A book allowance is an advancement charged against your financial aid refund that allows you to purchase books and other supplies. The book allowance amount will be deducted from your excess financial aid. This allowance is advanced through Southwest funds NOT Federal Grant funds.

To be eligible for a book allowance, a student must have been awarded financial aid; however, these funds have not been disbursed for the academic term.

The student whose accepted financial aid for the term exceeds the semester's tuition and fee charges will receive a book allowance. The maximum book allowance amount is $500 per term.

The amount of the book allowance varies depending on a student's enrollment (hours) and the amount of financial aid he or she will receive for the term. The amount of the book allowance is calculated using a formula with $500 being the maximum amount advanced per student.

The availability of the book allowance depends on a student being awarded financial aid prior to the beginning of each term. Check the book allowance page for additional information.

Students who apply for financial aid during registration will not receive a book allowance until the Financial Aid Office has reviewed and awarded their aid for the term.

Any remaining Pell Grant funds due a student in excess of the book allowance will be made available after class attendance has been verified for the first two weeks of the term. The remaining amount will be disbursed in the form of a check. Check the grant refunds page for additional information.