Financial Aid

The purpose of the Career Center financial aid program is to provide financial assistance to those who would otherwise not be able to complete technical programs. The first obligation to meet the cost rests with the student (or his/her parents). Beyond that, funding assistance is available to qualifying students in the form of grants, loans and scholarships for those who qualify.

The Career Center's long-term adult programs are approved for a number of sources of financial aid including:

Pell Grant
Awarded by the US Department of Education for undergraduates who do not have a bachelor's degree. This is a need-based award with a maximum of $5,550 per year (dependent on financial need and program length). Applies to programs of 600 hours or more in length. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply.

Federal Direct Student Loan Program
A federal program through which loans are made available to students and parents to provide access to post-secondary education. FFELP loans include Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Federal PLUS Loans for parents of students. Applies to programs of 600 hours or more in length.

Access Missouri Student Financial Assistance Program
This state grant funding is administered through the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Missouri residents may apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1st each year. Students must be enrolled on a full-time basis and have financial need as determined by the state.

A+ Grant Program
This state grant program is administered through the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Full-time students who have attended an A+ eligible school and meet the requirements may qualify for payments of tuition.

Workforce Investment Act Funding
May help pay training costs for individuals within specific economic guidelines or who may qualify as a dislocated worker, a displaced homemaker, a youth with specific job training needs, and others who may qualify under WIA criteria.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation funding for school may help pay re-training costs for persons with an eligible disability.

Veterans Assistance
Eligible veterans or dependents of an eligible veteran may receive assistance with costs associated with training or living expenses during the education process.

GED Scholarship
For initial eligibility applicants must score 265/2650 or better on the GED examination. The maximum award is a waiver of $200 toward tuition, in a certificate training program.

Missouri Professional and Practical Nursing Student Loan Program
Recipients must have applied for acceptance into the Practical Nursing program and have made application through Missouri Department of Health, Bureau of Primary Care. Number of loans awarded are limited and determined by yearly education, associated costs and individual's financial need. Maximum award of $2,500 per year to be repaid (forgiven) through service in defined need areas.

1. Obtain a Financial Aid Packet by calling the Financial Aid Office at (573) 214-3809.
2. Complete all forms including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must submit the FAFSA by April 1 to be considered for a Missouri state grant.
3. Make an appointment with Financial Aid and bring the completed forms along with documentation of all family income for the base year. You will also need to bring copies of any of the following documents which apply to you:
   • Driver’s License
   • Social Security Card
   • High School Diploma, transcript or GED Certificate
   • Federal Income Tax forms
   • Verification of child support received
   • Verification of workmen’s compensation received
4. After your file is complete and has been verified, the Financial Aid Office will send you an award letter outlining the types of financial aid you will receive and the amounts of that assistance. You must sign, date, and return this letter to the Financial Aid Office before the award will be processed.
5. Prior to the first day of attendance, your financial aid file must be complete, verified, and you must qualify for enough assistance to cover direct school costs, or have completed the requirements and be approved to receive assistance from other agencies. If not, you will be required to pay for books, supplies, prorated tuition, and sign an promissory note for payment of any remaining balance.

To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must:

1. Have financial need
2. Have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate
3. Be enrolled as a student working toward a Certificate in an eligible program
4. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
5. Be making satisfactory academic progress
6. Have a valid Social Security number
7. Sign a statement of educational purpose/certification statement on refunds or default
8. Sign a statement certifying that he or she will be drug-free
9. Sign a statement of updated information, if required
10. Register with the Selective Service, if required.

Post-secondary education costs time, money and effort. It is a big investment and students should carefully evaluate the school options available. A student has the right to know certain things:

1. The school’s accreditation
2. Specific information concerning the school’s training programs
3. General information about student financial aid
4. What financial assistance is available including federal, state, local, private and institutional programs, and how the school selects student financial aid recipients
5. The school’s procedures and deadlines
6. How the school determines financial need and how financial need is met.
7. How a student may request reconsideration if he/she believes that a mistake has been made in the award package
8. How the school determines whether or not a student is making satisfactory academic progress
9. Who the school’s financial aid personnel are
10. What the school’s refund policy is.

Most of these things are answered in the Student Handbook, however, if there are any questions at any time, please call the Financial Aid office at 573-214-3809.

