Director: Laura Hughes, M.S.
E-mail: lhughes@lcsc.edu
Office: RCH 110
Phone: 208-792-2224
FAX: 208-792-2063
Web: http://www.lcsc.edu/financial-aid/

The financial aid process at LC State is designed to help meet the financial need of all eligible students who are enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The form used for determining financial aid eligibility is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A FAFSA must be filed each year that a student wishes to be considered for aid. The amount of assistance may increase or decrease from one year to the next depending on the financial circumstances of the student and his or her family. All financial aid applicants must use the FAFSA for federal financial aid. Some students may be required to submit tax transcripts and other documentation, if needed, prior to award determination.

Student Financial Aid Cost of Attendance¹

On Campus

Undergraduate Financial Aid

	Idaho Resident	Asotin County	Non Resident
Fees	$8,226	$13,080	$23,938
Housing	$4,768	$4,768	$4,768
Food	$7,138	$7,138	$7,138
Books and Supplies	$1,570	$1,570	$1,570
Transportation	$2,936	$2,936	$2,936
Personal Expenses	$1,986	$1,986	$1,986
Loan Fees	$60	$60	$60
Yearly Total	$26,684	$31,538	$42,396

Off Campus

Undergraduate Financial Aid

	Idaho Resident	Asotin County	Non Resident
Fees	$8,226	$13,080	$23,938
Housing	$6,082	$6,082	$6,082
Food	$6,780	$6,780	$6,780
Books and Supplies	$1,570	$1,570	$1,570
Transportation	$2,936	$2,936	$2,936
Personal Expenses	$1,986	$1,986	$1,986
Loan Fees	$60	$60	$60
Yearly Total	$27,640	$32,494	$43,352

Graduate Students (on campus)

Graduate Financial Aid

	Idaho Resident	Non Idaho Resident
Fees	$11,118	$27,492
Housing	$4,768	$4,768
Food	$7,138	$7,138
Books and Supplies	$1,570	$1,570
Transportation	$2,936	$2,936
Personal Expenses	$1,986	$1,986
Loan Fees	$64	$64
Yearly Total	$29,580	$45,954

¹

These are estimated figures for Financial Aid Office purposes and awarding. Additional budget information is available on the Financial Aid webpage (https://www.lcsc.edu/financial-aid). For actual fees/costs contact the Student Accounts Office.

Student financial assistance programs include out-of-state tuition scholarships and waivers, scholarships, Federal Direct Student Loans, Federal Nursing Loans, Federal, State and Institutional Work-Study Programs, Federal Pell Grants, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. The basic criteria for selecting financial aid recipients is the student's financial need. Scholastic standing is also criterion for scholarships and waivers. Students receiving financial aid must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and be making normal academic progress toward that degree or certificate as detailed in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Priority in the granting of campus based financial aid is given to full-time undergraduate (12 credits per term) academic and technical students.

An application for financial assistance must be received by the Federal Processor by March 1 to ensure priority consideration for financial aid. Please note that applications will be considered a priority only when both the FAFSA and all admission material have been submitted to LC State by March 1 and any requested documents are submitted to the Financial Aid Office by April 30. Application materials received after the priority service date will receive full consideration, but only to the extent that financial aid funds are available after initial awards have been determined. Awards are granted for one academic year. Determination of subsequent eligibility requires the completion of a renewal application each academic year. A full copy of student rights and responsibilities, financial aid brochures and applications may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or viewed at www.lcsc.edu/financial-aid.

Students may pursue more than one degree simultaneously. Completion of a baccalaureate degree has an extreme effect on student’s aid eligibility. Students pursuing more than one baccalaureate degree must see the Financial Aid Director and the Registrar BEFORE making this decision.

Federal law says the student must be making “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP) toward a degree for the student to be eligible to receive federal financial aid funds. These standards apply to all students receiving federal financial aid funds, regardless of enrollment intensity or program, and to all periods of attendance, even periods when the student did not receive financial aid.

1. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA). We only look at the student's LC State grade point average for this standard. The student's financial aid GPA includes all LC State-graded courses, including repeat, academically forgiven, and remedial courses. The student's financial aid GPA may differ from their transcript GPA.
2. Students must earn passing grades in at least 67% of credits listed on the transcript, including transfer credits. Incompletes, repeated credits, withdrawals, audits, and grades of F, NC, and K do not count as passing grades but are included in the completion rate calculation. Withdrawals resulting in a grade of W will also be included in the completion rate calculation.
3. Students may only receive aid for their degrees for up to 150% of the published required credits of the academic program*. Attempted credits include all graded courses, transfer credits, testing credits, pass/fails, repeats, and other grades listed above. If the student has extenuating circumstances (such as injury, illness, or death of an immediate family member), the student may appeal to the Financial Aid Office for an extension to finish their degree. Please visit with the Financial Aid Office to pick up the appropriate appeal form. The student may not appeal for an extension until the student has been officially suspended from financial aid.

*Post-baccalaureate (PB) students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, complete at least 67% of all courses attempted, and complete their second degree within the allowable number of credits. The completion rate is calculated on the courses attempted as a PB student. The number of allowable credits for maximum credit determination is ninety-six (96) after your baccalaureate degree. PB students are not eligible for federal financial aid toward certificate or associate degree programs.

