To determine eligibility to receive financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Information provided on the FAFSA determines aid eligibility. Read the Application Touchpoints before filing an online FAFSA Application.
Students are reminded that the U.S. Department of Education has approved year-round Pell Grants so students can use funds to pay for tuition and fees for the Summer semester. To be eligible, students must enroll and attend at least half time and continue to make satisfactory academic progress in accordance with federal regulations.
Gadsden State's federal school code is 001017.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Verification
Gadsden State Community College’s Financial Aid Department has taken steps to expedite the financial aid offer process. Each year, Gadsden State is required by the Department of Education to confirm data reported on FAFSA applications by a select population of students. Gadsden State is partnering with Inceptia to assist in this process. The Verification Gateway from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification.
Students selected by the Department of Education for FAFSA application verification will receive an email from VGCS@inceptia.org or postcard from Inceptia. The email or postcard will include Gadsden State’s unique website link to start the verification process.
Students are encouraged to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification from Verification Gateway to ensure receipt of financial aid in time for payments. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of financial aid.
Follow these steps to complete verification.
- Access Gadsden State’s unique website link (also sent in the email from VGCS@inceptia.org).
- Create an account and choose preferences for text messages and e-signatures.
- Complete the Task List.
- Confirm signature and information.
- Sign the account.
*Parents of dependent students will also need to create their own account and complete each of these steps.
Gadsden State Community College Federal Verification Gateway Link: gadsdenstate.verificationgateway.org
Deadline for submitting these documents for 2024-2025 academic year is June 30, 2025.
Questions about the verification process?
Contact Inceptia, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Central at 833-932-1877 or VGCS@inceptia.or
- File a FAFSA online. File early, any time after October 1.
- FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s FREE – some websites charge a fee. Go to www.fafsa.gov.
- The FAFSA application you file is for the academic year: Fall, Spring and Summer. You must file a new FAFSA each year.
- Do not hesitate to call the FAFSA toll-free help line at 800-433-3243 if you have problems or questions while in the application.
- It is important to create an FSA ID. A separate FSA ID is required for the student and a parent (if required) to electronically sign. Missing signatures will increase processing time.
- Need help creating your FSA ID? Check out this video!
- Use the prior-prior year’s tax information to complete the FAFSA, e.g. 2023-2024 FAFSA, 2021 tax information; 2024-2025 FAFSA, 2022 tax information; 2025-2026 FAFSA, 2023 tax information.
- Don’t forget to add our school code on the FAFSA (001017). You should review your Student Aid Report (SAR) sent by mail or email to you from the Federal Processing Center, usually within 4 -7 days of filing. Be sure that emails from Federal Student Aid (FSA) and Gadsden State are not sent to your spam. Make corrections if needed.
- Typically, within two weeks of filing online, you should be able to view your status and requirements in OneACCS, when applying within the current academic year.
- Normal time to process and finalize financial aid is 2-4 weeks, sometimes longer, especially for high school students due to transcripts and placement testing.
- It is important to regularly check OneACCS regarding Admissions and Financial Aid status. Each process involves several steps, so be sure to follow up.
- Once aid is finalized, you can view your Award offer in OneACCS. Visit the Financial Aid Office if offer not visible two weeks prior to pre-registration.
To ensure financial aid processing before classes start, the FAFSA application should be completed at least 15 business days before the first day of the semester. All verification documents should be received in the Financial Aid Office at least 10 business days before the first day of the semester.
The verification process must be completed within 120 days of the student's last date of enrollment or by September 2024 (whichever is sooner) to retain the Federal Pell Grant for the 2024-2025 academic year ending June 30, 2025.
The verification process must be completed within 120 days of the student's last date of enrollment or by September 2025 (whichever is sooner) to retain the Federal Pell Grant for the 2025-2026 academic year ending June 30, 2026.
Each eligible student will receive an award notification after file completion. Please review all information carefully and follow directions. Refundable financial aid awards exceeding tuition, fees and other allowable charges will disburse via postal mail to the address on file in the Admissions and Records Office or via direct deposit (if student enrolled). Credit-balance checks will be mailed approximately two weeks after the registration period ends.
Federal Pell Grant awards are based on full-time enrollment and will prorate for enrollment less than full time and enrollment in classes outside the declared major. For applicable certificate programs, the Federal Pell Grant disburses based on both credit and contact hours.
The financial aid award may be reduced if the student does not begin attending classes, withdraws from classes or enrolls in courses not required for the declared major. Students may be obligated to repay the difference between the funds awarded and the amount recalculated. Students who completely withdraw before the 60% point of the semester may owe a repayment to the U.S. Department of Education. Also, reducing the enrollment status may affect the required standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and cause the student to lose eligibility to receive additional financial aid. It is recommended that students check with Financial Aid before dropping any classes or changing their schedule to determine how those changes may affect financial aid. Refer to the Gadsden State Catalog and Student Handbook or visit the Financial Aid Office for more information.
The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to amend or cancel awards due to changes in academic status, remaining need or funding a student receives by Gadsden State Community College or another institution of higher learning.
Satisfactory Academic Progress will be measured at the end of each semester of enrollment at Gadsden State. Students are required under federal regulations to maintain certain standards of progress depending on the number of hours attempted in college. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand all policies associated with financial aid funding.
Students who receive a Pell Grant from another institution immediately before transferring to Gadsden State must:
- Contact the Admissions and Records Office at 256-549-8210 regarding transfer student admission.
- Correct your current-year FAFSA to add Gadsden State’s federal school code (001017). This allows GSCC to access your application.
- Contact the Gadsden State Financial Aid Office to request your name be added to the Gadsden State Transfer Monitoring List.
- Contact your previous institution to inform them you will no longer be utilizing your aid with them.