Financial Aid for New Students
Taking out a loan is a commitment, a major decision, and we know it’s not one you take lightly. We know that facts and figures don’t tell the whole story, but they do impact the decisions you make for your future. Our graduates are working in the hospitals as nurses, in business as IT technicians and IT managers, and in communities as supervisors and leaders. We are proud of the thousands of hardworking people who now support the north central part of Clayton County and the state of Georgia who began their careers at Clayton State University.
You can become one of them. Complete your FAFSA and begin your walk towards graduation. If you need our assistance, you can reach us by TEAMS, email, or phone. We’re waiting to hear from you.
2022-2023 FAFSA Application Process
Due to federal Prior-Prior Year legislation, please know that the 2022-2023 FAFSA was made available on October 1, 2021 to complete. Students and parents will be reporting Prior-Prior Year income within their on-line FAFSA application.
You should file the 2022-2023 FAFSA after October 1, 2021.
Follow these steps outlined below:
- Apply for an FSA ID and password.
- An FSA ID and password lets you apply, "sign" your online FAFSA, make corrections to your application information and more - all online. Go to ed.gov to apply!
- Collect 2020 documents, including income tax returns, W-2 forms, and other records of income to apply. A complete list of what you need can be found at Federal Student Aid.
- Complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible, to meet school and state aid deadlines. Apply online at Federal Student Aid. See the link below to help you complete your application. Clayton State University’s federal school code is 008976.
- Submit the completed Clayton State University application by paying the $40 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all required supporting official credentials by the deadline. They must be
sent directly from the sending institutions to Clayton State University. Applications
are valid for three subsequent terms.
- International Applicants
International student applicants are invited to go directly to the Clayton State University International Student tab for information, admission requirements, and application forms and documents.
- International Applicants
- Students who have previously attended Clayton State as an undergraduate transient student and who wish to return as an undergraduate transient student should not submit this application. Returning transient students should complete an application for reentry.
Traditional Freshman and Transfer Freshman Applicants
Traditional freshman and transfer freshman are applicants with less than 30 semester hours of transferable college credit who have graduated from high school within the past five years.
Applicants for this category must submit the following:
- Application with a $40 non-refundable fee
- Official high school transcript
- Official SAT or ACT scores submitted directly from the testing service
- Official college transcript(s) if applicable
Test Optional note:
- For the Spring 2022, Summer 2022, and Fall 2022 terms, Clayton State University has implemented a Test Optional policy for students applying for Freshman and Freshman Transfer (less than 30 semester/45 quarter hours of transferable college credit) admission. These applicants are not required to submit SAT/ACT scores and are reviewed for admission on high school and collegiate coursework and grade point averages from official transcripts.
Requirements:
- Graduate from an accredited high school recognized by University System of GA
- Successful completion of the 17 Required High School Courses (RHSC).
- Minimum high school GPA of 2.0 or greater using RHSC
- Freshman index of 1940
- Meet one of the minimum test score requirements as follows:
- Students taking the new (after March 2016) re-designed SAT must have a minimum 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and 440 on the Math sections.
- Students taking the old (before March 2016) SAT must have a minimum of 430 on the Critical Reading and 400 on the Math Sections.
- Students taking the ACT must have a 17 English or Reading, 17 Math, and 17
Clayton State will not honor the GED from traditional age student who have been out of high school for less than five years from the date of scheduled graduation. Students holding the GED should attend a two-year or private college and qualify as a transfer applicant. HOwever, adult learners may submit the GED if they have out of high school for more than five years and attempt to qualify as a non-traditional applicant.
Students seeking federal financial aid, as well as several state financial aid programs, including HOPE, must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be done electronically online, or with the paper form by mail.
Financial Aid Priority Deadlines
| Fall Semester | July 15 |
| Spring Semester | November 15 |
| Summer Semester | April 15 |
View the Late Document Policy below
HOPE Invoicing Dates
Due to new deadlines set by Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), students cannot be paid state funding for the following terms once the invoicing deadlines have passed.
| Summer Semester 2021 | 10/29/2021 |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester 2021 | 02/18/2022 |
| Spring Semester 2022 | 06/08/2022 |
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.
| Fall Semester 2021 | August 24 |
|---|---|
| *October 15 *(for students who do not attend at all until the second session) | |
| Spring Semester 2022 | January 24 |
| *March 25 *(for students who do not attend at all until the second session) | |
| Summer Semester 2022 | June 3 |
| *TBD *(for students who do not attend at all until the second session) |
Students must be enrolled and attending at least half-time before they can receive a loan. However, because loans are now processed and disbursed differently with Direct Lending, hours added after the freeze date that bring the student to half-time enrollment can be used to determine loan eligibility at the time of disbursement.
In accordance with federal regulations, Clayton State University establishes a “freeze date” each semester to determine a student’s enrollment status for disbursing federal grants including the Federal Pell Grant and SEOG. Funds will only pay for courses that are required for your major and are added before the freeze date. Hours will be frozen at the end of the drop/add period. Students must be registered for all parts of term before the freeze date to receive federal grants for those classes. Federal grants will not be adjusted for classes added after hours have been frozen.
Students who are retroactively awarded federal aid (after the freeze date) will have hours frozen at the time the award is made and payment will be based on current enrollment at that time. Students who drop (not withdraw) a second session course will have their hours adjusted down. Students may not receive aid for a second session class for which they receive a 100% refund.
The freeze date applies only to federal grants. HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and ACCEL funds may be increased for additional classes when applicable.
Example 1 - Here’s an example of how the freeze date affects the amount of financial aid Bill received:
Bill Smith is receiving only federal grants. He started attending classes on January 11. Schedule adjustment period was January 11 through the 14. The financial aid freeze date occurred on January 15. Here is a history of when he enrolled in the courses:
| No. of Credits | Date When Bill Enrolled or Added Credits |
|---|---|
| 6 | December 18 |
| 3 | January 4 |
| 3 | January 20 |
| 12 | Total credits Bill is taking in the Spring |
As you can see, Bill is taking a total of 12 credits in the spring and he will be charged for 12 credits. However, his federal grant received is based on 9 credits and not 12, since this was the number of credits in which he was enrolled on the financial aid freeze date of January 15.
Example 2 - Here's an example of how the freeze date affects the amount of financial aid Mary received.
Mary Jones is receiving both federal grants and HOPE Scholarship. She started attending classes on January 11. Schedule adjustment period was January 11 through the 14. The financial aid freeze date occurred on January 15. Here is a history of when she enrolled in the courses:
| No. of Credits | Date When Mary Enrolled or Added Credits |
|---|---|
| 6 | December 18 |
| 3 | January 4 |
| 3 | January 20 |
| 12 | Total credits Mary is taking in the Spring |
As you can see, Mary is taking a total of 12 credits in the spring and she will be charged for 12 credits. Her federal grants received is based on 9 credits since this was the number of credits in which she was enrolled on the financial aid freeze date of January 15. However, because HOPE Scholarship is not a federal fund, Mary can receive HOPE Scholarship for 12 credit hours. (Mary may need to contact the Financial Aid Office or the Bursar’s Office in order to have those HOPE Scholarship funds applied since she is no longer able to click on “How Much Do I Owe” herself.) Please note that Mary’s federal grants such as Pell, SEOG, etc. is still paid based on 9 credit hours.