schools.

The Chant Thompson Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to encourage students to attend a Christian college or university as they prepare for their future career and calling. Students who currently attend a NACCAP member high school and plan to enroll in a NACCAP member Christian college or university are eligible to apply.

Ty Cobb
Undergraduate students who are residents of Georgia, are U.S. citizens and have demonstrated financial need, and have completed at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of academic credits with an average of “B” or higher in an accredited college or university are eligible to apply for Ty Cobb scholarships (must be a high school graduate). The college or university must be accredited by a regional crediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education. Potential new app each year.

Unigo
A national scholarship database to help simplify the search for scholarships.

Workpuls
If you’re an ambitious college student with an entrepreneurial mindset, then you may be eligible for Workpuls’ $2,500 scholarship (awarded twice yearly). As a recipient, how you use the Scholarship is up to you. Support your studies, jumpstart your career, or create the building blocks of a business.

 

 

What do I need to do to accept this award?

Your first step in accepting the award will be to pay your enrollment deposit through your portal account. Once that is done, you will need to login to your Banner account with your username and password. Once there, click on “Financial Aid” at the top of the screen. Next, click on “Accept Financial Aid Award" On the next screen, you will be able to accept or decline your scholarships, grants, and any applicable optional financial aid like student loans or work study. After you have accepted the aid, click on the requirements page to view any outstanding financial aid requirements.

 

Is the amount of my award going to change from year to year?

Any scholarships that you have been awarded from Covenant College funding will renew each year. If you have been awarded from a professional judgment fund, you will need to supply the same information or documentation in subsequent years to receive that particular fund again. Aid that is from federal or state sources is not guaranteed to remain the same each year as it may have need or academic requirements that must be met in order to qualify.

 

How will competitive scholarships impact my award?

After scholarship weekend has occurred, if you are chosen as a winner of one of our competitive scholarships your financial aid award will be updated either by stacking the scholarships with your current Covenant scholarships (not to exceed the cost of tuition), or in the instance of a full tuition scholarship, replacing all smaller institutional scholarships with the single full tuition scholarship. This competitive scholarship will also be renewed each year along with your other institutional aid.

 

What are subsidized and unsubsidized loans?

Direct Loans, subsidized or unsubsidized, are offered to students when they complete the FAFSA. The amount shown on your award letter will be the maximum amount that you are eligible for based on your class year by credit hour. These loans are entirely optional and you are not required to take them. If you do take them, you can choose to accept only a portion. These loans will be in the student’s name and will need to be paid back with interest upon graduating or leaving school. For more details about these loans visit this web page. To accept these loans, follow the same process above for accepting financial aid, and then check the requirements page for necessary loan requirements.

 

What are the GPA requirements of my scholarships?

In order to maintain all Covenant College scholarships, students must keep up at least a 2.0 GPA. Maclellan Scholars must maintain a 3.0 GPA while at Covenant in order to receive that particular scholarship. There are higher GPA standards to maintain Georgia State funds.

 

What are my payment options?

The accounting office accepts cash, check or credit cards. Visit their page to see more details about forms of payment accepted. You can also find out about their payment plan options here.

 

Where and when can I see my billing statement?

At the beginning of each semester (and each month of the semester) you will receive an email with your current account statement. This will go to your Covenant email as well as any other email addresses that you have designated as e-bill addresses. You can also check your account statement 24/7 on your Banner account. Log in and click on “financial aid” and then “account balance charges and payments.” You can also request an e-bill to be sent at any time through our on-demand e-bill request system found under the Payments and Billing section of scots.covenant.edu.

 

Are there other fees that are not included in this letter?

This letter covers the standard costs and required fees for a full-time, on campus student. There are other potential incidental fees (parking permits, course material fees, music lesson fees, book costs, etc.) that are not included here as they will vary from student to student. Actual charges will be based on registration at the beginning of each semester.

 

What will happen to my award if I have outside scholarships?

