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Financial Aid

Fund Your Future!

Drake State believes that every qualified student with the desire to attend the institution should have the opportunity to do so. Thus, financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and college work study is available to students who meet the qualifications.

Financial Aid TV

The Office of Financial Aid is proud to announce the launch of Financial Aid TV (FATV), an exciting new ONLINE VIDEO SERVICE for the entire J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College community!

  • FATV is an online library of short (60–90 seconds each) video clips that are accessible on demand, 24/7.
  • FATV videos communicate complex financial aid information to current and prospective students in an easy to understand style. 
  • FATV covers a wide array of topics including: Financial Aid, Financial Literacy, Loans, Grants, and more. 
  • FATV is a great tool for training new staff as well as cross-training purposes.
Visit FATV video library

Financial Aid Programs Available:

  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
  • Veterans Benefits
  • WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act)
  • Vocation Rehabilitation
  • Federal College Work-Study Program
  • Alabama Student Assistance Program
  • Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program

  • Senior Adult Scholarship

  • Trade Readjustment Program
  • Institutional & Other Scholarships
Institutional Scholarship Application

Scholarships are awarded to academically qualified students based on information provided in the application process. Scholarships are competitive and recipients will be selected by the Drake State Scholarship Committee to determine which scholarship they may be awarded. Scholarship awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Submitting a scholarship application does not guarantee that a student will receive a scholarship.

Click here to apply for the Presidential Academic Scholarship, the Academic Excellence Scholarship, or the Dual Enrollment Scholarship.

*Institutional scholarships are non-refundable and do not cover books, supplies, or program/departmental fees. 

Presidential Academic Scholarship 

  • For First Time Freshmen 
  • Presidential Academic Scholarship Award – full tuition and mandatory fees
  • High School applicants must have a grade point average of 3.75 or above on a 4.0 scale.
  • Scholarship will pay up to 15 hours for fall and spring semesters and 12 hours for summer semester.

Academic Excellence Scholarship 

  • For Current or Transfer Students
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship Award pays $4,000 ($2,000 for fall, $2,000 for spring)
  • College applicants must have a college grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.

Dual Enrollment Scholarship 

  • For graduating high school seniors enrolled in the Drake State Dual Enrollment Program transitioning to First Time Freshmen.
  • The Dual Enrollment Scholarship pays $3,000 ($1500 for fall, $1500 for spring)
  • Applicants must have a college grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
Senior Adult Scholarship

This is a state funded tuition waiver available each term to students in attendance who are Alabama residents, 60 years of age or older, and who meet the general admission standards of the institution, any specific admission standards established for a program of study, and any specific admission standards for a course, including prerequisites.

The scholarship/waiver is restricted to credit courses on a space available basis and is limited to tuition only. Required institutional fees and other expenses, including lab fees, books, and supplies, are the responsibility of the student.

https://forms.gle/KyThJQ1LWxNZrbQS8

STRADA Scholars Scholarship

Strada Scholars is a part of a nationwide scholar’s program aimed at leadership development, academic success, and critical social engagement. 

The program focuses on 3 aspects:

  • Leadership: Students selected for this program are identified as leaders and will engage in social issues within the community.
  • Internship: To provide progressive learning experiences to prepare students for the 21st century workforce.
  • Scholarship: To support students and families to breakdown financial barriers to allow persistence and completion.

$3,500 non-refundable award per semester (Fall and Spring), total scholarship award for two semesters $7,000. Scholarship covers tuition, fees, books supplies and industry recognized certification.

Click here to apply: https://forms.gle/VujGLS2CbFWK1hi58

Deadline to Apply: April 30, 2024

Requirements:

  • Must be an incoming freshman
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student ( 12 or more hours)
  • Must participate in mandatory activities and workshops
  • Must be willing to become a Blue Eagle Ambassador in your second semester
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0

The Financial Aid Process

Review and satisfy documents

Review and accept award offers

Check for charges, authorized aid, and refund/owed amounts

Get your refund

Complete attendance requirements

FAFSA Simplification

The FAFSA Simplification Act is an initiative by the United States Department of Education to make applying for federal student aid easier for students.

