Apply Now

PREPARE for FAFSA:
Gather tax information for the most recent tax year you filed, (e.g. US 1040 federal return). Have W-2 and 1099 forms handy.

Obtain a federal PIN ID (an electronic signature) for the student and at least one parent (for dependent students).Obtain the PIN at http://www.pin.ed.gov/

Complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA can be submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. There is Live Chat Help on each FAFSA page. Click the live Help button at the top of the secure web page for technical assistance. To talk about what answers are required for a specific question call 1-800-433-3243.

REGISTER FOR CLASSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Please read your bill to be sure of your enrollment status and be sure you understand the charges and the refund options available to you. Check with Admissions and Registration or the Cashier if you have a question about your charged hours.

Financial aid may be able to help you to keep your classes from being deleted for non-payment if you have a complete financial aid application and if you are eligible for aid to cover your bill.

The college awards the federal aid not FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). FAFSA is a free application form provided by the federal government.

LATE APPLICATIONS:

• If you file your financial aid application after our PRIORITY deadline of May 15 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester, your file may not be approved before the semester classes begin.
  
  
• Your financial aid application includes the FAFSA and additional forms from Montgomery College Office of Student Financial Aid including the MC Financial Aid Application and certain other documents as required.
  
  
• We consider applications in the date order that your MC file is complete. The complete date is the date that all requested forms are received at MC, not the date that the FAFSA is filed or sent to MC.
  
  Late financial aid applicants may pay tuition and fees with the e-cashier, a partial payment plan. Details are available on MYMC. If you become eligible for aid later in the semester, you may be reimbursed to the extent your aid covers your bill.

• Your estimated financial aid award may not be the actual aid you are eligible to receive:
  • if you have errors on your FAFSA or
  • if you register LATE for classes or
  • if you do not have the minimum enrollment for eligibility for some aid programs or
  • if you withdraw or
  • if you fail your classes, then your expected financial aid may be adjusted or cancelled.

Remember that awards are calculated for full time study for fall and spring. The dollars represent a full year of assistance for full time attendance. In some cases awards can be pro-rated for less than full-time attendance. However, in some aid programs, funds are cancelled if the student is not registered for 12 or more bill hours. Remember that financial aid is not eligible for "Audit" classes or Workforce Development "non-credit" classes.

• We review and award applications for financial aid in the date order they are:
  1. received,
  2. completed, and
  3. verified.
  Check your financial aid processing status at MYMC.
  
  Sign acceptance of awards if required.  Keep copies of everything.

 

Additional forms must be completed if you want a Stafford Loan and/or a PLUS Loan to help you pay for school. Obtain the Stafford Loan Form and PLUS Loan Form from the Financial Aid Office you attend.

FOLLOW THROUGH (with the college):
E-mail us at FinancialAid@MontgomeryCollege.edu  if you need help or if you have questions .There are additional required financial aid forms to complete at MC. Your file must be approved by the college for you to receive aid. (FAFSA information is an estimate.)

Common  Issues

You are not required to have your semester classes selected to apply for aid, but you must have filed the Admissions and Registration Application in order for the financial aid office to identify your student status.

MC students who apply for financial aid must provide a social security number (SSN) on the Admissions Application so we can match your FAFSA information needed to set up your college financial aid file.

If you do not provide a SSN to Admissions, your federal financial aid file will be inactive.

When you do register for classes, you must register for credit (not audit or non-credit offerings) to be considered for federal and most other aid programs. The financial aid award is based on full time enrollment (minimum registration of 12 credit hours per semester). If you do not enroll for full time, your financial aid may be reduced or cancelled.

Some aid programs require full time attendance (12 bill hours) and most aid programs require at least half-time enrollment (6 bill hours).

You must enroll in an eligible degree program or register for a certificate that is eligible for financial aid.

ACCEPT OFFERS:

• Approximately 6 - 8 weeks after the file is complete at MC, the financial aid counselor or financial aid specialist approves the file and the award decision is posted to your MYMC online account. The financial aid funds and amounts of aid available to you represent awards for full time study (12 college credits for the semester).

Your financial aid award letter, the Award Conditions and the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy of the college indicate the types and amounts of aid.

• You may accept all or part of the awards in most cases, however certain conditions apply.

 

• You may decline the aid in writing if you do not plan to attend our college.

• You must attend classes to earn your financial aid. Your aid may be adjusted or cancelled if you do not meet the conditions of enrollment or if you completely withdraw from school.

 

• Your offered aid will hold your classes and you may not need to write a check to the college for tuition. Check with a financial aid representative for a case by case explanation of what aid is eligible to pay your bill and how to make sure the classes are eligible for the service.

• If you have sufficient aid for the semester that could also pay for books, you may request a Book Credit service. It is not extra financial aid. We try to make some of your expected refund available as a credit to pay for your books at the college book stores.

 

• Phone: 240-567-5100 for details.