Navigating Gwinnett Tech Scholarships and Financial Aid: A Comprehensive Guide

Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) is committed to helping students finance their education through various scholarships and financial aid options. Understanding the requirements and processes involved is crucial for students seeking assistance. This article provides a detailed overview of Gwinnett Tech's scholarships, financial aid, and associated policies.

Understanding Tuition and Fees at Gwinnett Tech

Gwinnett Tech assesses fees based on the policies of the Technical College System of Georgia. Certain student fees are mandatory and are required to be paid each semester as flat fees. These fees include:

Technology
Instructional
Registration
Student Activity
Student Accident Insurance
Campus Safety
Facility Access Fee
Campus Supply Fee

For transient students enrolled in more than one technical college during the same term, only the home technical college shall charge the technology support fee. Course tuition fees are calculated based upon the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15, a student registers for each semester. Payments may be made in person at the Bursar Office locations on both the Lawrenceville and Alpharetta-North Fulton campuses. Payment can be made with cash, check, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) or online at BannerWeb by credit card. Cash is not accepted at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus. All fees are due by the early or late registration payment deadline published in the academic calendar. Credit card payments are not accepted by phone. For all students who register during the late registration period, a non-refundable fee of $45 will be assessed. Each registered student will also be assessed a $30.00 fee, a $6.00 fee, a $85.00 fee, and a $50.00 fee.

Residency Requirements

To qualify for in-state tuition and certain scholarships, students must meet specific residency requirements.

Georgia Resident: An individual who is a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen and is Domiciled in the State of Georgia and meets the in-state tuition requirements of TCSG. To register as a legal resident of the State of Georgia students must provide supporting documentation as required by the Registrar’s Office. Residency requirements for State of Georgia Scholarship and Grant fund recipients may differ from this definition.

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Eligible Non-Citizen: A person who, in accordance with the Federal Title IV definition, is a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired; or Cuban-Haitian Entrant.

Out-of-State Student: Students who are residents of the United States but do not otherwise qualify as Georgia Residents.

Out-of-State Tuition Exemptions

Students in the following classifications are eligible for out-of-state exemption:

Members of a uniformed military service of the United States who, within thirty-six (36) months of separation from such service, enroll in an academic program and demonstrate an intent to become domiciled in Georgia. This exemption may also be granted to their spouses and dependent children. This exemption also applies to recipients of transferred GI Bill® benefits who within thirty-six (36) months of the transferor’s separation from the uniformed military service of the United States enroll in an academic program and demonstrate an intent to become domiciled in Georgia.
Career consular officers and their dependents that are citizens of the foreign nation which their consular office represents, and who are living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): students may be eligible to petition for Out-of-State Tuition.

Students who enter Gwinnett Tech as non-residents and subsequently qualify as legal residents must submit verification of Georgia residency to the Registrar’s Office. The student’s residence status is not changed automatically. A request must be made for the change at the proper time, and the student must provide proof of change of residence status. Changes made during a semester will be effective for the following semester.

Senior Citizen Waivers

Residents of Georgia who are 62 years of age or older are accepted to the college and eligible to enroll in Gwinnett Tech credit courses only on a space available basis during late registration. This excludes courses which involve external agencies or individual instruction and Continuing Education or noncredit courses. Senior citizen waivers must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office during the late registration period. These students will receive a registration time ticket for late registration only. Students who have been approved for a senior citizen waiver will not be considered for other types of state funded financial aid. Senior citizen students must pay all course related fees, application fees, lab fees, and/or cost recovery fees assessed. Tuition is waived when the waiver is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. A senior citizen waiver student may elect to audit courses, but must complete an audit form at the time of registration.

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Payment Policies

If student fees are to be paid by an agency outside the school, students are responsible for ensuring that the school has received proper written assurances from the outside agency before registration each term. Students may be dropped from classes for non-payment of tuition and fees if the agency’s promise to pay has not been received by the payment deadline date as published in the class schedule. Any invoice submitted to an agency will be payable upon receipt.

Credit Classes Refund Policy

Each change in enrollment will be considered as a separate transaction. In addition to the portion of a student’s charges that are non-refundable as listed above, the application fee, late registration fee, and any other special fees are non-refundable. Stop payment of a check does not constitute formal withdrawal. Any other exception to this policy must be justified in writing and approved by the Vice President Of Administrative Services.

Gwinnett Tech makes every effort to assure a quality learning experience. If Gwinnett Tech cancels a Continuing Education class, registered participants will automatically receive a 100 percent refund. If a participant elects to withdraw from a course, a refund will be given minus a $15 processing fee provided the withdrawal from a course is received by Continuing Education at least two business days prior to the class start date. Students, who withdraw after the two business day deadline, but before the second class session, will receive a 50 percent refund. No refunds are given after the second class session and no refunds are given after the two business day deadline for one- or two-session seminars. Participants who cannot attend are encouraged to send a substitute or transfer their enrollment to another course in lieu of withdrawal to avoid paying a processing fee. Registered participants who fail to attend or send a substitute are liable for the full registration fee. Stop payment of a check does not constitute formal withdrawal.

