Philosophy
Florida Keys Community College prides itself on its personal approach to helping students and their families plan to meet the costs of attending college. The Financial Aid Office operates with the utmost concern for the student. Students who qualify for financial aid can attend Florida Keys Community College with a variety of resources from institutional, state, federal, and other public and private agencies. All students interested in Financial Aid are encouraged to apply as early as possible and to contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
How to Apply
Students applying for any type of financial assistance (including scholarships) are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is available in January for the next academic year and may be obtained from your high school guidance counselor or any college or university nation-wide. The application may also be completed and submitted via the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All students who are filing for FAFSA need to complete the Florida Financial Aid Application at the following website: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
When completing the FAFSA, be sure to include Florida Keys Community College in the Information Release section of the form. Our Federal School Code is 001485.
Completed FAFSAs are submitted directly to the Federal processing agency, which processes the application and then forwards the information to Florida Keys Community College and to you in the form of a Student Aid Report. Determination of eligibility for all forms of Title IV financial aid offered at Florida Keys Community College are determined by the Department of Education.
Florida Keys Community College will consider applications for financial aid at any time throughout the year but, priority is given to processed applications received by the beginning of the applicable term. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for dates.
It is important to note that students must reapply each academic year for financial aid.
How Eligibility is Determined
After your application is processed and the information is received by Florida Keys Community College, the college determines your budget (an estimate of your expenses as a student at Florida Keys Community College), your family contribution (the amount your family can be expected to contribute toward those expenses) and your need (the maximum amount of financial aid for which you can qualify). Your family contribution is subtracted from your budget to determine your level of need.
If you apply for aid simultaneously at several colleges, your family contribution should remain the same at each institution. Your budget would vary, as would your need; the higher the budget the greater your need.
Students receiving any form of financial aid should report to the Financial Aid Office during the registration process.
Students holding an earned bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university are eligible for loans and CWSP only, not federal grant money.
Reimbursement of Charges
Students that are deemed eligible after the normal registration period that have paid for their classes using some other means will be reimbursed for their educational expenses up to the amount of the award after 60% of the term has been completed by the student.
Grant Programs
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
FSEOG is a need-based federal grant awarded to undergraduates seeking a first undergraduate degree in an eligible program who have demonstrated exceptional financial need as determined by the results of the FAFSA. The award amount at Florida Keys Community College is up to $500 per term. Priority is given to students with an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of zero who apply for financial aid early. Students must enroll for a minimum of six credit hours in order to qualify. FSEOG is awarded within two weeks after the close of our regular drop/add period of each term. Limited funding is available each year for this program, and funds are available on a first come first served basis. The award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based federal grant for students seeking their first undergraduate degree. Financial need is determined by the estimated family contribution (EFC) from the student's processed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The annual award amount is determined by the EFC and enrollment status and award amounts may range from $400 to $4050. By Federal Regulation, all students who are enrolled and establish eligibility will be funded. Students may receive funding only for courses that are required for the program(s) of study and a maximum of 30 credit hours of required college-preparatory coursework. Students must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The final Pell award will be determined by the number of hours enrolled 60% into the term. If a student's enrollment status changes before 60% of the term, but after the date of withdrawal with a 100% refund, the Pell award will decrease accordingly. The student will then owe Florida Keys Community College for the dropped course(s) and any lab fee or book charges not covered by the adjusted Pell award. All Pell students are advised to speak with a financial aid staff person prior to dropping a course.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant is a federal grant program. The program was available for the first time for the 2007-08 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The high school graduation dates will update according to the current academic year. The grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who successfully completed a rigorous high school program as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. The State of Florida Bright Futures Program is considered a rigorous high school program. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 during their first year of college. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
If you can answer YES to all of the following questions, you may potentially be eligible to receive an Academic competitiveness Grant. See the Director of Financial Aid to determine final eligibility and disbursement.
