Frequently Asked Questions
Your Financial Aid Award
Do I need an assigned Clayton State University email address?
Yes! It is the official email address we will use to keep you
informed of important financial aid information. You are
responsible for all email sent to your Clayton State University email
address, and we recommend that you check it frequently. More
information is available at
http://thehub.clayton.edu/.
Why was I awarded for Fall and Spring, but not Summer?
Students who are awarded for Fall and Spring Semesters are
awarded their entire eligibility for the academic year.
Students who attend full-time both semesters and accept all
loan funds offered may not have additional federal
funds available for Summer Semester. However, there are
many variables that determine aid eligibility such as the
Spring Check Point for HOPE,
SAP, etc. For that reason, a
survey question will be available when you log on to the
DUCK in late Fall Semester or early Spring Semester
regarding Summer financial aid. You must complete the one
question survey to be reviewed for Summer financial aid. After the
review is complete, you will receive notification of your
Summer financial aid eligibility.
What is the difference between the subsidized and the
unsubsidized loan?
A Stafford Loan is a
government-guaranteed loan available to students. There are two
types of Stafford loans; subsidized and unsubsidized. The
subsidized Federal Stafford loan, is based on financial need.
With a subsidized Stafford, the government pays the interest
while you're in school.
With an unsubsidized
Stafford, the amount you are eligible to receive is not based on
your financial need. You are responsible for the interest while
you are in school. You can either pay the interest while you are
in school or defer it until after graduation. You should note
that if you defer the interest, it will be capitalized upon
graduation and will raise the overall cost of your loan.
Will financial aid pay for audited classes?
No.
Audit status in a class does not qualify for financial aid.
Auditing a course means that a student may enroll in the class
but will not receive credit for the course. Audited classes
cannot be used at a later date for college credit or to fulfill
admission or graduation requirements.
Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive HOPE?
No, you do not have to be enrolled full-time to receive the HOPE
Grant or the HOPE Scholarship. If you are enrolled less than
half-time, your book allowance will be reduced to $75.
If I withdraw, will it affect my financial aid?
It can. Students who withdraw may be required to repay to the
federal program the amount of unearned financial aid funds
disbursed to them based upon their withdrawal date. If you owe
funds, you will be billed by the Bursar’s Office approximately 4
to 6 weeks after you withdraw. Also, withdrawals can affect your
future financial aid eligibility. You must have a 67% completion
rate for all attempted courses. For more information, see the
Frequently Asked Questions
regarding Withdrawals.
Why doesn’t my book money show up when I check my
LakerCard?
Your book money will not appear on your
LakerCard if you scan it to check your balance. It will only
show when your LakerCard is scanned in the Campus Store. Check
the Schedule of Classes each semester for the
dates that your book money credit can be used.
When will I receive my refund/reimbursement?
After your student account charges (tuition, fees, book store
purchases, etc) in the Bursar's Office have been paid in full,
you will receive any financial aid amount remaining on your
account. The refund/reimbursement will be processed for you
according to how you set up your Clayton State OneCard account.
For more information, visit claytonstateonecard.com
or contact the LakerCard
Center at (678) 466-4215. The Financial Aid Office
does not process or mail refunds so we cannot tell you the
amount of your refund or when it will be processed. If you
have additional questions about refunds, contact the Bursar's
Office.
*If you have
additional questions about refunds, see the
Withdrawal Frequently Asked
Questions or contact the
Bursar's Office.
If I lose my HOPE Scholarship eligibility, can I get it
back?
Yes. Students have an opportunity to regain the
HOPE Scholarship after they have attempted 30, 60, or 90
semester hours of study with a 3.00 cumulative HOPE GPA.
Students cannot regain HOPE eligibility beyond the 90th hour
checkpoint. Additional information on HOPE can be found
here.