Financial Aid

FAFSA for 2025-2026 is NOW OPEN! Apply at www.studentaid.gov

The GCSU Financial Aid application deadline in order to guarantee that applications are processed, and eligible financial aid is in place prior to the Spring 2025 balance being owed is November 1. After this deadline, our office will continue to process applications and award aid as quickly as possible on a first come first serve basis.  

Nelnet Payment Plan

Georgia College & State University is aware of the financial burden of a college education.  In an effort to offer an alternative payment option, Georgia College & State University partners with Nelnet Business Solutions to offer our students and families a Tuition Payment Plan each semester.  This plan will allow students and families to avoid the traditional lump-sum payments and spread this payment into monthly payments.

The Nelnet Payment Plan option permits students and families to budget costs for tuition, fees, room and board that may not be covered by other financial aid.  The program is not a loan so there are no interest or finance charges, and there is no credit check.  The enrollment fee for this plan is a maximum of $75.00.  Monthly payments can be made from an automatic bank account draft or charged to a credit card.

For more details regarding the Tuition Payment Plan including enrollment deadlines and payment schedules, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding your award or difficulty accessing this information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Georgia College has completed the administering of the Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF III) to eligible students.  Additional information can be found at:
Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF)

GENERAL LOAN INFORMATION AND INTEREST RATES

•  In the December COVID 19 Relief legislation, Congress provided for new pathways to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for many students. Students who are eligible to participate in federal work-study programs or students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 can qualify for SNAP under the new provisions. These students must contact their local Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services to begin this process. This change will last for the duration of the federal public health emergency. Your eligibility requirement may be verified by your local Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services. Please note that GC Financial Aid Administrators are not able to assist or answer any questions regarding this process.
• REMINDER:  Only courses that are required for a student’s degree, major, or core courses can be eligible for Federal Student Aid. Courses used only to satisfy minor or undergraduate certificate requirements will not be used to determine your aid eligibility.  Your aid could be decreased if you are registered in courses not meeting these requirements. HOPE and Zell Miller are not impacted by this.
• Visit Know More. Borrow Less. to learn more about the USG Chancellor's initiative to reduce student loan debt.

Students PAWS accounts have undergone an upgrade and some actions have now changed. Please see the below instructions for changes.

• Your Bobcat DEN is now your Award Offer tab. This tab should have all of your award information.
• In order to decline or adjust your loans, email financialaid@gcsu.edu from your Bobcat email. This is temporary and further instructions will be provided for the 2024-2025 aid year for this process. 
• In order to find your Satisfactory Academic Progress hours and GPA, please email the financial aid office from your Bobcat email.
• In order to find your Satisfactory Academic Progress hours and GPA, please email the financial aid office from your Bobcat email.
  
   

HOPE Scholarship 2024-2025: At GCSU, the eligibility amount for the HOPE Scholarship will be $250.27 per credit hour. Students who are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in 15 credit hours or more per semester will receive the HOPE Scholarship in the amount of their full tuition amount of $3754. Students who are eligible for the HOPE Scholarship and are enrolled in 14 credit hours or less per semester will need to take $250.27 and multiply the number of hours enrolled to determine how much they will receive in the HOPE Scholarship. Please see 4 examples below and contact our office if any questions.
 

15 credit hours x 250.27 = $3754                               
14 credit hours x 250.57 = $3503.78                         
13 credit hours x 250.27 = $3253.51                       
12 credit hours x 250.27 = $3003.24