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The FAQ's listed below are designed to answer the most frequent questions asked by both current and prospective students. If your questions have not been answered, or you require further clarification, visit our Contact Section for helpful phone numbers and/or call Call 417/269-3834 or toll-free at 866/898-5355
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How do I apply for Financial Aid?
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Please see
FAFSA.
Who is eligible for Financial Aid?
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To be eligible for financial aid assistance you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, registered with Selective Service (if required), be an undergraduate, graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time (except for less than half-time Pell Grant) in a degree seeking program, making satisfactory academic progress, and not in default on an educational loan.
When I complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), what types of Financial Aid am I considered for?
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Once the Cox College Financial Aid Office receives your FAFSA information, they will determine if you are eligible for the following types of Financial Aid: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Access Missouri Program, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Work-Study and the Academic Competitiveness Grant.
I'm not admitted to Cox College yet. Do I have to wait until I am admitted before I apply for financial aid?
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NO , Apply as soon as possible after January 1st and put ALL of the Title IV school codes that you are considering on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The school code for: |
Code |
Cox College |
013877 |
Lester E. Cox Medical Center, School of Radiologic Technology and School of Sonography |
004398 |
Lester E. Cox Medical Center, School of Medical Technology |
013840 |
Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?
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YES. Please see
FAFSA.
I've missed Cox College’s April 1st DEADLINE for priority aid consideration. Is it to late to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
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NO, you can still send your FAFSA in to apply for a Pell Grant and Stafford Loan(s).
What information is needed to apply for financial aid?
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Previous year tax return information, untaxed income information, social security number, veteran benefits, current bank statements, current mortgage information, business and farm records, records of stocks, bonds, and other investments.
Should I wait to file my financial aid application (FAFSA) until my taxes are done?
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Cox priority processing deadline is April 1 . You want to meet this deadline if at all possible. If you do not have your tax returns done by the first week in March to complete your FAFSA, then you can use estimated income figures on the FAFSA. It is best to complete your tax returns early and transfer that information to your FAFSA to have the most accurate application and avoid corrections later.
Does Cox College have a payment plan?
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Yes, the
Automatic Payment Plan, through Nelnet Business Solutions . Please contact Financial Services Office for more information.
How do I know if my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was received or processed by the federal processor yet?
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Call 1-800-433-3243 and the Information Center can give you that needed information.
What if I didn't list the Cox College Title IV Code on my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
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Through the website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. |
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You can call 1-800-433-3243 and have the Information Center send your information to Cox College. |
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Put Cox College Title IV School Code 013877 on Part II of Your Student Aid Report and Send back to processor to make the change. |
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Use your federal pin number and add the Cox College Title IV School Code 013877 on your processed FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. |
Can I transfer my financial aid to Cox College and/or from Cox College?
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YES, but you might not receive the same dollar amount of Work-Study or Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG). You will need to communicate the transfer to both Financial Aid Offices and meet all of their procedures. The new Financial Aid Office will need your FAFSA information and possibly your Financial Aid Transcripts from the colleges you have previously attended that year, no matter if you did or didn't receive any financial aid from them.
CAUTION: Transferring mid year can create problems with Stafford Loans: |
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If your loan has been approved, but not disbursed - the loan must be canceled at the other institution. |
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If you have received the first disbursement at the previous institution, you should let the Financial Aid Office know you are transferring and ask them to cancel the second disbursement. Your lender also needs to be notified that you want the second disbursement canceled, because you are transferring - COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LENDER. |
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You may be required to submit additional information to the New Financial Aid Office to receive any Financial Aid - Make sure you check with them & respond to their requests to complete the Financial Aid Process. |
If I am an independent student, why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent's information?
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The definition of "Independent" is defined specifically by the law. You will automatically be considered independent for financial aid purposes if you meet one or more of the following criteria in the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
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You were born before January 1, 1985. |
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You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed forces. You are considered a veteran if you: |
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have engaged in active service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and were released under a condition other than dishonorable. |
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are not a veteran now but will be by June 30, 2007. |
You are not considered a veteran if you:
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were never in the U.S. Armed Forces |
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were ONLY an ROTC student |
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are currently a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies |
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were ONLY a National Guard or Reserves enlistee and were not activated for duty. |
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are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2007. |
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You will be a graduate or professional student in 2008-2009. |
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You are married on the date you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). |
5.
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You are a ward of the court or both parents are deceased AND you don't have an adoptive parent or legal guardian. If you were a ward of the court until the age of 18, you will need to submit documentation to the Financial Aid Office showing your release from court custody upon reaching 18 years of age. |
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* A Legal Guardian is a person who is appointed by a court to be your legal guardian in a legal relationship that will continue after June 30, 2008 and who is directed by a court to support you with his or her own financial resources. |
6.
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You have legal dependents that fit the following definition:
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children who receive more than half of their support from you. |
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other people living with you (Do not include your spouse) who receive more than half of their support from you and will continue to receive that support during the 2008-2009 academic year. |
If you cannot answer YES to any of the above questions, then you are considered DEPENDENT and MUST report your parents information on the FAFSA.
If my parents are separated or divorced, who should complete the parent's information on the FAFSA?
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The parent you lived with most in the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, answer in terms of the parent who provided the most financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent calendar year that you actually were supported by a parent. (Support includes money, gifts, loans, housing, food, clothes, car, medical and dental care, payment for college costs, etc.)
If my parent has remarried, do I have to include my stepparent's information on the FAFSA?
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YES, if your parent is married on the day you completed the FAFSA.
I originally reported that I had $2500 in my savings account on my FAFSA. Since then I have used that money, can I correct this dollar amount?
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NO, you must report asset information as of the date you signed the original FAFSA
What can a family do if their earnings have been reduced compared to what they had to report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
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Example: A family reported their 2005 earnings on the FAFSA, but in 2006 their income is much less due to a job loss.
Complete a Cox College Special Circumstance form and turn it in the Financial Aid Office. The Special Circumstance form will be evaluated to see if any adjustments can be made, due to your individual circumstances.
I'm going to be married during the school year. Can I fill out my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as "Married", since I will be in a few months?
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NO. Record your marital status as it is, at the time you complete your FAFSA. You can wait to complete your FAFSA until you are actually married and then answer YES at that time. *Consult with your Financial Aid Advisor on this situation.
How much will my family be expected to contribute towards my yearly college costs?
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The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount the Federal Government expects you and your family to contribute towards your educational expenses and living expenses. The Expected Family Contribution is determined by a formula set up by the Federal Government.
How is financial need determined?
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Cost of Attendance |
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Expected Family Contribution |
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Any other Financial Aid |
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Financial NEED |
How much financial aid can I expect?
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If you are eligible for a Pell Grant, it will based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in each semester.
Most students will be eligible for Stafford Loans.
You can borrow twice at each Loan Level, but only once during the Fall, Spring and Summer. Example: If you borrow all $3,500 during fall and spring, then you would meet your $3,500 maximum and would not receive a Stafford for Summer. Fall for our school year starts a new time frame and you could borrow your second time at the same Loan Level as the previous school year. You may receive less than the following yearly maximums.
Please check with the Cox College Financial Aid Office for further details.
Maximums on Stafford Loans:
Loan Level Credit Hours Loan Amount Dependent Additional Unsubsidized
1-30 |
31-60 |
61-90 |
91+ |
$3,500 $2,000 |
$4,500 $2,000 |
$5,500 $2,000 |
$5,500 $2,000 |
Loan Level Credit Hours Loan Amount Independent Additional Unsubsidized
1-30 |
31-60 |
61-90 |
91+ |
$3,500 $6,000 |
$4,500 $6,000 |
$5,500 $7,000 |
$5,500 $7,000 |
Maximum total debt outstanding on ALL Stafford Loans combined are:
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Dependent Undergraduate Student is $31,000. (No more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized) |
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Independent Undergraduate Student is $57,500 ($23,000 in subsidized). |
If I'm awarded a financial aid package and after the fact I receive an additional scholarship, can my financial aid be adjusted?
