South Central Louisiana Technical College

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Tuition & Fees Increase
The State Legislature and the Louisiana Community and Technical College Board of Supervisors recently approved an increase in tuition and fees.  This increase in tuition and fees could be a hardship on students wishing to enroll in South Central Louisiana Technical College.  If a hardship exists that keeps you from enrolling, please refer to Policy SCL.111, Hardship Waiver. 

Click on a heading or scroll down to find out more information about the following types of Financial Assistance:

• Pell Grant
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Strategies to Empower People (STEP)
• Social Security
• LEAP/SLEAP - State Grant
• Veterans Administration (VA)
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Board of Regents Early Start Initiative
• TOPS –Tech Awards
• TOPS – Tech Early Start
• Go Grant
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• LA National Guard
• HeaRTS Grant

Pell Grant
As mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, students without a high school diploma or GED must achieve a minimum score on the Ability to Benefit Test (ATB) in reading, math, and English/writing in order to be eligible for financial assistance from the Pell Grant program. Specific programs may require higher placement scores for admission.   South Central Louisiana Technical College uses the Compass Test as the ATB Test; the following constitutes passing scores:

• Pre-algebra/Numerical - minimum score of 25
• Reading - minimum score of 62
• Writing (English) - minimum score of 32

The Pell Grant Program is a federal assistance program designed to provide financial assistance to students attending postsecondary educational institutions.  Pell Grants are intended to be the "floor" of a financial assistance package and may be combined with other forms of assistance in order to meet the full costs of education.  The amount of the student's Pell Grant is determined on the basis of her/his financial resources.  It is a grant, not a loan.  Attendance and satisfactory progress of the student are monitored.  Students must meet obligations to maintain the grant award.  WIA recipients must apply for a Pell Grant.  Pell Grant Applications are available in the Office of Student Affairs. Applicants may also apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Workforce Investment Act is a federal assistance program that assists students with costs of training.  Costs of tuition, registration fees, books, tools, and uniforms may be covered through WIA.  Eligible participants may also be reimbursed for transportation costs.  Eligibility is determined by the local WIA personnel and is based on financial resources.  The Financial Aid Officer works with the WIA offices in certifying students for WIA benefits.  A student must complete an application with local WIA offices.  The Student Affairs Office can provide details.

Stategies to Empower People (STEP)
Strategies to Empower People is a federal aid program that assists parent participants by providing funds for tuition, books, childcare, and transportation.  Participants must have at least one child 18 years of age or younger and must meet financial eligibility requirements. The Financial Aid Officer can provide more details.

Social Security
Dependent children of disabled or deceased workers covered by Social Security may be eligible to receive benefits while attending school as full-time students.  Students should contact the local Social Security Office for determination of eligibility. 

LEAP/SLEAP State Grant
LEAP/SLEAP awards are offered by the state to technical college students.  Recipients must be Pell eligible and must meet grade requirements.  The Financial Aid Officer handles applications and awards.  The LEAP/SLEAP award is not a loan.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Persons with physical or mental disabilities may qualify for financial assistance through Vocational Rehabilitation.  The Office of Student Affairs refers individuals to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services office to apply.

Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust (START)

The Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Program, commonly referred to as the “START Saving Program,” is an innovative college savings plan designed to help families contend with the growing costs of educating their children after high school.

Board of Regents Early Start
Eligible secondary students may receive assistance through the Board of Regents to assist with the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other related costs.  Information on the initiative is available through the Student Affairs Office or the high school guidance office.

TOPS –Tech Awards
The Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Tech Award was created to promote a skilled workforce in Louisiana by assisting Louisiana high school graduates who choose to pursue skill or occupational training in a Louisiana public postsecondary school that offers a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree.  Students must have a composite score of 17 on the ACT. The award is for the cost of tuition for up to two years at the Louisiana public postsecondary school attended.  Complete eligibility requirements are available in the Student Affairs Office.

TOPS Tech Early Start
The Tuition Opportunity Program for secondary students was created to allow secondary students to enroll in technical college courses.  Complete eligibility requirements are available in the Student Affairs Office.

GO Grant
To be eligible for a Louisiana Go Grant, a student must:

• Be a Louisiana Resident;*
• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• Receive a federal Pell grant or a financial need grant;
• Have an Education Cost Gap (ECG) greater than $199 (For information on calculating the ECG, refer to the Go Grant Q&A at the bottom of this page, questions 12 - 18.);
• Be a student enrolled in an eligible Louisiana institution on a part-time or full-time basis who:
• Entered college as a first time freshman during academic year 2007-2008 or later; OR
• Entered college as a first time freshman during the 2007-08 academic year or later and have become eligible for a federal Pell grant or financial need grant after the freshman year: OR
• Be age 25 or older and have entered college as a first time freshman before the 2007-08 academic year and have had a break in enrollment of at least two consecutive semesters, not including a summer semester or term, immediately preceding the period of enrollment for which the student is being considered for receipt of a grant.
• Any student who was a first time freshman beginning with the 2007-08 academic year or later who was not initially Pell eligible, but subsequently becomes Pell eligible then also qualifies for a Go Grant award.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
To be eligible for each academic year, a student must be:

• a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• a Federal Pell Grant recipient;
• enrolled at least half-time in a degree program;
• a first or second-year undergraduate student or a student in a certificate program of at least one year in a degree program at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution
• have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student); and
• if a first-year student — not have been previously enrolled in an ACG-eligible program while at or below age of compulsory school attendance

An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year. Note: The amount of the ACG, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance.

LA National Guard

The Louisiana Army National Guard 100% Tuition Exemption Program waives the cost of tuition only for Louisiana Army and Air National Guard soldiers attending a Louisiana State college, university, or community college program that is funded by the Louisiana Board of Higher Education. Any actively participating soldier of the Louisiana Army National Guard is entitled to a100% tuition only in any state-funded college program. The provisions of the law apply equally to full-time and part-time students enrolled in state-funded college programs. Montgomery GI Bill programs can be utilized in conjunction with this State program. The soldier must maintain the academic standards of the learning institution during the entire benefit period.

HeaRTS Grant

HeaRTS helps students find training programs in the medical field with reduced costs. Students in a lower income bracket may be eligible while in training for childcare, transportation, or other expenses directly related to training such as books, uniforms, special fees, etc. The funds are paid directly to the vendors or to the schools. 

All healthcare trainees are subject to a background check and drug testing. Students have to work in a Tier Parish for 6 months, which are the parishes designated by the federal government as most affected by Katrina and Rita. They are as follows: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, and Washington.

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