1. Are you a U.S. Citizen?
2. Did you graduate from high school after January 1, 2005?
3. Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
4. Will you be enrolled as a full-time first or second year student in a two-year or four-year degree program?
5. Did you complete a rigorous high program as determined by your state?
If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant. However, you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid by applying with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
FSAG is a need-based State of Florida program for students who meet Florida residency requirement. To qualify, you must be seeking your first undergraduate degree, be enrolled in an AA or AS degree program, qualify for a Pell grant, and be enrolled for a minimum of six credits per term. The amount awarded for part-time, three quarter time, and full-time enrollment is determined by the State of Florida on an annual basis. FSAG is awarded by Florida Keys Community College within two weeks after the close of the regular drop/add period each term. Initial eligibility is determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FSAG is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
Work Programs
Federal College Workstudy Program (CWS)
The College Work Study Program is a federal work program for students with financial need. You may be employed on one of our campuses, or as a reading tutor in a public school. As a work study employee, you may work from a minimum of eight hours per week to a maximum of 20 hours per week, and earn at least minimum wage up to the amount of your financial need. Actual job placement is dependent upon your educational objectives, prior work skills, and the availability of work-study positions. Eligibility is determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and you must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits per term. Students must request participation in the College Work Study Program through the Financial Aid Office.
Student Loans
All Florida Keys Community College Students are eligible to participate in the Federal Family education Loan Programs (FFELP). There are three categories of loans under the FFELP: Subsidized Stafford loans, Unsubsidized Stafford loans and the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Dependent Students (PLUS). All applicants must apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A separate Federal Stafford Loan Application Request available in the Financial Aid office must also be completed. An Entrance Counseling session must be completed each year and the Master Promissory Note must be completed every ten. All loan recipients must submit an Attendance Verification Form prior to disbursement of any loan funds. Please see the Financial Aid department for further detail.
Loan Programs
Subsidized Stafford Loan
The interest on all Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans is subsidized by the federal government as long as the student is enrolled in a minimum of six credits and not on financial aid suspension. All loan recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits each term of disbursement and must be participating in a minimum of six credits at the time of disbursement. Students with less than thirty credits at the time of application may borrow up to $2625 per year or the amount of unmet financial need, whichever is less. Students with more than thirty credits at the time of application may borrow up to $3500 per year or the amount of unmet financial need, whichever is less. Repayment begins six months (grace period) after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below six credits during the term of disbursement. The subsidized Stafford loan requires financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
All students must first complete the FAFSA in order to determine of there is financial need. If there is not financial need, the student may apply for an unsubsidized Stafford loan. The government does NOT pay the interest during enrollment or during the grace period; interest will accrue on this loan while in school and during the grace period. All loan recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits each term of disbursement and must be participating in a minimum of sic credits at the time of disbursement. The student must repay the loan and all accrued interest and current interest beginning six months after graduation, leaving school, or dropping below six credits. Dependent students with less than thirty credits at the time of application may borrow up to $2625 per year in combined subsidized and unsubsidized loans, not to exceed the cost of education less other financial aid. Students with thirty or more credits at the time of application may borrow up to $3500 per year in combined subsidized and unsubsidized loans, not to exceed the cost of education less other financial aid. Independent students may also borrow an additional $4000, not to exceed the cost of education less other financial aid.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Dependent Students
Parents of dependent students may borrow on behalf of the student. Income is not considered, but a credit check is completed and the parent(s) may not have adverse credit. The student must first apply for other types of aid by completing the FAFSA. All loan recipients must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits each term of disbursement and must be participating in a minimum of six credits at the time of disbursement. Loan amounts must not exceed the cost of education less other financial aid. Parent loans must be repaid over a 10-year period with interest beginning 60 days after disbursement.
Student Loan Receivables
Students eligible to receive a Federal Family Education Loan (with completed files and loan applications) will receive a deferment of the cost of tuition and fees only. All book charges will be the responsibility of the student. Upon receipt of the loan proceeds, the deferred tuition and fees will be paid and any remaining balance will be refunded to the student. The deferred tuition and fees will continue to be the responsibility of the student even if the loan proceeds do not arrive for any reason during the term. The student will not be allowed to register in future terms until the charges have been paid in full.
Scholarship Programs
Academic Excellence and Board of Trustees Scholarships
These two scholarships are offered to the senior classes of Monroe County
high schools each year. These scholarships are awarded for one
calendar year commencing August of the recipient’s high school
graduation year and ending August of the next year. The scholarship
will be renewed the next calendar year if all guidelines have been
met and funding allows. Academic Excellence scholarships are offered
to the top 5% of the graduating class and Board of Trustee scholarships
are application based. Monroe County seniors should consult their
high school guidance counselors for application procedures. Must be
a FLORIDA resident.
