Financial Information

Financial Aid Important Dates/Deadlines

On or after October 1, 2023 - Complete your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/ for the 2024-2025 academic year.
March 15, 2024 - Priority deadline to ensure maximum funding for the 2023-2024 academic year.                                
June 30, 2024 - - Last day to submit FAFSA for 2023-2024. FAFSA must be submitted online by midnight for the 2024-2025 academic year.
July 7, 2024 - Cutoff Date for 2023-2024 academic year aid. The student’s file must be complete and verified for the 2024-2025 academic year (or 10 days prior to your last day of enrollment, whichever is earlier).
August 1, 2024- Financial Aid Priority Date for Fall 2024. If the student’s financial aid file is completed and verified by this date, a deferment to hold classes is likely to be in place for Fall 2023.

On or after October 1, 2024 - Complete your FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/ for the 2025-2026 academic year.
March 15, 2025- Priority deadline to ensure maximum funding for the 2025-2026 academic year.
August 5, 2025- Last day aid can be disbursed for the 2025-2026 academic year.

NOTE: Fees are current at the time of publication and are subject to change pending approval of the Florida Legislature.

Tuition and Related Fees

Fee Structure Effective Fall 2023

Credit Courses Lower Division

*Not covered by the Florida Prepaid Program (except Local Plan).
**Not covered by any Florida Prepaid Program or any fee waivers. 

Returned payment fee: $25.00

Clock Hour Courses (per semester hour equivalent)

Adult Education and Vocational Preparatory Block Tuition

Credit Courses-Upper Division

*Not covered by the Florida Prepaid Program (except Local Plan).
**Not covered by any Florida Prepaid Program or any fee waivers.

Financial Aid
Financial aid is money provided to help you pay the cost of attending college. Different types of financial aid include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Funding can also come from other sources such as private scholarships offered by outside organizations. Be sure to review the requirements for each type of financial aid so you can apply for different types and maintain your eligibility.

More information can be found at https://www.sfcollege.edu/fa/ways-to-pay/.

Who Should Apply?
All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid, to determine eligibility. You can apply by completing the Free Application for Student Financial Aid at https://studentaid.gov/.

While some aid programs have additional requirements, all federal and state programs require the following:

• You must be accepted as degree-seeking in an A.A. degree or A.S. career program, or certificate-seeking in a financial aid eligible vocational training program. Students who are “Pending” in a program are not yet fully accepted.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. national or eligible non-citizen.
• You must not be in default on a prior student loan.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if required.
• You must have a valid high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED certificate.
• You must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, after all previous college coursework is evaluated. 
   

More information can be found at https://www.sfcollege.edu/fa/.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid federal regulations (34 CFR 668.34) require a student to move toward the completion of a degree or certificate within an eligible program when receiving financial aid. Specific requirements of academic progress for financial aid recipients are applied differently than college Standards Of Academic Progress (SOAP) statuses of Academic Warning, Probation and Suspension. Federal regulations state that financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must include a review of all periods of enrollment, regardless of whether aid was received. The student must meet all the minimum standards to receive financial aid.

Students must meet the following criteria:

• Complete 67% of all credits attempted.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Complete their program of study within 150% timeframe of their degree or eligible certificate program. For example, if a program is 60 credit hours, then the student must complete all required coursework within 90 hours.
• The initial evaluation at SF will be based on all previous institutions attended once the official transcripts are received, evaluated, and posted to the student’s record. Transfer students must have a 2.0 all college cumulative GPA and complete 67% of attempted credits accepted towards their program of study.
   

Note: Dropped, repeated, withdrawn, unsatisfactory, failed, and liquidated coursework are considered attempted but not successfully completed for the purposes of financial aid.

Students who do not meet these criteria may have a term of Warning where financial aid is received, if otherwise eligible. Otherwise, students may appeal their circumstances to receive financial aid or will be Suspended.

More information can be found at www.sfcollege.edu/fa.

Return of Title IV/Unofficial Withdrawal (Stopping/Dropping Out):
Federal regulations require a student to complete the term for which they were funded. If you have officially or unofficially withdrawn from all of your classes, stopped attending all your classes, or did not successfully complete any of your classes (received all F’s), the College is required to calculate how much of the semester you did attend to determine how much of the aid you have “earned.” You will be required to pay back the portion of financial aid you did not earn. This is called Return of Title IV, or R2T4.

When the Financial Aid Office calculates the Return to Title IV calculation, we must use the last date of enrollment and/or your last date of academic activity, as reported by your instructors, to determine how much aid you have earned. This date determines how much, if anything, you must repay if you do not successfully complete any of your courses.

You may not be required to repay your financial aid under these rules if you only drop one or two courses and remain enrolled in at least one financial aid funded course. It is only required when a student is no longer enrolled in or does not pass all courses for a term (A and B terms included).

More information can be found at www.sfcollege.edu/fa. 

