Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

Requirements Federal Student Aid Programs available are Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Federal Work-Study (FWS).

• File a free application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.gov, beginning October 1 of each year.
• Demonstrate financial need. Have a high school diploma, or a GED.
• Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Not be in default on Federal Perkins Loan (or National Direct Student Loan), Federal Stafford Loan (or Guaranteed Student Loan), Federal PLUS Loan or Supplemental Loan for Students (FSLS).
• Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), or Alabama Student Assistant Grant (ASAP). Agree to use any Federal Student Aid received solely for educational purposes.
• If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25, you must register with the Selective Service.
• Must not have a 4 year (Bachelor’s) degree,

Net Price Calculator

The net price calculator will give you an estimated cost of tuition, fees, books and housing to attend Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, click on the link above to complete the calculation.

Disbursement of Title IV Aid

Aid is authorized once students register for class and may be adjusted based on enrollment status changes and satisfactory academic progress eligibility.  Once students accept the Title IV Authorization in their myLBWCC, students will be allowed to purchase books using their aid, if available, three days before classes begin.  Aid will be posted to student accounts once attendance is verified.  This is typically at the beginning of the 3rd week of class.  Once aid is posted to student accounts the business office will process any refunds due to students within 14 days  These refunds will be sent via direct deposit or U.S. mail, depending on the method set up in the students myLBWCC account..

Return of Title IV Policy

In accordance with Federal regulations, those students who receive a disbursement of Title IV funds, Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, and/or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) officially withdraws or ceases attendance prior to the 60% point in the payment period, LBWCC will determine whether the student must repay a portion of the net disbursement. Federal Work-Study is excluded from the calculation. This process is called a Return of Title IV Calculation.

Title IV funds must be disbursed within 14 days of the aid being posted on the students financial account, however aid is earned as student attends throughout the semester.

If the student does not complete 60% of the semester, LBWCC is required to perform a calculation to determine if funds must be returned to the Department of Education. This date of withdrawal is determined in two different ways for official and unofficial withdrawals.

Official Withdrawal The official withdrawal date is determined by the date the student started the withdrawal process or the date of the last academic related activity.

Unofficial Withdrawal: The unofficial withdrawal date is determined by the date the instructors report as the last documented academic related activity when a grade of “F” is posted at the end of the semester or payment period. The return of funds calculation shall be based on the midpoint of the term for students who unofficially withdraw and cease attending before completing 60% of the term, unless it can be determined that the last documented academic related activity/engagement is after the 50% date, at which time that date will be used to the benefit of the student.

The percentage formula is as follows: total number of calendar days completed in the payment period divided by the total number of calendar days in the payment period equals the percentage of Title IV funds earned. Scheduled break days of 5 or more are excluded from the calculation. Funds shall be returned in the following order:

1. Federal Pell Grants
2. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
3. FSEOG

Any remaining credit, (post-withdrawal disbursements), shall be posted to the student’s account within 45 days of the date it was determined that the student withdrew. If there is a remaining credit after all expenses are paid, the balance shall be refunded to the student within 14 days.

Calculations and returns must be made 45 days from the date of determination for official withdrawals and 30 days from the end of the semester (or payment period) for unofficial withdrawals.

The student may be required to return or repay the remaining unearned Title IV funds to the Department of Education. LBWCC will notify the student in writing of the amount they owe, the procedure for repayment and consequences of non-payment within 30 days.

Any student who does not return or repay unearned Title IV funds as required by law will be reported to the Department of Education and will not be eligible to receive Title IV funds at LBWCC or any other college participating in the Title IV Program until overpayment is paid in full.

LBWCC requires the student to repay any funds that the school was required to return to the Department of Ed as a result of the students’ failure to complete 60% of the term. LBWCC will notify the student in writing informing them of the amount due to the school and why the amount is owed giving the student a day for the amount to be repaid. The student’s account will be placed on hold and the student will not be able to register or receive an official transcript until said amount is paid in full.

If the student owes LBWCC funds and fails to pay by the demanded date, their record will be turned over to Williams & Fudge, Inc. for collection, then if not paid will be sent to SSS Recovery for further collections.

Calculation of Pell Grant Award

Federal Pell Grant awards are based on full-time enrollment and will prorate for enrollment less than full time and enrollment in classes outside the declared major. For applicable certificate programs, the Federal Pell Grant disburses based on both credit and contact hours. For more information on how aid is awarded for a specific certificate program, please contact the financial aid office.

The financial aid award may be reduced if the student does not begin attending classes, withdraws from classes or enrolls in courses not required for the declared major. Attendance will be verified by the instructor and students will be dropped for non-attendance. Students may be obligated to repay the difference between the funds awarded and the amount recalculated. Students who completely withdraw before the 60% point of the semester may owe a repayment to the U.S. Department of Education. Also, reducing the enrollment status may affect the required standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and cause the student to lose eligibility to receive additional financial aid. It is recommended that students check with Financial Aid before dropping any classes or changing their schedule to determine how those changes may affect financial aid. Refer to the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Catalog or visit the Financial Aid Office for more information.

