Financial Aid Help

To apply for federal financial aid, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is used to determine the federal aid programs from which you can receive aid. Apply online at studentaid.gov.

You can accept, decline and/or decrease your financial aid award offer through MyPortal.

1. Access financial aid awards through MyPortal.
2. Once you log in, find and click on the "Financial Aid Dashboard" icon.
3. Click on the "Award Offer" tab across the top.
4. Make sure you are in the correct award year (drop-down menu is top right).
5. Next to each financial aid award offer, check the "Take Action" box to accept or decline.
6. Review your decisions and click "Submit" at the bottom of the page.

You must read and accept the terms and conditions for receipt of your financial aid prior to accepting the full or partial amount of your awards.

Summer school financial aid is awarded based on your remaining eligibility for the academic year.

Under most circumstances, any aid remaining from the fall/spring semester can be applied to the summer semester. To be eligible for summer financial aid, you must generally be enrolled at least half-time.

To apply, complete the Summer Financial Aid application via forms website.

Dropping classes before and/or during drop-add (100%)

If you withdraw before classes begin or during drop-add, your financial aid will be awarded or adjusted based on the hours for which you are enrolled at the end of drop-add. If you are enrolled less than half-time, you may not be eligible for assistance.

Withdrawing from classes after drop-add, during the "refund period" established by the Treasurer's Office

Fall and Spring Semesters:

Fall and Spring Semesters

Withdrawing from classes after drop-add, during the "refund period" established by the Treasurer's Office

If you withdraw from classes during 90/50/25% refund periods and you are enrolled at least one (1) hour, you may be eligible to receive federal funds from the calculated refund.

Students that withdraw from classes after drop-add are subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

For students who voluntarily withdraw from all classes or are granted an official withdrawal through the Academic Success and Retention, financial aid will be prorated based on the effective date established by the Academic Success and Retention Office and subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy and Procedure. Please request “Return of Title IV Funds and Repayment” handout for further information.

If you are receiving scholarships, note that a complete withdrawal from the College, no matter the reason, will not waive your scholarship earned-hour renewal requirement.

If you are receiving financial aid, and all of your financial aid documents are complete, most of your aid will be automatically disbursed to your account for payment of on-campus charges. If the charges are greater than the financial aid, the remaining balance can be paid using your College of Charleston eBill account. Pay your eBill in MyPortal. Information is on the Treasurer's Office website or you may call 843.953.5572. If the financial aid is greater than the charges, an excess aid deposit will be made to refund the remaining financial aid to the student.

Payment Plan

The College of Charleston offers an installment payment plan, which allows the student and/or parent to pay tuition, fees, room and board in four equal installments per semester. For information about this option, visit the Treasurer's Office or contact the Treasurer's Office at 843.953.5572. Students with financial aid can use the payment plan to pay a remaining balance or cover part of tuition while completing financial aid documents.

Excess Aid Deposits

Expecting a student refund check? Excess financial aid will be returned to you in the form of an excess aid deposit after your College of Charleston balance due has been paid. Once your financial aid has fed to your eBill account, the Treasurer's Office is responsible for generating your refund check. The Treasurer's Office should deposit excess financial aid to the automatic deposit account that you set up in eBill by the first day of class. For more information, see "How do I set up a refund direct deposit account?"

In order to receive your refund you must:

• review the estimated financial aid listed on your eBill statement to ensure that the aid exceeds tuition, fees, housing cost, meal plans and any other charges.
• check your financial aid eligibility status in MyPortal to ensure that you have submitted all required documents to the Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs.
• set up automatic deposit in your eBill account. Automatic deposit accounts may take up to 10 days to establish, so complete this long before school starts.

Drop/Add

Note: If you plan to DROP OR ADD a course during the drop-add period, email a financial aid counselor immediately at financialaid@cofc.edu. Please include your name, your College of Charleston ID number and the number of hours you plan to be enrolled so they can update your financial aid information.

The Student Aid Index replaces the former Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a measure of your ability to pay for college and the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

An estimate of how much it will cost to attend the College of Charleston. The COA includes the price of tuition and fees, food and housing (living expenses), books and supplies and other expenses.

How much it will cost you to attend the College of Charleston for one year after your scholarships, grants, loans and work study are subtracted from the cost of attendance. Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your net price.

The report summarizing the information you provided on your FAFSA form. The schools you listed on the FAFSA form will use this report to determine your eligibility for financial aid.

• Log into studentaid.gov using your FSA ID that you used when completing your FAFSA
• Click "Complete Entrance Counseling"
• After all sections are complete and the Entrance Counseling has been submitted, you will be sent an email confirmation to the email address you used for your FSA ID.

 If you receive a Federal Direct Student Loan, you must complete the Federal Direct Student Loan Exit Counseling as you near graduation, leave the College or drop below half-time enrollment.

• Log into studentaid.gov using your FSA ID

During exit counseling you will learn about repayment, deferment and forbearance. The exit counseling will also review different repayment plans, direct withdrawal and a payment date.  

• Log into studentaid.gov using your FSA ID that you used when completing your FAFSA
• Complete the Master Promissory Note based on your status as either an undergraduate or graduate student.
• After all sections are complete and the Master Promissory Note has been submitted, you will be sent an email confirmation to the email address you used for your FSA ID.

A need-based loan on which the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you're in school.

A loan for which you don't have to demonstrate financial need. However, you are responsible for the interest during all periods.

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need. 

In order to determine your eligibility, you must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The College of Charleston will automatically determine your eligibility for the Pell Grant when reviewing the data from your FAFSA.

If you are eligible for the Pell Grant, it is automatically accepted for you when it is awarded. You will still need to accept the Terms and Conditions of your award in order to receive your Pell Grant funds.

In order to receive your scholarship, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

When withdrawing from classes, be mindful of the scholarship renewal criteria for your scholarship. Please be sure that you are on track to meet the renewal criteria for the following academic year.

Students that qualify for a College of Charleston merit scholarship will be notified of the award with their acceptance letter from the Office of Admissions.

The selection process is highly competitive due to the high number of qualified applicants and available funding. Students will be evaluated among their peers in the first-year student applicant pool to determine scholarship eligibility. Students that qualify for scholarships from the Honors College or other departments will be notified of those awards separately no later than March 1.