Expanded-Duty Dental Assisting

Financial Aid

While our tuition rates are already affordable, you may qualify for financial aid to provide even more help with covering the cost of your education. Many of our students find that they qualify for enough aid to cover a significant amount of their tuition and fees.

South Carolina Tuition Tax Credit

To help ease the financial burden for South Carolina college students and their families, the South Carolina General Assembly has created an income tax credit for tuition paid to South Carolina colleges and universities. To claim the credit, a Form SC 1040 must be filed. When preparing the South Carolina income tax return, Form I-319 Tuition Tax Credit must be completed. This form is included with all state individual income tax booklets. For more information about the tax credit, please visit the South Carolina Tuition Tax Credit website.

Why do I need to file a FAFSA?

The FAFSA is used to determine how much federal and state aid you may qualify for in an academic year. Most kinds of aid require a FAFSA, including subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The FAFSA can be waived for high school student or for those with bachelors degrees for purposes of receiving lottery funds. Certain third-party benefactors require a FAFSA to be completed before they will pay (ex. WIA, TIA, etc.). A FAFSA must be filed yearly.

What other types of aid are available at ATC and who do I contact to apply?

• Aiken Technical College Foundation Scholarships: Mary Commons (803) 508-7413
• Aiken Technical Scholars Program: Patsy Fields (803) 508-7278 or Shareffa Harris (803) 508-7420
• Veterans Education Benefits: Susan Gannon (803) 508-7346

What happens to my aid if I withdraw from all of my classes?

It is important to remember each time that you withdraw from a class it will affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Completion Rate. Federal regulations require that your Cumulative Completion Rate be at least 67%. Grades of W, WF, NC, U, or F count against your completion rate. If you have federal Title IV aid (PELL, SEOG, DIRECT LOAN) and withdraw from ALL of your classes before the completion of 60% of the term, you will not have earned all of your aid and may find that you must repay unearned funds. Unlike a partial withdrawal, you will only earn a percentage of your awarded aid based on the number of days that you attended class. For example, if you receive $2,000 in federal aid and you withdraw from all of your classes after attending only 50% of the term, your aid will be recalculated and be adjusted to $1,000. Your tuition, however, will remain the same. If you have state aid (SCNB, SC LIFE, SC-LTAP) and withdraw from all of your classes before the drop period of the term has ended, you will lose all of these funds for the term. However, if you attend these classes beyond the end of the drop period of the term, you will have earned 100% of the awarded aid.

What happens to my aid if I withdraw from one or more of my classes, but not all of my classes?

It is important to remember each time that you withdraw from a class it will affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Completion Rate. Federal regulations require that your Cumulative Completion Rate be at least 67%. Grades of W, WF, NC, U, or F count against your completion rate. If you have federal Title IV aid (PELL, SEOG, DIRECT LOAN) and you remain enrolled in at least one credit hour class, your aid will not be reduced from your original award. For example, if you registered for 12 credit hours and you withdrew from 6 credit hours, you will still be paid based on 12 credit hours. If however, you drop below 6 credit hours and your DIRECT LOAN has not yet been fully disbursed, it will be cancelled. If you have state aid (SCNB, SC LIFE, SC-LTAP) you must remain enrolled through the end of the drop period of the term to earn these program funds. If you reduce your course load, you may be required to repay unearned program funds. For example, if you receive the SC-LTAP based on 12 credit hours and you withdraw from 6 credit hours before the end of the drop period of the term, you will be paid based only on 6 credit hours.

Is this a good long-term career or a stepping stone?

It can be both. Some graduates build long-term careers in dental assisting, while others use it as a pathway into dental hygiene or other healthcare roles.

Will I get hands-on experience working with patients?

Yes. This program includes clinical training where you’ll work directly with patients in real or simulated dental settings. This experience is essential for building confidence and preparing for day-to-day responsibilities in a dental office.