Financial Aid Basics for Teacher
Alternative Licensure Program (ALP)

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Eligibility Basics:

To qualify for the Pell Grant and student loans, a student in the ALP program must meet the following requirements:

• Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Have been accepted into the Teacher Academy
• Have a declared major in the Certificate in Teacher Certification Program (ALP)
• Be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours
• All credit hours must be in EDUC classes

Any courses that the student enrolls in that are not EDUC classes will not be covered by the Pell Grant or Student loans. Pell Grant eligibility is also contingent upon the student's Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). A high EFC could disqualify him from receiving the Pell Grant.

First Semester Eligibility Requirements

Under the current design of the ALP program, students in their first semester are generally not eligible to receive Financial Aid as listed above. In the first semester of the ALP program, students are only allowed to take EDUC 201A and EDUC 201B. EDUC 201A and EDUC 201B add up to only 3 credit hours, making students ineligible to receive student loans and the Pell Grant EXCEPT under the following conditions:

• Students must change major from the ALP Certificate to an AA or AAS degree
• Students must enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours. Hours other than the required EDUC 201A and EDUC 201B do not have to be a part of the ALP program
• Student loan eligibility will be based upon the student's class standing at the time of application as well as financial need
• Students may only receive student loans at the freshman and sophomore loan limit levels
• Freshmen (33 credit hours and under at SFCC) may borrow up to $3,500 in subsidized loans for the academic year
• Sophomores (34 credit hours and above at SFCC) may borrow up to $4,500 in subsidized loans for the academic year
• Independent students are eligible to borrow up to $6,000 in unsubsidized loans for the academic year.
• Most ALP students will be independent. If you are not sure of your dependency status, please visit the Financial Aid Office. NOTE: Students in this situation do not qualify for 5th year undergraduate loan limits.

After the First Semester on the ALP Program

• Students must change their majors back to the Certificate in Teacher Certification Program once EDUC 201A and EDUC 201B are complete
• Once enrolled in six EDUC credits, students may be eligible for the Pell grant and are eligible to borrow at the 5th year undergraduate level
• Students may borrow up to $5,500 in subsidized loans for the academic year
• Students may borrow up to $7,000 in unsubsidized loans for the academic year
• Only those courses that lead to the teaching license qualify for these loan limits

ALP Financial Aid Disbursements:

Financial Aid payments are made after classes begin. Financial aid disbursements generally follow the scheduled disbursement date(s) for the semester.

Late Starting Classes

Late starting classes can delay a student's financial aid disbursement. Student loans will disburse after the full 6 credit hours have begun. Students taking late starting classes can expect to receive a Pell Grant disbursement on the first Wednesday after their classes have begun. A student with a 3 credit hour class that starts at the beginning of the semester and a 3 credit hour class that starts at mid-term should expect a late disbursement on student loans.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office for the date that student loan disbursements will be available for late starting classes.

For more information, please call (505) 428-1000 and select Option 4 or E-mail us at financialaid@sfcc.edu.