The mission of the Student Financial Aid Office is to assist students and their families in managing the cost of a Rollins education. Services include the following:
- financial aid awards to qualified students in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and on-campus employment;
- coordination of scholarships and other assistance programs to insure proper credit to the student’s account;
- counseling in financial aid for undergraduate and graduate education;
- student loan debt management counseling.
Financial Aid Programs
Financial Aid recipients must enroll for at least twelve (12) semester hours per term to be considered full-time.
Grants and Scholarships
Federal Pell Grant: A program for needy undergraduate students. Eligibility is determined by the Federal government.
Rollins Grant: Rollins program for full-time students with demonstrated need and academic talent. The Student Financial Aid staff determines eligibility based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the student’s academic record.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: A program for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. All eligible students are ranked according to family contribution determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Awards are made to those with the lowest family contribution.
Florida Student Assistance Grant: This grant, of up to $2,500 per year, is provided by the State of Florida to needy students who are full-time and have been residents of the State of Florida for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to enrollment. The Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance determines eligibility based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Florida Resident Access Grant: This State program provides up to $3,000 to full-time students attending accredited private colleges in Florida. Students must be residents of Florida for at least twelve (12) months. Financial need is not a requirement. A one-time application must be submitted no later than the first day of classes.
Rollins Alfond Scholarship: This is the top academic merit award on campus. Your scholarship is renewable provided you maintain at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average and complete at least twenty-four (24) semester hours each academic year while remaining enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application prior to November 1st.
Dean’s Scholarship: This award ranges up to $30,000. It is made to entering first-year students without regard to need and is continued each year thereafter, as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA or better. Awards are made by the Admission Committee based on the student’s total record. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application prior to January 5th.
Alonzo Rollins Scholarship: This award ranges up to $27,000. It is made to entering first-year students without regard to need and is continued each year thereafter, as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or better. Awards are made by the Admission Committee based on the student’s total record. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application process prior to January 5th.
Presidential Scholarship: This award ranges up to $24,000. It is made to entering first-year students without regard to need and is continued each year thereafter, as long as the recipient maintains a 2.8 GPA or better. Awards are made by the Admission Committee based on the student’s total record. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application process prior to January 5th.
Centennial Scholarship: This award up to $15,000 is made to entering first-year students without regard to need and is continued each year thereafter, as long as the recipient maintains a 2.8 GPA or better. Awards are made by the Admission Committee based on the student’s total record. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application process prior to January 5th.
Donald Cram Science Scholarship: This $5,000 award is offered to entering first-year students from Florida who plan to major in chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics or pre-engineering. It is renewable providing the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA or better and continues to major in the appropriate field. Selection is made by the Admissions Committee based on the student’s total record. To be considered, first-year applicants must complete the admission application process prior to January 5th.
Rollins College Scholarships: A number of scholarships are part of the College’s endowment, and the income is usually awarded annually to Rollins students. In addition, the College frequently receives expendable gifts designated for scholarships from individual donors, foundations, corporations and other organizations. Recipients of these grants are generally selected by the Student Financial Aid staff in consultation with the chairs of the various academic departments if so specified by donors in the scholarship agreements. Preference may be given to students with financial need.
Loans
Federal Perkins Loan: This loan allows needy students to borrow funds, repaying after graduation at a low interest rate. The Student Financial Aid staff determine eligibility from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The amount of the loan depends upon the student’s need as well as the availability of funds.
Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan: Funds for this loan are provided by the Federal government. Repayment begins after graduation at a low rate of interest. Eligibility is based on the student’s need and is determined from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan: This loan is available from the Federal government. Interest accrues immediately. However, repayment may be deferred until after graduation.
Federal Direct Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students: Parents may borrow up to the full cost each year from the Federal government. Repayment begins immediately.
Employment
Federal Work-Study Program: This program provides on-campus employment to students with financial need. The Student Financial Aid staff determine eligibility from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Aid for Off-Campus Programs
Rollins programs are those operated by the College and offered in cooperation with other colleges and universities. Please refer to the International and Off-Campus Study section for the list of programs offered.
Financial aid recipients (need-based and non-need-based) may apply to receive assistance for attendance in Rollins and affiliate programs. All aid programs used for attendance on-campus can be used for this purpose, except talent scholarships awarded by academic and athletic departments, which require departmental approval. Departments offering talent scholarships are not required to exempt students from performance obligations required of scholarship recipients or approve the scholarship for use in study abroad programs.
To qualify for assistance, students must meet the same eligibility criteria that are otherwise required of financial aid recipients.
Verano Español: This is a Rollins summer program. Financial aid for summer study is not available through Rollins programs. Students qualifying for Federal Direct Loans or Parent Loans, who have not exhausted the maximum program eligibility during the regular academic year, may use the balance of their eligibility for study at Verano Español.
Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress
To receive aid at Rollins College, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. The following criteria are checked at the end of the spring semester.
