Financial Aid for Continuing Students

We will receive an electronic copy of the information you submitted on the FAFSA (called an ISIR) a few days after you complete the FAFSA. After that information is received, if additional documentation is required, only submit the requested documents to the Financial Aid office. Then you will need to log into your DUCK and click on the verification link to view and upload your Financial Aid requirements. Your file will not be reviewed until all signed documents have been submitted.

Keep a copy of any documents that you submit as copies cannot be provided for you at a later date. Please allow a 24-48 hourturn-around period for confirmation of receipt of all forms submitted via fax/mail/drop box/etc. You may check the Duck to confirm receipt of submitted documents after this time.

Your verification paperwork is reviewed for completeness. If any of the materials are missing or incomplete, you will be contacted as to what is needed. The Financial Aid Office may request additional documents from students and parents (of dependent students) after your file is reviewed. Because financial information is student-specific, the Financial Aid Office cannot know exactly what is needed until the initial review is made. Additional documents may be requested from students and parents (of dependent students) when they meet certain circumstances that are not common to every student. The Financial Aid Office is required by the U.S. Department of Education to resolve any conflicting information. In these situations, explanations and/or additional supporting documents may be requested.

After your file is complete, your financial aid counselor will compare the information you submitted on your FAFSA with the information provided in your verification paperwork. If any discrepancies are found, your financial aid counselor will send the necessary corrections electronically to the federal student aid processor.

Need a copy of your Tax Return Transcript to complete your financial aid file? You have three easy and convenient options for getting copies of your federal tax return information (tax return transcript).

1. Request a copy of your Tax Return Transcript through the IRS's website

• In the Tools section click "Get a Tax Transcript"
• Click "Get a Tax Transcript"
• Enter tax filers identifying information
• Click "Continue"
• In the Type of Transcript field select "Return Transcript" and in the Tax Year field select the appropriate tax year

2. Request transcripts by calling 1-800-908-9946 and following the prompts. At the appropriate prompt, you will need to enter:

• Enter social security number and the numbers in your street address
• Select Option 2, IRS Tax Return Transcript, and enter tax year

3. Order by mail using IRS Form 4506T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts. Allow two weeks for delivery. Tax Transcripts must be mailed to your home address, not to Clayton State University.

Financial Aid Priority Deadlines

Fall Semester	July 15
Spring Semester	November 15
Summer Semester	April 15

View the Late Document Policy below

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HOPE Awarding Guidelines 

Due to new deadlines set by Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), students cannot be paid state funding more than three months after semester has concluded. 

You can complete the FAFSA online. You should complete your tax form 1040 first and use that information to complete your FAFSA.

Please remember that you must complete a FAFSA for each academic year. For example, if you plan to begin attending Clayton State in Summer Semester and continue in the Fall, you must complete a FAFSA for the academic year that includes Summer AND a FAFSA for the academic year which begins with Fall Semester.

You must have a complete file in the Financial Aid Office by the above stated deadlines. Please see Completing Your File for more detailed information.

Please keep a copy of any documents that you submit to the Financial Aid Office as copies cannot be provided for you at a later date.

Late Document Policy

We will accept your documents after the Financial Aid Priority Deadline listed above with the understanding that the Financial Aid Office will do everything possible to process your financial aid file before the fee payment deadline. Missing documents and incorrect information on your part will only impede our ability to process your file in time. By doing your part correctly, you will help us to help you. In the event we are not able to process your file prior to the deadline, it is your responsibility to make other arrangements to pay your charges. Failure to pay by the fee payment deadline may result in your registration being cancelled.

Late Registration and Late Fee Policy

Students who register during late registration will be assessed a $100 late fee. Students who register during late registration must pay all charges by the fee payment deadline in order to remain enrolled. If your financial aid is not in place by the fee payment deadline, you must pay out of pocket to remain in your classes. You can be reimbursed according to your eligibility after you are awarded.

CLAYTON STATE SCHOOL CODE 008976

Application information can be found by clicking on the appropriate academic year below. Please remember that you must apply for financial aid for each academic year which always begins with Fall Semester.

• If you apply for financial aid but do not attend for the semester(s) for which you were awarded, you will need to contact the Financial Aid Office at FinancialAid@clayton.eduto let the office know of your future enrollment plans.
• Your financial aid awards will be adjusted accordingly within that academic year
• Please note that financial aid does not roll over from one academic year to another

In accordance with federal regulation, Clayton State University establishes a “Freeze (Census) Date” each semester to determine a student’s enrollment status for disbursing federal grants including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Loans, and SEOG . Funds will only pay for courses that are required for your major and are added before the freeze (census) date. Hours will be frozen at the end of the No Show deadline. Students must be registered for all parts of the term before the freeze (census) date to receive federal grants for those classes. Federal aid will not be adjusted for classes added after credit hours have been frozen.

After the No Show period (a short window at the start of the semester), our registered hours become “frozen.” This means your schedule won’t be adjusted for financial aid after that point. It’s essential to be fully registered for all part of the term – whether its full session or any of the short sessions- before the Freeze Date occurs.

Degree Works will be used to verify whether a course is part of a student’s program of study. A process will run prior to the start of the semester to identify students whose courses are not part of the program of study. Students enrolled in ineligible courses will receive weekly email notifications leading up to the start of the semester. The process will run again before financial aid disbursement and continue nightly through the freeze (census) date. After this point, no further adjustments will be made to the Course Program of Study, and registration will be frozen.

If you need to make changes to your schedule, program of study, or anything that could affect your eligible courses, it must be completed before the Freeze Date. It is important to speak with your academic advisor early to avoid any issues.

Financial aid will be disbursed at the beginning of each semester after the Late Registration (drop/add) period, on the financial aid Freeze (Census) Date. If you become eligible for a disbursement after the scheduled disbursement data, funds will be disbursed daily based on the course program of study as of the Freeze (Census) Date.

Please Note:  If you are only taking second short sessions classes ( and haven’t withdrawn from full or first short sessions courses), you’ll have a different Freeze Date, which will happen when those second short sessions classes start.

Fall Semester 2024	August 26
	*October 17 *(for students who do not attend at all until the second session)
Spring Semester 2025	January 27
	*March 28 *(for students who do not attend at all until the second session)
Summer Semester 2025	TBD
	*TBD*(for students who do not attend at all until the second session)