Financial Aid

The Foundation uses the services of the Gulf Coast State College’s Financial Aid Office as the sole processor for general and endowed scholarship award disbursements. The Financial Aid Office will post scholarship awards to a student’s financial account.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Gulf Coast State College Foundation does not require scholarship applicants to apply for federal financial aid or assistance. However, it is strongly recommended that every scholarship applicant consider completing a FAFSA application during their time at Gulf Coast State College.

Combining Student Aid with Foundation Scholarships

Foundation scholarships can be combined or “stacked” with other forms of financial aid (i.e. the Gulf Coast Guarantee, Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Bright Futures, College Pre-Paid Plans, Work-study programs, other Foundation scholarships, or other outside scholarships). Recipients of general foundation scholarships may combine their award with other departmental or organizational scholarships. High School Honors scholarship recipients may combine their award with other Foundation departmental or organizational scholarships. Foundation scholarships are classified as ‘last dollar’ out awards which means that all other forms of financial aid are applied before a Foundation scholarship award is used. If all or a portion of a Foundation scholarship is not used and the recipient has maintained their enrollment status, the Financial Aid office will disburse any unused scholarship amount directly to the recipient.

Adjustment to Financial Aid and Scholarships

Scholarships are a form of financial aid. The awarding of Foundation scholarships may affect a recipient’s financial aid package because in some cases he/she may be limited in the amount of aid they can receive. If a scholarship recipient receives a scholarship in addition to their financial aid and it goes over his/her “unmet financial need” some of their sources of financial aid (student loans or scholarships) may be adjusted. In most cases, money is deducted from his/her loan(s) before it is taken from their grants or work-study to balance out the “need”. For more information, contact the Gulf Coast State College Financial Aid Office at (850) 872-3845.