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Fact Sheet: College Scholarship Assistance Program

General Description and Purpose

The College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP) is a statewide need-based undergraduate grant program established in 1973 to assist students with extreme financial need in Virginia's public and participating private colleges and universities. The Commonwealth combines state appropriations with the Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) to fund the program.


Application Process

To apply for assistance, the student must:

  1. From a high school or post-secondary institution, obtain and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or other federally approved application for need-based aid;

  2. Meet the FAFSA application deadline established by the participating institution which the student plans to attend;

  3. Ensure that information provided on the application is complete and accurate. A student's failure to resolve any pending problems with the processing of an application may preclude the student from being considered for assistance in this program; and

  4. If attending a private institution, file a Tuition Assistance Grant Program application or complete a domiciliary status form.

 

Eligibility

A completed application for need-based aid must be filed with a participating institution. To be considered for a CSAP award, the student must:

  1. Be admitted into a Virginia public two or four year college or university, or a participating Virginia private non-profit four year college or university;

  2. Be enrolled at least half-time in an approved degree, certificate, or diploma program;

  3. Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the U.S.;

  4. Be a domiciliary resident of Virginia as defined by the Code of Virginia §23-7.4;

  5. Not have received assistance for more than the normal length of time required to complete the particular undergraduate degree program in which the student is enrolled;

  6. Meet the satisfactory progress standards of the institution for federal student aid programs;

  7. Have a computed Expected Family Contribution that is less than one-half of the total cost of attendance;

  8. Meet all federal requirements set forth in federal laws and regulations which apply to Title IV Programs (1965 Higher Education Act, as amended; see below); and

  9. Not be enrolled in a program leading to a second associate or bachelor degree.

All requirements of federal laws and regulations that apply to recipients of Title IV funds also apply to recipients of CSAP awards. Additionally, there are federal requirements specific to this program because CSAP includes Virginia's allotment of the Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP). Currently these include that the student:

  1. Must have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or be above the age of compulsory school attendance in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have the ability to benefit from the education or training offered by the post-secondary institution;

  2. Does not owe a refund on a grant awarded under the Pell Grant, FSEOG, or CSAP programs;

  3. Is not in default on any loan made under the National Defense/Direct Student Loan, Perkins Loan, Income Contingent Loan (ICL), Stafford, PLUS, Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), or Consolidated Loan programs;

  4. Has not borrowed in excess of the annual loan limits under the Federal Stafford, FPLUS, or FSLS programs in the same academic year for which the student has applied for assistance under the CSAP and has not borrowed in excess of the aggregate maximum loan limits under the Federal Stafford, FPLUS, FSL, or Federal Consolidation Loan programs;

  5. Must satisfy the Selected Service registration requirement for recipients of federal aid; and>

  6. Must have filed a Statement of Educational Purpose and Certification Statement on Overpayments and Defaults with the participating institution.

The duration of a student's CSAP eligibility is related to the length of time normally required to complete a degree at a particular institution. Specifically, the student's eligibility for a CSAP award will be based on the satisfactory progress standards of the institution for federal campus-based financial aid programs. If a student is in a dual degree program at a four-year college or university that results in the simultaneous awarding of both an undergraduate and a graduate or professional degree, the student shall be considered eligible for CSAP only for the undergraduate portion of the program.

Awards

$400-$5,000 depending upon student financial need and available funds.

Renewal

The student must continue to meet the eligibility requirements above. The award is not automatically renewed.


Cancellation/Refund Policy

The financial aid officer must ensure that a student's award does not exceed the student's financial need. Students who are not enrolled for at least half-time study at the close of the last day for adding classes shall not be eligible for a CSAP award and any previous CSAP award offer shall be withdrawn by the institutional aid officer and the student shall be notified. If the student discontinues full-time enrollment, but is enrolled for at least half-time study after the last day for adding classes, a partial or full CSAP award may be given.