The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to amend or cancel awards due to changes in academic status, remaining need or funding a student receives by Lurleen B. Wallace Community College or another organization.

What you need to Apply for Financial Aid

Expenses for tuition, books, supplies, at-home maintenance, transportation, and miscellaneous personal costs are used in preparing annual student budgets to determine the applicant's financial need. Each year students are required to file the U.S. Department of Education's Application for Federal Student Aid in order to be considered for federal and non-federal aid. Applicants should apply as soon as possible after October 1. To complete an application for financial aid, the applicant should have the following records available for reference:

1. The U.S. Income Tax Return from a previous year. (examples: for 2019-2020 you will use 2017 U.S. Income Tax Returns; 2020-2021 you will use 2018 U.S. Income Tax Returns), for student, his/her parents (if he/she applies as a dependent student) and his/her spouse's return (if he/she is married and his/her spouse filed a separate return). 
2. Records of untaxed benefits such as, veteran’s non-education benefits, payments to tax-deferred pensions, and other agencies that might pay non-taxable benefits.
3. FSA ID. Create an FSA ID here.  Make sure that write this information down and keep it in a safe place. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also be required to create a FSA ID.

Process to complete FAFSA Application

Completing the FAFSA on the Web is the first step in applying for grants and college work study.

1. Apply online at studentaid.gov.
2. If you haven't already created an FSA ID, create a FSA ID first. Both the student and parent must sign the application. Once you have created an FSA ID, click Apply and login using your FSA ID.
3. Make sure you list Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (Federal School Code – 008988) in “Schools Section” of the FAFSA. Failure to list our Federal School Code will result in a delay in the processing of your application.
4. If you choose to use the paper FAFSA application, you must call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and request a paper application be mailed to you. The paper application must be completed using 2017 income information. This form must be signed and mailed to the federal processing center in the envelope provided with the application. Both the student and parent must sign the application.
5. Make sure that you have applied for admission or readmission to LBW Community College. For returning students, application for readmission must be submitted if you have not attended LBWCC during the past two (2) terms. You must submit, high school transcript and/or GED and all college transcripts to the admission office. All college transcripts must be evaluated before you can be awarded aid.

If you list LBWCC on your FAFSA and complete the application correctly, LBWCC will receive your financial aid information electronically. LBWCC will Email you when your aid is received and you must respond designating which campus you plan to attend. It is your responsibility to review your financial aid status online at www.lbwcc.edu under myLBWCC and provide any documentation requested. If you have not heard from LBWCC in a reasonable time frame you should contact the Financial Aid Officer at the campus you plan to attend. Please respond immediately to all LBWCC requests for additional information.

Federal Verification of FAFSA Application: The Department of Education selects some FAFSA applications for a process called verification. During verification, the financial aid administrator(s) will ask the applicant to supply copies of documentation, such as income tax returns, W-2 statements and 1099 forms, to verify the data that was submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If your application is selected, you will be notified by email to review your myLBWCC(OneACCS) Account for the requirements necessary to complete verifications. If verification is not complete, your application cannot be processed.

Some financial aid funds are limited and preference is given to students who apply early.

If you require a Pell Grant to pay your tuition and fees, your admission and financial aid files must be complete and received by the Student Services Department at least two weeks prior to registration. All high school and college transcripts must be on file before you can be awarded financial aid. Once your financial aid is completed by the financial aid office you will receive an award letter in yours SAINTS MAIL account. You do not have financial aid at LBWCC until you have received the award letter.

