SSU awards scholarships to both undergraduate and graduate students who meet the qualifications for each scholarship. Awards are based on merit, need, academic ability, or athletic talent. Scholarships are awarded throughout the academic year. Students should apply using Scholarship Universe.

The State of Georgia provides scholarships/grants to undergraduate students from various sources.  Most programs require that you are a legal resident of Georgia and that you file a FAFSA.  More information on State aid can be found at gafutures.org.

The U.S. Dept. of Education provides Pell Grants to undergraduate students who are seeking their first baccalaureate degree and have exceptional financial need. Eligibility is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated using information provided by the student/parent on the FAFSA.

The amount of Pell Grant shown on the award notification is based upon full-time enrollment. Should a student not enroll for at least 12 credits (full-time), the award will be prorated at disbursement based on enrollment intensity.

Funds from this award will be divided equally between the fall and spring and will be credited to the student’s SSU account. Student’s may have eligibility for summer Pell Grant under certain conditions.  For additional information, please visit our Pell Grant page.

This federal grant is awarded based on the student’s SAI as calculated using information provided by the student/parent on the FAFSA and the availability of funds. Students who apply by March 1^st have priority for these funds. Only students who are Pell Grant eligible may receive this grant (undergraduate students who have not received a baccalaureate degree). Funding is extremely limited and not all eligible students will receive funds.  For additional information, please visit our Federal SEOG page

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need. FWS gives the student an opportunity of working on campus or in a community service position on a part-time basis. FWS students may work up to 20 hours per week. Pay rate is determined based on job type, job duties and experience, but must meet the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The FAFSA is required.  For additional information please visit our Federal Work Study Program page. Funding is limited and not all eligible students may receive funds.

This is an interest-bearing loan that enters repayment six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least on a half-time basis (6 hours). The OFA will determine a student’s eligibility based upon the results of the FAFSA.

The term “Subsidized” means that the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled in school and during the six-month grace period following the student’s ceasing to be enrolled at least half-time. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester to be eligible to borrow.

Annual limits are:

This interest-bearing loan provides financial assistance to all eligible students regardless of income. The FAFSA is required for determining eligibility.

The term “Unsubsidized” means that the student pays the interest on the loan while enrolled. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester to be eligible to borrow.

Annual limits are:

Students choosing to borrow a Federal Direct loan must complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Loan Counseling.

Students who graduate or withdraw from SSU must complete Exit Counseling.

This federal loan is available to parents of dependent students. Students must complete the FAFSA and the parent must complete a PLUS application.  A parent must have good credit to qualify or an endorser with good credit. Parents can borrow up to the annual cost of attendance minus other aid.

This federal loan is available to graduate students to help finance their education. It’s similar to the Parent PLUS loan, but for students rather than their parents. Grad PLUS loans are unsubsidized and require a credit check. Students must complete the FAFSA and a Graduate PLUS application.  A Graduate student must have good credit to qualify or an endorser with good credit. Students can borrow up to the annual cost of attendance minus other aid.

