SEED - FAQs
- Does the SEED scholarship cover tuition, fees, and books?
The SEED scholarship covers tuition only. Pell grants, other tuition waivers, and other applicable need-based grant/scholarship aid will be used before SEED funding is applied. Fees and books are not covered. - I am a home-schooled student or attend a private high school in Delaware. Can I apply for the SEED scholarship?
Yes. Home-schooled students and students who attend a private high school in Delaware must meet the same eligibility requirements as traditionally schooled students in terms of residency, full-time enrollment during their first semester, financial aid, etc. Home-schooled students must provide a copy of their transcript showing a Delaware address for the home-school location. In the event a home-schooled student does not have a transcript, the student is required to provide proof of scoring at least a combined score of 1350 on the new SAT or a composite ACT score of at least 19. - I am a James Groves High School graduate. Can I apply for the SEED scholarship?
Yes. James Groves High School graduates who meet the other requirements are eligible to apply for the SEED scholarship. - Can I apply for the SEED scholarship if I earned a GED?
Yes, students who earned a Delaware State Board of Education Endorsement Secondary Credential (GED) with an eligible score equivalent to a 2.5 cumulative GPA are eligible to apply for the SEED scholarship. All other SEED requirements must be met. - I was in foster care between the ages of 16 and 18. Can I apply for the SEED scholarship?
Yes, if you lived in foster care under the jurisdiction of the Department of Services for Children and their Families at any point between the ages of 16 and 18 (whether placed within or outside of Delaware), you qualify for the SEED scholarship, even though you may not have graduated from a Delaware high school or graduated with a 2.5 GPA. You must self-identify to the Financial Aid Office with proof of foster care between the ages of 16 and 18. - When should I apply for the SEED scholarship?
You should apply as soon as you decide to enroll at Delaware Tech. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available Oct. 1 and must be completed by June 30 of that academic year. - What happens if I take a semester off from college?
Associate degree-seeking SEED students may take a one-time leave of absence of up to one year. Students may request additional and/or longer leaves of absence for military service, participation in a full-time volunteer service program, personal or family hardship, or a documented medical condition. SEED students in non-degree or Workforce Development programs are not required to maintain continuous enrollment. - Are students who are unable to provide confirmation of citizenship eligible for the SEED Scholarship?
Yes. Students who are unable to provide confirmation of citizenship must meet the same eligibility requirements as documented students regarding academics (GPA), violent felony convictions, and first-semester enrollment as a full-time student (for associate degree students). To qualify as a scholarship recipient, the student must have: (a) attended a high school located within the state of Delaware for two or more years; (b) graduated from a Delaware high school; (c) applied for all campus-based financial aid (scholarships, etc.) for which they are eligible; and (d) submitted a notarized Tuition Affidavit (available in Delaware Tech's Admissions Office) which certifies that the student is unable to provide confirmation of citizenship and that they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status or will file an application to legalize their application status as soon as they become eligible. - Do I have to attend full-time (12 credits or more) and declare a major to be eligible for the SEED Scholarship?
If you are in an associate degree major, you must be enrolled in 12 credits your first semester to be eligible for the SEED scholarship. Full-time enrollment is required only for the first semester. Keep in mind that the more credits you take, the sooner you will graduate. - How do I apply for the SEED scholarship?
Visit the SEED - Steps to Apply page for more information. - What does my cumulative high school grade point average (GPA) need to be?
To be eligible for SEED in an associate degree program, your cumulative GPA must be 80 percent or higher on a 100-point scale, a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or a C+ for those schools awarding letter grades. - What cumulative grade point average (GPA) must I maintain once I am a student at Delaware Tech?
As an associate degree student, you must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of each academic year to qualify for the SEED scholarship. The cumulative GPA is based on all college level credits attempted. The cumulative GPA will be reviewed at the end of each summer semester. - Do I have to apply for financial aid even though I know I will not qualify to receive such aid?
Yes, all SEED applicants are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). - What is the deadline date for applying for financial aid for the Delaware SEED scholarship?
Students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. The FAFSA is available for the upcoming academic year beginning Oct. 1. No SEED funds will be applied until all financial aid requirements are met. - How will I know if I have been awarded the Delaware SEED scholarship?
Once you complete your Application for Admission, FAFSA, and any additional requirements for financial aid, you will be awarded SEED funding. Verification of the SEED scholarship is determined after your final official high school transcript is received. - I have a felony charge pending against me. Can I apply?
Students who have pending violent felony charges must sign a certification stating that they will notify the appropriate Delaware Tech Financial Aid Office if they are convicted. Students convicted of a violent felony will no longer be eligible for the SEED scholarship. - Can I take courses in the summer semester?
Yes. You can accelerate your award completion by enrolling in summer courses as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. Courses cannot have been previously covered by SEED and must be applicable to graduation requirements. - Do I have to apply for financial aid every year that I receive the SEED scholarship?
Yes. Students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. The FAFSA is available for the upcoming academic year beginning Oct. 1. No SEED funds will be applied until all financial aid requirements are met. - How many semesters can I receive the SEED scholarship?
You are eligible to participate in this program for 10 continuous semesters, not including the summer semesters. This is the equivalent of five academic years. - Must I submit the required certification each year I have not been convicted of a violent felony?
No, but if you are convicted of a violent felony while receiving the SEED scholarship, you must inform the Financial Aid Office. - What happens if I do not pass a course and must repeat it?
The SEED scholarship does not provide payment for courses that are repeated. - Do I have to re-apply for the SEED scholarship each year?
No. The SEED scholarship will be renewed automatically if all eligibility requirements are met. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted each year. - Does the SEED Scholarship Program allow for academic accommodations for disabilities?
Yes. Students who disclose a disability that prevents them from being able to take 12 credit hours their first semester may be granted part-time status as a reasonable accommodation. Students requesting special academic accommodations under this scholarship program must submit appropriate documentation to support their need for reasonable accommodations and obtain approval from the Campus Disabilities Services Office.
Students granted the SEED scholarship based on a part-time accommodation for their first semester enrollment also will be granted the scholarship for 10 semesters. - I am applying to a competitive admissions program. What happens if there is a delay between the time I complete all the courses required for application and the time I am offered a seat in the program?
You must provide a written request to the Financial Aid Office along with verification from your program advisor or department chair that there are no additional classes you may take at this time. If your request is granted, your SEED scholarship will be placed on hold. To have your SEED scholarship reactivated, you must inform the Financial Aid Office once you accept a seat in the program. You may not put your SEED scholarship on hold if you are continuing your enrollment to complete the requirements for the associate of science degree or any other purpose. - I have completed my associate degree and have been admitted to a bachelor’s degree program. Am I eligible for the SEED scholarship?
Yes. If you have maintained SEED-eligibility at the time you graduate with an associate degree, you are eligible for an additional year of SEED for a bachelor’s degree program at Delaware Tech or the University of Delaware.
If you have SEED or financial aid questions, please visit Student Support for assistance.