Financial Information

An Overview

The tuition and fees at the College are maintained at the lowest possible cost consistent with comparable institutions. Tuition and fees, endowment, earnings, unrestricted contributions, the alumni and friends of the College, and grants from government agencies, private foundations, and corporations comprise the operational funding for the College.

In estimating the total cost of attending Tougaloo College, students should include expenses for books and supplies at the rate of approximately $1,400 per academic year. The cost of travel, clothing, and personal items is not included in the tuition package. Fees will be published annually.

All students must pay general fees at registration. The residential and commuter service fees must also be paid at registration. Room reservation fees should be paid at least eight (8) weeks prior to registration to assure a place in the dormitory. Second semester-only students are required to pay general fees, residential service fee, and commuter service fee, where applicable.

Payment of Fees

Payment for each semester, including tuition, room, and board, is to be made in advance at the times indicated in the schedule of payments. Any additional expenses, such as library fines, medical expenses, fees assessed for breakage, and traffic fines, etc., are due and payable upon receipt of the bill. A student who does not receive financial aid from the College may follow any one of the three payment plans to meet his/her financial obligation to the College: 1) annual, 2) semester, and 3) installment. Payments must be made as scheduled by personal check (up to $2,000.00), cashier’s check, travelers’ check, credit/debit card, cash, or money order. If payments are not made on a timely basis, the student may be asked to withdraw from school. If a student leaves the College with an outstanding balance, he or she will be responsible for all costs related to collections.

A student receiving aid of any type from the College may choose the installment plan of payment. In order to calculate payments under an installment plan, a student should total his/her grants, loans, and scholarships for the year from the award letter supplied by the Financial Aid Office. The student should not include work-study or work aid in this total, as he/she has not yet earned this money.

The student should then divide the aid for the first semester by three. This amount should be subtracted from each installment plan payment. The difference between one-third of each semester’s aid and each payment leaves the amount of cash payable monthly from the student’s own resources. The student may plan to use work aid or work study money to defray some of these cash costs. No unearned work monies can be used at registration.

Institutional Refund Policy (Withdrawal from School)

In order to be eligible for a refund, a student must formally withdraw from the College. (See procedures for withdrawing from the College.) Any student who withdraws from the institution may be eligible for a refund of institutional charges according to the Institutional Refund Policy. However, a student who receives financial aid and withdraws from the institution may be required to refund all or a portion of the financial aid awards to the appropriate financial aid programs. The amount of refund will be determined on the basis of the official date of written withdrawal. Refunds should not be expected until four weeks after the beginning of a semester. The Pro-Rata Refund Policy (mandated by the U. S. Department of Education) may override the Institutional Refund Policy.

Federal/Institutional Refund Policy

This policy applies to any student who withdraws after his/her first semester of attendance at the college. Students who meet this basic criterion will have their institutional charges calculated according to the federal/institutional schedule.

Pro-Rata Refund Policy (Withdrawal from School)

This policy applies to any student who meets the following criteria:

1. Receives federal financial aid;
2. Attends the institution for the first time; and
3. Withdraws on or before the 60% point of the enrollment period.

Tuition refunds are apportioned according to the following schedule:

Within the first week of the semester: 65%
Within the second week of the semester: 50%
Within the third week of the semester: 30%
After the third week of the semester: None

Reimbursement Policy

Students who are eligible for reimbursements from loans or other overpayments will receive payments based on a predetermined schedule:

Students receiving bank loans may have funds in excess of first semester charges. These excess funds may be used to defray second semester charges. If a student wishes to voluntarily leave his/her credit for the next semester, this request must be made in writing and submitted to the Student Accounts Receivable Officer.

Students receiving refunds from any type of overpayment for the first semester will be expected to save funds necessary for the second semester registration payment. Deferments will not be given to these students for the second semester under these circumstances.