Terms and Conditions of Federal Financial Aid

• Pell Grant awards are based on full-time enrollment and on notification from the Department of Education regarding maximum lifetime Pell eligibility used.
• Actual Pell Grant award amount will be calculated each term based on program of study and number of credit hours enrolled at the end of drop/add.
• To be eligible to receive the 2nd Pell Grant award listed above, students must be registered for a minimum of 6 credit or Title IV hours beginning the first day of summer term and must attend at least 6 hours.
• Students must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward graduation to receive financial aid. SAP will be reviewed at the end of each term.  Students not making progress will be placed first on Financial Aid Warning for one term. Students failing to make SAP at the completion of the second term will have their financial aid suspended.  Students who have had their financial aid suspended will not be eligible for aid until they have met all components of the SAP policy.  Notices of SAP Warning or Suspension will be mailed at the end of each term. The complete SAP Policy can be found at www.lbwcc.edu.
• Financial Aid Shopping Sheet may be reviewed at www.lbwcc.edu in the student’s myLBWCC account.  (user ID and password required.)
• Students must enroll full-time each semester to receive maximum federal financial aid.  If enrolled for less than full-time or withdraw, federal financial aid may be reduced or cancelled.
• Attendance will be verified in each class prior to estimated credit balances being paid.   Award will be adjusted for any class that you have not attended if less than full-time.
• The financial aid office will authorize aid to the student’s account and the business office will disburse the funds to the student’s account after attendance is verified.
• Credit balances will be direct deposited, for classes attended, no more than fourteen days after financial aid is disbursed to the student’s account for each term or mini-term.
• Refund payments will be processed by the business office for balances on student accounts once a week for the first few weeks of the term after aid is posted to the students’ accounts and then every 14 days thereafter.
• Students must apply or re-apply for federal financial aid (Pell grant) beginning October 1 of each year or as soon as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available from the U. S. Department of Education.
• Withdrawing from college may result in an overpayment of unearned federal aid, which will be owed back to the college.  Failure to return or repay unearned federal aid may be reported to the U.S. Department of Education, and you will not be eligible to receive federal aid at LBWCC or any other college participating in the Title IV Programs.
• Students are sent an email when any additional aid awarded or received by the college and may be viewed in the Student Information Center at www.lbwcc.edu.  (User ID and Password are required.)
• LBW Community College reserves the right to adjust any financial aid for any change in your academic or financial aid status. Any financial obligation to the college will be deducted from your financial aid award for the current award year.
• All financial aid commitments are contingent upon receipt of federal and state allocations by LBW Community College.

To continue to receive aid you must apply for the FAFSA each year at www.studentaid.gov and continue to make satisfactory academic progress. The FAFSA application opens each year between October 1 and December 31.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy beginning Fall 2024

Federal regulations require that all students receiving federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or Alabama Student Assistance Programs) must make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree or certificate.  Academic progress must be monitored for all terms of enrollment, whether financial aid was received or not.  A student’s academic progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester.  Notices will be sent to students via email if they are placed on Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Suspension.  The student may also review their eligibility online in their myLBWCC account at any time.

According to 34 CFR 668-16(e), there are two major components of satisfactory academic progress:  the qualitative component (cumulative in-program GPA) and the quantitative component (timeframe of completion).

Qualitative Requirement (GPA):  Financial aid recipients must maintain the following grade point averages (GPA) according to the number of hours attempted. This includes all hours attempted at LBWCC, whether or not financial aid was received, or courses were successfully completed.  Also, grades for developmental courses, and periods when academic bankruptcy was applied shall be factored into the GPA calculation. Incomplete courses:  Grades of “I” shall not be calculated into the GPA.  Grades of “W” shall not be calculated into the GPA.  Repeated courses: The first repeat shall not be factored into the GPA calculation; however, all additional attempts shall be factored into the GPA calculation. GPA is only calculated using coursework taken at LBWCC.

GPA requirements for long-term certificate and degree seeking students

• If the student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
• If the student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 1.75 GPA.
• If the student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

GPA requirements for short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours) students

• If the student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 1.5 GPA.
• If the student has attempted 13 or more hours, they must maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Quantitative – Pace of Progression Requirement (PACE): All credit hours attempted by the student will be calculated in the completion rate, which includes transfer courses accepted by the institution, developmental coursework, incomplete periods when academic bankruptcy was applied, and forgiven courses. 

Completion rate (attempted class hours) required by long-term certificate and degree-seeking students

• If the student has attempted 0-21 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 22-32 hours, they must maintain a 62% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 33 or more hours, they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Completion rate (attempted class hours) required by short-term certificate (24-29 credit hours) students

• If the student has attempted 0-12 hours, they must maintain a 58% completion rate.
• If the student has attempted 13 or more hours, they must maintain a 67% completion rate.

Quantitative – Maximum Timeframe (MAX): The maximum timeframe for the completion of an undergraduate degree program is defined as no more than 150 percent of the normal timeframe required to complete the degree program. Example:  For a degree programs that require 64 credit hours to graduate, maximum timeframe is 96 attempted credit hours. LBWCC programs are as follows:

Developmental Courses: A federal financial aid recipient may not receive aid for more than 30 semester hours of developmental course work. 

Transfer Courses: All transfer credits accepted by the college will count toward the PACE and maximum timeframe calculation.  Should transcripts be evaluated, and credits accepted after financial aid has been processed, the accepted credits will be evaluated at the next evaluation point. 

Repeat Courses: A student who has subsequently passed a course with a grade of A, B, C, or D shall be allowed to receive financial aid to repeat that course one time.  If a student repeats a course that they have successfully completed, they will only receive credit for one class toward the total number of hours completed, and such a repeat will affect the completion rate.  Failing grades, withdrawals, incompletes and/or repeated classes may result in suspension of financial aid because these classes are considered as attempted hours not successfully completed. (These hours are included in the maximum timeframe calculation.)

