Federal Aid Programs
Grants
Pell Grants and SEOG Grants
The Federal Pell Grant Program and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (SEOG) provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Pell Grants are entitlements that are available to all who qualify. SEOG grants are based on first-come, first-served with the greatest amount of financial need.
Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC) as calculated by completing the FAFSA; the cost of attendance (as determined by Compton College); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less. Students may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
Financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine the family EFC.
The fundamental elements in this standard formula are the student's income (and assets if the student is independent), the parents' income and assets (if the student is dependent), the family's household size, and the number of family members (excluding parents) attending postsecondary institutions.
The EFC is the sum of: (1) a percentage of net income (remaining income after subtracting allowances for basic living expenses and taxes) and (2) a percentage of net assets (assets remaining after subtracting an asset protection allowance). Different assessment rates and allowances are used for dependent students, independent students without dependents, and independent students with dependents. After filing a FAFSA, the student receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), or the institution receives an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), which notifies the student if he or she is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and/or SEOG Grant and provides the student's EFC.
Loans
An educational loan is a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. Grants, scholarships, work-study and other forms of gift aid typically cover the full cost of an education at Compton College. However, some students find that they must supplement their savings with student loans. To apply for a Federal Direct Loan, students must complete a mandatory loan entrance counseling session. Students must contact the Financial Aid Office or visit the College website for application procedures.
Community colleges remain an affordable option for students. Loan debt and increasing loan default rates are concerning for Financial Aid Offices due to the impact it can have on the institution. As a result, the Compton College Financial Aid Office has adopted the following loan procedures for student borrowers. These procedures were implemented due to increasing student loan debt for graduates who eventually earn a BA/BS degree. Therefore, Compton College Financial Aid has a strict policy on established loan limits to (1) help students minimize debt, (2) help students keep aggregate loan eligibility available for when they transfer to four-year institutions, and (3) help improve financial literacy and responsibility so that future economic hardships and credit damage can be prevented.
The Compton College Financial Aid Office strongly discourages students to borrow loans without first discussing their options with a Financial Aid Coordinator. Additionally, there are strictly enforced loan eligibility requirements at Compton College:
- Borrower must attend one Mandatory loan workshop per academic year
- Borrowers must have 2024-2025 Financial Aid Awards must be finalized to apply for a Federal Direct Loan.
- No credit check or cosigner required to qualify.
- Total loan debt (all institutions attended, past and present) cannot exceed $12,750 (dependent students) or $19,000 (independent students). Only students admitted to competitive Health Sciences programs may petition our loan maximum and request additional funding. Otherwise, these maximums are strictly enforced for all other majors and/or certificate programs at Compton College.
- Borrowers must have and maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average.
- Borrowers must be enrolled in at least 6-degree applicable units in an eligible program of study at Compton College. Wait listed courses do not count.
- Must be in Good Standing based on the FA Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards and did not have to appeal.
- The maximum amount for one semester will be one half (1/2) of the annual loan limit.
As a last resort to assist with your college costs, the Direct Loan program offers
lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than most consumer loans, making
them an attractive way to finance your education instead of high interest credit cards.
You can also deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest even if you don't itemize
deductions on your income tax return.
Students who complete the necessary paperwork and meet all eligibility requirements
will be invited to attend one of our Federal Direct Student Loan workshops.
Steps to Attend Loan Workshop:
1.Complete an on-line multi-year Master Promissory Note at: www.studentloans.gov
2.Complete Entrance Counseling on-line at: www.studentloans.gov
3.Email proof of completion documents to kmcthirsty1@compton.edu
Here is a quick overview of Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Here is a quick overview of Direct Subsidized Loans
Here is a quick overview of Federal Direct Plus Loan
Unsubsidized Loan Categories
Students with No Need
Students with no need and who do not qualify for the Subsidized Loan may be eligible for:
- Up to $3,500 per year - 1st year student
- Up to $4,500 per year - 2nd year student
- Students can use the regular loan request form to apply for this Unsubsidized loan
- No other special action or process needed by student
- Dependent students with a Rejected FAFSA because parents did not or will not provide their information
- May borrow up to $2,000 per year
- Students can use the regular loan request form to apply for this Unsubsidized loan
Dependent students can only qualify if their parents cannot borrow a PLUS loan due to various situations
- May borrow up to $2,000 per year
- Students must complete Supplemental Loan Counseling and meet all other eligibility criteria
- 1st year student does not qualify due to Experimental Site Initiative
- May borrow up to $6,000 per year
Alternative Loans
Alternative loans are private loans that you borrow through a lending institution and are not part of the federal government programs. Alternative loans are more expensive than the federal government Direct Loans and should only be used when all other options have been exhausted. Most lenders do credit checks in order for you to qualify for a loan.