Bookstore Voucher Policy

The College allows a student to acquire Bookstore vouchers, up to $650.00 per semester to purchase books and supplies from the College Bookstore. The charge for the Bookstore voucher is billed to the student’s account. A student may not return unused vouchers to the Office of Finance and Administration for credit. Bookstore vouchers are valid only for the academic semester in which they are issued. Bookstore vouchers are issued by the Office of Financial Aid. All issues of concern related to the College Bookstore must be addressed to the Bookstore Manager.

Financial Aid Source Information

High school seniors, accelerated students, and transfer students may apply for financial aid at the time they apply for admission. An application for financial aid is complete when the institutional application and an approved needs analysis report are on file.

Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

In order to be eligible to receive aid from the Federal Financial Aid Programs, students must meet all of the following criteria :

• Have financial need, except for some loan programs.
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED), or complete a high school education in a home setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program. Financial aid is not available for audit courses.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (have U.S. permanent resident status).
• Have a valid social security number.
• Make satisfactory academic progress (see SAP Policy).
• Sign a statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) certifying that the federal aid will be used only for educational purposes.
• Sign a statement on the F AFSA, certifying that the student is not in default on a federal student loan and that no money is owed on a federal student aid grant.
• Be registered with the Selective Service (males age of 18-25). A recent law suspended aid eligibility for students convicted under federal or state law of the sell or possession of drugs. If you have a conviction or convictions for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Program at 1-800-433- 3243 to find out how or if this applies to you. Eligibility can be regained by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program.

Process to Apply for Financial Aid

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Allow 2-6 weeks for processing time. Tougaloo College Title IV code for the FAFSA is 002439. Complete the Tougaloo College Financial Aid Application. The priority date for first-year and transfer students to submit applications are April 15. The priority date for continuing students to submit applications is May 1st_ Students may apply for aid electronically on the web at www.studentaid.gov or with the paper FAFSA that is available from your high school, local library, or college.
• The FAFSA will generate a Student Aid Report (SAR). The Financial Aid Office will receive the report electronically.
• If selected for verification, the Financial Aid Office will notify the student of the documentation required to complete his/her file. This will include a copy of the student’s prior year federal tax return transcript, as well as the student’s parents’ return if the student is a dependent student or the student’s spouse’s return if the student is married. Additional documentation may be required in some cases. The verification process could take up to four weeks to complete.
• If the verification process results in the mandatory corrections of the student’s information, the Financial Aid Office will resubmit your SAR electronically to the federal processor. The average turn-around time is one week.
• Once the student’s file is complete, it will be reviewed and, if the student is eligible, a financial award letter will be generated. The student will receive an official award letter listing the programs and the amounts being awarded. The student will be required to accept or reject the awards and return the signed copy of the award letter to the Financial Aid Office. All aid will be disbursed equally for each semester.
• If the student accepts the loan, he/she will be required to sign a master promissory note {MPN)thefirstyear he/she receives the loan. The promissory note will be printed by the U.S. Department of Education. Students will be notified when to come and sign their note.
• If the student accepts the loan, he/she will be required to complete an entrance counseling (ENC) the first year he/she receives the loan. The entrance counseling will be printed by the U.S. Department of Education. Students will be notified when the school has received his/her entrance counseling.
• If the student receives outside scholarships, it is his/her responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office. The student’s award will be reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, to comply with federal regulations. If the outside scholarship exceeds the unmet need remaining after College and federal aid has been issued, the student’s loan and/or work-study will be reduced.

Student Responsibilities

Student responsibilities include all of the following:

• Review and consider all information about Tougaloo programs/degrees before enrolling.
• Pay special attention to the applications for student financial aid, prepare them, and submit them to the right place. Fraudulent reporting of information on federal aid applications is subject to penalties under federal law.
• Know and comply with all deadlines for application and re-application for financial aid.
• Know and comply with the school’s student aid policies.
• Return all additional documentation, verification, correction, and/or new information requested either by the financial aid office or the agency to which the student submitted his/her application.
• Read and understand all forms/agreements that the student is asked to sign and keep copies.
• If the student has a loan, notify the lender of changes in name, address, or school status.

