Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the upcoming financial aid deadlines:

Fall 2025 16-week and 1st 8-week: July 28, 2025

Fall 2nd 8-week : October 2, 2025

Spring 2026: December 3, 2025

Financial aid refund checks for Summer C session classes will be mailed July 14, 2025.

Financial aid refund checks for Fall 16-week and 1st 8-week classes will be mailed September 12, 2025.

If you have direct deposit set up, the funds will be sent to the bank on or around the date checks are mailed.

Yes! You are never required to have financial aid in place to register. Please be sure to have all financial aid documents turned in by the deadline or be prepared to pay by the last day to pay. If your financial aid is approved after you have paid out of pocket, you will be reimbursed the amount of financial aid you received.

We are processing FAFSA's daily. You will be notified through your personal email and SCC email once your FAFSA is received. If we do not have your FAFSA, make sure you added our school code to your application: 002961.

To use your financial aid in the bookstore, please follow the instructions below:

  1. Go to the SCC Bookstore and click "shop by schedule".
  2. Click on "Sign in via Your School Account".
  3. The textbook/textbooks for your course should automatically populate once you are logged in. Select which textbook option you prefer and add it to your cart.
  4. Complete all required fields when checking out. When you get to the "Payment Method" section, click on the "Financial Aid-(Current) Semester" check box.
  5. Click "Place Order" and you're done!

Below are the dates students can use financial aid funds in the SCC Bookstore:

Summer 2025

  • C Session: June 23 - July 7

Fall 2025

  • 16-week & 1st 8-week classes: August 8 - September 5
  • 2nd 8-week classes: October 6 - October 24

Here are the deadlines to submit the Textbook/Supplies Advance Request:

Summer 2025

  • C Session: June 17

Fall 2025

  • 16-week & 1st 8-week classes: August 1
  • 2nd 8-week classes: TBD

You are not required to purchase books and supplies in the SCC Bookstore. The SCC online bookstore makes course books and supplies conveniently available for purchase. Financial aid recipients can either use aid in excess of tuition/fees to make course book/supply purchases from the SCC online bookstore, or they can submit a Textbook Allowance Request for a possible funding allowance toward a course book/supply purchase from a non-SCC vendor. Awarded aid recipients who will have aid in excess of tuition/fees, who have decided to make course book/supply purchases from a non-SCC vendor, may complete this form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office by 5pm on the Tuesday prior to the term. SCC will process up to one request per term and notify you if your request is denied. If approved, the lesser of your requested amount or your budgetary book/supply allowance (up to $500 for Full-Time, $375 for ¾-Time, $250 for Half-Time and $125 for Less-Than-Half-Time) will be refunded to you by check. Requests will be processed by the Friday prior to the term.

To set up your direct deposit, login to your Self-Service and enter your banking information. Please review and verify your banking information before submitting. If you have issues logging into Self-Service, please contact support at 910-695-3827. Please allow for 3-5 business days for your account to verify. You will receive an email notification once your account has been verified.

Follow these simple steps:

  • Log into Self-Service
  • Click on Banking Information
  • Add an Account
  • Activate (Toggle Button)
  • Next
  • Enter all your banking information, agree to
    terms and conditions, and submit.

Sandhills can not hold check. All checks are mailed to the address on file with the Registrar's Office. You can contact them at (910) 246-5373 or email sccregistrarsoffice@sandhills.edu.  

  1. Make sure you are eligible for the program
    • Be a high school graduate.
    • Have a completed FAFSA for the current academic year.
    • Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
    • Be initially enrolled in at least 6 credit hours in a program of study that is eligible for financial aid.
    • Have “unmet” financial aid need as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
  2. View the current list of Work-Study Job Descriptions.
  3. Complete the Work-Study Application for the position(s) you are interested in.
  4. Once your application is received, you will be contacted by email regarding your eligibility and given additional information.
  5. If selected for an interview, the supervisor for the FWS position(s) you applied for will contact you via phone or email, using the contact information you provided on the application.

While you may apply for more than one work-study position, you can only be hired for ONE of those positions.

**Please note: Submitting a FWS application does not guarantee to hire for a Federal Work-Study position. Placement into a position is contingent on job availability, the student’s qualifications, selection by a supervisor, and program funding.**

Contact Information

Sarah Barber
Financial Aid Coordinator
221A Stone Hall
(910) 695-3952
barbers@sandhills.edu 

A negative balance in your self-service account means you are due for a refund. These funds can be used in the SCC bookstore or you can wait and have these funds disbursed later in the semester. A positive balance means you have a balance due to the business office. You may contact the business office at (910) 695-3971.

Once your FAFSA is submitted, it takes about 3-5 business days before we will receive the application. Once we have imported the application, you will be notified via your student email. This email will provide information about what documents need to be completed and where to complete them.

We are processing all incoming forms daily. Allow 2-3 business days for processing. During peak times, allow 3-5 business days. If you have submitted a verification form, it may take up to 2 weeks for those to be fully processed.

To submit financial aid documents, go to eForms. If you have questions about eForms, refer to our eForms information page.