Students are responsible for satisfying any unpaid obligations to the college. These unpaid obligations include, but are not limited to, unpaid tuition and fees, returned checks, financial aid reversals, fines and course supply fees. Any obligations that are not satisfied in full may be referred to an outside collection agency and to appropriate credit bureaus. Resulting collection costs will be added to the original debt and the student must pay these costs, as well as attorney’s fees, if applicable. It is the policy of Gwinnett Tech to assess a $30 penalty on all returned checks. Penalties must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, credit card or money order only. Application for admission, registration, or issuance of grades will be put on hold until payment is made. The school reserves the right to request cash only payments from students with repeated returned checks.

Financial Aid at Gwinnett Tech

Gwinnett Technical College’s Financial Aid Office offers various types of aid to assist students with their educational costs. Gwinnett Technical College complies with its program responsibilities under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. Students must be accepted into a Financial Aid eligible program of study before a reviewing a file and awarding funds. The Financial Aid process can be lengthy; it can take 2-4 weeks to review eligibility. Updates to Financial Aid file can happen at any time. The Financial Aid Office will authorize aid based on enrollment status. Funds are disbursed to the Account Summary by Term in Banner after the semester begins. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to be considered for Federal or State aid. Always include the Gwinnett Tech school code (016139) on the FAFSA. Applications and additional documents should be submitted to Gwinnett Tech by the Financial Aid Document Submission Deadline. Student who do not submit the FAFSA and any additional requested documents by the Priority Document Deadline each semester may not have aid ready in time for the Payment Deadline.The Financial Aid Office will continue to process your documents after the deadline but cannot guarantee your aid will be ready in time and encourages you to use the Nelnet Payment option offered by the Bursar’s Office to avoid your courses being dropped for non-payment. Please note, Nelnet is not available for Mini-Mester C. Students must be accepted into a Financial Aid eligible program of study to receive assistance. Financial Aid cannot be used prior to the semester of acceptance. Students can only use Financial Aid for required courses within their program of study. Students receiving Title IV funds while concurrently enrolled at Gwinnett Tech and another school are required to notify the Financial Aid Office. It is strongly encouraged that students select one school to receive financial aid funding, however, a determination of concurrent aid eligibility will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Eligibility Requirements for Financial Aid

To be eligible for financial aid at Gwinnett Tech, students must:

Be accepted for enrollment for a Financial Aid eligible certificate, diploma, or degree program.
Be registered with Selective Service.
Be a United States Citizen or U.S National.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Department of Education requires schools to establish a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Financial Aid recipients are required to maintain the minimum requirements outlined within the policy. These are in addition to Gwinnett Tech’s academic or program requirements.

Students must have at least a 2/3 (67%) or higher completion ratio.
Students must complete their current program within 150% of the credit hour program length.

Students who fail to maintain the SAP standards related to Completion Rate and/or Cumulative GPA will remain eligible for ONE semester under “Financial Aid Warning” status. However, students may appeal their Financial Aid Suspension status. If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an “Educuation Plan or EDPLAN” status. The Education Plan is between the Financial Aid Office and the student. Failure to meet the requirements will result in termination of the Education Plan; the student will be placed back in “Suspension” status and will be ineligible for Financial Aid.

In addition to the quantitative and qualitative SAP guidelines, students are also required to complete their programs of study in a timely fashion. Students who do not complete their program of study by the time they have attempted credits in excess of 150% (including all transfer hours) of the total hours required for their program will be placed on “Max Hours Reached” status. Students who are ineligible due to maximum hours should submit an appeal through the CampusLogic portal. The GTC Maximum Timeframe appeal’s process for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is specifically designed to provide flexibility for students impacted by a change in major. Under this policy, students requiring an appeal will be granted an automatic extension without the requirement to submit supporting documents if the student is making SAP in cumulative GPA and PACE. If the student is failing satisfactory academic progress measures for maximum timeframe and/or GPA/PACE, then supporting documentation is required. The maximum timeframe for completion of a degree will be extended proportionately based on the number of credits accepted from the previous major. This streamlined approach aims to support students navigating shifts in academic focus, recognizing that such changes can often require additional time for adjustment and successful progression.

Students changing their programs of study may be in jeopardy of losing eligibility for Financial Aid.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Gwinnett Technical College offers various forms of financial aid to students; Federal Loans, Grants, and Work Study are just a few. Students should review Title IV borrowing history and grant usage at NSLDS.ed.gov.