Student Rights to Financial Information

Students have a right to be provided the following information:

• The degree programs, training, and other education offered by the school.
• Special facilities and services available to disabled students.
• The cost of attending the school (tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and applicable transportation cost) and any other additional cost involved in attending the school.
• What need-based and non-need based federal aid is available to students.
• What need-based and non-need based local aid programs, institutional scholarships, and other private aid programs which are available.
• How students apply for aid and how the school determines eligibility.
• How and when financial aid is disbursed.
• The responsibilities and rights of students receiving financial aid.
• The College’s fair and equitable refund policy and the prescribed order of the student financial aid {SFA) refund distribution.
• Information on preventing drug and alcohol abuse.
• The criteria for measuring satisfactory academic progress (SAP), and how a student who has failed to maintain SAP may re-establish eligibility for financial aid.
• Who to contact for financial aid information and general institutional issues.

Scholarships

Scholarship awards are competitive and are based on evidence of both scholastic promise and financial need. In general, only students who rank in the top half of their high school graduating classes and have high scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) will be considered for scholarships. Applicants not granted scholarships will receive consideration for other types of financial aid based on the availability of funds and conditions identified above.

Application Procedure: In order to assess the financial need of a student, the College requires each student applying for financial aid to secure and submit an approved needs analysis form and to meet the criteria above. Needs analysis forms may be secured from the high school, one of the needs analysis services, or from the Office of Financial Aid. Having secured the proper form, students should complete and submit to the appropriate agency as indicated. In order to be considered for all other types of financial assistance, each financial aid applicant is required to apply for the Federal Pell Grant.

Presidential Scholarships

The Presidential I Scholarship is the highest scholarship awarded to incoming first year students who have a 3.50 GPA and a score of 27 or above on the Enhanced ACT or 1220 on the SAT. The Presidential I Scholarship covers tuition, general fees, room and board, and an electronic device, and is renewable each year for three additional years as long as the student maintains a 3.50 or above cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring Semester of each academic year. 

The Presidential II Scholarship is the second highest scholarship awarded to incoming first year students who have a 3.50 GPA and a score of 24-26 on the ACT or 1100-1219 on the SAT. The Presidential II Scholarship covers tuition, general fees, room and board, and is renewable each year for three additional years as long as the student maintains a 3.50 or above cumulative GPA at the end of the Spring Semester of each academic year. 

To apply for the above academic scholarships, a student must submit the following documents: admissions application, official high school transcript, ACT or SAT score(s), scholarship application, (verify leadership and community service), two recommendation letters (from principal, instructor, or counselor), complete FAFSA, and immunization records. A committee selects all recipients. The student must maintain continuous enrollment at Tougaloo to be eligible for renewal of the scholarships, which may be renewed for up to three additional years (students may have the Presidential I or II Scholarships for four years).

Partial Scholarships

The Partial Scholarship is available to incoming first-year students from high school who have at least 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 grading scale, along with an 18 ACT score or an 800 SAT score. Graduates of community college must have a 3.50 GPA. There are varying amounts ($1,000.00-$5,000.00) given for this award. This scholarship may be renewable each year for four years (two years for transfer students) as long as the student maintains a 3.00 GPA for $1,000.00-$2,500.00, and 3.20 GPA for $3,000.00-$5,000.00.

To apply for the above academic scholarships, a student must submit the following documents: Admissions Application, official high school transcript, ACT or SAT score(s), complete FAFSA, and immunization records. These scholarships are highly competitive and are limited in availability. The candidates are chosen through an Admissions Committee and are notified in writing by June 30.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of high school record, promise to profession, citizenship, and need. Renewal of scholarship awards is contingent upon academic achievement at the College.

Transfer Student Scholarship

The Transfer Scholarship is available to incoming transfer students who are graduates of an accredited Community College. To apply for the Transfer Partial scholarship, graduates must have at least a 3.00 grade point average. To apply for a presidential scholarship, graduates must have a 3.80 grade point average.

