Types of Financial Aid

There are two main types of aid:

Merit-based Aid

Merit-based aid is given to students who have a special characteristic, skill, talent or ability. A scholarship is an example of merit-based aid. Merit-based aid is usually a gift that does not have to be paid back, although students who get merit aid sometimes have to promise to teach or perform some other service when they finish school.

Need-based Aid

Need-based aid is given to students who can show they need financial assistance to pursue an education beyond high school. Most financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. There are three kinds of need-based aid:

Grants

Pell Grant and FSEOG

The Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) are funds supported by the U.S. federal government to assist students with the cost of attendance. These grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor’s degree, or who are enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs through participating institutions. These types of grants do not have to be paid back.

MCC Grant

The MCC grant is a need-based grant available to students who show financial need. This can be in combination with federal grants or on its own.  Each student is automatically considered for this Grant and no application or additional materials are required.  (*MCC Grant eligibility requires a minimum semester enrollment of six credits.  Note that enrollment requirements for other aid programs like Pell, for example, vary.  Loans require half-time enrollment of at least six credits.  Students are always encouraged to discuss their aid package with the Financial Aid Office.)

Roberta B. Willis Scholarship

The Roberta B.  Willis Scholarship is a scholarship awarded annually to eligible need-based financial aid and need-based merit students. Eligible Connecticut residents enrolled as undergraduates at Connecticut’s public and nonprofit, independent institutions of higher education may qualify. Recipients must complete a FAFSA and have a federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) within the allowable range. The scholarship was formally known as Governors Scholarships.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study.  Student employment has a positive impact on the lives of students as it exposes them to real-life job interviews, resume building and submission, workplace etiquette, and allows them to expand their network. Our student workers perform many tasks and responsibilities that are imperative to the well-functioning of our institution and community agencies/schools.  Studies show that participation in work-study programs has a positive impact on academic performance and goal attainment: “Employment within student affairs divisions offers environments in which students can apply the knowledge they have gained, as well as acquire new competencies, helping them to build solid foundations for their futures.”– Athas, C., Oaks, D., Kennedy-Phillips, L. (2013). Student Employee Development in Student Affairs. Research and Practice in Assessment, 8(2), 55-68.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the FWS program, a student must:

• Apply and be admitted to Manchester Community College.
• Apply for financial aid, complete all requirements, and demonstrate financial need for work-study employment based on federal and institutional standards.
• Submit a FWS Application with an attached resume to the Financial Aid office.
• Matriculate in a financial-aid-eligible associate degree or certificate program.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress per policy.
• Remain enrolled in at least half-time (six credits or more).

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a semester in the FWS program, students will:

• Develop a sense of belonging with the college community while networking and establishing professional relationships within the campus or other community service agency/school.
• Work with diverse peoples and learn the meaning and value of diversity.
• Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills and gain an appreciation for life-long learning.
• Exhibit exemplary written and verbal communication skills and demonstrate leadership by showing initiative as a contributing member of a mission-driven organization.
• Develop the ability to multitask, prioritize, follow instructions, and set goals.
• Experience a formal job interview, learn interview skills and resume development techniques.

Work-Study Application

Direct Loans

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provides low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, rather than a bank or other financial institution.

Eligibility

We advise students to wait for a complete review of their eligibility for other forms of (free) financial aid before considering submitting a loan application. Because MCC is so affordable, we recommend that students explore other options, such as work-study or payment plans. We encourage our students to graduate from MCC as close to debt-free as possible. We do understand that sometimes loans are necessary. To be considered for a Direct Student Loan, all students must:

• Have a complete FAFSA on file with MCC’s Financial Aid Office.
• Be meeting the basic eligibility requirements
• Enrolled in six credits hours or more
• Be in good standing with other student loans
• Fill out and submit the MCC loan application (in the Financial Aid section of the Form Depot).

The deadlines for submission of loan applications to the Financial Aid office are:

• Fall semester: October 1
• Spring semester: March 1

Entrance Interview

Once we receive your application, all students are required to attend an entrance interview before they are awarded a loan. During the interview, students will learn about:

• Repayment information
• Consequences of default
• Master Promissory Note

Post Interview

After the entrance interview, students must complete the Master Promissory Note to finalize their loan.

All students with loans are required to verify their enrollment approximately three weeks after the start of the semester. You will be sent an enrollment verification form for completion.

PACT

PACT funding covers the gap between federal and state grants you receive, and community college tuition and mandatory fees.  You must meet certain criteria to be eligible for PACT.

Scholarships

There are a range of scholarships available to students. The MCC Foundation offers scholarships throughout the academic year. Students are also encouraged to research and apply for other outside resources that may be available.

Aid for Summer and Winter Intersessions

We recommend students review eligibility for summer and winter intersessions with the Financial Aid office ahead of enrollment.

Summer

The Federal Pell grant is the only available source of financial aid for Summer 2023. To determine summer aid eligibility, a student must complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and matriculated in a degree program. Students should consult with the Financial Aid office to confirm eligibility for summer financial aid. Students must become familiarized with the following governing policies as it may affect student eligibility. Other federal, state and or institutional policies may apply.