In most cases an outside scholarship will not affect your financial aid award from Covenant. The most common adjustment that may be required would be to change some of your subsidized loan amount (need-based) to unsubsidized (non-need-based). If there are other adjustments necessary, we will contact you directly. Please direct any outside scholarships to be sent to the Accounting Office at the main college address.

 

Do I need to complete a FAFSA every year?

If you would like to be evaluated for Pell grant eligibility yearly or would like to take out Direct Loans, yes you will need to fill out a new FAFSA each year. If neither of these apply to you, you do not need to fill out a FAFSA each year.

 

What does work study mean? How many hours will I be working?

Work study awards are job offers for students to work part-time in a job on campus to have the opportunity to earn up to the amount listed on the award letter. Typically students will be working 10 or 15 hours a week. For more detailed information on the work study program, see our Work Study FAQ below.

 

What are my housing options?

Students must live in on-campus housing until their senior year. Most of our dorm rooms on campus are two person rooms, which is the cost estimate that we include on your award letter until you are officially assigned to a room by Student Development. Room and board cost estimates for on campus students include the required unlimited meal-plan. Actual charges will reflect your housing assignment/choice from Student Development.

 

Are there other loan options available?

If you would like to pursue a loan to cover all or some of the remaining balance after your financial aid is applied, there are a few options. One of the most common options is a Parent Plus loan which is a federal loan that a parent can apply for on behalf of a dependent student. For more details visit this website. You are also welcome to pursue any private student loan and apply it to your account here. We will complete the school certification paperwork for any private student loan. We do not have any agreements with lenders or preferred/recommended lenders.

 

How can parents access their student’s Banner account/financial aid information?

Students can choose to set their parents up as proxy users on their account. To do so, students must log onto their Banner web account with their username and password.

1. Click on the Proxy Access tab at the top of the screen.
2. Click on Proxy Management
3. Click on Add Proxy
4. Enter the required information.
5. The Proxy will need to confirm their email and change their temporary password.
6. Once they have been authorized the student can edit the proxy’s profile and authorization settings to enable appropriate access (for example , account balance, financial aid, or academic information).
7. When parents go to access Banner as a proxy, from the login page of Banner, they must select the “if you are accessing this site as a proxy user click here” option.

This process will create a profile with its own unique login information that will be able to access the parts of the Banner account information that the student has authorized them to see.

If you have any questions, we want to help. Contact us at 888.451.2683 or at info@covenant.edu. We will walk you through the process as often as needed. In fact, we recommend that you ask questions as soon as possible, since this may be our busy season and time is crucial.

 

What is Work-Study?

Work-study (also called student employment) is an opportunity to have a part time job during the school year in one of our many departments on campus that will work around your class schedule. A work-study position is part of your financial aid package and is administered through the Financial Aid Office. Although the name may be confusing, "work-study" DOES NOT indicate that you can expect to study during work hours. Work-study is a resume building job, meaning you are expected to work and develop skills. All Work-Study employees will be paid twice a month for the work hours you complete.

Work-Study at Covenant College is more than just earning a paycheck for work done. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop in service to the college community and community at large. It’s the time to grow your resume by instilling skills and qualities that stand out. It’s the time to learn the importance of professional relationships.

Covenant’s goal is to equip men and women of God to go into the workplace and be different - make a difference. We believe ALL work is a way to love God, serve our neighbors and demonstrate the gospel.

There are two types of Work-Study at Covenant. Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Covenant Work-Study (CWS). Federal Work-Study is determined by the FAFSA and demonstrated need. CWS is determined by the student’s desire to work and dependability to do so. Funding for both is limited and therefore on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

How do I get it?

Begin by filling out the FAFSA. Federal Work-Study is a needs based program determined by filling out the FAFSA. Covenant Work-Study is determined by the Financial Aid Department’s verification of need or desire to work during the academic year. Funding for both is limited and therefore on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

I was offered work study, so how do I get started?