Attempted credits do not include classes the student drops before the end of the add/drop period each semester. If the student drops some of their classes before the end of the add/drop period, they will not count against the student's academic progress. However, changes in the student's enrollment intensity will impact their financial aid eligibility. Dropping or withdrawing from classes after the end of the add/drop period will affect the student's academic progress, and they will receive a W grade on their transcript.

Students who receive all failing grades for a semester will be automatically suspended from further federal financial aid. Students in this situation may appeal if extenuating circumstances exist. Additionally, if the student receives all failing grades the student may be required to return a percentage of their federal financial aid.

Withdrawing from all of their classes after the end of the add/drop period will affect their academic progress, and the student will receive W grades on their transcript. Students who withdraw from all classes will be automatically suspended from further federal financial aid. Additionally, if the student completely withdraws from LC State during the course of a semester, the student may be required to return a percentage of their federal financial aid.

Incomplete courses will be counted in attempted credits and as non-satisfactory when determining SAP. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office when an incomplete is finished. Refer to the LC State catalog for the academic treatment of incomplete courses and grading.

Repeat courses will be counted in attempted and completed credits. Financial aid will pay for repeat courses when the initial grade is an “F.” Financial aid will only pay twice for a repeat course if the course has been passed with a “D” or higher at any time.

Remedial coursework will be counted in determining financial aid eligibility, enrollment status, and satisfactory academic progress. These courses will initially be included in maximum timeframe calculations. Exclusions may be considered in some cases. Remedial courses do not count toward the total number of credits needed for graduation. Students will be limited to no more than thirty (30) remedial credits for financial aid eligibility.

The student's academic record will be reviewed when their annual FAFSA form is received, and at the end of each semester, to determine whether they are in compliance with the SAP policy, including maximum credits. If the student is not in compliance with the SAP Policy at the time of review, the student will be sent an email notification.

The first time the student does not meet the completion rate (67%) or their cumulative GPA drops below the required minimum (2.0) they will be placed on Financial Aid Warning if they can mathematically regain compliance the next semester. If the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning at the end of a semester, they will still be eligible for financial aid for the following semester. Financial Aid Warning is not the same as Academic Probation as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

The student's academic record will be reviewed when their annual FAFSA form is received, and at the end of each semester, to determine whether they are in compliance with the SAP policy, including maximum credits. If the student does not meet all SAP requirements during the review, they will be suspended. Financial Aid Suspension is not the same as Academic Suspension as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

In the case of extenuating circumstances (such as injury, illness, or death of an immediate family member); the student may appeal their suspension to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal forms must be signed by the student and their advisor and be submitted with a letter of explanation and supporting documentation detailing the circumstances preventing the student from making Satisfactory Academic Progress or completing within allowable credit limits, how the issues have been resolved, and how the issues will not affect future performance. Appeal forms may be picked up from the Financial Aid Office, or obtained online at the LC State Financial Aid Forms webpage. If the student's appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation or on a Satisfactory Academic Progress Plan. Satisfactory Academic Progress Plans specify the conditions the student must meet to continue receiving federal financial aid. The student may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs or see Regain Financial Aid Eligibility below if their appeal is denied.

If the student's appeal is unsuccessful, they can request reinstatement of their eligibility for financial aid if they attend using other resources than Title IV funds, and improve their academic record before they make this request. The student must meet all SAP requirements (67% completion rate, 2.0 GPA, and within maximum allowable credits). The student will need to submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office requesting a review of their financial aid eligibility. If the student successfully appeals, see Financial Aid Probation or Satisfactory Academic Progress Plans below.

If the student has a successful financial appeal and is placed on an academic plan, they are on Financial Aid Probation. The student will have one or more semesters to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress. If at the end of their plan, they are not in good standing, the student will not be eligible for further financial aid until they are able to regain eligibility as stated above. Financial Aid Probation is not the same as Academic Probation as referred to in the Registrar and Records section of the LC State catalog.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Plans

If the student is placed on a Satisfactory Academic Progress Plan after a successful appeal, they are placed on Financial Aid Probation. The student will have the number of semesters specified on the approved plan to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Each semester the student will need to pass ALL the listed courses with a 2.0 GPA or higher. If at any time the student does not meet the terms of the plan or if at the end of the plan, they are not in good standing, the student will not be eligible for further financial aid until they are able to regain eligibility.

LC Work Scholars

LC Work Scholars is a program unique to Lewis-Clark State College.  Designed to reduce student loan debt, Work Scholars (students) graduate from the program with valuable work experience and professional skills in addition to their degree or certificate. Tuition scholarships as well as stipends are awarded to highly motivated individuals who demonstrate academic success as well as financial need. Additionally, students may earn internship credit for their Work Scholars experience.  Work Scholars are incorporated into community and campus workforces at assigned placement sites where they build and practice workplace skills in communication, problem solving, time management, accountability and adaptability. By purposefully integrating work experience and community service into the traditional academic environment, the LC Work Scholars program helps students build a pathway to real world success while reducing the financial burden of higher education. Students interested in becoming a Work Scholar should click on the Interested Students Link.