This process is the first major redesign of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process in over 40 years. It represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the FAFSA form, need analysis, storage of federal student aid application data, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs.

The 2024–2025 FAFSA will be available on December 31, 2023.

In an effort to prepare for the Financial Aid process, we are requesting that all students and/or parents watch a session conducted by the Department of Education to understand the new process. Please register for one of the two available sessions below as soon as possible.

Session 1: Monday, February 12th from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., (Central Time Zone) 

Register here for Session 1.

Session 2: Wednesday, February 14th from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Central Time Zone)

Register here for Session 2.

Benefits to Students and Families

Students and families will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college and experience a change in the methodology used to determine aid. The benefits of FAFSA simplification include:

  • A more streamlined application process
  • Expanded eligibility for federal student aid
  • Expanded eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant
  • Reduced barriers for certain student populations
  • A better user experience for the FAFSA form
  • Enhanced data sharing with IRS to simplify the applicant’s experience
Changes to FAFSA
  • The number of questions will be reduced and the application will maximize the use of previously collected data.
  • Students will be able to list up to 20 schools on their FAFSA via the online application.
  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  • The Cost of Attendance (COA) will be the starting point for calculating the SAI. COA includes direct costs (charges for which the college bills you directly) and estimated indirect costs (living expenses) to fund educational expenses for a year.
  • Foster, homeless, and unaccompanied youth—as well as applicants who cannot provide parental information—will be able to complete the form with a provisional independent student determination and receive a calculated SAI.
  • Anyone asked to provide information on the aid application—student, spouse, student’s parent(s) and/or stepparents(s)—is called a “contributor” to the application.
  • Students, spouses, parents, and stepparents (contributors) will now need to provide their consent to provide their Federal Tax Information (FTI) in the new Consent to Retrieve and Disclose Federal Tax Information section of the FAFSA for federal student aid eligibility.
    • A direct data share with the IRS will replace what is currently known as the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).
    • If any contributor to the FAFSA form does not provide consent, submission of the form will still be allowed. However, a Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated.
  • The Custodial Parent on your FAFSA will be the parent(s) who provided you with more financial support, instead of the parent(s) with whom you lived more during the past 12 months.
  • There will be two-step verification and all FAFSA contributors must have an FSA ID to log into the online form. There will be a new process to get an FSA ID for parents and spouses without a Social Security number.
  • Applicants will be asked to report their sex, race, and ethnicity on the FAFSA itself, but students will be offered a choice of “Prefer Not to Answer.” Schools and state agencies won’t see responses to these questions on the FAFSA.
Changes to Calculating Your Aid Eligibility

Students and families will see a different measure of their ability to pay for college, and they will experience a change in the methodology used to determine aid.

  • The formula for calculating the Student Aid Index (SAI) is: COA – SAI = financial need.
  • The new need-analysis formula:
    • removes the number of family members in college from the calculation,
    • allows a minimum SAI of -$1,500,
    • implements separate eligibility determination criteria for Federal Pell Grants based on federal poverty levels and family size.
  • Child support received will be included in assets and not as untaxed income.
  • Families who own a small business/farm that also serves as primary residence will now have assets of that business/farm considered in their need-analysis calculation
What can you do now to prepare?
  • Mark your calendar for December 31, 2023
  • Attend webinars offered by Drake to stay abreast of updates.
  • Review your student email account from Drake State for important messages regarding the new FAFSA application.
  • Gather 2022 tax information for all contributors.
  • Gather information for all contributors so you can send invite to complete their portion of the FAFSA application: legal name, social security number, date of birth, and email address.
  • All contributors must have an FSA id and password.
  • All contributors must sign a consent to share Federal Tax Information. If contributors fail to sign consent, then student will not be eligible to receive a federal Pell grant.
  • Check back often for updates – this is the biggest update to the FAFSA in 40 years! We will update here as more information becomes available

FAQs

Click the questions below for answers to our most asked questions.

