Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for the administration of the student financial aid programs and financial counseling to students who apply for aid.

Students applying for financial aid should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://www.fafsa.ed.gov. For help in filling out the FAFSA, students can go to the DOE "Applying for Financial Aid" website. SIPI Financial Aid staff are available to assist students with completing the financial aid process. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to meet financial aid deadlines and eliminate delays in obtaining financial aid. Information and assistance on various financial aid programs can be obtained from various high school counselors, BIA and tribal education counselors. The Financial Aid Office posts all known scholarship/internship opportunities on a bulletin board located outside the Financial Aid Office. SIPI's Title IV school code is 011185. For additional school codes log on to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Eligibility Requirements:

To receive financial aid, students must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
To qualify for a full-time financial aid award, students are required to carry a minimum class load of twelve (12) credit hours and maintain satisfactory academic progress of 2.0 GPA minimum. Part-time students are also eligible for financial aid.
Students may not owe an overpayment on a PELL grant and must not be in default on any Title IV loans at any school previously attended.
Transfer students must provide an academic transcript from every post-secondary school they attended, even though they may not have received any financial aid. Effective July 1, 2000, schools are authorized to use data from the NSLDS to monitor the financial aid history of all applicants for Federal student aid. Academic transcripts will need to be reviewed to quantify academic progress. SIPI currently has a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the published length of the program for Federal financial aid eligibility.
Students must have a high school diploma or passing scores from the HSET program (formerly the GED® Program).
Note: SIPI does not participate in any educational student loan programs.

Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Where's my Pell grant?

A. After you submit a 21-22 FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov, and it has been successfully processed, we will send you an email confirming receipt and/or requesting additional documents. Once all documents have been received and processed, we will email you an Award Letter that outlines how much financial aid you've been awarded.

Q. I haven't heard from the financial aid office, what should I do?

A. First check your junk email. If nothing is there, then contact our office by emailing financialaid@mail.sipi.edu.

Q. Do I need to file another FAFSA for trimester spring 2022?

A. No, if you've already submitted a 2020-2021 FAFSA, then please email a photo of your spring 2022 schedule and a copy of your fall transcript. If you haven't submitted a FAFSA please do so at www.fafsa.gov, submit a copy of your spring 2022 class schedule and send transcripts for all previously attended colleges to financialaid@mail.sipi.edu

Q. How do I submit a financial aid appeal?
A. Please look for the SIPI Financial Aid Appeal form on the right-hand side of this web page. Print the form, fill it out, and attach the statement as well as supporting documentation.

Q. How do I request a Financial Needs Analysis (FNA)?

A. 1. Submit your request online at https://forms.gle/dR9EfkGmfRK5VUdi6. 2. Email FNA-specific forms to financialaid@mail.sipi.edu.

Federal Student Aid Website

For more information about financial aid, i.e. "How to apply?" or "What is SAP?" etc., see the following Federal Student Aid website: https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works

SIPI Financial Aid Contact

Please email or mail all documents to:

SIPI Financial Aid

P.O. Box 10146

Albuquerque, NM 87184

Email: financialaid@mail.sipi.edu

Location: Student Success Center, Building 101 (south of Hogan)

Temporary fax number is: 505-346-2301

Financial Aid Staff:

Jeremiah Powless | Director of Admissions & Financial Aid

jeremiah.powless@bie.edu

505-346-2324

Gloria Mariano | Financial Aid Specialist

gloria.mariano@bie.edu

505-346-2361

Melynda Mitchell | Financial Aid Specialist

melynda.mitchell@bie.edu

cell: 505-252-4593

Gmail phone: 984-208-7108

Net Price Calculator

The net price calculator is for prospective and current students. By answering a few simple questions, the calculator will present you with an estimate of your full-time 2018-2019 cost of attendance and financial aid at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. When you complete the calculator online form, you are not applying for aid. Please visit SIPI's Financial Aid Office to apply for financial aid.

