Financial Aid Office Contact Information
(304) 929-6723 | finaid@newriver.edu
Federal and State Financial Aid Programs
There are several federal and state programs that provide grants, loans, and employment opportunities to assist you in paying for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with attending New River CTC. You may apply for the various types of financial assistance by contacting the Financial aid office and will be provided additional information about the programs listed below and guided through the application process. Students applying for financial aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or renewal application. For extensive information about the FAFSA and financial aid, please see the Financial Aid page of the College website. Some financial assistance may be awarded to you based on funding availability.
Grants
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant program provides the foundation of financial aid to which other grants, loans, or assistance may be added. If you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, you may receive an award depending on your family income, costs of education, and enrollment status. Students applying for Federal Pell Grant must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or renewal application. You must reapply for a Federal Pell Grant every year.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are awarded only to those students who have extreme financial need. Since funds are limited, priority is given to those students who apply early.
Federal Work Study
The Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) is self-help assistance earned on a wage per-hour basis through assigned part-time employment at on-campus or off-campus locations. An effort is made to provide each FWSP recipient with work experience that will complement his or her skills and/or academic objective. The hourly rate is at least the federal minimum wage, and students are paid biweekly according to hours worked. To be eligible for work-study, you must have financial need and be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours.
Higher Education Assistance for Part-Time Students (HEAPS)
Higher Education Assistance for Part-time Students (HEAPS) is a West Virginia funded program designed to assist West Virginia students enrolled on a part-time basis (less than 12 hours). Applications for funding must be completed each semester. You must complete the FAFSA to be considered for HEAPS funding and have a 2.00 high school or college GPA.
West Virginia Higher Education Grant (WVHEG)
The West Virginia Higher Education Grant (WVHEG) is designed to assist full-time students in attaining educational goals. The first step in the application process is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://studentaid.gov/. Applications processed before April 15th of each year are given priority consideration. Students must have a minimum of 12 credit hours in each individual semester in which they receive the grant. Please be aware that this grant requires students to complete a total of 24 credit hours between Fall, Spring and Summer to be considered for grant renewal during the next award year. In addition, students must also maintain a 2.0 or greater GPA and meet FAFSA deadline and eligibility requirements.
West Virginia Invests Grant
West Virginia Invests is a state-funded grant program providing FREE tuition (the full cost of basic tuition and fees*) for select certificate and associate degree programs at West Virginia public two-or four-year institutions. Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. This last-dollar-in-program means that it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition and fees that are not already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships. https://www.collegeforwv.com/programs/invest-grant/
*The maximum award amount is limited to the total cost of basic tuition and fees charged to all students, regardless of program, minus other grant or scholarship aid. Certain programs charge additional fees to cover equipment and supply costs and other necessary expenses. These fees, along with the cost of textbooks and other course materials, must be paid by the student if other forms of financial aid are not available to offset these costs.
To determine if you qualify for the West Virginia Invests Grant, go to: https://www/newriver.edu/wv-invests-grant-information/
Scholarships
New River Community and Technical College Foundation Scholarships
The New River Community and Technical College Foundation awards scholarships to students attending accredited courses of study at the Greenbrier Valley, Mercer County, Nicholas County or Raleigh County campuses or at sites served from these locations. The Foundation’s application period runs from March 1 through March 31 each year. Applications and scholarship descriptions can be obtained from the Foundation’s Website, the Office of Admissions at each campus, or from high school counselors in Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers or Webster counties. For additional information, call (304) 929-6734
New River Community and Technical College Presidential Scholarship
Presidential Scholarships are presented annually to graduating high school seniors who are selected for this merit-based scholarship. This scholarship requires a 3.0 overall high school grade point average and is renewable for up to 4 semesters. To renew the scholarship, a student must be enrolled as a full-time student with 12 credit hours or more per semester and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. For application information, contact your local Office of Admissions, the Office of Enrollment Services at (304) 929-5480 or by emailing admissions@newriver.edu.
PROMISE Scholarship
The West Virginia PROMISE (Providing Real Opportunities for Maximizing In-State Student Excellence) Scholarship Program, approved by the West Virginia legislature in 1999, is a merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents. Students who achieve certain academic goals are eligible to receive funds to help pay for college. Promise Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:
Loans
Federal Direct Student Loan Program
You must be enrolled in at least six college-level credit hours and apply for financial assistance at https://studentaid.gov/. You are required to submit a Loan Education Justification Application, which can be found at and must submit the application to the Financial Aid Office. The application will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Manager. Upon approval or denial, a Financial Aid Counselor will contact you to set up a New River CTC Financial Literacy counseling session. You must also log in at www.studentaid.gov to complete the U.S. Department of Education Entrance counseling and a master promissory note.