Endowed Scholarships

Education/Physical Education

Carrie C. Robinson Scholarship was established in 2009 in memory of Mrs. Carrie C. Robinson, a 1931 graduate. The scholarship is designated for junior and senior students pursuing a teaching degree.

John T. Braxton and Eddie O’Neal Scholarship is awarded to a student who shows promise as an athlete, thespian, musician, and debater; and/or in pursuit of a degree leading to a teacher or divinity/ministerial career.

Humanities

Ronald 0. Schnell Art Scholarship was established in 1997 for the purpose of aiding students majoring in Art.

Mable Snyder Beeghly Scholarship is to be awarded annually to a gifted and needy student majoring in music.

Homer Thordsen Larsen Scholarship is to be awarded to a music major with financial need and in good academic standing.

Richard “Dick” Johnson Scholarship was established to provide support to astudent who demonstrates critical thinking, compassion, and creativity; and who is majoring in one of the humanities disciplines.

Natural Sciences

Mary L. Allan Jefferson and George Lee Jefferson, Jr., Scholarship was established to provide support to a student from Warren County, Mississippi. The award will rotate between the Schools of Natural Sciences and Humanities.

Walker Henderson STEM Endowed Scholarship was established in support of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) majors.

Social Sciences

E.T. Collins Scholarship was established in memory of Earnest Collins to be used for scholarships for students who wish to pursue a degree in Business Administration or Economics and prepare them for positions of leadership and responsibility in business.

Edward Blackmon, Sr., Scholarship was established in 1990 by Attorney Edward Blackmon, Jr., a 1971 graduate of Tougaloo College. The scholarship is designated for junior and senior students in the School of Social Science.

Cressie Finney Hairston Scholarship was established in support of social work/sociology majors in good academic standing.

Rueben V. Anderson Pre-Law Scholarship was established in honor of Reuben V. Anderson, a 1964 Tougaloo graduate, the first African American to graduate from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and the first African American Supreme Court justice for the State of Mississippi.

General Majors

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Beta Delta Omega Chapter Scholarship is designed to prepare professional educators for improving the quality of teaching and learning. The applicant must be female, sophomore classification, full-time student, and actively participating in one or more academic and/or service organizations.

Keith C. Miller Endowed Scholarship was established to provide financial support to students from McComb High School or North Pike/South Pike County High School Districts. If none are available, the aid is to be awarded to a member of Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Providence Cooperative Farm Endowed Scholarship was established to provide financial support to students attending Tougaloo College from Holmes County. If none available, then students who are residents of Mississippi.

Tougaloo College Chicago Alumni Chapter Scholarship was established to provide assistance to students from the Chicago area attending Tougaloo College. The applicant must be in good academic standing and show financial need.

Clyde Cullen and Queen Esther Jackson Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to a student from one of the 26 counties of the Mississippi Delta, preferably Sunflower County. The student must be in good academic standing and show a financial need.

Dr. Lemika Christia Hays Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in honor of alumna Lemika Christia Hays to provide financial assistance to students enrolled full-time and show a financial need.

Dr. Luther Chaney Scholarship was established in 2004 by Dr. Chaney, a friend of Tougaloo College. The scholarship is designed for a talented student from Northern Mississippi with preference to the Columbus tri-county area.

Foundation for Education and Economic Development (F.E.E.D.) Scholarship was established for the benefit of needy students from Mississippi.

George A. and Ruth B. Owens Scholarship was established in 1989 by Tougaloo alumni Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Irons of Memphis, Tennessee, in honor of President George Owens and his wife Ruth Owens, and provides support for an African American male to complete his educational program at Tougaloo College. A graduate of a Memphis, Tennessee high school is preferred.

H. C. Mead Scholarship was established by Mrs. Mead in memory of her husband. H.C. Mead. A long-time contributor to Tougaloo College, Mrs. Mead established the scholarship in 1967. The selected recipient must be from the Mississippi Gulf Coast area.

Dr. Henry T. and Maggie Banks Drake Scholarship was established to provide general scholarship support for students attending Tougaloo College.