The First Generation in College Scholarship Program
The First Generation Scholarship Program is available to under graduate students who meet Florida residency requirement and whose parents have not earned baccalaureate degree, or any student who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent who did not complete a baccalaureate degree. Scholarships are awarded for Fall and Spring semesters, and students may apply with the Office of Financial Aid each semester. The application deadlines are: Fall Semester: June 8th, Spring Semester: October 20th. Awards are given according to credit enrollment status as follows:
- Full time students: $1,000 per semester
- 3/4 time students: $750 per semester
- 1/2 time students: $500 per semester
- 1/4 time students: $250 per semester
Students are selected by the First Generation in College Scholarship Committee based on certain award criteria. The award criteria and application may be accessed through the Florida Keys Community College website. All applicants are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program is awarded to Florida high school graduates who complete a rigorous program of study. Awards are issued by the state of Florida directly to the eligible student. The program has three levels:
- Florida Academic Scholars Award: This award pays 100% of college-level tuition plus up to a $300 book allowance (prorated), requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA to renew.
- Florida Medallion Scholarship Award: This award pays 100% of college-level tuition plus up to a $300 book allowance (prorated for less than full time), and requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA to renew.
- Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award: This award pays 75% of vocational program tuition, and requires a 2.75 cumulative GPA to renew.
Renewal each year also requires completion of a least six credit hours of college-level coursework each term. Applications and eligibility criteria for each program are available form the high school guidance office or from the Florida Department of Education website: floridastudentfinancialaid.org.
Other Scholarships
Other sources include the Natalie Shein Art Scholarship and the Russell
F. Sullivan Memorial Law Enforcement Scholarship. All are awarded
annually. Interested applicants should contact the Financial
Aid Office for eligibility criteria.
There are various private scholarships that may be used to attend Florida Keys Community College. If you are a recipient of a private scholarship(s), please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid Standards of Academic Progress
As part of the continued eligibility criteria for financial aid recipients, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards a specified degree established by Federal, State, and Institutional policies and regulations. Below are the three criteria used each term to determine financial aid status.
- Incremental Measures of Satisfactory Academic Progress
Incremental progress measures the number of courses completed versus the number of courses enrolled per term. All withdrawals, repetitions, and remedial courses will be considered in the number of courses enrolled. An incomplete grade will not be counted as a completed course (it is the responsibility of the student to inform the financial aid office of any change to an incomplete grade). Non-credit courses will not be counted for federal financial aid. All financial aid recipients must complete 67% of their courses per term. For example, if a student is registered for three courses and successfully completes two, that student has satisfied the incremental progress measure by completing 67% of the courses. However, if a student is registered for two classes and only successfully completes one, that student has not satisfied the incremental progress measure since only 50% of the courses were successfully completed.
- Qualitative Progress
Qualitative progress is the measure of the term grade point average. All financial aid recipients must earn a minimum term grade point average of 2.0. All remedial and college-level course-work completed in a term will be counted toward the term grade point average. Incomplete and failing grades will be included in the calculation as zero point. All periods and courses in which the student did not receive financial aid funds will also be counted. Non-credit or continuing education course (including English as a Second Language) will not be counted toward the term grade point average for any federal student aid.
- Qualitative Progress
Federal Regulations require that "an undergraduate student must complete his or her program in a period no longer than 150% of the School's published program length" Therefore, per Federal Regulations, the quantitative progress is an evaluation of the total number of academic hours attempted. Students are allowed a maximum of 110 credit hours to earn a degree; this represents 150% of normal completion of 73 credit hours. Once 150% of the required credit hours have been attempted, the student will no longer be eligible for Federal, State, or Institutional financial aid. All remedial and college-level course-work attempted at Florida Keys community college and earned credits from a previous institution will be included in the evaluation. Also included, are periods and courses in which the student did not receive financial aid. If a student changes their major, Florida Keys Community College will not include in the calculation of a student's quantitative progress the credits attempted and grades earned that do not count toward the student’s new major.
