What is financial aid?
Financial aid is
monetary assistance provided through various sources to help you meet your
financial needs while attending college.
What kinds of aid
are available?
a. Grants
- This is money that you do not have to repay.
b. Work Study
- This is money you actually earn. The college provides employment
opportunities that will
help pay for college.
c. Scholarships
- These funds do not have to be repaid; however, there are often
stipulations attached to the award. Visit our scholarship page for
additional information.
How do I apply for
financial aid?
The first step to
receiving aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Applications are available on the World Wide Web at
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Students wishing to be considered for state aid, as well as, federal and
campus-based programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG and
Federal Work-Study, must have their FAFSA submitted to the federal processor
no later than March 15. This priority deadline is for North Carolina
applicants. However, applications will still be processed after that date.
It takes approximately two to three weeks for the application to be
completely processed.
How do I sign my
FAFSA if I file it electronically?
Students are encouraged to
obtain a PIN number in order to sign their FAFSA electronically. Parents of
dependent applicants are also encouraged to obtain a PIN number. To obtain a
PIN number, visit
http://www.pin.ed.gov.
PIN numbers will be sent to you via the delivery mode you request.
What is Beaufort
County Community College’s Title IV School Code?
008558...In order for BCCC to receive your
application electronically, it is important that you include the school code
on your application.
Do I have to reapply
for financial aid each year?
Yes. Financial need is
determined each academic year. Therefore, you must complete a new
FAFSA
each academic year. It is a good idea to complete your FAFSA when you
complete your federal tax return.
Do I have to report
my parent(s) income?
Financial aid is based on the principle that
you and your parents have the primary responsibility for paying for your
post-secondary education if you are a dependent student. This is why you may
be required to report your parent(s)' income. However, the federal
government will consider you independent of your parents if one of the
following requirements is met: you are 24 years old on January 1st
preceding the academic year, married, enrolled in a graduate program (e.g.,
master's or doctorate), have legal dependents other than a spouse that you
are supporting, are an orphan or ward of the court, or are a veteran.
What is a financial
aid package?
Your financial aid may come from a variety of
sources and may contain a combination of the four types of aid available
(grants, scholarships, and work study). Once your FAFSA is submitted
and processed, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be computed. This
EFC is determined by considering the number of persons in the household, the
household income, and the number of persons from the household in college.
The EFC is then subtracted from the cost of attendance. The remaining amount
is the Financial Aid Award Need. Some awards (e.g., Federal Loans and
College Work-study) require supplemental applications.
How will I know how
much aid I have been awarded?
Approximately two-three weeks after you have
completed your financial aid file, and have met ALL requirements for
admission, you should receive an award letter in the mail specifying the
amount and type of your financial aid award.
What provision is
made for special circumstances?
While the process of
determining your financial aid eligibility is basically the same for all
applicants, there is some flexibility for specific circumstances. Situations
which might merit special circumstances include 1) unusual medical and
dental expenses, 2) unusual child care and dependent care costs, 3) unusual
debts, 4) income reduction or nonrecurring income, and 5) a family and
financial situation where a student normally considered dependent could be
considered independent. If you feel you have any special circumstances that
might affect the amount you and your family are expected to contribute, talk
with a Financial Aid Counselor before you complete the
FAFSA.
Can I get financial
aid if I attend less than full-time?
All Pell Grant awards are based on full-time
status (12 credit hours or more). However, if you attend less than 12 credit
hours, your Pell Grant will be prorated down to the number of hours you are
attending. You could be eligible for a small Pell Grant even if you are
enrolled less than six credit hours (depending on eligibility). You may also
be able to receive Work-Study, SEOG and NCCCG and NCELS if you attend less
than full-time. You must enroll for at least six credit hours or more to
receive a Stafford Loan.
When will I get my
financial aid funds?
If you have aid in excess of your
tuition/fees and bookstore charges, a check will be mailed to you for the
balance after all semester charges have been paid. Refunds will be generated
once enrollment has been confirmed and received in the Office of Financial
Aid. If you drop classes and your enrollment status drops below full-time,
your Pell grant award will also be reduced.
How do I qualify for
summer financial aid?
Summer aid is limited to students who have
remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility from the current academic year
because of less than full-time enrollment during the previous fall and
spring terms.
How does withdrawing
from classes affect my financial aid?
Federal and State regulations require that
students receiving financial aid maintain satisfactory academic progress.
One requirement is that you must complete at least 67% of the total
cumulative credit hours attempted (e.g., 50 attempted credit hours, student
must complete at least 33). A second requirement is that you maintain a
cumulative 2.0 GPA in all coursework. Therefore, withdrawals, failing
grades, and incompletes will count against you. Also, if you completely
withdraw from college before the 60% point of the semester, you may be
required to return all or part of the aid awarded to you.
Can I apply for
financial aid if I haven't applied for admission?
Yes. Since applying for financial aid is a
very extended process, you need to begin applying as soon as
possible. However, in order for BCCC to begin to process your FAFSA, the
college must have received your admissions application. Financial aid will
not be awarded to students who have not been accepted to the college.
Are all programs of
study eligible for financial aid?
No. A program must be at
least 16 total credit hours in length AND must lead to a degree, diploma or
certificate in order to be eligible for financial aid. Special credit
students and students in the Division of Continuing Education students are
not eligible for financial aid. If you are unsure about aid eligibility and
the program you are considering, contact the
Financial Aid Office
for clarification.
How can I tell if a
scholarship offer is a scam?
According to the Federal
Trade Commission, unscrupulous companies guarantee or promise scholarships
or grants. Some guarantee that they can get scholarships on behalf of
students or award them "scholarships" in exchange for an advance fee. Most
offer a "money back guarantee" - but include conditions that make it
impossible to get the refund. Others provide nothing for the student's
advance fee-not even a list of potential sources. Some companies ask for a
student's checking account to "confirm eligibility," then debit the account
without the student's consent. Even if the company does provide the student
with an award source(s), most often the same information is available at the
Financial Aid Office for free. Click here for
Scholarship Scam Homepage
for more helpful information on scholarship scams, plus a list from the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of fraudulent companies to avoid, and more.