In addition to completing the Alternative Loan application, you will also need to complete a FAFSA application before our office can certify an Alternative Loan application. We take into consideration all other aid you are eligible for including the Federal Direct Subsidized loan and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, if eligible.
Be sure to research all possibilities for scholarships, grants, Work Study, and federal loan programs before borrowing from an alternative loan program. You are always free to choose the lender of your choice. Choose the loan that best suits your needs and remember to borrow only what you need!
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC)
Counseling options:
- Discuss options for manageable repayment
- Learn important facts about forbearance and deferment
- Access your balance and know your servicer
- Discover best practices to manage your loans
- Guidance if you fall behind on payments or are nearing default
- Financial literacy resources
- For more information visit ECMC website
Work Study
The Federal Work-Study Program is funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. Under the program, grants are provided to institutions to create job openings for eligible students. Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for undergraduate students with financial need allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student's course of study. The program is administered on the Compton College campus by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with federal regulations and Compton Community College District Guidelines.
1. How to Apply for Federal Work Study
Students interested in applying for the Federal Work Study program must fill out a
work-study interest form by visiting the Financial Aid Office. All Federal Work Study
jobs are coordinated by the Financial Aid Office and various campus departments. These
positions are subject to change depending on the needs of the campus and amount of
funding available.
2. Student Eligibility Criteria and Determination of Need
Under Federal regulations, a student may be selected for employment under the Federal
Work-Study Program only if he/she meets all of the following requirements:
a. Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units.
b. A U.S. citizen, or in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose with the intention
of becoming a permanent resident.
c. Have met the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards in Good Standing and
you do not have to submit a financial aid appeal for any reason.
d. In need of earnings from such employment in order to pursue a course of study at
the institution.
e. Students must be eligible for a Pell Grant to qualify for Work Study at Compton
College.
In determining a student's financial need, the Financial Aid Office utilizes the FAFSA form submitted by the student. The budget includes tuition (if out-of-state), fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses. The student's resources are then subtracted from his/her total budget. The resulting figure is the total amount of aid for which the student is eligible.
3. Notification of Students
Students who have requested Federal Work Study and have been granted funds will be
notified by email.
4. The Hiring Process
Employment begins and ends in the Financial Aid Office, students must receive a referral
form from the financial aid office before discussing any employment possibilities
with any department.
Requirements:
1. Attend a Work-Study Workshop (Provide Student ID and Name)
2. Student will be contacted via MyCompton (Provide Resume, Receive Invite for Interviews
with Work Study Coordinator)
3. Students who pass on the initial interview process will interview with Department
Supervisors.
4. Once hired, notify Work-Study Coordinator via email of the hiring department.
(The student will then receive an invitation to complete the hiring package and undergo
the live scan process).
5. Rate of Pay, Allocation, Hours
All Federal Work-Study students are paid at a rate consistent with current student
assistant wages established by the District and based upon the level of the skills
required for each position. Rate increases are determined by the increasingly advanced
skills required to perform the job (upon approval by the Financial Aid Office), not
by the length of time the student has been employed.
A student's Work-Study Allocation is for one year beginning July 1st for returning
students, the first day of the fall semester for new students, and ending June 30th
for all students. Returning or continuing students must be rehired each year and may
not continue working after June 30th until they have been awarded or rehired.
If you have any question, please contact:
Fernando Masias,
Financial Aid Coordinator
Federal Work-Study, Outreach
Phone :310-900-1600 ext.2932
Email: fmasis@compton.edu
Scholarships
It takes time and energy to conduct a successful scholarship search, but it is well worth the effort when you are awarded a scholarship to help fund your higher education.
- Check with your high school counselor
- Check with your parent's employer or organizations with which they are affiliated
- Check with organizations and businesses within your community
- Check with your college or university financial aid and/or scholarship office
- Surf the web
Types of Scholarships
Merit plus Need Scholarships: Awards based on academic performance, personal achievement, and financial need.
Be Cautious of Scholarship Scams
- If you are required to pay money to get a scholarship
- If you are guaranteed win a scholarship
- If they say, "everyone is eligible" or "free money"
- If you are contacted for a scholarship you never applied for
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
For more information on scholarship scams, visit: http://www.finaid.org/finaid/scams.html.
