Applying for Financial Aid

Your FAFSA school code is changing!
Use 007635 for your 2023-24 FAFSA.

To be considered for financial aid or apply for a loan, all students must submit and complete the FAFSA.  Once a FAFSA is submitted, it takes 7-10 business days for MCC to receive it.  You can use the Net Price Calculator to get an estimate of the cost of your education at MCC. Keep in mind that the more accurate your information is, the more accurate your cost calculation will be.

Net Price Calculator

Submitting the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application that you complete annually in order to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid. To apply, fill out the electronic application at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. You will need to provide personal and financial information in order for your eligibility to be determined.  Note you will need to utilize financial information from two years prior to the FAFSA year (example: for the ’23-’24 FAFSA, you will need to provide 2021 financial information).  You will need to refer to:

  • Your Social Security card and driver’s license
  • W-2 forms or other records of income earned
  • Your spouse’s Federal Income Tax Return, if you are married
  • Your parent(s)’ Federal Tax Form, if you are under 24 years of age
  • Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, TANF, veteran’s benefits or military or clergy allowances
  • Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds and other investments
  • Business or farm records, if applicable
  • Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Tips for Filling Out the FAFSA

  • Be aware of MCC’s academic calendar and registration deadlines. Complete the FAFSA as early as possible. The FAFSA takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, but MCC will need time to receive and process your information.
  • You must have an FSA ID in order to sign your application electronically. If you are a dependent student, one of your parents is also required to sign the FAFSA (using their FSA). An FSA ID can be obtained at https://fsaid.ed.gov/.
  • To ensure that MCC receives your FAFSA, be sure to add the appropriate school code:
    • Important Announcement for 2023-24 FAFSA Applicants:  If you are intending on applying for federal financial aid for the Fall 2023 semester and beyond, you must use federal school code 007635 on your 2023-24 FAFSA.  We are aware that this federal school code will identify Capital Community College on the FAFSA, however we have been advised that the US Department of Education will update the college name on the FAFSA in the summer of 2023.  If you do not list federal school code 007635 on your 2023-24 FAFSA, we will be unable to process your financial aid application for your Fall 2023 semester and the 2023-2024 academic year.  The Manchester Community College school code for 2022-2023 will remain 001392.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for financial aid, a student must meet the following criteria, per the U.S. Department of Education:

  • demonstrate financial need for need-based federal student aid programs;

  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;

  • have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);

  • be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;

  • be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;

  • maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school;

  • sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form stating that you’re not in default on a federal student loan, you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and you’ll only use federal student aid for educational purposes; and

  • show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education.

Dependency Status

An independent student meets one of the following criteria:

  • at least 24 years old;
  • married;
  • a graduate or professional student;
  • a veteran or a member of the armed forces;
  • an orphan or a ward of the court;
  • someone with legal dependents other than a spouse;
  • an emancipated minor;
  • someone who is homeless or at risk of being homeless; or
  • legal guardianship.

In most cases, additional documentation is required as proof of independent status.

A dependent student does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student and must report information about his/her parent(s) on the FAFSA form.

FAFSA Priority Dates/Deadlines

  • Fall semester: May 15
  • Spring semester: October 1

After these dates, applications will be processed on a rolling basis throughout the year, on a first come, first served basis.

If the deadline is missed, we cannot guarantee that FAFSA will be processed before the start of classes. Students submitting FAFSA applications or verification paperwork after the deadline must make plans to pay for their classes. Students denied financial aid are still responsible for payment of tuition, fees and any other financial obligations to the college.

Financial Need Factors

In addition to meeting the basic eligibility criteria, students must have financial need in order to receive grants. Financial need is determined by a federal formula that takes various factors into account including:

  • Income of student (and parent or spouse)
  • Assets of student (and parent or spouse)
  • Family size
  • Number of family members in college, not including parents

What if the family financial circumstances change?

When financial circumstances change, the Financial Aid Office is available to help students and their families locate funding sources and understand the options available to them. Advice may include educating the student on how to apply for scholarships, recalculating a family’s eligibility based on documented financial changes, or counseling a family regarding available student loans and payment plans.

MCC will consider income reduction/unusual circumstances at any time during the academic year as long as funds are available.

Awards

Financial aid awards are calculated for the academic year. A new academic year begins every fall semester. Each academic year, students must reapply for financial aid. Beginning Fall 2017, award calculations will be based on income, assets, and family resources and circumstances from two years prior to that fall semester, in conjunction with current need analysis methodologies and regulations. (i.e. If the student applies for 2021-2022 aid, the family income and resources used will be from tax year 2019.) Additionally, students must continue to make satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for financial aid.

Financial aid awards are also initially packaged based on full-time enrollment status. Students should confirm with the Financial Aid Office that their award package will not be affected by enrolling part-time, less than 12 credit hours, as enrollment less than full-time can change aid eligibility.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)

Note:  Students and parents who have filed their IRS tax return will be able to select the IRS Data Retrieval option on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to transfer tax information to the FAFSA. We strongly encourage you to select this option during the initial filing or when subsequent corrections are made to your FAFSA. This option will streamline and expedite the processing of your financial aid application. Using the tool will also greatly decrease your chances of being selected for verification. To successfully use this option you must:

  • Have a federal tax return filed with the IRS.
  • Have a valid Social Security number.
  • Have an FSA ID.

You will be unable to use this option if:

  • Your marital status changed after your tax filing.
  • You filed married filing separately.
  • You filed an amended return.
  • You filed a foreign tax return.
  • You filed a tax return using a tax ID number (TIN).
  • The home address on the FAFSA does not match the address on the tax return.

According to the IRS, this tool cannot be used until 1-2 weeks after electronically filing a tax return and 6-8 weeks after filing paper tax returns.

How Data Retrieval Tool Works

When either a parent or student selects the IRS Data Retrieval option, the FAFSA central processing system (CPS) will conduct a data match with the IRS. As the federal income tax filer, you will be redirected to a secure IRS website, where you will permit the IRS to transfer income data to the CPS. Data that is successfully matched will be marked on the FAFSA with the following notation, “Transferred from the IRS.” It’s as simple as that. This process avoids reporting errors and processing delays that can otherwise occur when the option is not selected.

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