Applying for Financial Aid

Eligibility for federal student aid is determined on the basis of financial need, as well as several other factors including:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security number
• Register with the Selective Service (males between the age of 18 and 25)
• Not have been convicted under Federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs while receiving Federal financial aid
• Be enrolled and working toward a degree (AA, AAS, AS, BAS, OR BS) or eligible certificate
• Possess a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate, also known as a GED
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress while in school

Students will need to create a unique FSA ID which will act as an electronic signature for all federal documents, such as the FAFSA, master promissory note (MPN), and entrance counseling. To set up the FSA ID a student will need his/her social security number, date of birth, and email address.

If you are a dependent student, at least (1) parent will need to set up a FSA ID as well. Your parent will need his/her social security card, date of birth, and a different email address from the student.

Both the student and parent can confirm their identity via their mobile devices or via email.

Submit your FAFSA using DSC’s school code: 001475 by the following dates to ensure your information is given priority:

• Fall Semester = July 1
• Spring Semester = December 1
• Summer Semester = April 1

While a financial aid notification will not be provided until you are officially admitted to Daytona State College, we encourage you to file the FAFSA early.

Students may be selected for a process called verification by the U.S. Department of Education. This process compares the information on the FAFSA with information from the IRS. If this is the case, students will receive an email to their Falcon Mail notifying them to check their To-Do list. Common verification items are:

• Dependent or Independent verification worksheet
• If you are an independent student:
  1. A signed copy of a student’s 2020 (2022-2023 FAFSA) or 2021 (2023-2024 FAFSA) federal tax return, including ALL schedules.
  2. A signed copy of a student’s spouse’s 2020 (2022-2023 FAFSA) or 2021 (2023-2024 FAFSA) federal tax return, including ALL schedules.
• If you are a dependent student:
  1. A signed copy of a student’s 2020 (2022-2023 FAFSA) or  2021 (2023-2024 FAFSA) federal tax return, including ALL schedules.
  2. A signed copy of the parent’s 2020 (2022-20223 FAFSA) or 2021 (2023-2024 FAFSA) federal tax return, including ALL schedules.

Students who are selected for verification and who do not submit the requested documentation are not eligible to receive federal, and in some cases, state financial assistance. Students must submit all required documentation no later than 180 days after their last date of enrollment or by the published date in September, whichever is earlier.

Please do not send us documents if we do not request them, as it will only delay your aid.

Email notifications regarding award status, satisfactory academic progress, and other important DSC announcements are also sent to a student’s FalconMail.

Your initial financial aid notification email details the financial aid resources offered to you for the upcoming year. These can include scholarships and grants, as well as Direct Loans and Federal Work Study. The initial notification assumes a student will be enrolled in a full-time course load, or at least 12 credits.

To review your financial aid package, log into your MyDaytonaState self-service portal and click on the Financial Aid tile. Be sure you are on the appropriate financial aid year and select Accept/Decline awards from the menu on the left hand side. You will notice the grants and scholarships are already accepted. You will need to accept, reduce, or decline the Direct Loans and federal work-study.

DSC also understands when the FAFSA was completed, students may have been in a different financial situation. We are available to discuss your current circumstances and offer suggestions to help ensure DSC remains affordable. Please contact Financial Aid Services via phone at (386) 506-3015 or by email at FinancialAid@DaytonaState.edu.

Financial aid will be adjusted based on a student’s actual enrollment.

Based on certain awards, we may need to split your award if you are taking both A and B term courses.

Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

• Pell Grants will only pay for the courses you are actually enrolled in:
  • Students taking A term and B term courses will see the Pell Grant split based on A and B
  • Student in Dynamic CTE courses, will notice they receive a Pell Grant payment for each course they begin
• Direct Loans require enrollment of at least half-time, or 6 credit hours
  • Students taking 3 credits in a full term or A term course, and another 3 credits in B term courses, will not receive payment until B term

First time Direct Loan borrowers must complete the Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and the Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before loan funds will disburse. In addition, based on federal regulations, there is a 30-day delay in disbursing these funds to students.

To maintain your eligibility for financial aid, you must meet the standards set forth in Daytona State's policy on satisfactory academic progress. You should also review how changes to your enrollment can affect your financial aid.