They will guide you through the financial aid process to find funding to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, transportation and more.
Your first step with this process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Don’t Pay for the FAFSA® Form. Several websites offer FAFSA help for a fee, these sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by ED. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that you can get for free elsewhere. The official FAFSA site is https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. You must submit a FAFSA form by the federal deadline to be considered for financial aid each academic year.
SCC issues an online Financial Aid Award Letter that informs students of the financial aid they may be eligible to receive. The student’s offer of financial assistance is their estimated financial aid package for the academic year. Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by the estimated cost of attendance, the student’s Expected Family Contribution based on the information that was provided on the student’s FAFSA and the student’s enrollment status.
Please contact us if you have any questions as we are here to help you fund Your Path to Possible. If you are a current student, please check your SCC email for communication updates from our office.
Types of Aid
The following federal and state programs and SCC specific financial assistance are available to you:
This federal program provides grants to students to help pay college costs. Federal Pell Grant amounts awarded to SCC students for the 2023-24 award year range from $699 to $6,895, depending on your enrollment status and expected family contribution (EFC) determined by what you submit on your FAFSA. You do not pay back a Federal Pell Grant, except under certain circumstances.
This federal program provides assistance to Pell Grant-eligible students with exceptional financial need as measured by the lowest expected family contribution. SCC will award FSEOG funds from the U.S. Department of Education until the full amount of all funds has been awarded to eligible students. You do not pay back a FSEOG, except under certain circumstances.
The Special Rule for Pell Grants replaces the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) and the Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH). You may be eligible for the Special Rule for Pell Grants if you are less than 33 years old as of January 1 of the FAFSA award year and whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while:
- Serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, or
- Actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer.
How do I apply?
You apply by completing a FAFSA. You will indicate “Yes” on the FAFSA question indicating that your parent or guardian died in the line of duty. You will then be asked to provide documentation, which will include a death certificate, along with written confirmation of active duty status at the time of death from the military command or public safety entity.
How much money can I get?
The grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year but cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that award year. View the amount of the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the current award year.
What should I do to maintain the grant?
You will have to fill out the FAFSA form every year that you’re in school and indicate on the FAFSA that your parent or guardian died in the line of duty.
Once you have earned a baccalaureate degree or your first professional degree, or have used up all 12 semesters of your eligibility, you are no longer eligible to receive this grant.
This state program provides assistance to eligible students who are Nebraska residents with exceptional financial need as measured by the lowest expected family contribution. All eligible students with a completed financial aid file by March 1 will be given priority consideration for a NOG award. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education approves these awards.
SCC Scholarships
The SCC Educational Foundation established the scholarship program to make college affordable for SCC students and to recognize outstanding academic achievement.
SCC Institutional scholarships are considered gift aid and do not require repayment.
All of the eligibility requirements for federal financial aid also apply to SCC Scholarships.
Online applications are accepted during the following application periods:
- High School Seniors apply during their senior year for awarding the next academic year.
- December 1–April 1
- Current and new SCC Students apply during the following periods for awarding in the next semester.
- May 1–May 31 (Fall semester awards)
- October 1–October 31 (Spring semester awards)
Last year, more than 2,000 students received scholarship awards at a value of more than $2 million.
External Scholarships
External scholarships are awarded by organizations outside of Southeast Community College. SCC is not informed about scholarships that external organizations have provided to you.
Once you are notified by the organization of your award, it is your responsibility to:
- notify the SCC Financial Aid office of the scholarship amount
- provide information about the external scholarship to the SCC Business Office (Student Accounts) to ensure proper handling of the funds, as outlined by the awarding organization.
Once processing is complete the funds will be credited to your account.
Transfer Scholarships
SCC has established agreements with a number of area universities, including Concordia University and Nebraska Wesleyan. Please visit our Transfer Information page for additional details listed with each institution.
If you plan to enroll in summer classes in 2022 and need financial aid, you must complete the 2021-22 FAFSA. Please keep in mind the following
- If you were full-time during the fall and spring semesters and used full-time Pell Grant funds, you need to register at least half-time (six or more credits) to be eligible for a summer Pell Grant. Contact the SCC Financial Aid Office if you did not receive full-time Pell Grant funds for the fall and spring semesters to discuss your summer eligibility.
- You must be registered at least half-time (six or more credits) for student loan eligibility.
- You must be enrolled in a degree or diploma at SCC to receive summer financial aid. If you are taking summer courses to transfer to another institution, you are not eligible for funds.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) enables students who demonstrate financial need to earn a portion of their educational expenses. (Students must complete the FAFSA® to be considered for FWS funds.) In this program, students earn at least the current hourly minimum wage by working at the school or for nonprofit or private for-profit agencies. Southeast Community College helps eligible students locate jobs; certain restrictions apply.
How to Apply
The first step in qualifying for financial assistance is completing and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), which serves as an application for all federal – and most state – student aid programs.