Grade Point Average
A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for both initial and renewal awards (entering first-year students should normally have a high school grade point average of 2.0). Course taken outside of Rollins (with the exception of Rollins affiliated study abroad courses) do not count towards your Rollins cumulative GPA. Some programs require a higher GPA: Alfond Scholarship (3.3); Dean’s Scholarship (3.0); Alonzo Rollins Scholarship (3.0); Presidential Scholarship (2.8); Centennial Scholarship (2.8); Florida Academic Scholars Fund (3.0); and Florida Merit Scholars (2.75). Grade point averages are checked at the end of the spring semester.
Completion Rate
Students must successfully complete 67% of coursework in order to meet SAP standards (defined as completion rate or pace). Transfer hours accepted into Rollins count as both hours attempted and hours completed. Incompletes and withdrawal grades count as attempted hours, but not toward completed hours.
Completed Hours/Attempted Hours = Completion Rate
Please note: if you have transfer hours, add the accepted transfer hours to Earned Hours and Attempted Hours in the calculation. An ‘I’ or ‘R’ grade in a course is considered a successful completion only after the grade is officially changed. A grade of ‘F’ is NOT considered to be a successful completion. A withdrawal is NOT considered to be a successful completion.
Maximum Timeframe
Students must complete degree requirements within 150% of the published semester hour length of the academic program. Undergraduate degree requirements are 140 credit hours and, therefore, the maximum degree completion time frame is defined as 210 credit hours attempted.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students must meet all of the Qualitative and Quantitative Standards as outlined above in order to receive financial aid. If you do not meet one or more SAP requirements, a letter will be mailed to your permanent address on file as well as an email to your Rollins account. A notification in your Foxlink account will also appear. First time aid students are expected to meet these standards before any aid is awarded in their first year at Rollins.
SAP Appeal Reviews
If you successfully complete coursework that improves your Rollins GPA and/or completion rate, please notify the Office of Financial Aid once grades are available. As noted earlier, you are evaluated on an annual basis. However, you may request a SAP review at the end of any semester of enrollment. Please note that if approved, need-based grants and scholarships may only be reinstated for the upcoming semester. Loans may be available for the entire academic year.
You may also submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid. Information on how to submit an appeal will be provided in the email and letter notification. The SAP Appeal instructions are located online: www.rollins.edu/finaid/documents/SAP-Appeal-Instructions.pdf
- Please provide a typed, personal statement explaining the mitigating circumstances and what actions you are taking to ensure future academic progress.
- Provide any relevant documentation to support your appeal.
- If approved, you will be placed on financial aid probation for the upcoming semesters. Your SAP probation letter will outline the requirements needed to continue receiving financial aid in subsequent semesters.
The committee will review your appeal within 10-15 business days after receipt of your completed appeal form and the required documentation. Decisions are made after a careful review of your circumstances, federal regulations, and Rollins guidelines. You will be notified of the outcome via your Rollins email account. Regularly monitor your Rollins email for additional information.
Rights and Responsibilities of the Aid Recipient
APPLICANTS FOR FINANCIAL AID HAVE THE RIGHT TO:
- Confidentiality. Financial aid records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
- Appeal financial aid decisions about their application. Written appeals are submitted to the Student Aid Appeals Committee in care of the Student Financial Aid Office.
- Information about the terms and conditions of financial aid programs, provided in the Rollins College Catalogue or in the Student Aid Award Notice enclosures.
- Inspect your education records and request amendment of those records, if you believe them to be inaccurate, by contacting the Dean of Student Affairs.
- File a complaint with the Department of Education if you believe your right to confidentiality has been compromised.
- Defer direct loan payments for Peace Corps or other volunteer service after you graduate.
FOR FINANCIAL AID ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:
- Submitting accurate applications and forms before the deadlines and according to the instructions provided.
- Following instructions for application, renewal of aid, or resolving problems.
- Providing the Office of Student Records with accurate permanent and local addresses and telephone numbers.
- Notifying the Student Financial Aid Office of changes in family financial situation and when receiving assistance from an outside source.
- Reading the provided information about the terms and conditions of all aid programs.
- Enrolling in a full-time course load of not less than twelve (12) semester hours for fall and spring terms.
- Requesting special assistance when it is needed.
- Maintaining satisfactory academic progress according to the established financial aid policies.
For more information, Student Financial Aid, 407-646-2395.
POST-9/11 GI BILL® AND YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides tuition benefits, a housing allowance, and a book allowance for veterans who meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, Rollins College is a full participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program which means that all eligible veterans (and dependents) who receive 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and who are admitted into any of Rollins’ programs will receive enough grant aid from the Veterans Administration and Rollins College to pay the entire cost of their tuition and fees.
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Rollins defers the due date of all tuition and fees for eligible students receiving VA benefits (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31) until after the College receives payment from the VA. Accordingly, Rollins will not: prevent the student’s enrollment; assess a late penalty fee; require students to secure alternative/additional funding; or deny access to resources while payment is pending from the VA.
Note: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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