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YES, and your loan might be reduced.
When and how will I receive my financial aid at Cox College?
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Your financial aid will be disbursed on our computer system and credits will be made towards your Cox College charges. If you have more financial aid than College charges, then a check will be mailed to you. If you are borrowing a Stafford Loan for the first time, or if you are a new student to Cox College, you will need to complete an Entrance Interview before you receive your financial aid.
Entrance Interviews are now offered ON-LINE.
What is the difference between a Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan?
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The main difference is who is responsible for the interest that accumulates on the Stafford Loan:
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Subsidized Stafford - the Federal Government is responsible for the interest that accumulates while you are in college at least half-time. |
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Unsubsidized Stafford - you are responsible for the interest that accumulates while you are in college. |
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?
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This policy applies to all federal and state financial aid programs, scholarships and alternative loans. To maintain satisfactory academic progress a student must be completing an acceptable percentage of attempted course work within a reasonable amount of time. In addition, they must have an adequate grade point average. The academic records of all aid recipients are reviewed annually, at the end of the Spring semester. Students who have been out of compliance may be reviewed after each term.
Indicators that a student is not making satisfactory academic progress include:
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A GPA lower than a 2.0-Students falling below a 2.0 GPA will be placed on academic probation. Students are allowed two semesters on academic probation and can receive financial aid during this time. |
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Suspension from the College |
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Withdrawal from the College-See section below |
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Incomplete grades-Students must complete at least 60% of the total credit hours for which the student originally enrolled, in order to complete the program in a timely fashion. Grades of failing, incomplete, audit, withdraw, withdraw failing or withdraw passing will not be computed in the number of hours completed. Students failing to meet this quantitative standard will be denied financial aid the following semester and until the academic standard is met. |
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Dropping enrollment to less than six credit hours for Fall or Spring Semesters-A student’s financial aid award will be cancelled if their course load drops below six credit hours for Fall or Spring Semesters (this does not apply to Pell Grant recipients paid a, “less than ½ time” award.) If you are a loan recipient, notification of your enrollment status will be reported to your lender and you will enter your repayment grace period. |
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Exceeding Maximum Completion Credit Hours-Students must complete their educational objective without exceeding the maximum credit hours set for their degree. The limit for a bachelor’s degree is 180 hours. The limit for an associate’s degree is 90 hours. |
What will happen to my Financial aid if I drop a class?
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Always check with the Cox College Financial Aid Office for Specific Details.
Dropping a class can reduce your Pell Grant and could also impact your future Loan Level. If you drop below half time your Financial Aid will go into automatic (except on the "less than 1/2 time Pell Grant" recipient) cancellation. Dropping a class can also create Satisfactory Academic Progress problems and you might not be eligible for any future Financial Aid assistance.
What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from ALL classes at Cox College?
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Always check with the Cox College Financial Aid Office for Specific Details.
Automatic Cancellation of your Financial Aid will occur if you withdraw from all of your classes. If you have Loans outstanding, your grace period will begin to toll. Sometimes Financial Aid is sent back to lenders, etc. and you can still owe the College money. Withdrawing can create Satisfactory Academic Progress problems and you might not be eligible for any future Financial Aid assistance.
Can I re-establish eligibility for financial aid?
Yes. If students are not eligible for aid due to unsatisfactory progress, they must complete a minimum of 12 hours and be removed from probation before aid eligibility can be established. This work must be done without the benefit of financial assistance. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the financial aid office when they are eligible for reinstatement.
Is there an appeal procedure?
Yes. Exceptions are occasionally made when the difficulty arises from a one time event largely outside the control of the student. If you feel that your academic deficiencies are the result of unusual and extenuating circumstances, you may explain those circumstances to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee. Appeals for the prior semesters will not be considered. The committee will inform you of their decision in writing. If your appeal is denied through the review process, you will be given an opportunity to request a personal hearing with the Financial Aid Appeal Committee. You may submit additional information and documentation at the hearing. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