• Students are awarded financial aid based on FULL-TIME enrollment status (12 hours) unless the student informs the Office of Financial Aid otherwise. Please note: HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships are awarded at the maximum amount based on enrolling in 15 hours. Financial aid packages for students enrolled less than full-time may require adjustments. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of his or her less than full-time enrollment status. Eligibility for awards varies with enrollment status. Students must be enrolled in an eligible program of study to receive (a degree-seeking program) any financial aid.
• If you receive any financial assistance from any source other than what is shown on your award notification, your financial aid package must be adjusted. Savannah State University reserves the right to change the content and amount of any student’s financial aid package based on additional financial assistance received by the student at any point in the academic year.
• Your financial aid award is subject to change or may be adjusted at any point in the academic year due to Savannah State University’s correction(s) and/or change(s) in federal/state appropriations. We routinely audit our financial aid files throughout the academic year to check for accuracy. SSU reserves the right to make corrections to a student’s financial aid information as needed and these changes may alter a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) or award eligibility and subsequently the financial aid package. In addition, please remember that changes in your SAI due to student’s/parent’s failure to report accurate information on the FAFSA will result in award revision(s) as well. SSU reserves the right to adjust the content and/or the amount of the student’s financial aid package based on the above conditions at any point in the academic year.
• If you correct your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) after you have been awarded, your financial aid package may be adjusted in accordance with federal regulations at any point in the academic year. SSU reserves the right to adjust the content and/or the amount of the student’s financial aid package based on the above conditions at any point in the academic year.
• If you withdraw after the term begins, your financial aid package is subject to proration as set forth in the federal regulations. If, after the federally prescribed proration is calculated, we have to reduce your financial aid package, you may owe a balance on your account. This balance is your responsibility to pay, not SSU’s responsibility. Institutional aid (including scholarships) may be prorated if tuition charges are adjusted.
• Contents of the student’s financial aid file are the property of the Savannah State University Office of Financial Aid. These files are considered confidential information. Requests by the student to review his or her file must be made in writing. Requests by the dependent student’s parent(s) to review the student’s file must be made in writing, and the student must give his or her written consent to release the information. Once a request is received, SSU has 45 days to make the requested information available for review. This review will take place in the Office of Financial Aid at a time convenient for the student, dependent student’s parent(s) and the Office of Financial Aid. This review will NOT take place the same day the written request for review is received by the Office of Financial Aid. Requests by anyone other than the student and/or the parent(s) must be approved by the student. A Consent to Release Information must be completed by the student and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. This policy is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, 20 USC § 1232g and 34 CFR § 99.
• In the case of a divorced/separated student, the ex-spouse is not privileged to any financial aid information on the student.
• In the case of a divorced/separated parent of a dependent student, the non-custodial parent is not privileged to any financial aid information regarding the student unless that non-custodial parent’s financial information was used to calculate the student’s eligibility for financial aid.
• Students must apply for need-based financial aid each year; financial aid awards are NOT automatically renewable. We cannot guarantee that the same level of funding will be available each academic year. Funding levels from the federal government, the state, and the University change each year. As a result, need-based financial aid packages may vary annually in content as well as total amounts from year to year. The Office of Financial Aid at SSU reserves the right to change packaging policies annually.
• If your permanent home address changes at any time, it is your responsibility to notify the University of your change of address immediately.
• Because the Office of Financial Aid communicates with you via your SSU email address, it is your responsibility to ensure you are reviewing your email for any communications from our office.
• Students who leave the University through transfer, graduation, or any other form of leave are not entitled to the remaining eligibility of institutional aid/scholarships and will forfeit such remaining eligibility.
• Students attending the Summer term are eligible for financial aid based on remaining eligibility for the academic year. Federal funds, i.e., student Loans, are based on an annual limit. If the annual amount has been utilized for previous terms (whether at SSU or at other post-secondary schools), the student is not eligible for additional funding for the Summer term. The student must be enrolled in at least 6 hours during the Summer term to receive a student loan.
• Current year financial aid may not be used to pay prior year balances.
• Students who have student loans and withdraw from school must complete an Exit Counseling Interview before returning – even if the student returns the next term.
• Students and/or parents who report “No Income” on the FAFSA, or report an income that appears to be exceptionally low, are required to provide additional documentation. The student and/or parent will be contacted by the Office of Financial Aid regarding this need.
• Annual student loan eligible amounts will not be awarded for one term.
• The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to deny a student a loan – federal, alternative or Student Access Loan – based on specific federal guidelines and/or institutional polices. Students who have previously defaulted on a student loan may be denied on a case-by-case basis.
• Financial Aid will disburse to a student’s account in the Bursar’s Office following the completion of the “Drop/Add Period.”
• If you are disbursed funds for which you are later deemed ineligible, you will be required to repay those funds to the University.
• A student may NOT receive financial aid at two schools simultaneously. It is not allowed by federal law. Should this be discovered, aid may be removed at SSU and the student will have a balance due to the Bursar’s Office.
• A student with a bachelor’s degree who wishes to return to SSU and receive an additional bachelor’s degree must be in a degree program other than the one previously completed.