Skip to main content

2023 Academic Catalog > Tuition, Fees, and Financing > Federal Financial Aid > Federal Loans and Grants

Print this page
/Institutions/Trident-University/json/catalogs.json
3E7AE556-DD79-4D7A-8935-CC516BDA3F39
https://trident.smartcatalogiq.com/
3e7ae556-dd79-4d7a-8935-cc516bda3f39
https://searchproxy.smartcatalogiq.com/search
18156e7d-055c-4f9c-a352-179b9b3f6d81
other
/Institutions/Trident-University/json/2023/2023-Academic-Catalog-local.json
/Institutions/Trident-University/json/2023/2023-Academic-Catalog.json
Contents
  • Introduction
  • Accreditation
  • Trident Learning Outcomes
  • Admission and Transfer Policies
  • Bachelor to Master Dual Credit Options
  • Tuition, Fees, and Financing
    • Tuition Rates
    • Fees
    • Payment
    • Refund Policy
    • Federal Financial Aid
      • Federal Loans and Grants
      • Financial Aid Payment Periods and Enrollment Policy
      • Semester Hour Completion
      • Return of Title IV Funds
      • Payment of Credit Balance Student Accounts
      • Loan Cancellation
    • Military Tuition Programs
    • Information for Students Using Veteran Education Benefits
  • Student Information and Procedures
  • Registration and Enrollment
  • Course and Grading Policies
  • Graduation Requirements
  • General Policies
  • University College
  • Glenn R. Jones College of Business
  • Glenn R. Jones College of Business, Department of Information Systems
  • College of Education
  • College of Health and Human Services
  • Certificates
  • Courses
  • Teach-Out
  • Academic Faculty and Staff
  • Teach-Out - Programs, Certificates, and Courses
  • Appendix of Changes
Catalog Links
  • Catalog Home
  • Site Map
  • All Catalogs

Federal Loans and Grants

Students admitted to Trident may apply for Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized, and PLUS).

Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans are known as "Title IV” aid or "federal financial aid.” Federal financial aid is disbursed based on student enrollment and attendance status and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Funds are awarded and disbursed in two payment periods each academic year. Trident disburses funds to the student’s account, and the funds are applied toward the student’s tuition and/or cost of attendance. When a Title IV recipient ceases enrollment in all courses before the end of the payment period or fails to successfully complete all required credits, the student may be ineligible for a portion of the federal financial aid awarded and disbursed for that payment period.

Federal Pell Grant Program

The Federal Pell Grant assists undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) and who are attending a Title-IV-eligible public or private postsecondary school. Pell Grants are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a Bachelor's or professional degree. Pell Grants, which do not have to be repaid, are awarded to students based on financial need and their enrollment status. The need is determined by the information provided by the applicant on the FAFSA. The amount the student will receive under the Pell Grant program is based on the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Federal Direct Loans

The U. S. Department of Education is the lender and guarantor for Federal Direct Loans, which include subsidized, unsubsidized, and PLUS loans. If a student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount of any refund, and that, if the student has received federal student financial aid funds, where applicable, the student is entitled to a refund of the monies not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

Subsidized loans are available for undergraduate students with financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. The U. S. Department of Education pays the interest on subsidized loans while the student is enrolled at least half time at an eligible postsecondary school, during the grace period, and during a period of deferment.

Unsubsidized loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students and are not awarded based on a student’s need but based on the COA. If the student qualifies for an unsubsidized loan, the student will be responsible for interest that accrues from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. The student may choose to pay the interest while enrolled in school or allow it to accumulate. Capitalized interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and will increase the amount to be repaid. If the student makes interest payments while in school, the total amount of the loan at the time repayment begins will be less than if the student allows the interest to accrue.

PLUS loans are also available to parents of dependent undergraduate students and graduate or professional students. PLUS loans require approval of credit from the U. S. Department of Education prior to funds being awarded and disbursed. PLUS loan applicants with adverse credit history may apply by obtaining an endorser without adverse credit history.

Determination of Amount for Federal Direct Loans

The amount of loan eligibility for Trident students will be determined based on the standard tuition rate, with appropriate reductions by the sum of:

  • Any tuition adjustments (Veteran Grant, Military Education Grant, etc.)
  • Any anticipated military tuition assistance
  • Any anticipated Pell Grants
  • Any other estimated financial assistance including scholarships, and
  • Expected family contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA for subsidized loan eligibility

The student’s loan eligibility will be determined by:

  • Maximum grade level loan amounts
  • The student’s remaining unmet financial need
  • Student’s requested amount of loans
  • Student’s aggregate loan limits according to National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) records

For additional information regarding interest rates and loan limits, please visit the U. S. Department of Education’s Direct Loan website at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.

 

Professional Judgment

The Financial Aid Office may use what is called a “professional judgment” on a case-by-case basis to adjust a student’s cost of attendance, marital status, dependency status, or to update the data used on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) due to a change in your family or financial situation.

If you have experienced a recent family or financial change, please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your circumstances and determine if a professional judgment may be applicable to your situation.  

 

Verification

Students may be selected for verification. This means that the U. S. Department of Education has randomly selected a student’s FAFSA and the information provided on the application to be reviewed and verified by the institution. The Trident Financial Aid Application will request additional information to verify data that the student has reported on their FAFSA. If the student is selected for verification, he or she will be notified of the additional documents that will be required to complete their financial aid file. If an update needs to be made to the FAFSA the student will be notified via email that either the student or the institution will need to make the correction. Once the accuracy of the student’s financial aid information is confirmed, an award letter will be released to the student. Changes to a student’s FAFSA may result in a change of the financial aid award. Students will be notified via email if there is any change to their EFC or Title IV aid amounts. To avoid delays in processing of the financial aid file, students must ensure timely response to all requests for information. All verification documentation must be submitted by the end of the session in which the student was selected for verification. Failure to submit verification documentation in a timely manner may result in loss of aid and the student owing the tuition balance.

In addition to students being selected for verification by the Department of Education, based on its obligation to verify any information it has reason to believe is incorrect on any application, or to resolve conflicting information, at its discretion, Trident may also require a student to verify any FAFSA information and to provide any reasonable documentation in accordance with consistently applied school policies. In either situation Trident may, but is not required to, include any of the CPS verification items not already included.

Verification documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • U.S. income tax paid
  • Education credits
  • Untaxed IRA distributions
  • Untaxed pensions
  • IRA deductions and payments
  • Tax-exempt interest
  • Other untaxed income
  • Income earned from work
  • Household size
  • Number in college
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
  • Program (SNAP) benefits
  • Child support paid
  • High school completion status
  • Identity/statement of educational purpose

OIG Referrals

If Trident suspects that a student, employee, or other individual has misreported information or altered documentation to fraudulently obtain federal funds, Trident must report suspicions and provide evidence to the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Inspector General’s Hotline

Office of Inspector General

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-1500

1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/hotline.html