Please click here for the Net Price Calculator

Financial Aid Policies and Procedures Manual

Return of Title IV Funds (R2F4)

This policy applies to students who withdraw (official, unofficially or fail to return from a Leave of Absence) or are dismissed from enrollment at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, SIPI. The Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) process is separate and distinct from the SIPI’s Refund Policy. The calculated amount of the "Return of Title IV Funds" that is required for students affected by this policy are determined according to the following definitions and procedures, as prescribed by regulation.

Upon the student’s withdrawal, the amount of financial aid that has been “earned” by the student is based on the number of days of attendance. Students who withdraw unofficially will also be subject to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy (R2T4). According to federal guidelines of R2T4, students who receive financial aid and then withdraw from all course work before 60% completion of the trimester may have to pay back a portion of the grants received. The amount is determined by using a federal formula. The R2T4 is completed within 45 days of notification. All funds will be returned in the order of PELL, TEACH and FSEOG. The student withdraw date is determined by the withdrawal process.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal and State regulations require all schools participating in state and federal financial aid programs to have a Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The standard will be applied to all applicants and recipients of financial aid as a determination of eligibility. These standards are applicable to all students whether they are eligible for Title IV funding or not. SAP represents minimal standards of completion for financial aid eligibility, SIPI will review SAP at the end of each trimester.

In order to receive financial aid, the student must be enrolled in an eligible program of study that leads to a Certificate or an Associate’s Degree. In addition, students must adhere to three different standards;

1. a qualitative standard which is the maximum length of time (150% number of credits in published program of study) for which they may receive financial aid,

2. maintain a minimum 2.0-grade point average (GPA);

3. and quantitative standard which is to complete the number of credits required to meet the minimum (67%) pace of progression each trimester.

Important Federal Pell Grant Info

The Title IV Consolidation Appropriation Act of 2012 limits the amount of Federal Pell Grant eligibility to 12 full-time semesters for all recipients. The new law applies to all previous, current, and future Federal Pell Grant disbursements.

In order to make sure educational goals are achieved within the 12 full-time semesters time frame, recipients should follow a degree plan and periodically meet with an Academic Advisor or Counselor to discuss graduation or transfer plans. Once notified by the Department of Education and/or SIPI Financial Aid Office, recipients who exceed the 12 full-time semesters time frame cannot receive a Federal Pell Grant for any future coursework.

Types of Aid

Students at SIPI can receive aid through grants, work-study, and other programs, most of which are based on need. Once the Financial Aid Office determines how much and what kind of aid a student may be eligible to receive, a financial aid package is prepared to meet the student's needs. Financial Aid Programs include:

Federal & State Supplemental Funding

College Work-Study

This program is designed to provide financial assistance to students through part-time employment on campus. Work-study students are paid the minimum wage and payments are issued on a bi-weekly basis. Work schedules are determined by class schedules and job requirements.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Supplemental Educational Grant (SEOG) is available to exceptionally needy students who wish to attend SIPI, such as students with the greatest of need and who are PELL eligible.

New Mexico College Affordability Grant (NMAC)

Eligibility Requirements:

Pell Eligible
Must have graduated from a New Mexico high school or obtained a GED® from New Mexico.
Must not be receiving any other type of aid.

New Mexico Student Incentive Grant (NMSIG)

The NMSIG is available for New Mexico residents who are full-time students, are PELL eligible and who are determined to have exceptional need. If funds are available, part-time students may be eligible.

NOTE: SIPI does not participate in any loan programs.

Mission

The Mission of SIPI Financial Aid Office is to administer funds in order to provide financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need and to help support institutional enrollment and retention goals. This will accomplished by working together, as a team of financial aid professionals, to provide the highest quality of service to our students, co-workers, and the SIPI Community as a whole. Excellence is our common goal and professionalism our standard.

Vision

Continue to strive to provide superior customer service, take advantage of emerging technologies and be a contributor to student success.

SIPI Financial Aid Forms: