The Office of Financial Aid and Student Accounts is responsible for managing all aspects of the financial aid program, generating statements, and collecting student payments.
In addition to federal and state aid, the Financial Aid Office is proud to offer institutional aid on a limited basis as funding allows. Cottey offers a variety of scholarships based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, leadership, and athletic performance. Funds are made possible by the generosity of Cottey College alumnae, members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and friends of the College. Acceptance of Cottey scholarships or grants as part of a financial aid package indicates permission to release the recipient’s name and address to the donors who fund the awards, to whom recipients are to write a thank-you note.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Cottey’s FAFSA Code is 00245800. Students must resubmit the FAFSA each academic year. The FASA office will determine a student’s eligibility for federal, state, and institutional need-based aid from the result of the FAFSA.
Institutions of higher education are mandated to establish and enforce minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for students receiving financial assistance. A student’s cumulative grade point average and the number of hours earned are evaluated by the Office of Financial Aid at the conclusion of each semester. A student must complete 67 percent of the credit hours attempted. A student with fewer than 57 credit hours must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.75. A student with 57 or more credit hours must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Students not meeting the standards will be placed on financial aid warning for the following semester. During the financial aid warning semester, the student will continue to receive aid if otherwise eligible, but the student must meet SAP standards by the end of the warning semester. If at the end of the financial aid warning semester, the student has not met the standards, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension which means that the student will receive no further aid until the minimum standards have been met. Students placed on suspension status are given the opportunity to appeal their suspended status. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Accounts is located in Main Hall, room 135.
Campus Employment/Federal Work-Study
Campus employment and federal work-study are financial aid programs managed by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Accounts. Student employment is available as a portion of the student’s financial aid package. Students who are awarded campus employment or federal work-study can apply for available positions on the MyCottey portal. (Login to MyCottey, click the Finances Tab, then select Student Employment Application.) Students may earn up to the amount listed on the award letter. Students are paid minimum wage and receive a paycheck (via direct deposit) every two weeks for the hours worked during that pay period. New student employees must complete employment eligibility paperwork (an I-9 form, direct deposit, and W-4 forms) during Orientation, or they will not be allowed to work.
The student employment application becomes live each spring, for students to apply for the following school year. All students who are eligible for campus employment or federal work-study are notified when the application opens. Students can view available jobs on the Student Employment Application, the Office of Financial Aid and Student Accounts keeps the application up to date on open positions year-round. Students who are not initially eligible for campus employment or federal work-study are given the opportunity to apply for any remaining jobs beginning September 1 each year. The Office of Financial Aid and Student Accounts is located in Main Hall, room 135.