As a student, it is your responsibility to:

1. Complete the application for financial aid accurately and completely, submitting it in a timely manner to the appropriate office.
2. Provide all documentation, corrections and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application.
3. Notify your school of information that has changed since you applied.
4. Read, understand and keep copies of all forms you are asked to sign.
5. Repay any student loans you may have.
6. Notify your school of a change in your name, address or attendance status. Also notify previous and current lenders of these changes if you have a loan.
7. Maintain satisfactory progress.
8. Understand your school’s refund policy.
9. Attend an exit interview at your school if you have a student loan.

1. Priority for need-based aid is never given to a student or group of students solely by reason of academic achievement or demonstrated talent or skills. Need-based awards will be determined using an approved need analysis system that measures expected family contribution from information presented on the Federal Student Aid Application.
2. Student expense budgets are developed annually. The budgets reflect direct educational and realistic living costs.
3. The Pell Grant is used as a foundation program for student awards.
4. Award packages will be based on documentation considered necessary to verify the data provided in order to assure integrity and equity in all student aid programs.
5. Student recipients will be provided with the terms and conditions of their financial aid awards.

1. No Title IV funds are disbursed until a student’s enrollment and attendance has begun and financial aid file is complete.
2. Academic progress and attendance reports are required for disbursements due beyond the first 30 days of enrollment.
3. Pell grant disbursements will be made in two equal payments during an academic year: one disbursement initiated at the beginning of enrollment and the second after the academic year mid-point. In the case of programs shorter than an academic year, the second disbursement is initiated after the student satisfactorily completes one-half of the total program clock hours.

It is the policy for the Career Center that all student financial aid will first be credited toward a student’s school account. When the school balance is zero, financial aid will be awarded to the student for school-related expenses. All monies for Pell grants and federal student loans will be processed through the Financial Aid office and the school district business office.

Students must have 90% attendance (or more in accordance with their enrolled program requirements) in order to receive continuing federal financial aid. This means no more than 9 absences a semester for most long-term programs. Remember also, that 3 tardies are equal to 1 absence. Also written academic progress reports will be completed by each training program and provided to the Financial Aid Office. The Financial Aid office will base satisfactory progress on the most recent report from the program unless it is over 30 days old, in which case a new report will be requested.

A student who does not meet program requirements for satisfactory academic progress and/or attendance will be placed on probation. A student will be considered ineligible for disbursement of financial aid during probation and until the student is removed from probation (as evidenced by satisfactory progress reports), at which time regular disbursement will be made.

If a student finds it necessary to withdraw from school prior to completing the program of enrollment, notification should be submitted in writing to the appropriate program coordinator as follows:

• Practical Nursing: Practical Nursing Coordinator
• Surgical Technology: Surgical Technology Coordinator
• All Other Programs: Assistant Director

It is important that students who stop attending classes withdraw formally from the courses in which they are enrolled. Students who merely stop coming to class, but remain on the official roll will receive an “F” in the course. Students who complete the procedure for dropping a class officially during the first three fourths of the term will receive a “W”. Students who drop a course during the final quarter of the term will receive a “W” if they are passing, or an “F” if they are doing unsatisfactory work. Students are personally responsible for dropping courses which they stop attending. If a student receives an “F” because of failure to complete the official withdrawal procedure, that grade will not be changed. Students withdrawing from a course must return any textbooks, equipment, etc., that belong to the school or program.

NOTE: Students receiving federal or state financial aid should be aware that if they withdraw/drop from a class they may be asked to repay financial benefits received for the course.

The Columbia Career Center will calculate a refund for tuition, books, and fee charges for any student who withdraws from school prior to completing their program of enrollment.

Students will not be charged for supplies or fees for which costs have not been incurred or for books they have not started units of study in if the books are returned to the program unused and in excellent condition within 20 days of withdrawal from the program. Students should submit a written request to the Financial Aid office for the refund as soon as they withdraw from school.

1. Written withdrawal prior to the beginning of the term, full refund of tuition, less administrative processing fee.
2. Written withdrawal during the first week of classes, 80% refund of tuition, less administrative processing fee.
3. No refund after the first week of classes for programs that are eligible for financial aid; administrative processing fee.

