Financial Aid

Paying for College

The BC Financial Aid Office can help make your education affordable. Aid may be in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, work-study programs, and/or childcare assistance.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The BC Financial Aid& Scholarhips program provides financial awards to those students who need assistance meeting educational expenses. Students must be enrolled in courses toward an approved degree or certificate program. These awards are based on financial need, scholastic ability, or other qualifications as designated by the donors of the funds.

Applying for Financial Assistance

For information on applying for financial assistance, visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships website at www.brazosport.edu/financialaid or the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office in Room E.101 at Brazosport College, 500 College Drive, Lake Jackson, TX 77566, or speak to a financial aid representative at 979-230-3377.

All students applying for financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. To assure financial aid is awarded prior to the payment due date, a complete financial aid file MUST be in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office by the following dates:

Fall semester - May 1
Fall II semester - May 1
Spring semester - November 1
Spring II semester - November 1
Summer semesters - April 1

Grants

Grants are aid funds that do not have to be paid back by students who qualify and complete their courses. Available grants include Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Texas Public Education Grants, and Texas Educational Opportunity Grants.

Scholarships

Brazosport College offers a variety of scholarships to current and prospective students. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Committee selects recipients for these scholarships. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov as part of the application process; however, eligibility for financial aid is not necessarily a factor in being awarded a scholarship. Students may be enrolled full-time or part-time and must maintain at least an overall 2.0 grade point average.

Additional scholarship information, as well as the online application, is available at http://www.brazosport.edu/scholarships.

To ensure your scholarship application is considered in the first round for the fall semester, a complete scholarship application and FAFSA, if applicable, must be in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office by June 1st of each year, and the student must be enrolled in the semester in which the scholarship is being requested.

Hazlewood Act

Texas residents who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces may have their tuition and fees (except college service fees) waived. Visit www.collegeforalltexans.com or https://www.tvc.texas.gov/education/hazlewood/ for additional information on this exemption program.

The Hazlewood Act will pay for credit classes and community education classes that are funded by the state. All documentation must be filed with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office for review no later than one week prior to the payment deadline.

Hazlewood Legacy Act

Under certain conditions, eligible veterans may assign unused hours of exemption eligibility to a child. Visit https://www/tvc.texas.gov/education/hazlewood/ for additional information on this exemption program. All documentation must be filed with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office for review by one week prior to the payment deadline.

Texas Workforce Commission-Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Students with certain physical disabilities and whose vocational objective has been approved by a Texas Workforce Commission - Vocational Rehabilitation Services representative may apply for tuition assistance through TWC. Application for assistance should be made at the nearest TWS office. For more information, visit https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-youth-students or call 979-297-6400.

Work Force Assistance

Area workforce development agencies are a possible source of assistance: For more information, visit the local office at 206 TX-332 West, Lake Jackson, Texas, or call 979-297-6400.

Childcare Assistance

Students who have completed the financial aid process, including the FAFSA, and are pursuing a certificate or degree at Brazosport College are eligible to apply for assistance in paying for childcare while attending classes at BC. Childcare assistance funds are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To receive childcare assistance, you must comply with the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. Some childcare funding may allow for exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis. Childcare assistance recipients must also meet other requirements indicated in the application packet. For more information, call 979-230-3377.

Loan Funds

Brazosport College encourages students to borrow responsibly and to utilize the various resources that promote skills in budgeting, debt management, and managing repayment. The College is committed to helping students successfully complete their respective degree/certificate program while educating them about the importance of minimizing student loan debt. Such a commitment is vital to meeting our mission.

1. Brazosport College participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The college does not participate in the Parent (PLUS) Loan Program. While attending Brazosport College, qualifying students may borrow the following subsidized amounts:

• Freshman (0-30 earned credit hours) - $3,500
• Sophomore (31-60 earned credit hours) - $4,500

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Technology

• Junior (61-90 earned credit hours) - $5,500
• Senior (over 90 earned credit hours) - $5,500

2. Students may be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans. To determine if you qualify, you must request a separate application available in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. These funds are awarded once eligibility is confirmed, and the application has been processed.
3. Borrowers must meet all eligibility requirements established by the Department of Education and the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) established by Brazosport College. The student’s financial aid file must be accurate and complete before being awarded a student loan.

4. Borrowers must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) each semester and be working towards a degree or certificate.