Pell Grant: The Pell Grant Program provides need based grants to students to cover the costs of their collegiate education. The Pell Grant is available to students who demonstrate financial need and are eligible according to federal guidelines as outlined by the Department of Education (ED). A student cannot receive the Pell Grant at more than one institution at a time. The maximum Pell Grant award for the the 2024-2025 academic year is $7395 (with 12 credit hours). Students must meet all Federal Student Aid requirements to receive the grant. Each Pell award is different. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student can receive is limited by the Department of Education. Students have up to 6 years (or 12 full-time semesters) to receive the Pell Grant. This includes all semesters Pell was received at prior institutions.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): You may be eligible for a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) in the amount of $250-$1000 each academic year. The SEOG funds are extremely limited; students are strongly encouraged to complete their FAFSA early each year. This award does not have to be repaid.
Federal Work Study (FWS): Federal Work Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs with flexible hours revolving around your class schedule. Students are limited to working 20 hours per week - leaving ample time for their studies. You may receive an initial award of $5,500 per academic year if you demonstrate financial need.
Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Career Grant: HOPE Career Grant is available to Georgia residents who are pursuing a certificate or diploma and eligible for and receiving, HOPE Grant or Zell Miller Grant funding. The grant provides assistance toward educational costs for eligible students enrolled in an approved designated program of study.
Federal Loans: Loans are available to students through the Federal Direct Loan Program. Loans must be repaid, with interest, according to the terms of the promissory note.

Gwinnett Tech Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to students meeting the specific requirements of each scholarship found.

Here is a list of some of the scholarships offered at Gwinnett Tech:

AAUW North Fulton Scholarship
AES Clean Technology Welding Scholarship
Anker Nursing Scholarship
Assistance League of Atlanta Scholarship
Atlanta Gas Light Scholarship
Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Bus. Association Veterans
Barbara T. King
Blanche Ellington Chambless Memorial Scholarship
Buford Lanier Woman’s Club Early Childhood Care Scholarship
Buford Lanier Woman’s Club Nursing Scholarship
Chrysler Mopar CAP Scholarship
CIS Advisory Board Scholarship
Clarke Family Nursing Scholarship
CleanSpark Computer Science
Clyde & Sandra Strickland General Scholarship
Clyde & Sandra Strickland Health Sciences & Public Safety Scholarship
CRSI Foundation Southeast Region Trade Scholarship
Diane Coker Kitchen & Bath
Discovery Point Scholarship
E.B. Parker Memorial Scholarship
Ekam Atlanta Scholarship
Gabriel “Gabe” A. White Memorial Scholarship
Gen-One Pathfinder Scholarship
Georgina Banking Company General
Georgia DOT Civil Engineering Scholarship
Georgia United Credit Union Foundation Scholarship
Gwinnett County Veterinary Medical Association Vet Tech
Guy Webb Nursing
Hennessey General Automotive Scholarship
Holtkamp Family Foundation Heating & Air Scholarship
Hughes Commercial Real Estate / Hughes Commercial Contractors Trade Scholarship
Ina Wheeler Norton Scholarship
Irene Fowler Memorial Scholarship
J.R. Hobbs Non-Traditional HVAC
Kaiser Permanente Nursing Scholarship
Lawrenceville Kennel Club Scholarship Vet Tech
Lilburn Woman’s Club Scholarship
Marshall Boutwell Cybersecurity Scholarship
Michael Upchurch Anatomy and Physiology I and II
Millennium Matt Scholarship Gwinnett Tech GED® graduate
Mingledorff’s HVAC Scholarship
NBRC Scholarship Respiratory Care
Northside Hospital Nursing Scholarship
Northside Hospital Radiologic Scholarship
Peden Nursing Scholarship
Primerica Foundation Scholarship
Residential Construction Management Scholarship
Rick Davis Scholarship - Peach State Federal Credit Early Childhood and Education
Rising Industry Star ScholarshipConstruction/Welding/Drafting/Interiors
Roentgen Scholarship Rad Tech
Sarah Rebecca Bonner Memorial Scholarship
Sawnee EMC Foundation Scholarship
Scott Hudgens Scholarship
Sharon J. Bartels Scholarship
Susan Arnold Interiors Scholarship
The GBC - Bruce Kiser Memorial Scholarship
The Gonzalez Family Scholarship
Willie Frank Bailey Memorial Scholarship
D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Veterans Fund

D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Veterans Fund

With a generous donation from the Hudgens family, Gwinnett Tech also offers the D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Veterans Fund. A committee will be established to select and notify the fund recipient. If participant drops all courses or fails to attend or does not abide by government or college rules, they forfeit the award. However, they are eligible to apply for the assistance for the following year. (Exception will be if they are called to active duty or recalled/relocated due to military requirement) Funding will provide assistance for tuition, fees, books, program supplies, childcare, and living expenses. Payments will be provided each semester. Participants are eligible to apply for a second year.

Key Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

Complete the FAFSA: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. Always include the school code (016139) on the FAFSA, and if possible, use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) to reduce errors on your application.
Meet Deadlines: Complete your file by the deadlines listed to ensure your financial aid is ready for the upcoming semester. If you miss a date, still finish your file ASAP; but know we cannot guarantee your aid will be in place by the payment deadlines.
Check for Updates: The Financial Aid process can be lengthy; it can take 2-4 weeks to review eligibility. Updates to Financial Aid file can happen at any time.
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): Understand and maintain the SAP requirements to remain eligible for financial aid.

Important Considerations

Enrollment Status: The Financial Aid Office will authorize aid based on enrollment status.
Eligible Program of Study: Students must be accepted into a Financial Aid eligible program of study to receive assistance.
Notification of Concurrent Enrollment: Students receiving Title IV funds while concurrently enrolled at Gwinnett Tech and another school are required to notify the Financial Aid Office.

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