The FAFSA® can be filed electronically at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa; be sure to include the SCC school code (007591). The FAFSA® becomes available every October 1. The FAFSA® should be filed as soon as possible and must be renewed each year. Prompt submission assures consideration for maximum available financial aid. For Federal and State aid specific deadlines, visit studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The information reported on the FAFSA® is used to determine the expected family contribution (EFC). Financial aid eligibility is determined by subtracting the EFC from the total estimated educational expenses.
After the FAFSA® has been processed, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The student and/or family must review the SAR for accuracy and notify the financial aid office of any necessary corrections.
Assistance packages are developed using information from the FAFSA® and any supplemental documents. The foundation for all assistance packages is contributions from student and family income and assets. SCC provides students with an electronic award letter via their Student Self-Service account indicating the amount of financial aid for which they may be eligible and sources from which the aid may be received.
Reinstated/readmitted students may be considered for financial aid if they meet all eligibility requirements.
Available Federal Work Study positions can be found via SCC’s JobConnect at College Central Network®. Read about SCC’s Federal Work Study Application Process (PDF).
Southeast Community College complies with all applicable state and federal equal credit opportunity laws; however, SCC cannot guarantee financial assistance or credit to any student.
FAFSA® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Education.
This federal program provides low-interest loans for students enrolled and attending SCC at least half-time (a minimum of six (6) semester credit hours). Federal Student Loan applications are certified by the SCC Financial Aid Office and funded through the U.S. Department of Education. You are required to pay back the amount of the loan plus interest. The types of direct loans available are:
- Subsidized Federal Direct Loans – These loans are based on need and the federal government pays interest on the loans while you are attending college at least half-time. This subsidy continues for six months from the date a student graduates, drops below half-time enrollment status or withdraws from school.
- Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans – These loans are not based on need and you are responsible for paying the interest from the date of the first disbursement.
As a borrower, you will be classified into one of these groups:
- Dependent Student – you will report both your parents’ and your own information.
- Independent Student – you will report your own information (and, if you’re married, your spouse’s information).
Depending on your status, you are eligible to borrow up to the following amounts:
- Dependent students in the first year of a program: $5,500
- Dependent students in the second year of a program: $6,500
- Independent student in the first year of a program: $9,500
- Independent student in the second year of a program: $10,500
You will be classified as a first-year for student loan purposes until you have earned 30 credit hours toward an eligible program of study. The maximum amount you may borrow as an undergraduate during your college program is $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students.
Before you receive your loan funds, you will be required to complete the following on the U.S. Department of Education website using your FAFSA login:
- Entrance Counseling to ensure you understand your obligation to repay the loan
- Sign a Master Promissory Note, your agreement to the terms of the loan
Our Financial Aid Office will inform you of the type of loan you are eligible for (subsidized, unsubsidized or a combination of both). We follow guidelines and regulations from the U.S. Department of Education when certifying loans and/or determining amounts. You can request the reasons for our decision in writing. Federal Student Loan borrower interest rates vary depending on the loan type and the first disbursement date of the loan. Please see the interest rates for Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Loan Exit Counseling
If you have borrowed a federal loan from SCC and you will be graduating, withdrawing, or dropped below half-time (6 or more credit hours), you must complete exit counseling. The exit counseling is designed to make you aware of your repayment responsibilities, familiarize you with your lender(s), give you examples of repayment schedules, and to answer any questions you may have regarding your loans.
Before you begin repaying your federal loan(s), the federal government requires that you understand the basics of repayment. On-line exit counseling takes just a few minutes and will cover:
- The necessity of repaying your student loan
- Subsidized, Unsubsidized Stafford, PLUS, and Perkins Loans
- Your repayment options
- Estimating your payments
- Deferment and forbearance
- Reasons for loan cancellation
- Your rights and responsibilities
- Keeping in touch with your lender/servicer
Complete the Loan Exit Counseling
You will need your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, your FSA ID, and names,
addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for 4 references. This will take approximately
15 to 30 minutes to complete.
SCC is required to provide the additional loan information listed below. The links below are provided for your reference and access only. (FYI)
You can view your federal loan history (Direct, Stafford, Perkins, PLUS, Grad PLUS) at Manage Loans|Federal Student Aid. This website will show all your prior loans, as well as, the lenders and servicing agencies attached to those loans. You will need your FSA ID to access this web site.
Additional Resources:
Direct Loan Exit Counseling Guide
If you experience problems with your loans, you should first attempt to resolve complaints by contacting your lender or loan servicing agency. If you, have made a reasonable effort to resolve the problem through normal processes and have not been successful, you should contact the FSA Ombudsman.
Loan Repayments
Deferment and Forbearance
A deferment or forbearance allows you to temporarily postpone making your federal student loan payments or to temporarily reduce the amount you pay.
The Department of Education has a website dedicated to deferment and forbearance.
All in-school deferment request should be submitted to registration@southeast.edu for processing.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
This federal program loans eligible parents of a dependent student a Direct PLUS loan to help pay for college expenses. Loan applications are certified by the SCC Financial Aid Office and are funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The yearly limit for this loan is SCC’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you receive.
Your parents are responsible for repayment of this loan with options of when repayment starts after the origination date. The PLUS loan is subject to a fixed interest rate for the life of the loan. Please see the interest rates for the Federal Direct PLUS Loan.