Financial Aid Warning:Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester.  If the student is not making academic progress, notices will be sent to their college email that they are placed on Financial Aid Warning and they are in jeopardy of losing financial aid eligibility. The student may also review their eligibility online in their myLBWCC account at any time.  If a student fails to meet the Qualitative Standard – Grade Point Average (GPA) and/or the Quantitative Standard – Pace of Progression (PACE) for Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will be placed on a one-semester warning.

Financial Aid Suspension: Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester.  If the student has been placed on Financial Aid Warning and is not making academic progress for a second semester, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.  Notices of the suspension will be sent to students via email.  This notice shall include how the student may regain eligibility. The student may also review their eligibility online in their myLBWCC account at any time.  The student will be placed on Failing SAP Status when the Qualitative Requirement - Grade Point Average (GPA) and/or the Quantitative Requirement - Completion Rate (PACE) have not been met.  There is no warning semester for Maximum Timeframe (MAX).

If a student is academically suspended and readmitted on an admissions appeal, this does not automatically qualify a student for reinstatement of financial aid.Financial aid will be reinstated when the student attends college at his/her own expense and meets the minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress or if the Financial Aid Appeal Committee reinstates eligibility.

Change in Program: A change of program of study is allowed.  However, all credit hours attempted, including transfer credits, attempted by the student in their previous programs will be included in the maximum timeframe calculation.  A student may only receive aid up to 150% of the normal timeframe of the new program of study.  If a student has reached the maximum timeframe for their new program of study, they may file an appeal for additional hours due to mitigating circumstances.  If a student has previously earned a degree or certificate and wishes to pursue another program, the student may complete a Request for Additional Program and submit it to the financial aid office for review.  See the appeals process below.

Lifetime Maximum: Students may receive Pell Grant for up to 6 full years, 12 full semesters, for a total of 600% Lifetime Eligibility Used, as determined by the Department of Education. Once a student has received a Pell Grant for a lifetime maximum of 600%, they will no longer be eligible for additional Pell Grants.

Appeals Process: If a student wishes to request consideration for re-instatement of federal financial aid due to mitigating circumstances, the student must complete a Financial Aid Appeal form and provide appropriate documentation.  A written explanation regarding the mitigating and/or extenuating circumstances, plan for improvement, academic plan signed off by an advisor, and supporting documentation must be included with the Financial Aid Appeal form. The student should explain what happened when the student previously attended LBW to prevent them from making academic progress and what has changed in the student’s situation to allow them to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements at the next evaluation.  The appeal form and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office, to be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee as soon as possible, but no later than 10 days before the first day of class.  The student will be notified by email of the decision by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.  The decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final and is determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Students re-instated on Financial Aid Appeal will be required to follow an academic plan and if eligible, must contact the Director of Student Success within the time frame given by the appeals committee.  Students must comply with all requirements and recommendations.  Documentation will be provided by the Director of Student Success to the Financial Aid Office before the Financial Aid Probation will be removed.

Enrollment Status for Title IV (Pell Grant) Recipients

Degree Programs – A student’s Pell grant award is determined using Enrollment Intensity. The Scheduled Pell Award is the maximum amount a student can receive during the award year if the student attends full-time for a full academic year. Each student’s Scheduled Pell Award is: 1. An automatic Maximum Pell Grant Award (Max Pell); 2. The difference between the Annual Max Pell and the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI); or 3. A Minimum Pell Grant Award (Min Pell). Below is a chart of enrollment intensity relative to full-time. Note that enrollment intensity cannot exceed 100% for purposes of Pell Grant proration.

Certificate Programs – A student’s pell grant award is determined using Enrollment Intensity as well and the award is prorated using the clock to credit hour conversion. Below is a chart of enrollment intensity relevant to full-time.

Credit Hours	Enrollment  Intensity
12 (or more)	100%
11	92%
10	83%
9	75%
8	67%
7	58%
6	50%
5	42%
4	33%
3	25%
2	17%
1	8%

                         

             

               

Financial Aid Eligibility – The amount of money a student may receive through the Federal Pell Grant and other financial assistance programs is determined by the enrollment status or number of credit hours or contact hours for which a student registers each term.   Only classes that are required for the student’s program of study will count toward the enrollment status.  Credit hours are used to measure the enrollment status of a student who is enrolled in a program of study which is at least two years in length and offers an associate degree, or each course within the program is acceptable for full credit toward an associate degree.  Contact hours are used to measure those programs which do not meet these requirements.

