Grants are gift aid that you're awarded based on your expected family contribution, which is calculated from the FAFSA. Applying for grants early is always best, but not mandatory.

Del Mar College participates in numerous federal, state and local grant programs.

FEDERAL PELL GRANT (PELL)

This grant provides financial aid to students pursuing a Pell-approved, post-secondary degrees or certificates. This grant ranges in amount, depending on the number of credit hours the student is enrolled each semester and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated by the Department of Education.  Pell is limited to a lifetime maximum of 6 years or 12 full-time semesters (or the equivalent). Once a student has received six years of full-time eligibility, that student is no longer eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Year-Round Pell

Effective from the 2018-2019 school year, an eligible student may receive a full Federal Pell Grant for Summer even if they received a full Federal Pell Grant during the fall and spring semesters. Student must be enrolled in at least halftime (6 – 8) hour to receive an additional Pell Grant. Year-round Federal Pell Grant availability can provide students with an excellent opportunity to accelerate program completion, possibly saving on overall degree cost and limiting student loan debt.

Note: The provisions of the new law state that any Pell Grant received will be included in determining the student’s Pell Grant duration of eligibility and Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). To be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds:

• Student must be otherwise eligible to receive Pell Grant funds for the payment period.
• Student must be enrolled at least half-time in the payment period(s) (6 credit hours) during the summer term.
• Student must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Additional information on Year-Round Pell

PELL GRANT LIFETIME LIMIT

Federal law limits the amount you may receive over your lifetime to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding you can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600% or 12 full-time semesters. For more information regarding Pell Grant lifetime limits, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website.

PERKINS GRANT for Career and Technical Education

Perkins grants expand opportunities for students to explore, choose, and follow Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and career pathways to earn valuable credentials. A portion of these funds are set aside to assist Del Mar College students in CTE programs with needs such as childcare and transportation assistance while attending clinicals and internships.

Additional information on Perkins grants

FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)

This grant awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need (0 EFC).  Students are selected and awarded based on an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0, FAFSA submission date, must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours or 3 hours in summer. This grant is available on a limited basis, so apply early. An FSEOG does not have to be paid back.

TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL GRANT (TPEG)

Must be a Texas resident and must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours or 3 hours in summer. This grant is available on a limited basis, so apply early. TPEG is a state program available if you're an eligible student in credit classes to help you meet your financial need.

TPEG for Continuing Education is available if you're an eligible continuing education students with demonstrated need who enrolls in state-funded classes towards a career, once completed the CE program. Continuing education TPEG awards can be used for tuition only. To obtain a continuing education financial aid application, please visit the Continuing Education site or the "Form" tab on the financial aid page.

TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL GRANT - NON RESIDENT (TPEGN)

For Texas Non-Resident students. Must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours or 3 hours in summer. This grant is available on a limited basis, so apply early. TPEG is a state program available if you're an eligible student in credit classes to help you meet your financial need.

TEXAS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT INITIAL (TEOG1)

To provide grant aid to students with financial need that are enrolled in Texas public two-year colleges.

TEXAS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT RENEWAL (TEOG2)

Be enrolled at least half-time as a student who previously received a TEOG award and has not yet been granted an associate degree or baccalaureate degree.

More information can be found on the THECB website.

Loans are available to assist you in meeting your educational costs. All of the loans available are long-term, low-interest loans. No loan may be made if the student is unwilling to repay the loan. A prior default or delinquency on a loan or an established history of nonpayment of debts may be taken as evidence of unwillingness to repay the loan. The U.S. Department of Education is the lending institution and will also be responsible for all correspondence and repayments.

The following student loan programs are available at DMC:

DIRECT LOANS

DIRECT LOAN SUBSIDIZED (DLSUB)

Awarded on the basis of financial need. The federal government pays the interest while you are in school. You must be enrolled in at least six semester hours.

DIRECT LOAN UNSUBSIDIZED (UNSUB)

Is not awarded on the basis of need. You will be charged interest from the time that the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You must be enrolled in at least six semester hours.

APPLYING FOR DIRECT LOANS

To apply for a federal student aid direct loan, you must:

1. Have your FAFSA application submitted and fully processed.
2. Submit a Loan Request online by logging into WebDMC at; www.delmar.edu/webdmc . Select "Students". Under Financial Aid, click on "Financial Aid Checklist". Click the “Financial Aid” tab and from the drop down menu, select; “Request a New Loan”. Select the appropriate Award Year and continue the process by entering the loan amount requested. 
3. Complete the Loan Entrance Counseling if you haven’t already for Del Mar College (explains the obligations you agree to meet as a condition of receiving a direct loan).
4. Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) after you've received an award letter with the loan amount offered.
5. Students must be enrolled in 6 credit hours (half-time) to receive a federal Direct Student Loan.