| Enrollment Status | Percentage to Complete | Maximum Load Hours |
| Full-time12 load hours or more | 67% | 110 |
| 3/4 time 9-11 load hours | 67% | 110 |
| 1/2 time 6-8 load hours | 67% | 110 |
| Less than 1/2 time | 67% | 110 |
Financial Aid Probation
Realizing that a student's academic career may experience occasional
hardships, a one-term probation is provided to those financial aid students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress criteria. In order to be removed from Financial Aid Probation, the
student must register for a minimum of six credits and receive a 2.0
or better term GPA. Should the student register for less than six credits,
he/she will remain on probation until such time that they do so. In
addition, should the student register for six credits and fail to achieve
the required 2.0 term GPA, he/she will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
Financial Aid Suspension
Should the student fail to meet the requirements for reinstatement under
Financial Aid Probation or make a 0.0 GPA for any term they will immediately
enter into Financial Aid Suspension. At this point, all Federal, State
and institutional funding will cease for the succeeding term of enrollment,
including all student loan programs. In order to be removed from
Financial Aid Suspension, the student must register for a minimum of
six credits at their own expense and receive a 2.0 or better term GPA. Should
the student register for less than six credits, he/she will remain on
suspension until such time that they complete a total of six (6) credits
with at least a 2.0 GPA. Reinstatement will not be retroactive.
Appeal Process
Should the student feel that there are unusual circumstances related
to their failure to meet the above satisfactory progress standards,
they may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee for possible reinstatement.
The Financial Aid Suspension Appeal form includes instructions on proper documentation and is available in the Financial Aid office at the Key West Main Campus.
A student may be granted one appeal during his/her educational career at FKCC. Any student wishing to appeal the decision of the Financial Aid Director may do so in writing to the Dean of Student Affairs.
All audited course-work (a grade of "X") will not be used in the determination of financial aid awards. In addition, enrolled students may not change their registration status to an audit once the financial aid has been determined.
Reasons for Scholarships or Grant Repayment
The following actions will require repayment of any grants or scholarships you have received including money that has been used for tuition/fees, books and supplies and living expenses.
- You register for classes and you do not attend one or all of your
class(es), and you do not drop your class(es) during add/drop.
You will be required to repay any grants and/or scholarships you received
due to reduced eligibility.
- You register for a class and change from credit to audit. You
will be required to repay any grants and/or scholarships you received
due to reduced eligibility.
- You register for classes and drop all of your classes during add/drop,
but you purchased books and/or supplies using a scholarship or grant
and you did not return them to the bookstore. You will be required
to repay any grants and/or scholarships you received due to reduced
eligibility.
- You receive a grant or scholarship that required full-time attendance
and you have a class cancelled, you never attend a class, or you change
from credit to audit and your credit hours are less than 12. You will
be required to repay any grants and/or scholarships you received due
to reduced eligibility.
- You completely withdraw prior to completing 60 percent of a term and you received federal aid.
Return of the Title IV Funds
The following rule applies only to those students who withdraw from ALL Classes.
If you are a recipient of Title IV Federal Financial Aid funds (excluding Federal College Work Study) and are considering withdrawing from ALL classes prior to completing more than 60% of the term, your eligibility for aid will be recalculated based on the percent of the term completed. This may result in your having to return a portion or all of the aid that you have received. In addition, if you STOP attending all of your classes prior to completing more than 60% of the term, and/or if your transcript reflects unsuccessful completion of all courses, this will be considered an unofficial withdrawal. Your financial aid eligibility will be calculated based on 50% of the term completed, unless documentation of an academic related activity (defined by the instructor) is provided to the financial aid office, in which case your financial aid eligibility will be calculated using this later date.
The above rule does not apply to students who successfully complete AT LEAST ONE COURSE in an enrollment period. If the student finds that they are unable to complete all courses, every effort should be made to successfully complete at least one course. In so doing, the student will preserve the funds they have received. The student should work closely with their academic advisor to work out a course load that they can successfully complete each term.
Contact the Financial Aid Office immediately to learn how your withdrawal or lack of attendance could impact your financial aid. Students will not be eligible to register for future terms until all financial obligations are paid in full.
Title IV aid includes the following programs at FKCC:
- Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
- Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans
- Federal PLUS Loans
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal SEOG Grants
- Federal Academic Competiveness Grant (ACG)
Military Assistance
Veterans Education
Florida Keys Community College is approved for the training of entitled
veterans who can qualify for such training under current federal laws.
Persons with military service are urged to investigate their educational
rights. Contact
the Senior Registration Specialist in the Office of Enrollment Services
for more information.
Military Tuition Assistance
Active duty military personnel may be eligible to receive tuition assistance
subsidized by the military. For full details students should
contact their Education Office.