Fresno City College students on financial aid can expect several changes, starting this summer.

Tuition for summer classes will be $46 per unit, up $10 from the spring semester.

The minimum need for Board of Governors “C” class fee waiver is also increasing in 2012-2013, changing from $1 of need to $1,104 or more. That figure is determined by subtracting the estimated family contribution from the full year cost of attendance or student budget.

While repeating classes is a regular occurrence at FCC, students receiving financial aid will be restricted only one repeat of any course, given they earn a passing grade (‘D’ or above).

A new regulation will eliminate the ability-to-benefit tests for incoming students. Starting July 1, students who enroll at any of the SCCCD campuses will have to have a high school diploma, GED or an equivalent degree to receive federal financial aid. Students will not be able to take and pass an ability-to-benefit test or complete six-degree units to gain financial aid eligibility.
The federal government is also implementing some new changes for direct loans, including increasing the interest rate on loans disbursed on or after July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.

Similarly, the federal government will no longer subsidize the loan’s interest during a student’s grace period, the six months between graduation and when the student must start repaying the loan.

Currently, one proposal is making its way through the California legislature to change the GPA requirement for Cal Grant recipients. Gov. Jerry Brown proposed an increase in the GPA requirement from 2.0 to 2.75 in order to receive a Cal Grant award.

The proposal has not yet been adopted by the legislature and has not reached the Governor’s desk to be signed.
The eligibility for Pell Grants is decreasing on July 1, from nine full years to six full years. Fresno City College’s Financial Aid office is warning students that if they have already exceeded the six year limit, they might not be eligible for Pell Grants at the start of July.
To check your Pell Grant history and confirm your eligibility, go to http://www.nslds.ed.gov