Determination of Enrollment Status – financial aid enrollment status with regards to pell grant eligibility will be adjusted for students who adjust (add/drop/withdraw) their schedule prior to the Pell Recalculation Date.  The published Pell Recalculation Date (PRD) will be the day after full-term drop/add is over each semester.  (Example:  Student is registered in 12 hours the first day of class and drops one 3 hour course before the last day of drop add.  The student’s financial aid status will be calculated based on 9 credit hours using enrollment intensity percentages).  If students wish to register for a mini term course(s) the student must be registered in all classes at the beginning of the semester, prior to the PRD.  If the student adds a class after the PRD, their aid will not be adjusted to include that course(s).  However, a student’s financial aid will be adjusted if a student is dropped from a course for non-attendance during attendance verification and is re-enrolled.

 

ACCS 714.04 Old state board policy.

LBWCC Financial aid office will correspond with you through your College Email. Make sure you check your email regularly. Students who have not applied for admission must apply before the financial aid office may begin processing FAFSA application.

To access your College Email click here.

Non-Year Specific Financial forms:

•     Financial Aid Checklist
•     Certification of Marital Separation - Dependent Student
•     Certification of Marital Separation - Independent Student​

Professional Judgment (PJ) Appeals Process:

What is a Professional Judgment (PJ) Appeal?

A Professional Judgment (PJ) Appeal is used when a student and/or parent, if dependent, has substantial changes in income from the year that the FAFSA application was completed. This may be as a result of a loss of job, change of employment, death of a parent, divorce or separation, or a vast number of other reasons. Financial Aid Advisors can review the changes in income and determine whether or not adjustments may be made to the current year FAFSA, which may have an impact on a student's eligibility for Federal Financial Aid (Pell Grant). Documentation must be provided in order for a PJ Appeal to be considered.

How do I apply for a Professional Judgment Appeal?

You must complete the appropriate forms and provide documentation to support your claim for substantial changes in income or circumstances.  Please contact the following according to the first letter of your last name for the appropriate form(s) or for more information regarding professional judgments:

A-K - Natalie Darden-Ray via email at ndarden-ray@lbwcc.edu or by phone at 334-881-2341.

L-Z - Randi Bozeman via email at rbozeman@lbwcc.edu or by phone at 334-493-5338.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process:

In order to file a financial aid appeal, the student must complete both forms listed below. In addition, the student must meet with an advisor to complete the Academic Plan, and return both completed forms, with a written explanation of the circumstances that led up the suspension,which includes what happened when you were here, what has changed since you have been here, how you plan to succeed this time and why you think you deserve a second chance.  You packet should also include a plan for improvement and supporting documentation. Packets must be received in the financial aid office no later than 10 days prior to the beginning of the term either through the online portal or in the financial aid office.  If received after 10 days, the appeal will be considered for the next enrollment period.  Incomplete appeal packets will not be considered by the committee.

If you are failing in PACE, GPA or Max Timeframe and you have not completed a degree, you should complete the Financial Aid appeal from below and the Academic Plan for Improvement.

Financial Aid Appeal Form

Academic Plan for Financial Aid Appeal

If you have completed on or more Associate's degree or Certificate and are wishing to purse another degree or certificate, Please complete the Request for Approval to Complete an Additional Program of Study form below and the Academic Plan form.  This process cannot be completed online.

Request for Approval to Complete an Additional Program of Study

Academic Plan Copy

Please note:  Any incomplete applications will not be considered by the committee and therefore, are deemed denied.

Upon receipt of all the required documents, the Appeals Committee will review your appeal submission.  You will be notified by email if there are any questions or if additional information is required.  You will be notified through your College Email with the results of your appeal.

If your application was not selected for verification and you meet all of the eligibility requirements you will receive your notification of your award in your myLBWCC account and your College email. If your application is selected for verification, you will receive a notice in your College Email to log into your myLBWCC account to review your requirements. You must complete the necessary forms online, except if selected for Identity and the required form is listed below.  The link to the online form will be found in your myLBWCC account under the Financial Aid Dashboard.  You will be required to create a user name and password and if you are a dependent student, your parent will also be required to create a user name and password.  Once you have completed the documents, signed and submitted the forms, they will be reviewed by a financial aid officer.  If additional information is required, you will receive notification from the financial aid office via your College Email.  

2024-2025 Statement of Identity Purpose (to be signed at LBWCC) [Statement Ed Purpose]

2024-2025 Statement of Identity Purpose (to be signed in the presence of a Notary) [Statement Ed Purpose]

If your application was not selected for verification and you meet all of the eligibility requirements you will receive your notification of your award in your myLBWCC account and your College email. If your application is selected for verification, you will receive a notice in your College Email to log into your myLBWCC account to review your requirements. You must complete the necessary forms and return them along with any other documentation to the financial aid office before your aid may be processed. Please respond to all correspondence from FAFSA or the financial aid office timely. Failure to do so will delay the processing of your application.

The verification forms may be completed online, but you must print and sign them and return them to the financial aid office. If you are a dependent student, at least one parent must sign each form. You may fax or mail these forms, however, sometimes when documents are faxed they are illegible. We will contact you in the event that you need to provide the original form to us.