Note: If all steps in Direct Loan process are not completed, a delay in processing or disbursing funds could result. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

1. Loan Advising Session
2. Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement. Recommended to complete. (See explanation below).

Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, as part of the Master Promissory Note (MPN) confirmation process, an Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement may be completed by any borrower accepting:

•   a federal student loan (subsidized / unsubsidized)
•   a PLUS loan for graduate/professional students,
•   or a Parent PLUS loan

Attention: Loan BORROWERS at Del Mar College

See Direct Loan Borrower instructions

KNOW BEFORE YOU OWE!

Have questions about student loans? Get more information from the Department of Education's overview of direct subsidized loans.

The Federal Student Aid Calculators will help you estimate your monthly loan payment.

NATIONAL STUDENT LOAN DATA SYSTEM (NSLDS)

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) central database for student aid.

NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants, so recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. The system can help you learn about your loan status, assist with repayment methods to keep your loan out of default and keep you aware of where your loan debt is currently.

FEDERAL LOAN SERVICERS

You start loan repayment six months after you stop attending at least half-time. Once you go in to repayment, you will be contacted by a federal loan servicer to make payment arrangements.

FEDERAL PARENT LOANS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (PLUS)

Applying for a Parent PLUS Loan involves three steps:

• Together, you and your student must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if you haven't already done so.
• Complete the "Apply for a PLUS Loan" option on the studentloans.gov website. Please be sure that the same parent who completes the "Apply for a PLUS Loan" is the same parent who completes the Master Promissory Note with the DOE.
• Only one parent is required to complete a Master Promissory Note with the Department of Education. A Master Promissory Note is valid for 10 years; however, a new credit report will be initiated by the DOE each time. Only one parent may apply for the loan. The parent will have an opportunity to complete the Direct PLUS Loan MPN upon completion of the Direct PLUS Loan Request.

Note: If all steps in Parent PLUS Loan application process are not completed, a delay in processing or disbursing funds could result. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE LOANS (ALTR)

Private (Alternative) Loan programs are educational loans that are available through private lenders. They are not part of the federal government loan program and are intended to supplement traditional financial aid programs. These loans require a student to be credit-worthy or have a credit-worthy co-signer. Terms, interest rates and fees vary by lender. Students are encouraged to research various alternative loan options and select the one that best fits their circumstances. Applications may need to be requested from the lender, but most are available for students to fill out online.

Before considering or applying for an alternative loan, Financial Aid & Scholarships strongly encourages you to apply for federal aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, by completing the FAFSA. Federal student loans often provide better interest rates, terms and flexibility in repayment compared to alternative loans.

You are free to select any private lender offering alternative loans. While Del Mar College does not recommend any specific lenders for alternative loans we do recommend you compare loans from several lenders to find the best interest rate, terms and repayment options for your situation.

WHAT IS WORK-STUDY?

Work-study is an employment opportunity program (Federal, State, or Institutional) for students who have demonstrated financial need. Unlike other financial aid awards, work-study is paid to students in the form of a paycheck for hours worked.

Work-study is real, on-the-job training and is a way to obtain important pre-graduation work experience. Expect to treat your work-study job as a professional position—it’s a great opportunity to develop skills, network in your field, and build a solid reference for future employment. Work-studies are vital to the college’s daily operations and are a valued part of our workforce.

HOW CAN I BE CONSIDERED FOR WORK-STUDY?

To be considered for work-study, you should answer “yes” to the work-study question on the FAFSA every year. Work-study is a need-based program, so not all students qualify. If you qualify and funds are available, you will receive work-study on your Del Mar College award notice.

Work-study is generally awarded up to 19 hours per week. Students are paid twice a month at a minimum salary of the following:

• First Year - $8.50/per hour
• Second Year - $9.50/per hour
• Other - $10/hour*

*Note: Financial Aid determines Rate of Pay, that are appropriate and reasonable according to the type of work performed, the geographic area, the employee's proficiency, and federal, state, or local law minimum wage rate.

• Hire Vikings

STEPS TO COMPLETE THE WORK-STUDY PROGRAM

• Student Employment forms and Step 2 identification items MUST be completed, printed, signed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office all at once as a complete packet BEFORE you begin working.