How to Apply for Financial Aid

In order to use aid at Central Georgia Technical College, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for consideration of eligibility for any type of federal student aid for the upcoming award year. The FAFSA submission process opens October 1 of each year and can be completed anytime. Avoid delays in the processing of your financial aid by completed the FAFSA as soon as possible. You do not have to be accepted or registered before you complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is aid year-specific; make sure you select the application for the appropriate aid year and that you are entering your personal tax information based on the correct calendar year. Dual Enrollment students do not complete the FAFSA, but must complete the GA Futures Funding Application.

If you are a current/returning student or a new student and will be attending CGTC for Fall Semester 2023, Spring Semester 2024, or Summer Semester 2024, you will need to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA using your 2021 income tax information. For best results, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, if this option is available to you.

The student’s eligibility for federal student aid is based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. If considered independent, the award is based on information for the student only (if unmarried) or student and spouse (if married). If considered dependent, the award is based on information for the student and parent(s). Before completing the FAFSA, the student, and parent if applicable, need to create a FSA ID and password at studentaid.gov in order to electronically sign the FAFSA and ensure prompt processing of the application.

When completing the FAFSA, the student will need to include the school code for Central Georgia Technical College. School Code for CGTC: 005763

What do I need to complete my FAFSA?

In order to complete you FAFSA you will need the following items:

  •  Social Security Number(s)

  • Driver License

  •  Student’s record of earned income for the appropriate year (see example above)

  • If applicable, spouse’s income, if married; Parent(s) income information if a dependent student

  • Record of any untaxed income

  •  Current business/interest/investment/farm/bond/mortgage information

To simplify the FAFSA process, select yes when asked if you want to download your tax information directly from the tax return submitted to the IRS. Spouse and/or parents can do the same. Use your FSA ID to complete this process.

Once the FAFSA has been submitted, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email that provides the information that was submitted on the FAFSA. The student needs to review the SAR for accuracy and make any corrections if necessary.

Aid will not be awarded to students unless a valid financial aid application is received and terms and conditions have been accepted. In the event that the application is incomplete or other documents are required to process aid, the student will be notified by college email, or the student can check their Banner Self Service portal. Aid will not be disbursed to students until all required documents are received and approved, terms and conditions are accepted, and financial aid processes are complete. Students can view need requirements via the Single Sign On portal in Banner Self Service. Needed documents can be securely submitted through Financial Aid Forms.

How to Accept Your Financial Aid Award