Steps to Financial Aid
Please follow the seven steps below to make sure your financial aid is awarded without delay:

1. Complete the FAFSA: You must apply for financial aid each academic year and can apply as early as October 1st. To apply, file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/.)
   • When filing your FAFSA application, keep the following in mind:
     • If you need assistance filing the FAFSA, visit the computer lab in R-226 on the NW campus.
     • Use SF College School Code 001519. SF will automatically receive an electronic file with your FAFSA information that will be used to determine your financial aid.
     • If you leave your housing plans blank, you will be awarded aid as if you live with your parents.
     • Once you file the FAFSA, you will be able to access your FASFA application using your FSA ID or federal PIN.
2. Apply for admission to Santa Fe College if you have not done so already.
3. Request proof of high school graduation or equivalent and request all college/postsecondary transcripts from all prior institutions. Start this process as soon as possible because it may take time to receive and process transcripts.
   • Proof of high school graduation or equivalent must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
   • If you have attended any other college or university, you must submit all official final transcripts to the Office of Admissions. This includes technical schools, out-of-state schools and even schools attended for less than a year or semester.
4. Submit all required/requested documents and transcripts to the appropriate offices.
   • You may view and submit required Financial Aid documents in eSantaFe through My FA Status. 
   • Official transcripts are submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
5. Apply for Institutional and Foundation Scholarships. You may visit the Career Exploration Center in Room R-217 for information regarding third-party scholarships.
6. Search for the term “Scholarships” on the Santa Fe College website or visit the Career Exploration Center in Room R-217 for information regarding scholarships.
7. View your degree audit online before you register for classes and make an appointment to see your academic advisor or a program advisor if you have questions about your current or desired program.
8. Check your financial aid status in eSantaFe and read your notifications regularly in case additional information is needed.
    

More information can be found at www.sfcollege.edu/fa.

Where to Get Help
If you have a question or need help with any part of the financial aid process, you may email us at financial.aid@sfcollege.edu, call us at 352-395-5480 or you may visit the Financial Aid Office in R-122. If you need assistance filing the FAFSA, visit the computer lab in R-226 on the NW campus. 

Students at locations other than the NW Campus can get help information about their center at www.sfcollege.edu/locations.

After reviewing applicable policies and procedures, students have the right to file a complaint using appropriate protocols outlined by the college.

Verification
Verification is the process required by the U.S. Department of Education to check the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA. Verification may occur at any time during the application or awarding process. In most cases, applicants are selected for verification by the Department of Education. If selected SF will notify you via My Fa Status in eSantaFe. Students (and parents for dependent students) will be asked to provide additional information and documents. Verification must be completed before any funds are disbursed (paid). Verification must also be completed if information is discovered after funds have been disbursed. According to federal law the student may have to repay funds if completion of verification results in a change in aid eligibility (an over-award).

More information can be found at www.sfcollege.edu/fa.

Your Financial Aid Status Online
Review My FA Status in eSantaFe to view the status of your file or awards received, including the amount and disbursement dates of your financial aid awards. Notifications are the official way that the college communicates with students. They provide details about your eSantaFe status and should be reviewed regularly.

Federal Direct Student Loans
If you are awarded a Federal Direct Student Loan, you must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN). 

You must also be enrolled in (and maintain enrollment in) at least 6 credit hours in the semester that you want to get federal loans, or the loans may be cancelled/removed from your account.

Transfer Students
If you plan to transfer to SF during the year, you should:

• Have all official final transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions at SF (required).
• Have at least a 2.0 GPA, 67% completion rate, and not exceed 150% of allowable program credits after all official transfer course work has been evaluated. *
• Add the SF Federal School code 001519 to the FAFSA.
• Tell your current school about your transfer plans and request that they cancel your aid at that school.
   

*All accepted transfer credits as well as attempted course work at SF will be included as attempted credit hours.

Critical Enrollment Information
Maximum eligibility for funding is based on a full-time enrollment status. However, part-time students are often eligible for financial aid. Financial aid must be calculated by determining a student’s enrollment status based only on course work applicable to the student’s program of study at Santa Fe College. Enrollment status categories for funding are as follows:

• Full-time status is 12 credit hours or more.
• Three-quarter time status is 9 to 11 credit hours.
• Half-time status is 6 to 8 credit hours.
• Less than half-time status is 1 to 5 credit hours.
   

Students who plan to register for less than half-time enrollment status (less than 6 credit hours) should pay close attention to the eligibility requirements for each financial aid program. If you are uncertain about how many credit hours you can successfully complete, work with your Academic Advisor.

Standard Term and Mini-term Enrollment
A standard term is 16 weeks long. For example, the standard fall term runs from August to December. The mini-term session occurs within the standard term at an accelerated pace. For example, the fall A mini term runs from August to the middle of October, approximately eight weeks.

