Important Update: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, please email or call us instead of visiting our office in person at (828) 398-7595 or (828) 398-7596. If you reach our voice mail, leave a message with your contact information and we will return your call as soon as possible. Our hours for telephone, email, and in-person service are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please submit your Verification documents to our secure Financial Aid Office Dropbox.
Complete the Correct FAFSA Application
Depending upon when you want to attend A-B Tech, visit our helpful FAFSA reference page to determine which FAFSA to complete.
Important Dates
- July 1st: Priority Deadline Returning students who have received an Award Letter (Financial Aid Offer) by this date will have their classes held.
- August 1st: Priority Deadline New students who have received an Award Letter (Financial Aid Offer) by this date will have their classes held.
To increase the likelihood of this occurring, you are urged to submit all requested Verification documents to the Financial Aid Office on or before June 15th for processing.
Financial Aid Disbursement
Grants:
- Occurs September 10th (for classes beginning August 22nd), October 10th, and November 10th.
- If the 10th of the month is on the weekend, the scheduled disbursement will occur the prior Friday.
- Review your Self-Service account for anticipated refund details.
Loans:
- 50% September 10th (for classes beginning August 22nd)*, 25% October 10th*, 25% November 10th*.
- If the 10th of the month is on the weekend, the scheduled disbursement will occur the prior Friday.
* As long as you are currently participating in and/or have completed 6 in-program credits.
Loans
- October 15th: Deadline to complete all loan requirements.
- Please see the Financial Aid Disbursement schedule above for anticipated loan disbursement dates.
- If you would like to reduce your loan amounts, or cancel your loans entirely, complete the Direct Loan Adjustment Form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office no later than 4 days before the first disbursement date.
Bookstore Purchases with Financial Aid
Approximately one week before full-term classes begins through the first two weeks of the term.
Please visit the A-B Tech Bookstore page for details on when you can make purchases with financial aid.
Financial Aid Availability
Your financial aid award package for the fall can be reviewed in Self-Service. Once you register, please wait 24 hours for the system to refresh and then go to Self-Service Finance to check your fall award.
To receive the "Maximum Award" amount specified in your account for the fall semester, you must have completed, or be actively attending, the requisite number of credit hours for each award during the fall semester:
| Award | Maximum Award Credit Hour Requirement |
|---|---|
| Pell Grant | 12 + credit hours |
| NCCCG | 15 + credit hours |
| NCELS | 12 + credit hours |
| Loans | 6 + credit hours |
To receive a loan disbursement, you must be actively attending or have already completed, a minimum of 6 in-program credit hours. Loans are disbursed in multiple payments throughout the semester. Review our "Financial Aid Disbursement" section on this page for details. Remember, late start and minimester credit hours are not factored into your financial aid eligibility until 10 days before they start. If you are registered for these classes, your financial aid disbursement(s) may be delayed.
To receive a state grant disbursement, you must be actively attending or have already completed, a minimum of 6 in-program credit hours.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP)
- To receive financial aid for the fall, you must be meeting FASAP.
- Your progress for the fall semester will be determined by May 15th. Log in to your Self-Service account to check your status.
- If you are not meeting FASAP, please do not begin your fall classes unless you are paying cash.
- During the timeframe specified below, you may submit a FASAP Appeal Request for the fall.
Appeals
Appeals completed by noon on Friday will be reviewed by end of business on Tuesday.
In order to submit an Appeal, you must have a current year FAFSA application on file with the college, and provide any requested Verification documents to the Financial Aid Office before, or at the time of, Appeal submission.
May 15th - July 15th: During this timeframe, you may submit a FASAP Appeal Request for the fall semester. Appeals will not be accepted after this date. If you have a special situation that has prevented you from submitting an Appeal during the specified timeframe, please contact us with details. Before doing so, please review our Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP) policy and our Appeal Process. If your Appeal is Upheld, you must submit a completed Student Support Plan to the Financial Aid Office by 5 p.m., August 19th, or your Appeal will be retroactively denied.
- You must submit FASAP Appeal Requests to the Financial Aid Office in person unless you have made alternate arrangements with a financial aid staff member.
- Students may only submit one FASAP Appeal Request per academic year.
- Students who successfully appeal to Maximum Timeframe suspensions must graduate within the academic year of their Upheld FASAP Appeal Request.
Income Adjustment Request
Fall Students: March 1st - August 15th: During this timeframe, you may submit a Special Circumstances Request. Requests will not be accepted after this date. Contact financialaidoffice@abtech.edu to request an Income Adjustment.
- You may request an Income Adjustment if you are not eligible for Pell Grant and your income has changed.
- Requests submitted during this timeframe, if approved, will see any related aid adjustments processed and made active for the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Special Circumstances Requests are not processed for the Summer semester.
- Special Circumstances Requests will generally take 1-2 weeks to be reviewed and processed (if approved).
Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance for a student is an estimate of that student's educational expenses for the period of enrollment. Your federal aid (grants, loans) cannot exceed this cost. The Financial Aid Office will award you the maximum amount of financial aid for which you are eligible, not to exceed your cost of attendance.