Does Drake State offer any scholarships?

Drake State offers a variety of scholarships through the College, industry, and educational partners. The College strives to ensure the information contained here is maintained, but often other opportunities are available through the financial aid office for short term or supplemental programs.

Eligibility requirements

Institutional Scholarship – Academic
This scholarship covers the total cost of tuition and is renewed each semester as long as the student meets GPA and attendance requirements.

Institutional Scholarship – Leadership
This scholarship covers one-half (50 percent) of the cost of tuition and fees and is renewed each semester as long as the student meets GPA and attendance requirements.

Senior Adult Scholarship
This is a state funded tuition waiver available each term to students in attendance who are Alabama residents, 60 years of age or older, and who meet the general admission standards of the institution, any specific admission standards established for a program of study, and any specific admission standards for a course, including prerequisites.

The scholarship/waiver is restricted to credit courses on a space available basis and is limited to tuition only. Required institutional fees and other expenses, including lab fees, books, and supplies, are the responsibility of the student.

What is the Drake State school code?

Drake State Community and Technical College’s School Code is 005260.

What if I can’t pay what I owe?

Students are expected to meet all financial obligations when they become due. Drake State reserves the right to refuse admission or to terminate any student who fails to promptly meet their financial obligations to the College. Tuition and most other fees and expenses are due and payable at the time of registration. All money is handled through the Business Office.

What is the financial aid shopping sheet and how can I access it?

The Financial Aid Federal Shopping Sheet is a consumer tool that Drake State provides to notify students about their financial cost to attend. It is a standardized form that is designed to simplify the information that students receive about costs and financial aid. The shopping sheet generates figures that are estimates only and all tuition rates and fees are subject to change without notice.

  • Drake State’s standard allowance for some expenses may not match your actual costs. Additionally, the shopping sheet does not include any estimates for personal expenses or travel and such expenses may vary greatly based upon personal choices.
  • The shopping sheet does not include some fees that are course-specific (e.g., lab fees, education materials, art supplies, etc.).

All amounts shown on the shopping sheet or in other publications or websites represent tuition and fees as currently approved by the college. However, Drake State reserves the right to modify tuition rates and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students currently enrolled at the college, as well as to incoming students. Students are responsible for all charges billed by the college.

The estimates included in the shopping sheet are not binding on the Secretary of Education, Drake State, The Alabama Community College System, or the State of Alabama.

To view your shopping sheet, access your Web Registration.

  • Select the Financial Aid Tab
  • Select the Federal Shopping Sheet and select the appropriate year.

Below are examples of what you will see when you are an enrolled student and view the Federal Shopping Sheet. These shopping sheets do not necessarily reflect what you will see when you log into your personalized Federal Shopping Sheet in your Web Registration.

How do I review Outstanding Requirements?

Log in to your Self Service Banner and review any Outstanding Requirements that must be resolved. If our records indicate that you have Unsatisfied Requirements then we will be unable to continue processing your request for financial assistance.

What are my responsibilities with Financial Aid?

Students have the responsibility of knowing the requirements of applying for and receiving financial aid. The student must be familiar with the procedures relative to the guidelines affecting financial aid awards and the disbursements. They must also be knowledgeable of the Drake State refund and repayment policies. View data and details at Consumer Information.

Financial Aid Resources

Financial Aid Forms
Consumer Information
Financial Aid TV

Meet the Financial Aid Staff

Jennifer O’Linger
Director of Financial Aid

256-551-3125

Neoka Ivey Hambrick
Veterans Affairs/Financial Aid Clerk

256-551-3127

Bruce Morrison
Financial Aid Clerk

256-551-3113

Marcus Crutcher
Financial Aid Counselor

256-551-7270