Moman Memorial Scholarship was established in 1975, by the Moman family, as a living memorial to the Moman Family who has been associated with Tougaloo College since the early 1870s. A scholarship is to be awarded annually to a student who shows financial need and academic ability.

NorCal Scholarship was established to provide support to students attending Tougaloo College from the Sacramento/Oakland/San Francisco, California area.

Suewilla Wright Woodfork Scholarship was established to provide general scholarship support for students attending Tougaloo College.

Robert W. Jones Scholarship was established to provide general scholarship support for students attending Tougaloo College.

Annual Scholarships

Keith C. Miller Annual Named Scholarship was established by Dr. Keith C. Miller ‘88 to provide financial assistance for students from Pike County.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship was established to provide support for Christian female students from nine southern states: Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

George and Pearl Vincent Innovation in Education Annual Named Scholarship was established in honor or Dr. George M. Vincent, a 1956 graduate of Tougaloo College, and his wife Pearl.

Ella Josephine Baker Scholarship for Social Activism will provide financial assistance to a full-time student exhibiting a passion for social change and community building.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF} Scholarships

Note: This is not an exhaustive list but only representative of the scholarship offerings. For information on these scholarships and others, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Chairs, Professorships, and Fellowships

Rueben V. Anderson Chair in Political Science

Constance Slaughter-Harvey Chair in Political Science

Bennie G. Thompson Chair in Social Science

Federal Grants

The grants offered by the federal government are granted to undergraduate students on the basis of need. All qualified students, based on the completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), can be considered for both the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant {FSEOG).

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a direct non-repayable grant from the federal government to the student who is enrolled at least half-time (6 hours). The amount of the award is based on information from the FAFSA.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is given to students with exceptional need, (lowest EFC based on the FAFSA) and priority is given to students who have received Federal Pell grants. Awards may range from $100.00 to $4,000.00.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans

Since fall 2010, Tougaloo College has offered the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans). Under the Direct Lending program, the funds for loans come directly from the Federal Government and NOT from a bank, credit union, or other lending institutions. All students who are requesting a student loan through this program will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling, even if you have already completed this in the past.

Students who are registered for at least six (6) credit hours and who are in good academic standing may be eligible for a Federal Direct Student Loan. A dependent student can borrow the following loan amounts:

An independent student or a dependent student whose parents are unable to get a PLUS loan can borrow up to:

$ 9,500.00 as a first-year student (only $3,500.00 can be subsidized)
$10,500.00 as a second-year student (only $4,500.00 can be subsidized)
$12,500.00 as a third- and fourth-year student (only $5,500.00 can be subsidized)

Students must file a FAFSA form to determine family contribution. The amount of the family contribution figure determines eligibility for either a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct Loan. The interest on the subsidized loan is paid by the Federal Government, while the student is enrolled at least half-time and for six (6) months after the student leaves school. Interest on unsubsidized loans is paid by the student. Repayment of principal on the loan begins six (6) months after the borrower is no longer at least a half-time student.

Delayed disbursement of funds (30 days after the first day of instruction) is required for all first-time borrowers for Direct Loan Program.

Parent Plus Loans

The Federal Parent Plus Loans (PLUS) enables parents with good credit histories to borrow funds to pay the educational expenses of a dependent student. For the purposes of determining PLUS eligibility, a parent is a student’s biological or adoptive mother or father. A student’s stepparent is also eligible to borrow on the student’s behalf, if his/her income and assets were taken into account when the student completed the FAFSA. To receive a PLUS loan, a parent must be a U.S. citizen, not be in default on a federal student loan, or owe a repayment to any Student Financial Assistance (SFA) Program. A parent may borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus any other financial aid the student receives.

Federal Work Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. These jobs may be on campus or off campus. Students are employed on an hourly basis for a maximum of twenty (20) hour per week. Federal Work-Study ranges will be at least the current federal minimum wages ($7.25 per hour). The total Federal Work-Study award depends on when the application is submitted, the level of need, and the funding level of the school.

Application/placement of jobs for Federal Work-Study is made through the Financial Aid Office.