The FAFSA & Applying for Financial Aid

Completing the FAFSA Timelines

• First-Year Students

  If you're coming to College of Charleston with fewer than 12 college credit hours, you are considered a first-year student. 

  Before December 31

  • Begin searching for private, local, national or other scholarships. 
    
    
  • Apply for a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Both you and your parent or guardian will need an FSA ID.
    
    
  • Keep track of your username, password and FSA ID. You will use the same FSA ID each year you apply for aid. You only need one FSA ID and one FAFSA application even if you are applying to multiple schools. 

   
  By December 31 – the FAFSA opens 

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    
    
  • File your FAFSA by April 1 for College of Charleston priority consideration.
    

  
  Before or On March 1

  • You will receive your institutional scholarship award letter in your College of Charleston admit packet. Institutional scholarship awards should be available to view in MyPortal @ March 1. (For the 2024-25 year, awards should be available by mid-April.)
    
    
  • You must be admitted to a degree-seeking program of study to be eligible for federal financial aid. 
    
    
  • Review MyPortal for more information and missing requirements. 

  
  Before or On March 15

  • Freshmen are notified of federal awards through MyPortal no later than March 15. You will need to accept or decline each award not already marked as accepted, then press the submit button at the bottom of the page. (For the 2024-25 year, awards should be available by mid-April.)

  May 1 

  • The deadline to accept your admission to College of Charleston and pay your deposit is May 1. Your deposit confirms acceptance of the scholarship award. 
    
    
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-seeking program may be considered for financial assistance. Undergraduate students admitted as non-degree students are not eligible for federal or state aid. 
• Transfer Students

  If you're coming to College of Charleston with more than 12 college credit hours, earned at a two-year or four-year institution, you are considered a transfer student.

  By December 31 - FAFSA Application Opens 

  • File your FAFSA by April 1 for College of Charleston priority consideration.   
    
    
  • If you have already filed a FAFSA at your current institution, you need to request that a copy of the FAFSA be sent to the College of Charleston.
    
    
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-seeking program may be considered for financial assistance. Undergraduate students admitted as non-degree students are not eligible for federal or state aid. 

  Accept Your Awards 

  • View and accept your awards in MyPortal.  

  Connect with Your Previous Institution

  • Send a written notice to the financial aid office at your prior school to cancel any scheduled awards for future terms.
    
    
  • If you had student loans at your prior school, you need to complete an exit interview on those loans.
    
    
  • Contact the financial aid office at your prior school for procedures on exit interviews.

  Late Transfer Credits

  • Your federal financial aid award at the College of Charleston will be based on the academic credits that have been accepted and posted as of the day your financial aid award is made.
    
    
  • Late transfer credits may result in higher loan eligibility.
    
    
  • You may request a second loan eligibility review once all transfer credits are posted.

  S.C. State Scholarships

  • All transfer students who were legal residents of S.C. when they graduated from high school and who are seeking their first undergraduate degree, must have their high school transcript sent to the Office of Admissions (even though it may not be required for admission purposes) in order to be considered for the HOPE, LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship programs. 
    
    
  • If you are currently a S.C. Palmetto Fellows recipient, you need to call the S.C. Commission on Higher Education at 803.737.2262 or visit the CHE website to request a Palmetto Fellows Transfer Form. 

  Consider Applying for a Transfer Scholarship 

  • The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship honors excellence by supporting outstanding community college students with financial need to transfer to and complete their bachelor’s degree at the nation’s top four-year colleges and universities. 
• Returning Students

  Outside scholarships 

  • If you were awarded outside scholarships, contact the organization sponsoring that scholarship and ask about the renewal criteria. Complete all steps for renewal. 

  FAFSA application
  

  • File your FAFSA by April 1 for College of Charleston priority consideration. 

  Satisfactory Academic Progress 

  • You need to review your satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in MyPortal. 
     
  • Once you have been evaluated for compliance with the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for financial aid eligibility and if you are found to be deficient, you will be placed on SAP Suspension and will not be eligible for financial aid funds.
    
    
  • You may be eligible to continue your enrollment and pay out of pocket. Under certain conditions, if you have unusual circumstances, you may file a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal (SAPA) for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. Contact the Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs for more information.  

  On or before July 1

  • Returning students are notified of federal awards through MyPortal no later than July 1.
    
    
• Families

  Families are an important resource in helping their students navigate the financial aid process. To assist your student in applying for financial aid review the following items.

  Before December 31  

  • Apply for a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID for you and your student prior to December 31.

  By December 31 - FAFSA application opens 

  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
    
    
  • File your FAFSA by April 1 for College of Charleston priority consideration. 

  Assist your student 

  • Your student should review MyPortal for more information and missing requirements.
    
    
  • Your student should complete verification (if necessary), and any other documents to finish the FAFSA. Document requests can be found in MyPortal under the title "Student Requirements."
    
    
  • All verification documents must be submitted before a financial aid award package will be generated.
    
    
  • Once your student is notified of federal awards through MyPortal, they will need to accept or decline each award not already marked as accepted, then press the submit button at the bottom of the page.
    
    
  • If your family chooses a Parent PLUS loan, you will need to request a Direct PLUS loan. You will need to log in using your FSA ID.
    
    
  • If the PLUS loan is approved, please complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note.
    
    
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-seeking program may be considered for financial assistance. Undergraduate students admitted as non-degree students are not eligible for federal or state aid.