Financial Aid Awards

Eligibility

• Students accessing Year-Round Pell must remain enrolled for at least six credits to be eligible for summer aid. If the student withdraws from one or all their summer courses, the student may become ineligible for summer aid and will need to cover the balance out of pocket.
• Students who are not pursuing a degree at Manchester Community College (i.e. taking courses at MCC to transfer to a different home institution) are not eligible for financial aid at MCC. They should contact their home school to discuss the possibility of receiving financial aid toward a course taken at the host school (MCC) through a consortium agreement. Out-of-pocket payment will still be due at the time of registration.
• Students attending MCC for the very first time during the summer are not eligible for aid for that period. While they are welcome to enroll, students must plan to pay for summer courses out of pocket. Students may become eligible for future summer aid once history of attendance and academic engagement have been established.
• Students taking summer courses that are not part of their MCC program, or solely to transfer the credits to another institution, will not be eligible for summer aid.
• Students who graduate in Spring 2023, will not be eligible for summer aid since they will no longer be pursuing a degree at Manchester Community College. Once the academic major is removed, the student is considered “non-degree/non-matriculated.”
• If a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress status for Spring 2023 is “Warning” or “Probation/Waiver,” the student must pass all spring classes to be eligible for summer financial aid. Any grade of F, W, or I in the spring will result in ineligibility for summer financial aid. If a student chooses to register for a summer course and fails to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress minimum requirement during the spring, the student will be responsible for covering all summer charges out of pocket.
• Students who have reached their maximum credit hours after the spring are not eligible for summer aid. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for details.

Book Credit

• Book credit funds may be available for students who qualify.

Engagement/Course Participation

• Failure to academically engage in classes will result in a loss of financial aid. The student will be required to cover the cost of the course and materials out of pocket.
• If planning to drop or withdraw, students must check with the Financial Aid office to discuss any potential penalties. Withdrawal from courses is likely to result in a reduction or cancellation of the awarded funds for the summer, and students may be responsible for covering part or all summer charges out of pocket. If a student is withdrawing from a course but has another course beginning in a later session, the student will be asked to provide written documentation of intent to return for the later session.

Disbursement and Billing

• Summer disbursements are generally processed by late July.
• Part-time enrollment in the summer may affect the cost of attendance or total student budget which can affect the final award and disbursement amount. If a student’s aid is cancelled due to a change in eligibility, the student will be responsible for any charges or balances due to the college. Changes to students’ eligibility will appear in myCommNet. It is also imperative that students regularly check their student email account.
• Certain courses may have special fees that can increase the total charges for the summer. At times, the aid may not fully cover all tuition, fees, and book charges. Students should plan accordingly. Any remaining balance that is not covered by financial aid will be the student’s responsibility.

Full financial aid coverage is not guaranteed for every student. Feel free to contact the Financial Aid office at 860-512-3380 or finaid@mcc.commnet.edu to discuss eligibility.

Winter

Students may be eligible for financial aid for winter courses.  Winter students must become familiarized with the following policies:

Financial Aid Awards

• Winter courses are treated as part of the spring term. There is no separate aid package for winter.  Eligibility for winter financial aid is dependent on the student’s award and eligibility for spring.  Students should consult with the financial aid office if they have questions regarding their aid eligibility.
• Only students with sufficient spring financial aid will have enough to cover winter and spring charges from the spring financial aid award.
• Any winter balance not covered by spring financial aid must be paid in full at the time of registration.

Eligibility

• Students who are not pursuing a degree at Manchester Community College or simply taking courses at MCC to transfer to a different home institution are not eligible for financial aid at MCC. It is recommended they contact their home school to discuss their eligibility for a consortium agreement.  The agreement may allow the student to receive financial aid funds from the home institution to help cover the costs at the host school (MCC).  Payment out of pocket is due at the time of registration.  Students should review the Concurrent Enrollment policy posted on the financial aid website.
• Students not making satisfactory academic progress after the fall semester will no longer be eligible for financial aid. They will be responsible for all winter/spring charges.  Students who reach their maximum credits hours after the fall are not eligible for winter/spring aid.  The full CSCU Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available at https://www.manchestercc.edu/enrollment/financial-aid/policies/.
• Students who complete their degree requirements and graduate in the fall of 2022 will not be eligible for winter/spring aid since they will no longer be pursuing a degree at Manchester Community College. A student who graduated is considered “non-degree/non-matriculated” and ineligible for aid.
• If a student’s aid is cancelled due to a change in eligibility, the student will be responsible for any charges or balances. Students should visit myCommNet for details and regularly review important emails from their student email account.

 Drops/Withdrawals

• If students drop/withdraw from any winter courses, they will be responsible for all associated winter fees and charges. Financial aid will not cover dropped/withdrawn courses.
• Students who withdraw from all winter courses must provide written notification to the Financial Aid of their intent to remain enrolled and engaged in spring courses. Otherwise, the student is considered to have withdrawn from the college, and their eligibility for winter/spring aid will need to be redetermined.  This will likely result in a bill the student will need to cover out of pocket.
• All students are expected to secure their classes with a form of payment or financial aid. Although students should never assume they will be automatically dropped for non-payment, non-payment drops can happen.  Students are encouraged to check their registration status through myCommNet regularly.
• Special fees may apply for dropped/withdrawn courses. Consult with the Bursar’s office for applicable fees and refund policies.

Book Credit

If a student has remaining spring financial aid funds after winter/spring tuition and fees are covered, the student may use the book credit for either period.  Students must use book credit funds wisely in the winter as they may run out of book credit for spring.

Engagement/Course Participation

Failure to engage in courses when registered will result in a loss of financial aid. Students not participating in classes will be required to cover the cost of courses and materials out of pocket.  The academic engagement policy is at https://www.manchestercc.edu/enrollment/registrar/.

Disbursements

Winter/spring disbursements are generally processed by late February.