5. Transfer students who wish to borrow must submit all academic transcripts to the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office from all prior schools attended and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

6. Loans processed before the first day of late registration will be available to students for charges of tuition, fees, and books. The remainder will then be released to students within 14 days after the Official Reporting Date (ORD).

7. All borrowers must complete loan entrance counseling and must electronically sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before funds will be released. Loan entrance counseling can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/.

8. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office reserves the right to refuse to originate a loan or may certify such a loan for a reduced amount. Such decisions are made only on a case-by-case basis and are not part of a pattern or practice that denies access to loans because of a borrower’s race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability status, income, or selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency. The school will notify the borrower in writing of the reason for the decision in such cases and will keep documentation supporting the decision on file.

9. All borrowers MUST complete student loan exit counseling at the end of each loan period, as well as shortly after they completely withdraw, graduate, or drop below half-time status. If student loan counseling is not completed, a hold will be placed on the borrower’s record and the student will not be able to re-enroll, obtain transcripts, or graduate until exit counseling is complete. Loan exit counseling can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/.

10. All borrowers must notify the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office prior to withdrawing from any or all classes as such change may affect financial aid eligibility.

11. Direct loan statutory requirements limit a first-time borrower’s eligibility for direct subsidized loans to a period not to exceed 150 percent of the length of the borrower’s educational program.

12. Any variations of this policy may be appealed to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (www.brazosport.edu/finaid).

Website resources to promote skills in budgeting, debt management, and managing repayment:  www.studentaid.gov

Work-Study Programs

Work-study is a program in which students may work up to 19 hours per week. Jobs such as data entry, lab assistant, library aide, and office aide are available.  Applications are available at www.brazosport.edu.  Completion of FAFSA is required when applying for work-study.

Off-campus employment may be secured through the Career Center at Brazosport College. Jobs are available in many areas that require different degrees of skill. Working hours are usually four to eight hours daily, and employers set their pay rates.

Brazosport College offers cooperative education in many programs for students. Students enrolled in cooperative training are required to work a minimum of 20 hours a week in a job related to their program of study. Those students interested in a co-op program should see the division chair in the department for which co-op training is being considered and may contact Career Services at 979.230.3227 for information.

Satisfactory Academic Progress/Good Standing Policy

Federal regulations require financial aid recipients to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree or certificate and maintain good academic standing. The SAP policy is available for viewing at www.brazosport.edu/SAP.  Aid recipients who fail to meet these criteria may receive financial aid for an additional semester; however, if they are not in good standing or have yet to make satisfactory progress at the end of the semester, aid will be suspended. Transfer students must have all academic transcripts on file.

Refund of Tuition and Fees

Students who officially terminate participation in classes for which they have registered may be eligible for a full or partial refund of tuition and specific mandatory fees. Except in the case of classes canceled by the college, students must complete a drop/withdrawal process through the Registrar’s Office to qualify for a refund.  Mandatory fees that may be refunded include the technology fee, building use fee, student services fee, and laboratory fees.  All credits will be applied to any outstanding balance owed to the college before a refund will be issued.  Refunds are issued by direct deposit to an account designated by the student, direct deposit to the student’s Herring Bank College Green Debit Card, or by check.  Tuition and fees paid directly to the institution by a sponsor, donor, grant, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the student.

Credit Class Drops and Cancellations

When the college cancels a course, students will be refunded 100% of tuition and mandatory fees.

Students who officially drop a course or courses but remain enrolled at the college will have 100% of tuition and mandatory fees refunded during the first twelve class days of the fall (16-week), spring (16-week), or summer (11-week) semesters, the first six class days of the fall, spring, or summer (8-week) semesters, and the first four class days of the summer (6-week) semesters. Afterward, the refund will be a percentage based on the withdrawal table above and the date the course is officially dropped. No refunds for courses dropped after these deadlines.

Student Checklist for Financial Aid

1. Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov.
2. Apply for admission to Brazosport College with all required forms filled out prior to registration.
3. Complete all additional financial aid forms as early as possible (see priority deadlines).
4. Review status on myBC.
5. Read Brazosport College catalog to find refund policies, courses offered, degree plans, registration dates, financial aid priority deadline, tuition, and fees, etc.
6. Notify the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office of any change in address, name, marital status, course load (dropping a class/withdrawing from BC), or financial aid received from any source other than Brazosport College.
7. Reapply for financial aid every October 1 for the upcoming academic year.