The Consequences of Student Loan Default
- Credit report damage (7-year minimum)
- Wage garnishment
- Seizure of federal & state tax refunds
- Seizure of portion of any federal payment
- Legal action in federal district court
- Ineligibility under Title IV ineligibility
- May lose state occupational license
- No mortgage loans
- May have difficulty obtaining car loans
- May be unable to rent an apartment
- May be turned down for jobs
- Collection
Standards of Progress for Federal Financial Aid Recipients
In addition to the requirements for federal financial aid eligibility, you must be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate. The standards that are set forth here are more rigid than the institution’s standards of progress. Therefore, if you do not meet the standards of progress for federal financial aid, you will be able to attend New River CTC as a self-paid student. All attempted classes count for the review of standards of progress including hours transferred from other institutions.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid differs from the Academic Standing Policy; please see the Academic Standing Policy for more information.
The Policy applies to Title IV and Non-Title IV recipients. Academic progress is measured at the end of each semester.
Cumulative Grade Point Average and Attempted Hours
- A student receiving federal aid must maintain an overall 2.0 cumulative grade point average and complete at least 67% of all hours attempted.
- Any financial aid recipient failing to meet the required grade point average and/or complete 67% of attempted hours will be notified in writing.
- All attempted hours count for the review of standards of progress, including transfer hours from other institutions.
Warning Status
- An extension of one semester of WARNING will be granted.
- Students attending on WARNING status must complete all classes for which they are registered and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- During the warning status, a student may receive financial aid. This may be limited based on the student’s academic standing.
Suspension Status
The period of ineligibility for financial aid (SUSPENSION STATUS) will extend until the student meets the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. While in SUSPENSION STATUS, the student will not be able to receive financial assistance.
Time Limitations/Excessive Hours
Students who have already attempted the equivalent of 150% of program credit hours will not be able to receive financial assistance.
Appeal Process
If there are special circumstances that cause a student to need more than the allotted number of semesters to complete an Associate Degree or a Certificate program, the student may appeal. If there are extenuating circumstances that have caused a student not to meet the progression requirement after a semester of WARNING, the student should submit a Financial Aid Appeal form. Forms are available https://www.newriver.edu/financial-aid-forms/ under Financial Aid Forms. If a student has been placed on Financial Aid Suspension, they may appeal. The Student Navigator will complete an Academic Plan of improvement and contact the student. If the Academic Plan of Improvement and subsequent appeal is approved, they will be placed on probation. If the Academic Plan of Improvement is not followed during the probationary semester, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension and will not be eligible for financial aid.
Financial Aid Disbursement and Refund
Student Financial Aid is packaged as soon as a student provides all requested documentation to the Financial Aid office. Once the student’s financial aid is packaged and the student is registered for class, fully admitted by the Admissions department, and in good standing with the institution, aid may be memo’d to the student’s account. The memo’d aid/credit balance is uploaded to the bookstore by the Business Office. The student may access this credit balance to purchase books and supplies.
Disbursement of funds will occur once the Financial Aid Office has determined eligibility and authorized the Business Office to apply payments to student accounts. They then calculate the difference between a student’s account charges and the amount of financial aid disbursed. This difference is the amount of a student’s refund.
Disbursement occurs 10 days prior to the first day of class. Afterwards, disbursement occurs after the student’s financial aid is packaged and the student is registered for class, fully admitted by the Admissions department, and in good standing with the institution.
The first financial aid refund check distribution date is the third Thursday of each Fall and Spring semester. The first distribution date may vary for summer semesters, depending on the number of weeks in the term. If a student does not have a refund check on the first distribution date, they may have one the following week depending on when their financial aid is processed. The Business Office processes a new batch of refund checks every Thursday. Please note once the refund check is processed, the credit balance is no longer available in the bookstore.
We are required by federal regulations to monitor student attendance . The Business Office pulls an attendance report each week, and if your attendance is not verified, they cannot release your refund check. If you feel there is a mistake in your attendance information, you will be referred to the Dean’s office. If the Dean can determine you have been attending, he or she will sign a form so the Business Office can release your check. Students are required to bring a photo ID before the Business Office can release their check. (See also: refunds and withdrawals .)
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