Resources

BANKMOBILE DISBURSEMENTS

CONSUMER INFORMATION

ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS OF STUDY FOR FINANCIAL AID

FEDERAL SHOPPING SHEET

What is the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet?

The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet is a consumer tool Bossier Parish Community College is using to notify students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) It is a standardized form that is designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school.

Where will I find my Financial Aid Shopping Sheet?

When you have been notified via LOLA that your financial aid awards are available for viewing, your Shopping Sheet will also be available. You can access it by logging into LOLA and selecting the “Financial Aid” tab. Select the menu item “Shopping Sheet” to view your Shopping Sheet.

What is the difference between the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet and the award notification?

Bossier Parish Community College makes every effort to provide each financial aid recipient with an award notification that is clear and complete. Since colleges and universities use many different formats for their award notifications, students may find it difficult to compare the financial aid offers from various schools. The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet is a standardized form used by schools.

What is the Estimated Cost of Attendance?

The Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is intended to provide you with an idea of what it will cost you to attend Bossier Parish Community College as a full-time student, living off-campus, for the regular academic year. The COA includes tuition and fees (direct cost paid to the school), average room and board costs (indirect cost), average cost of books (direct cost), average cost of transportation (indirect cost) and average miscellaneous personal expenses (indirect cost). Your own expenses (indirect costs) will vary depending on a variety of factors, including housing (where you choose to live and the costs incurred) and lifestyle choices (type of car you drive, how much does the car cost each month, do you pay for a cell phone, do you have cable TV, do you pay for insurance, do you provide for others, etc…)

What awards will appear on my Financial Aid Shopping Sheet?

Institutional grants and scholarships from Bossier Parish Community College will appear on the Shopping Sheet, along with your eligibility for federal grants (including the Federal Pell Grant), state grants/scholarships (including the Louisiana TOPS scholarship), and Federal Direct Student Loans.

Please note that while the Shopping Sheet will indicate the maximum amount of federal loans for which you may be eligible, you are strongly encouraged to postpone borrowing student loans until you know the amount of your other financial aid awards. Many students at BPCC find it unnecessary to take on student loan debt, and are able to cover their expenses using their grant and scholarship assistance. If you must borrow, we encourage you to borrow only the amount you really need in order to minimize your long-term indebtedness.

Are military-related education benefits included on my Shopping Sheet?

Veteran-related or active duty education benefits for are not included on the Shopping Sheet because the amounts cannot be determined until you have applied to the Veterans Administration or Department of Defense and received a certificate of eligibility.

For guidance on using your military education benefits at Bossier Parish Community College, please contact Susan Stakes in Building A, Room 138.

What are the “Net Costs” on the Shopping Sheet? Is that what I can expect to pay?

The net cost on the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet merely reflects a calculation showing the estimated cost of attendance minus the total grants and scholarships awarded to you based on your eligibility after filing the FAFSA. It does not reflect the amount which you are responsible to pay after your individual awards are applied, and it does not factor in personal choices that may increase or reduce your actual cost of attendance.

I’m interested in working on campus; why isn’t Federal Work-Study on my Shopping Sheet?

Federal Work-Study is not part of any student’s initial financial aid award at Bossier Parish Community College. If you wish to work on campus, you are encouraged to explore your options through BPCC’s Career Services Office in Building F.

What do the statistics about BPCC on the right side of the Shopping Sheet mean?

The metrics related to graduation rate, loan default rate and median borrowing reflect average statistics for full-time, undergraduate students at Bossier Parish Community College. Your own experience may be different.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

If you have any questions about your military-related education benefits, please contact Susan Stakes, Program Manager BPCC Veteran Resource Center, at 318-678-6472 or sstakes@bpcc.edu. Please also feel free to direct questions about your financial aid award to the BPCC Financial Aid Office at 318-678-6026 or finaid@bpcc.edu.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Sources of Student Financial Aid for Persons with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office has a variety of information resources available online for the blind and visually impaired. Details about these options are below.

Student Aid Guide

The U.S. Department of Education provides an audio overview of the Department’s federal student aid programs including:

eligibility criteria
application procedures
loan repayment options
deferment and cancellation provisions

The audio highlights also provide information on nonfederal sources of aid.

The audio highlights are also available in a CD format. The free CD can be played on any audio player. It contains information on federal student aid programs, application procedures, eligibility criteria, loan repayment and the like. To request a CD, call the Federal Student Information Center at 800-4-FED-AID.

Braille Publications

The following federal student aid publications are currently available online through the use of a screen reader. They are also available in Braille through the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll free at 800-4-FED-AID.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Students use the FAFSA to apply for the federal student aid programs administered by the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office. The Braille FAFSA itself cannot be submitted. Students may use a Braille FAFSA as a reference aid. (Note that the online version of the FAFSA is accessible to screen readers.)

The Student Guide: This is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans and work-study are the three major forms of student financial aid available through the Department’s Federal Student Aid office. The guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

Funding Your Education: This is an introductory publication for students not yet enrolled in a postsecondary school. It provides general information about the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student financial aid programs and how to apply for them.

Repaying Your Student Loans: This publication explains available repayment options on the department’s federal student loans so that borrowers can avoid repayment problems and successfully manage and repay their debts.

Federal TTY Numbers

Several major call centers have toll-free TTY numbers for deaf and hearing-impaired students. Teletypewriter access is available during the “operator-services” hours of operation. Students may contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-730-8913. The center provides general information on the federal student aid programs administered by the Department of Education and also assists students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students also may call 800-30-8913 for help applying electronically.

LOAN REPAYMENT AND RESOURCES