Request must be made in writing and submitted within 20 days of withdrawal from program and signed by the student and the Program Director. Deductions may be made from the refund for laboratory materials or any other financial obligation due the school, lending or granting institution.=

The federal formula for return of Title IV Funds applies to any recipient of a Pell grant, a federal student loan or a Parent PLUS Loan who withdraws or is dismissed on or before the 60% point in the payment period. In such case, the percentage of Title IV aid to be returned is equal to the percentage of clock hours not completed in the payment period. If a student has completed more than 60% of the scheduled clock hours in the payment period, the student is considered to have earned 100% of the federal aid disbursed. If funds have been released to a student because of a credit balance on the student’s account, then the student may be required to repay some of the federal aid if the student withdraws or is dismissed.

Refunds will be credited to the following programs in this order:

1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
2. Subsidized Stafford Loans
3. Federal Pell Grant
4. Other Federal, State, Private or Institutional Aid
5. Student

Additional information regarding refund calculations and examples may be requested in the Financial Aid Office.

Refunds will be calculated according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary State Board of Education requirements.

Columbia Area Career Center strives to make the financial aid process transparent and fair to students and is committed to avoiding potential conflicts of interest with lenders. It is our goal to provide information and advice, in keeping with federal requirements, and determined solely by consideration of the best interests of our students and their parents. To ensure students and their families continue receiving sound and impartial advice from the financial aid personnel, and to avoid the potential for, or appearance of, conflicts of interest regarding student loans, Columbia Area Career Center shall abide by this Code of Conduct in its relationships with lenders, guarantors and servicers of education loans. It is the intention of Columbia Area Career Center that this Code of Conduct comply with all the letter and spirit of the Higher Education Act, as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Any questions regarding interpretation of, or definitions used in, this Code of Conduct should be interpreted in light of this intention. Click here for the full Code of Conduct.

Requests for a leave of absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis and only for situations in which the absences cannot be made up within standard program make-up policy. A student may only be granted one leave of absence in any 12-month period and under no circumstances may a leave of absence exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period. Requests must be submitted in advance in writing, signed and dated to the program coordinator and the Financial Aid Administrator. In cases of extreme emergency, a student should call the program coordinator and verbally request approval as soon as possible. This must be followed up with a written request before official approval is granted. Written request must include the beginning and ending date of requested interruption and specific reason for request.

The Career Center collects, publishes and distributes information relative to Public Law 101-542, the Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act, as amended. A crime report information brochure provides information for students, employees and members of the public concerning reporting of crime and other emergencies, security and access to campus facilities, campus law enforcement, crime prevention, reported occurrence of criminal activity on campus and the drug and alcohol policy. This information is made available to students and employees annually and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request. If you have questions about any of these policies or would like to obtain additional copies of the brochure, contact the Financial Aid Office.

The use and the unlawful possession of illicit drugs and alcohol are wrong and harmful. Because of the physical, emotional and legal consequences involved in the illegal use or possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia or alcohol, students are prohibited from such involvement in or on school premises and school-sponsored activities. Any student who is found consuming, under the influence or in possession of such substances shall be subject to disciplinary action. The Director of Security may be notified and if the situation warrants, the appropriate law enforcement agency shall be notified. The student shall be subject to disciplinary action within the guidelines developed by the administrative staff up to and including expulsion for students and termination of employment for employees. Students selling or distributing drugs or imitation drugs or alcohol in or on school premises or at school-sponsored activities shall be subject to the same disciplinary action. The school will impose sanctions on students and employees consistent with local, state and Federal law, including referral for prosecution for the violation of these standards of conduct. Along with possible probation or suspension from the Career Center, students may face legal sanctions under local, state, and federal law that may include up to seven years in prison and/or a $10,000.00 fine for a Class A felony.

All federal financial aid recipients must follow federal financial aid regulations which include but are not limited to the following:

• If you are convicted of drug distribution or possession, the court may suspend your eligibility for Title IV financial aid.
• If you are convicted three or more times for drug distribution, you may become permanently ineligible to receive Title IV Federal financial aid.
• Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and may have legal consequences. (Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988). Students should consult the Code of Conduct for penalties concerning possession, use or sale of drugs.

Click this link to get an estimate of financial aid and program costs. The data used for this calculator is based on full-time, first-time, certificate-seeking students in the Practical Nursing program.

Net Price Calculator

Click the links below to see job placement data for the following financial aid eligible programs :

• Practical Nursing
• Surgical Technology
• Medical Coding