July 23, 2008...

Students attending Trident Technical College this fall can receive up to $900 in lottery-funded tuition assistance, which will cover more than half the cost of tuition and fees at the college.

Lottery tuition assistance is available to most South Carolina residents, regardless of income. The maximum lottery tuition assistance award amounts for fall 2008 are $900 for eligible full-time students (12 or more semester hours) and $75 per credit hour for eligible part-time students (6-11 semester hours).

To be eligible for lottery funding, a student must qualify for in-state tuition rates, enroll in a certificate, diploma or associate degree program, and take at least six credit hours a semester. For complete eligibility requirements, visit www.sctechsystem.com/lottery/eligibility.htm or call TTC’s recorded lottery information line at 574-6000.

Lottery-funded tuition assistance not only lowers the cost of a two-year college degree, but it can also greatly reduce the cost of a four-year degree, according to TTC spokesman David Hansen. “Students can attend TTC full time for just $765 a semester with lottery tuition assistance,” said Hansen. “Many students take advantage of our University Transfer option, which allows students to transfer as a junior to practically any four-year college. By starting at TTC, students can cut the cost of a four-year degree by a third or more.”

To receive lottery-funded tuition assistance, students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filled out online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The eligibility requirement relating to the submission of the FAFSA may be waived for certain applicants, including high school students enrolled in dual enrollment programs and applicants who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Funds for the lottery tuition assistance program come from the S.C. Education Lottery, and a total of $47 million from lottery proceeds was designated by the General Assembly for use in the program this year. More than 175,000 students have received lottery tuition assistance awards since the program’s inception in 2002.

TTC’s admission application deadline for fall semester is Aug. 4. For more information about TTC, visit http://www.tridenttech.edu/ or call 574-6111.