Financial Aid at Santa Fe College - Gainesville (FL)

1 /5 Barna Feher: Ive been waiting close to six months to receive my spring disbursement, the same thing happened in the fall. Ive gone at least a dozen times in person and was given inconsistent information regarding updates. Twice I was told Id have the money by the end of the week, months ago. I went to the college presidents office and have spoken to student affairs. The updates always promise a resolution in the near future that never comes. Ive now taken multiple finals and I am now halfway through another semester. I just hope it gets disbursed before the summer aid and that I wont have to go through the same thing a third time. I dont feel like the college cares about its students.

1 /5 Maria Jose Cobos: The Financial Aid Office at Santa Fe College has been one of the most stressful and disappointing parts of my academic journey. Since August 2024, I’ve experienced repeated issues with my Bright Futures scholarship due to reporting errors on their end. Most recently, they reported that I earned zero credit hours for both Fall 2024 and Spring 2025—despite completing 13 credit hours and earning my AA degree. Even after visiting the office in person and getting the issue escalated and resolved in May 2025, I received another ineligibility letter in June, meaning the same error happened again. This is now affecting my financial aid at my new institution. Trying to reach their office by phone is a nightmare—long holds, vague answers like “we’re working on it,” and sometimes they just tell you to make a phone appointment and hang up. This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s unacceptable. Financial aid is not something students should have to constantly chase down.

1 /5 Zander Dill: Everything about this school is amazing accept for the financial aid office. Last semester, they paid me too much money for bright futures and asked me to give back what was overpaid. The amount I paid back is the amount I was supposed to get this semester for bright futures. So pretty much I give them the money I was overpaid so they can give it back to me. Cool, no problems with this. Except for the fact that I havent been paid the money back yet. This happened in February. At the time I am writing this, it is April 11th. The last day of final exams is May 3rd. There are THREE weeks left until the semester is over and I have not received a single cent for my bright futures. In the Financial aid portal it says I have been paid already (which I have not), and when I got in contact to ask them about they say it is still processing. That was 2 weeks ago. This office is full of the most incompetent and lazy people I have ever had the misfortune of interacting with. There is no clear communicate to students about certain financial aid (like bright futures), and it is truly frustrating to deal with. Wish I could give 0 stars.

1 /5 Levi Young: ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM OCTOBER 2024: Week 2 of absolutely no word on our financial aid. I fear I may have to start driving a Flintstones car to class if worst comes to worst. Could at least tell us whats going on and give us more info than a single drawn out email that basically says "youll get it when you get it". Also never email, you will not get a response. Usually helpful in person though, Ill give them that. Its almost comical how many answers theyve given people about financial aid. Not gonna be as funny if this keeps happening and I dont get the money I need. Update 1: March 2nd 2025. Its happening AGAIN! I was lucky enough to get my small refund (an entire month late) but so many others are in dire straits and risking eviction and repossession due to the inability and inteffectual new system they introduced. Students shouldnt have to go to the news, or to law firms, or the goddamn mayor just to be heard by their college. Ive had the displeasure of having to navigate this new "state-of-the-art financial aid processing system" (their words) each of my terms here and its contributed to major financial stress no one should have to face.

1 /5 Patricia High: I guess 1 star is the lowest I can go I wish it was a negative button. The financial aid office is a disgrace to Santa Fe College, despite some of the staff being amazing the other staff are reading off a script on what they are to tell the student. I have attended this school in 2013, 2018 and now in 2024 this is the worse experience I ever had for one being a single mother depending on financial assistance to obtain the education and credentials I need to take care of my family I haven’t been given Aug 2024 I started school approved for Pell grant and loans I haven’t obtained any Fall funds Spring 2025 I received 1 loan and $40 bucks that was left from a scholarship I haven’t obtained any yet to receive my Spring Pell grant or my Unsubsidized Loan. The college says they are here for the students but that’s a lie I have emailed and called attempting to speak with top officials and I have not received a reply the head of financial aid who does the processing Colin Brenner I have emailed called and went to see him and I have yet to hear from him. My enrollment information is incorrect not showing my correct credits. I’m told the same lie every time I call and sit on hold for over 2 hours for nothing. I have rent past due, car issues that need to be addressed, credit cards that are maxed out and a child at home who is disable, this is sad the the staff at Santa Fe College can go home and go to sleep knowing what the impact of their actions are causing and how it affects the students.