<p>Ok, I'm trying to provide a kid with some information on possibly attending college on a part-time basis. I need some information on how FA is calculated for a part-time student. </p>
<p>I know full time study is considered to be 12 hours a semester, however, you can't get a BA, at least as far as I know, in 4 years with a 12 hour semester. So, I've read and re-read the new Pell Grant Limitations, but can't find the answer. Is a student taking a 12 hour semester seen as using 100% of their Pell Grant award? If so, then I'm guessing a 9 hour semester is considered 75% of the Pell Grant? If that is the case, can a student take 12 hours a semester and keep enough Pell Grant eligibility to complete a 120 hour BA. I'm assuming that any majors requiring more than that, or any failed classes are going to not be possible under the new Pell requirements. Also, I'm guessing that there would be no wiggle room for a possible change in major. </p>
<p>If a student is part-time at 9 hours a semester, how is cost of attendance calculated. Room & board costs are obviously the same no matter whether you're 9, 12 or 15 hours (and I'm referring to not just dorm and meal-plan, though some schools allow part-time students to live in the dorm if space is available, I mean on or off campus) and does COA vary for dependent or independent student?</p>
<p>Assuming there is need, beyond Pell and enough to qualify for both sub and unsub loans, are Staffords pro-rated like Pell Grants for hours, does a 9 hour semester only qualify for 75% of Stafford, assuming we don't go over COA? </p>
<p>I've got a student, unmarried, but with a toddler, who really is making an effort to rise above a foolish mistake and wants to get her degree, but will not be able to go full-time (15 hours) and I'm not sure she can handle 12. I want to avoid a situation where she runs out of aid before she achieves her BA. So I'm trying to work the numbers as best I can beforehand.</p>
<p>She's an independent due to the child, we're looking at both the CC to university option and straight 4 year state university. With the CC option there are 2 choices. She resides in one CC district, it's not as good academically (but it's okay) as the 2nd option, but has the advantage of being cheaper, both tuition and R&B. There is a possibility of a little FA for child care. But she'd have housing and board expenses here and I'm not sure it's doable if loans and other aid are pegged to the number of hours, because her living expenses won't vary whether she takes 9 or 12 hours. Her other CC option is in the town her parents live in. She could live at home, it would be difficult, her parents alternate between being supportive and being very negative and sarcastic, however they treat the grandchild fairly and that's what matters most to her, she could put up with her parent's attitude awhile. However because she didn't graduate high school in this CC district, she would be required to pay Out of District tuition and she does not have a job in this town, plus she would have to pay her parents some toward rent and food for the toddler. This CC is better academically, but even discounting the Out of District tuition, is more expensive than the other CC. </p>
<p>It would help if I had a clearer understanding of how part-time FA works with calculating COA and loans, plus clarification on the percentage of Pell grant utilized.</p>