Financial aid forms that may be required in addition to the FAFSA and any mini-terms or sessions within those time frames are listed below. Non year specific forms may be found above.

2024-2025 Asset Request Form

Dependent Forms

V1-D - Dependent Verification

ID - Dependent Student Proof of Income

Dependents other than Children or Spouse

Independent Forms

V1-I - Independent Verification

II - Independent Student Proof of Income

Dependents other than Children or Spouse

IC - Independent Student w/child Proof of Income - Otherwise Dependent

Completed verification documents should be faxed to 334-881-2201 or 334-881-2300, or mailed to LBWCC Financial Aid Office, PO Box 1418, Andalusia, AL 36420 or dropped off at the campus nearest you. Unfortunately, verification documents may not be emailed unless the email is encrypted. Please keep a check on your College Email and/or your personal email for future notifications.

Please contact us by email if you have any question. Applications are processed by last name:

A-K - ndarden-ray@lbwcc.edu 

L-Z - rbozeman@lbwcc.edu

Pell Grant

Students must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) to receive the maximum federal financial Aid.

If students are enrolled less-than full-time then their Pell Grant is prorated accordingly and/or may be cancelled.

Pell Grant will not pay for courses not required by the program of study/major.

Most students are awarded Pell Grant for a total of two full-time semesters per year. If a student is awarded based on a financial appeal, he or she will be awarded for one term and shall be on financial aid probation.

Students may now received Pell year round. However, in order to receive Pell for the summer term, if they have attended full-time Fall and Spring terms, they will be required to be registered in at least 6 credit hours.

Pell Grant will pay for repeated courses which the student has received a passing grade of A, B, C, D one time. If a student receives a grade of F or W, the Pell Grant will pay until the student passes the class or is no longer making satisfactory academic progress. If the student fails a class in a program and is required to be re-admitted into the program and retake all courses for a specific semester, Pell Grant will not pay for the repeated courses which were passed, however it will pay for the courses that were not passed.

Pell Grant will not pay for items in the bookstore that are not required in the student’s program of study.

Students who withdraw from all classes are not eligible to receive a balance refund check until the Return of Title IV calculation has taken place. The student may be eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement after that calculation has taken place. This process is in the best interest of the student to assure they will only pay back a minimal amount of funds.

Pell Grant funds are authorized to the students account  after attendance is verified by the financial aid department. This process is completed approximately 10-12 days into each semester or term.  The business office then process the disbursements and refunds are processed for students within 14 days of the date a negative balance is shown on a student's account each semester or term.  Refunds are processed by the business office every 14 days thereafter.

Pell Grant School Code is 008988.

A schedule is posted by the business office each semester giving dates when tuition, fees, books and supplies may be applied to financial aid.

Students may check their financial aid at any time by logging on to www.lbwcc.edu. They can look at their financial aid summary by utilizing their myLBWCC account using their login and password. 

Students who register for classes that do not begin the first day of the regular semester, and those classes change their enrollment status, may not be eligible to receive refund balances until the class has met and attendance has been verified.

Loan Information

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College does not participate in the federal student loan program. Students may apply for a private student loan by applying here.

SEOG/ASAP Information

Students receiving SEOG/ASAP funds are awarded on a first-come first serve basis. Funds are limited and award amounts vary.

WIOA/ and Vocational Rehabilitation

Students are required to submit their schedule and grades to their counselor at these state agencies. Students can access their transcripts and schedules at www.lbwcc.edu.

Award amounts vary depending on programs of study and requirements of agency funding the award.

Scholarships

Most cash scholarships and PACT will pay for courses that are not required for program of study/major.

Institutional scholarships will not pay for courses that are outside the student's program of study/major, unless the class is required by the scholarship.

Information about institutional scholarships are available online by visiting our website at www.lbwcc.edu. Outside scholarship information can be obtained at:

• www.fastweb.com
• www.collegeboard.org
• www.studentaid.gov
• www.scholarshipexperts.com

Priority Dates

Financial Aid Award year begins Fall Semester and ends the following Summer Semester. To ensure timely processing, students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as income information is available, usually after taxes have been filed.

Applications must be received by the Financial Aid Office by the following dates to be processed by registration for each term.

• Fall - July 15th of each year.
• Spring – November 1st of each year.
• Summer – April 1st of each year.

If selected for verification, all documents requested must be received by the financial aid office by the following dates to be processed by registration for each term.

• Fall - August 1st of each year.
• Spring – November 15th of each year.
• Summer – April 20th of each year.

Applications are processed on a first-come basis. Applications received after these dates may not be completely processed by registration and it will be the student’s responsibility to pay for their tuition before the first day of class or wait until the next semester begins.

FAQs about Financial Aid

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about financial aid.

