A+ Scholarship Program
How do I receive A+ at East Central College?
- Be a United States citizen or permanent resident
- Request Official High School Transcript with A+ seal to be sent to ECC
- Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov; ECC’s Federal School Code is 008862
- Be seeking a certificate or degree at ECC
- Sign ECC’s A+ Agreement Form
- Enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours – fall and/or spring; 6 or more credit hours – summer)
What will A+ Scholarship pay for?
- In-district and out-of-district tuition (2024-2025 max rate $215.00 per credit hour)
- Common Fees
- Support Service Fee
- Technology Fee
- Activity Fee
- Facility Fee
- Security Fee
What costs are not covered by A+ Scholarships?
- Books
- Special Fees
- Examples: lab fees, online fees, music fees
- Repeat Courses
- Dropped Courses
- Courses that are NOT needed for your ECC degree
How long does A+ Scholarship last?
- 48 months from high school graduation
- Upon receipt of an associate degree
- Upon completion of 105% of the credit hours required for the program in which you are currently enrolled
The 105% calculation will not include: credit hours earned before high school graduation.
105% Example: If an associate degree requires 60 credit hours 105% of 60 = 63 credit hours (Therefore, once the student completes 63 hours, they will no longer be eligible for A+ funding).
How do I maintain A+ eligibility?
Eligibility is reviewed at the end of each semester.
To maintain A+:
- Complete 12 or more credit hours in Fall and Spring semesters, 6 credit hours in the Summer
- If you are part-time due to a documented disability or approved by an advisor as taking the only hours available for that semester, then whatever hours enrolled at the beginning of the semester is what must be completed to be considered for A+ the next semester
- Must maintain cumulative 2.0 grade point average after the Fall (initial) semester and a cumulative 2.5 or higher grade point average each subsequent semester to continue receiving benefits.
- If the student’s “initial” semester is the Spring semester, then the cumulative grade point average must be 2.5 or higher every semester to continue receiving benefits.
What FAFSA should I complete?
2024-2025 FAFSA covers:
Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 semesters
What happens if I drop a class?
- You must remain enrolled full-time thru the 100% tuition refund point of the semester. If you drop below full-time before reaching the 100% tuition refund point, then you will be responsible for your entire bill.
- If you drop coursework after the 100% tuition refund point of the semester, then you will be responsible to pay for courses dropped when you are still meeting the full-time enrollment requirement.
- Example: Start semester with 15 credit hours, student drops 3 credit hours. Student is responsible for 3 credit hours dropped and A+ will pay for 12 credit hours that are still being attended.
- You must complete 12 credit hours or more to satisfy the full-time course completion requirement (6 credit hours in the summer). If you drop below the full-time course completion requirement, you will be ineligible for your next semester of attendance.
- If you do a complete withdrawal during your semester of eligibility then, A+ will pay for withdrawn coursework but then you will become ineligible the following semester.
- Example: Student is enrolled in 12 credit hours and does a complete withdrawal. A+ will pay for 12 credit hours and student then loses eligibility the next semester of attendance.
- If you become ineligible due to dropping coursework, A+ will pay for dropped coursework that semester but you are then responsible for the following semester or semesters until you regain eligibility.
- Example: Student is enrolled in 12 credit hours and drops 6 credit hours. Student is now not meeting full-time requirement and is ineligible for funding the next semester of attendance.
- A+ will pay for all 12 credit hours since student is losing eligibility the following semester.
- During the semester of ineligibility, you would need to complete at least enough credit hours to total 12 credit hours when combined with the previous term in order to regain eligibility for the next semester of attendance.
- Example: A student who completed 9 credit hours in the fall term would have to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours in the spring term to regain eligibility for the next semester of attendance.
- Any classes taken during the semester of ineligibility would not be covered by A+.
When will A+ funding show on my account?
Eligible A+ students who submit their FAFSA and supporting information (if requested) to the Financial Aid Office prior to the priority deadline for the semester should be awarded the appropriate funds approximately 2 weeks after classes begin. Students who apply for financial aid after the deadline may still receive aid, but should anticipate a delay in awards.
What are the financial aid priority deadlines?
- FALL July 1
- SPRING December 1
- SUMMER May 1
By submitting financial aid documentation on or before the deadline you will be held in classes if you are eligible to receive A+ benefits. No payment plan is required.
If financial aid documentation is submitted after the priority deadline we encourage you to set up a payment plan with Financial Services to insure that your classes will not be cancelled on the day fees are due.
Can I use A+ the first summer out of high school even though I am attending another college in the fall?
Yes – A student can use A+ funding the first summer semester out of high school at ECC. You will be required to complete all steps needed to receive A+ funding.
What if I am transferring from another college to use A+ funding?
A student may transfer from another college or university and use A+ funding at ECC contingent upon the following:
- Official transcripts from previously attended colleges sent to ECC
- Fill out ECC A+ Agreement form
- Must meet all other requirements to receive A+ Program funding
- The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) established at a previous institution could impact A+ eligibility at the time of transfer to ECC, please contact A+ coordinator for additional information on your situation
Can I use A+ in the summer if I am attending another college or university in the prior fall or spring?
ECC will consider you as a visiting student and you will not be eligible. You must be enrolled as a degree seeking student at ECC to qualify for A+ funding. Students who transfer to ECC with the intent of seeking a degree can complete the steps to receive A+ at ECC as long as the scholarship benefits have not expired.
If I graduate high school in December of my senior year, am I eligible to use A+ funding at ECC for the spring semester?
Yes – Please have your high school send an Official High School Transcript with A+ seal to ECC. Also, you are required to complete all steps for receiving A+ funding.
What happens if I need to repeat a class?
A+ funds will pay for a course one time. Repeated courses are not covered by the A+ program, but the hours will count toward meeting the full-time credit hour requirement.
A+ will pay for you to repeat a class if A+ did not pay for the first attempt; an example of this would be if your first attempt was in high school.
Can I receive A+ funding if I am attending less than full-time?
Yes, if you meet one of the following exceptions:
- East Central College has a documented disability on file.
- You are in your last semester and applied for graduation with the Registrar’s office
- You are taking all hours required for your degree and your advisor sends the A+ Coordinator this information by email
How does Pell funds and A+ work?
A+ requires any Pell Grant funds to be applied first before A+ will pay. If you have enough Pell Grant to cover all tuition and fees this may result in a zero award from A+.