Admissions & Records | Educational Planning & Advising Center | Financial Aid | FAFSA

Admissions and Records FAQ

What are your phone numbers?
  • Admissions & Records (423) 697-4401 Fax - (423) 697-4709

What are your office hours?

  • Monday - Wednesday, 7:30am to 5:30pm *(office may close at 4:30 when classes are not in session - all times are eastern time)
  • Thursday, 7:30 to 12:30
  • Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm
Where are you located?
  • Admissions and Records are located on the first floor of the Student Center on the Amnicola Highway Campus. Visitor parking is available in front of the Omniplex.
When do the next classes (semester) start? When can I register for next semester?
  • First-time and re-admitted students: 1 week after Priority registration begins (admission file must be complete)
  • Currently enrolled students: as soon as Early registration begins See Academic Term Calendar
  • Transient Students: Regular Registration Day Any Semester (See Academic Term Calendar)
  • Registration is also available online at www.chattanoogastate.edu
How much does Chattanooga State cost per semester? Full-time? Per class? TTC fees?
  • Contact the Bursar's Office - 697-4732 or view fees online.
What is the last day to pay for classes? What are the accepted methods of payment? What are computer/internet requirements for online courses?
  • Contact the Center for Distributed Education at 697-4408 for details about online/video/distance learning classes.
What does a high school senior need to do to come to CHATTANOOGA STATE after graduating from high school?
  • Submit an application for admission along with $15 fee
  • Provide an official high school transcript with graduation date posted
  • Provide ACT or SAT scores
  • Submit a properly executed Hepatitis B Immunization Health History Form
  • If you did not graduate from a Tennessee public high school, submit MMR documentation
  • Other requirements depend on student's indicated degree or certificate program--so check out the Admissions Web page
I go to another college but need to take a class at CHATTANOOGA STATE. What do I need to do?
  • Apply for admission as a Transient student
  • Submit letter of academic standing from home institution after grades are posted for last term of enrollment
  • Eligible to register on regular Registration date for the term. (See Academic Term Calendar)
When is the last day to drop or withdraw? Do I still get a refund? What is Chattanooga State's school code?
  • 003998 required for FAFSA, Fin. Aid
I live outside Tennessee but work in Tennessee. Do I get in-state fees?
  • Yes - if employed full time in Tennessee, out-of-state residents can enroll part-time (maximum of 11 credit hours) for instate fees. Employer documentation is required each semester.
I'm a senior citizen and want to take a free class. How does that work?

You must be a Tennessee resident and register on a space-available basis after regular fee-paying students have registered.

  1. Secure the waiver form from the Admissions & Records Office
  2. Refer to the Academic Calendar to determine the first day to register and return the completed waiver form along with your signed registration form to the Admissions and Records Office.
I need you to send my CHATTANOOGA STATE transcript to:
  • Records Office sends transcripts but must have written request containing student signature. A transcript request form is available at our website; you may fax your transcript request to Records 423-697-4709; or visit Records in the Student Center.

Financial Aid FAQ

I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
  • Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don't qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA (Free Application Federal Student Aid) form is free. You may apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov . There is no good excuse for not applying.
Do I need to be admitted before I can apply for financial aid?
  • No. You can apply for financial aid any time after January 1. To actually receive funds, however, you must have received a High School diploma or GED and be admitted and enrolled at the college/university.
Do I have to reapply for financial aid every year?
  • Yes. Most financial aid offices require that you apply for financial aid every year. This should be done around the time taxes are filed. If your financial circumstances change, you may get more or less aid. After your first year, you will receive a "Renewal Applications" which contains preprinted information from the previous year's FAFSA. Note that in your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a difference in income or a different number of family members in college. Renewal of your financial aid package also depends on your making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a minimum GPA.
How do I apply for a Pell Grant and other types of need-based aid?
  • Submit a FAFSA. You may now apply on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To indicate interest in student employment, student loans and parent loans, you should check the appropriate boxes. Checking these boxes does not commit you to accepting these types of aid. You will have the opportunity to accept or decline each part of your aid package later. Leaving these boxes unchecked will not increase the amount of grants you receive.
Are my parents responsible for my educational loans?
  • No. Parents are, however, responsible for the Federal PLUS loans. Parents will only be responsible for your educational loans if you are under 18 and they co-sign your loan. In general you and you alone are responsible for repaying your educational loans. Although your parent information may have to be listed on your Financial Aid application, the student loan is in your name. On the other hand, if your parents (or grandparents) want to help pay off your loan, you can have your billing statements sent to their address. Likewise, if your lender or loan servicer provides an electronic payment service, where the monthly payments are automatically deducted from a bank account, your parents can agree to have the payments deducted from their account. But your parents are under no obligation to repay your loans. If they forget to pay the bill on time or decide to cancel the electronic payment agreement, you will be held responsible for he payments, not them.
I got an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the financial aid office?
  • Yes. If you are receiving any kind of financial aid from university or government sources, you must report the scholarship to the financial aid office. Sometimes the college or university will have to adjust your financial aid package to compensate. Nevertheless, the outside scholarship will have some beneficial effects. At some universities or colleges outside scholarships are used to reduce the self-help level. For example, at MIT 40% of the scholarship amount is applied toward the self-help level, and the rest replaces institutional funds. At other universities outside scholarships are used to replace loans instead of grants.
Where can I get information about Federal student financial aid?
  • Go to the new Department of Education School Portal www.studentaid.ed.gov. Contact your local college Financial Aid Office or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-800-730-8913 (if hearing impaired) and ask for a free copy of The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the US Department of Education. This toll free hotline is run by the US Department of Education and can answer questions about federal and state student aid programs and applications. You can also write to:

Federal Student Aid Information CenterP.O. Box 84Washington, DC 20044

FAFSA Questions

Where can I get a copy of the FAFSA?
  • You are encouraged to go on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov to apply. It is easy and will inform you if you make an error. You can ask your guidance counselor for a copy. You can also get the FAFSA from the financial aid office at a local college, your local public library, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID.
Are photocopies of the FAFSA acceptable?
  • No. Only the original FAFSA form produced by the US Department of Education is acceptable. Photocopies, Reproductions, Facsimiles and electronic versions are all not acceptable. (See DCL GEN-95-21)