General Questions about Eligibility and Applying

1. I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?

Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. The FAFSA form is free. There is no good excuse for not applying.

2. Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid at LBWCC?

No. You can apply for financial aid any time after October 1. To actually receive funds, however, you must be admitted and enrolled at the college.

3. What is LBWCC’s Federal School Code?

008988

4. Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?

Yes. Note that your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college. Renewal of your financial aid package also depends on your making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a minimum GPA. For more information click here.

5. How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?

By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you are applying for Pell Grant, SEOG, and Alabama Student Assistance Program. In order to apply for Work-study, you must be Pell eligible and complete the LBWCC Workstudy application which can be found in your myLBWCC Account under the My Financial Aid link.

6. How do I know if I will receive Federal Financial Aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Work-Study)

Each eligible student will receive an award notification after file completion. This notification will be sent to the student’s College email address assigned by the college. Please review all information carefully and follow directions. You may also log into your myLBWCC account and follow the directions below:

a) Login to your myLBWCC account.

b) Click on the Student Dashboard.

c) Select Financial Aid Dashboard

d) Review all requirements and questions from the from the financial aid office and view each tab.

e) If you are eligible to apply for work-study, you will have a link on the top of your Award page to apply for a position.

7. Are work-study earnings taxable?

The money you earn from Federal Work-Study is generally subject to federal and state income tax, but exempt from FICA taxes (provided you are enrolled full time and work less than half-time).

8.  How do I purchase books with my Pell Grant?

Students must accept the Title IV Authorization in their myLBWCC "myFinancial Aid Account" at least 24 hours prior to going to the bookstore to purchase their books.  Bookstore begins selling books on financial aid 3 days prior to the first day of class each semester.

9. If I have remaining funds after my tuition, fees and books are paid, how do I receive this balance?

Financial aid awards exceeding tuition, fees and other allowable charges will disburse via direct deposit to the account listed in the student’s account or by postal mail to the address on file in the Admissions and Records Office. Credit-balance refunds will be processed approximately two weeks after the registration period ends.

10. How are Federal Pell Grants awarded?

Federal Pell Grant awards are based on full-time enrollment and will prorate for enrollment less than full time and enrollment in classes outside the declared major. For applicable certificate programs, the Federal Pell Grant disburses based on both credit and contact hours.

The financial aid award may be reduced if the student does not begin attending classes, withdraws from classes or enrolls in courses not required for the declared major. Students may be obligated to repay the difference between the funds awarded and the amount recalculated.

11.  How does withdrawing from one or more classes effect my financial aid?

Students who completely withdraw before the 60% point of the semester may owe a repayment to the U.S. Department of Education. Also, reducing the enrollment status may affect the required standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and cause the student to lose eligibility to receive additional financial aid. It is recommended that students check with Financial Aid before dropping any classes or changing their schedule to determine how those changes may affect financial aid. Refer to the Federal Financial Aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress links,  Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Catalog or visit the Financial Aid Office for more information.

The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to amend or cancel awards due to changes in academic status, remaining need or funding a student receives by Lurleen B. Wallace Community College or another organization.

FAFSA Questions

1. Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?

Paper FAFSA's are only available by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. The online version of the form is available at  https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

2. Are photocopies of the FAFSA acceptable?

No. Only the original FAFSA form produced by the US Department of Education is acceptable. Photocopies, reproductions, facsimiles and electronic versions are all not acceptable.

3. How soon after October 1 should the FAFSA form be sent in?

Send in the form as soon as possible after October 1. If you are planning to attend LBWCC, and plan to apply for a LBWCC Scholarship, applications must be submitted by March 1st. Otherwise, the priority deadline for Fall semesters is July 1st. You will use 2020 U.S. Income Taxes to complete the 2022-2023 FASFA, 2021 U.S. Income Taxes to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA and so on. By providing consent, yours and your parents tax information will import directly to the FAFSA application. If you wait too long, you might miss the deadline for state aid. Most states require the FAFSA to be submitted by March 1st, and some even as early as early or mid-February.

4. I sent in my FAFSA over four weeks ago but haven't heard anything. What should I do?

If you haven't received a Student Aid Report (SAR), call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (toll free) or 1-319-337-5665. You must provide them with your Social Security number and date of birth as verification. You may also visit www.fafsa.gov to check the process of a submitted FAFSA. If it is submitted and you have not heard for the financial aid office within a reasonable amount of time, you should contact the financial aid office listed below based on the first letter of your last name.

Greenville Campus - A-K - narden-ray@lbwcc.edu

MacArthur Campus - L-Z - rbozeman@lbwcc.edu

5. I was born on January 1, when I will be 24 years old. Can I check Yes in the answer to the FAFSA question "Were you born before January 1, ..." to qualify as an independent student?