First, accept your work study offer on your Banner account (this is found under the financial aid tab, view/accept financial aid).

Next, Freshmen apply for a FRESHMAN team and upperclassmen apply for a departmental job on the Student Employment site.

Before your first day of work, complete the required I-9, W4, and G4 forms. Prior to your start date you will be emailed a link where to go to fill out the forms. To complete these forms you will need specific forms of original ID. To see the full list of what is required/acceptable please visit the USCIS webpage.

 

How do I get a particular job I want? How can I study at my job?

You apply through the Student Employment site. Include as much detail as possible and submit it for the position of your choice. The supervisor will review it and determine if you are a good fit for that position. You will either be hired or encouraged to look for a different position.

You should not study “on the clock.” Work study is a resume building job, meaning you are expected to work and develop skills. It is also a time to learn how to glorify God in your work.

 

How many hours can I work? Can I have more than one job?

The amount of hours that you are expected to work depends on the work study authorization that you accept for the year. If you accepted a $2,300 authorization, that equates to about 10 hours per week of work. If you accepted a $3,500 authorization, that equates to about 15 hours a week of work. In order to make the full awarded potential, you will need to keep up the 10/15 hour a week level throughout the school year.

You are not authorized to work multiple jobs. Only one job is allowed.

 

I was awarded $2,300/$3,500 in work study, but it isn’t showing on my account balance. Why not?

Remember, work study is a job so as with any job you are not paid until you work and report your time. Work study potential earnings are not credited to your outstanding balance up-front, so you will need to keep this in mind as you plan for the semester’s charges.

Your paycheck will be directly deposited into your personal bank account.

 

What, When, and How will I be paid?

Most on-campus positions are paid $8.25/hour. You will receive a check twice a month on the 15th and the last day of the month. All payments are made directly to your bank account. To view a complete payroll schedule for the 2022-2023 school year Payroll Schedule.

 

What forms do I need to complete?

All new students must complete an I-9, W4, G4, and Direct Deposit Form as part of the Student Employment process. Prior to your start date you will be emailed a link where to go to fill out the forms. To complete these forms you will need specific forms of original ID. To see the full list of what is required/acceptable please visit the USCIS webpage. (See www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents for regulations about these documents.) It is best to do this prior to coming to campus.

 

Will I be paid the full amount of my award?

You will be paid for the time worked. You are authorized to work up to your award limit. Any portion of the award that remains unearned will be forfeited, as it cannot be transferred to a subsequent academic year.

 

I reduced my hours last semester but I have more free time this semester. May I increase hours to the original amount?

Once you have decreased your hours you are not allowed to increase them without filing for an Appeal to Increase. Once you reduce your hours you will only be allowed those hours in the future. Should you quit, work-study will not be offered to you in future years.

 

How can I know how many hours I’ve worked so far this semester/academic year?

You can view how many hours you have worked on Banner and your paystub.

 

I want to work in a different department. How can I change my job?

Work-Study jobs are for the academic year. You are encouraged to begin applying for fall positions in late spring. The best way to get future jobs is to work well in your current position and secure a positive reference from your supervisor.

 

Will taxes be taken out of my check?

All students are subject to federal and state income taxes. However, students are exempt from Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes as long as the student is enrolled for a minimum of 6 hours (half time). FICA tax is a government tax to fund Social Security and Medicare. The employee’s share is 6.2% of gross pay for Social Security and 1.45% of gross pay for Medicare.

 

Will I be required to file a tax return?

Work-Study earnings are the same as any other job earnings and subject to the same filing requirements.

 

Will WS dollars affect my FAFSA for next year?

Need based work-study earnings may be listed on your FAFSA as such. The federal formula used with the FAFSA data will exclude those need based work study earnings. All Federal Work-Study (FWS) is need based.

 

For further questions you can contact the Work-Study Coordinator at kate.raiford@covenant.edu.