Your fall financial aid will be based on your projected enrollment in ALL sessions as of the end of the “Last day to DROP with NO record and receive a refund” date or the latest of the following dates:

• The date the federal government processes your financial aid application
• The date that your financial aid is initially calculated by SF
• The date after your program change is finalized
   

This is referred to as your “Pell Recalculation” date for determining a portion of your financial aid for the standard term, A mini-term, or B mini-term. This same financial aid awarding process will also apply to the spring and summer terms. Please see the Critical Dates page for the “Last day to DROP with NO record and receive a refund” dates at https://www.sfcollege.edu/registrar/calendars/index.

The Pell Recalculation date for students who attend only the B mini-term will be the end of the regular “Last day to DROP with NO record and receive a refund” date for the B mini-term or the latest of the following dates:

• The date the federal government processes your financial aid application
• The date that your financial aid is initially calculated by SF
   

If your application is processed by the federal government after the Pell Recalculation date for the standard fall term, then your registration will be “calculated” at the latest of the following dates:

• The date the federal government processes your financial aid application
• The date that your financial aid is initially calculated by SF
   

Please plan accordingly in scheduling your courses for future terms, and for any mini terms within the terms.

Submitting a program change after the “Drop with a Refund” date may delay payment of your financial aid and is not recommended. Program changes requested and activated before disbursement for the term may result in a recalculation of your awards. Aid may be increase or decrease because of program changes.

Disclaimer
The information provided here is a summary of financial aid information. You are responsible for reviewing and following all policies and procedures outlined in the SF Financial Aid Handbook.

Refunds and Financial Aid Disbursements
Santa Fe College has partnered with BankMobile to provide students with direct deposit of financial aid disbursements and refunds from SF. With BankMobile students select their disbursement preference. If you have questions about a financial obligation, please contact the Cashier’s Office located in the Alan J. Robertson Administration Building, room 52. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Deferred Fees
A fee deferment is a charge of fees with the promise to pay at the established deadline. It does not automatically pay your fees; it only delays the payment. Even if your schedule shows a $0.00 balance due that includes the deferment, the fee deferment is based on your estimated available funding and is only a temporary credit until SF receives funds on your behalf. A deferment does not relieve you of the obligation to pay.

If for any reason you do not receive your estimated funding (from financial aid, the VA, or any other source), you are responsible for the tuition and fees for any classes you are enrolled in after the drop with a refund deadline. You will need to “officially” drop your classes before the deadline to not be responsible for tuition and fees.

You will be notified in writing that you have a fee deferment. If the total deferred fees are not paid by the deadline, you will be flagged for a financial obligation to the college with a hold on all records and will be turned over to collections.

Veterans and other persons who are eligible for fee deferments must have the deferment processed by the Cashier’s Office by the due date. Tuition for financial aid recipients may be deferred if fees are less than or equal to the amount of projected financial aid for the term. Additional information may be found in the Financial Aid Handbook.

Student Financial Obligations
You are responsible for your financial obligations to Santa Fe College. Accordingly, if you are delinquent in satisfying any obligations, you will not be permitted to, register, receive an official transcript for completed course work, diploma, or benefit from other regular college services.

Any student who has paid for course registration fees with a check or e-payment that is dishonored for any reason must make immediate restitution to the college. All returned payments are subject to a returned item fee. After determination by the Office for Finance that timely restitution is unlikely, the student’s registration will be canceled.

Audit Fees
Any student in the college may elect to audit a college credit course at the time of registration. You may not switch from credit to audit or from audit to credit after the drop/add period. No credit is granted when the course is completed, nor can any be given at a future date. Audit students pay the same tuition fees, application fees, laboratory fees and special fees as credit students.

Additional College Credit Course Fee
An additional fee will be assessed to students enrolling in a college credit course more than two times. The additional fee to be assessed shall be equal to 100% of the full cost of instruction.

College Preparatory Course Fee
An additional fee will be assessed to students enrolling in certain College Preparatory courses more than two times. The additional fee to be assessed shall be equal to 100% of the full cost of instruction.

Credit Card Payment
(MasterCard, VISA, Discover or American Express)
Students may pay fees online. Visit www.sfcollege.edu and click on eSantaFe. Select Finances, then View and Pay Fees and follow the menu options.

Online Payment
Students may pay fees online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), checking account, or savings account. Visit www.sfcollege.edu and click on eSantaFe. Select Finances, then View and Pay Fees and follow the menu options.

Deferred Fees
Veterans and other eligible persons who request fee deferments must have the deferment processed by the Cashier’s Office by the due date. Tuition for financial aid recipients may be deferred or charged if fees are less than or equal to the amount of projected financial aid for the term. Additional information may be found in the Financial Aid Handbook.

Fee Waivers
State of Florida employees, senior citizens, or classroom teachers must register on the last day of drop/add for any term/session if they wish to use a fee waiver for that term/session. Any registrations prior to this date will not be eligible for a fee waiver.

Social Security
Students should direct inquiries related to Social Security benefits to their local Social Security office. SF’s Office of the Registrar will certify student enrollment for the Social Security Administration. Educational benefits are awarded through the Social Security office.