The official answer is no. If you check yes, your FAFSA Submission Summary will be flagged for verification. However, most financial aid administrators would use professional judgment to override the default dependency determination for a student born on January 1 who also demonstrates financial self-sufficiency.

Home-Schooling and Financial Aid

1. Are there any programs that provide student financial assistance to home-schooled children?

Home-schooled students are eligible for federal student aid for college if they have "completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home-school or private school under State law" (Section 484(d)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965). Home-schooled students have not been required to take the GED since the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. High school dropouts must take a GED exam, but students who have completed a home schooled secondary education that satisfies the requirements of state law do not. For additional information, see Federal Requirements for Home-schoolers Seeking College Admission and Financial Aid, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), May 2003.

There are not many scholarships specifically targeted at home-schooled students, other than those sponsored by the Home School Foundation. However, home schooled students may apply for LBWCC Institutional Scholarships by clicking on Scholarships.

Timeline

OCTOBER - DECEMBER

Start a financial aid folder to keep all of your financial aid documents and information organized. Be sure to keep this folder throughout your years in college. Much of the information will be needed in subsequent years.

Begin searching for private scholarships. Information on outside scholarships are often available from high school guidance counselors. You can also use one or more of the free on-line scholarships searches mentioned earlier in this brochure.

Complete the FAFSA on the Web beginning October 1 each year. You will need a FSA User ID and Password to sign your application. A FSA User ID and Password are needed to access your account with the U.S. Department of Education and it serves as your electronic signature. If you are a dependent student, one of your parents will also need a FSA User ID and Password to sign the application. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. This will determine your eligibility for financial assistance. You may list up to 10 colleges and all the schools you list will automatically receive your financial aid information.

After filing the FAFSA, you will receive the FAFSA Submission Summary, which summarizes the information you provided and specifies a dollar amount based on your (SAI) Student Aid Index. Be sure to read this report thoroughly and submit any necessary corrections. This must be completed before you will be considered for federal and state aid.

DECEMBER-JULY

LBWCC will contact you through your College Email when your application is received. Some students will be chosen by the Department of Education for a process called Verification. In this process, the information you provided on the financial aid application will be compared to documents requested by the financial aid office that you must provide before your aid may be processed. If your file is selected for verification, you will receive an email from the financial aid office that your application was selected for verification. You will need to log into your myLBWCC account to see what documents are required. Verification may cause significant changes in your aid. Therefore, it is important that you send the information requested as soon as possible. LBWCC will email you and award letter listing the financial aid for which you qualify when your application is complete and processed.

LBWCC does not participate in the federal student loan program. But occasionally, scholarships, federal and state grants, and personal savings are not enough to cover your educational expenses. In such instances, you may wish to consider an alternative loan. Below you will find information which should help guide you to decide whether an alternative loan is right for you.

What is it?

Alternative loans are non-federal, interest-bearing loans through private lenders. Approval is not guaranteed and the student may need a co-signer with good credit to apply. There are a variety of alternative loans available and it's up to the student and co-signer to decide on the one that it best for them. Lender requirements may vary and students should contact the lender directly for all eligibility requirements.

FASTChoice

LBWCC offers an online loan comparison tool for you to use called FASTChoice. FASTChoice is designed to assist you in making the educational loan choice that is best for you. FASTChoice is not a lender. Please keep in mind that you may select any lender of your choice, even if they do not appear on FASTChoice. Click FASTChoice for more information or to get started.

LBWCC selected these lenders to be on the FASTChoice Lender List for the following reasons: Competitive borrower rates and terms

• Loans are offered to community college students
• Funds are sent electronically (EFT) when possible
• Easy online application process
• Longevity and stability in private loan lending

LBWCC and its staff do not endorse or accept any incentives, financial or otherwise, from the lenders listed on FASTChoice. Lender information is provided as a courtesy and in no way should it be interpreted as a requirement to use one of the listed lenders. LBWCC will process loans from any lender that participates in any educational loan programs.

CERTIFICATION OF LOANS:

All private student loans are certified through Scholarnet web portal once the student has registered for classes. Tuition and Fees must be paid in full before a refund to the student will be made.

For questions regarding your private student loan please contact:  Shana Burke at sburke@lbwcc.edu or 334-881-2272 ext. 2272.

Tuition and Fees:

Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is very affordable and cost effective.  To view the tuition and fee rates please click on the following link: 

Tuition and Fees 

Program Costs:

To view the individual program costs for our technical programs, please click on the following link:

Estimated Program Costs

Cost of Attendance:

The cost of attendance to attend LBWCC includes tuition, fees, books, living expenses, miscellaneous and travel. An itemized list for each semester is listed below:

Fall 2023-Summer 2024

Fall 2024-Summer 2025

Net Price Calculator

The net price calculator will give you an estimated cost of tuition, fees, books and housing to attend Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, click on the link above to complete the calculation.