Types of Aid

Scholarships
Money awarded to the student for past academic performance or need. Concord has several scholarships for non-traditional and part-time students. Click here to learn more about Scholarships.

Grants
Funds awarded to the student usually by the State or Federal Government based on financial need. Grants do not need to be paid back.

The Pell Grant.

This is based on financial need and is available to full and part –time students.

SEOG-The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

can range up to $500, depending on need.

The West Virginia Higher Education Grant

This is reserved for full time students who have at least an 18 on the ACT and a C+ average. It may pay for up to 70% of tuition and fees.

Loans
A number of low interest loans are available to the part-time or non-traditional student. Many loans have an interest rate far below what banks usually charge and have repayment plans that allow you to put off paying for the loan until six months after you leave school.

The Stafford Loan is a special low interest loan for either full or part time students. The interest rate as of July 2004 is only 2.82% and is never to be higher than 8.25%. Repayment of the loan does not begin until 6 months after you leave school. First time students may borrow up to $2,625. Students are allowed to borrow a larger amount the longer they are in college.

The Perkins Loan

is a need-based loan for full or part time students. Repayment , at 5% interest, does not begin until nine months after you leave school.

Tax Credits
The Hope Scholarship Tax Credit will allow you to claim 100% of the first $1,000, and 50% of the second $1,000 of tuition and fees for the first two years of college.

The Lifetime Learning Credit allows you to claim 20% of the first $5,000 through 2002 and the first $10,000 after 2002. You may use either use the Hope Credit or the Lifetime Credit, but not both.