How do I apply?Assistance for MC Students
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
Your financial aid award package may not contain funds from all of these programs.
Your initial financial aid awards are based on full time
enrollment (minimum registration of 12 credit
hours per semester). If you do not enroll full time,
your financial aid may be reduced or cancelled,
depending on the rules of the specific program.
Federal Pell Grant
This is the federal government’s primary grant program. We determined the amount of your award using
your federal Expected Family Contribution and your enrollment level. We always base the initial award on
full time
enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester). It is adjusted for enrollment of three quarter
time (9 to 11 charged credit hours – 75% of the full time
semester award), halftime
(6 to 8 charged
credit hours – 50% of the full time
semester award), and less than halftime
(1 to 5 charged credit hours –
25% of the full time
semester award).
The determination of the credit hours your Pell Grant can pay for is based on your enrollment at the time
your financial aid file becomes complete. If your file becomes complete before the semester Pell cutoff
date, you are paid for the hours in which you are enrolled on the cutoff
date. (See the Schedule of Classes for each semester’s Pell enrollment cutoff
date.) If your file becomes complete after the cutoff date, your Pell Grant pays for the hours in which you are enrolled on the day you complete your financial aid file.
Students who do not enroll full time and do not receive the full amount of Pell Grant in both the fall and spring semesters, or who do not attend either fall or spring semesters, may be eligible for summer Pell
Grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant
This is a federal grant program for recent high school graduates who completed a rigorous secondary school program of study as determined by the state in which they graduated. It is designated for US Citizens receiving a Pell Grant and enrolled full time (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) pursuing an associate’s degree. The first year grant is $750? the second year grant is $1,300. Second year students must have earned 24 credit hours toward their associate’s degree and have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average to receive the grant. The grant may be cancelled for a semester of part time (less than 12 credit hours) enrollment. Each grant may only be received once. If you believe that you meet these criteria and were not awarded this grant, notify the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This federal grant program supplements the Pell grant of students with exceptional financial need. The federal government provides MC with a limited amount of SEOG to award to students. We base your initial award on full time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester). It will be reduced for less than full time enrollment.
Board of Trustees (BOT) Grant
This is an institutional grant program directly funded by Montgomery College. To receive a Board of Trustees Grant, students must have financial need and maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA). You may only use a BOT Grant to pay charges for tuition and fees. If your tuition and fees are waived for any reason, or are covered by a tuition specific award, we will cancel your BOT Grant.
Private Scholarships, and State Grants and Scholarships
Organizations and agencies outside of Montgomery College award these funds. These agencies have their own eligibility requirements to receive and renew these awards. We do not credit private and state scholarships to student accounts until we receive the funds from the state agency or sponsor issuing the awards. This includes Maryland State Scholarships and Grants as well as DC TAG and LEAP funds. Maryland State Campus Based Educational Assistance Grants are awarded through Montgomery College to full time ’s criteria for the award.
Maryland State Part Time Grants are awarded per semester to Maryland State residents with financial need who enroll in 6– 11 credit hours in the semester the award is made. Priority for part time grants is given to students who
lose other state grants due to part time enrollment.
Federal Perkins Loan
This is a low interest federal loan for students with exceptional financial need. The federal government provides Montgomery College with a limited amount of funds to award students. Students must repay the loan to Montgomery College. Students receiving a Federal Perkins Loan must sign a promissory note before funds are credited to student accounts. The Office of Student Financial Aid will notify you in writing when and where to sign your promissory note.
Federal Stafford and PLUS Loans (FFELP)
Montgomery College participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Loan funds are provided to students by private banks. Federal Stafford Loans or PLUS Loans are not automatically included in your financial aid award package. Stafford Loans can only be obtained by completing a Student Loan Processing Form. You may borrow your loan from any lender you prefer. Before a processing form can be submitted you must attend an in person student loan information session. We will then determine your eligibility and process your loan. Students requesting PLUS loans must submit the appropriate loan application to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Stafford and PLUS loan recipients must register for at least six credit hours each semester and remain registered at least half time until their loans are certified. If you drop below six credit hours in a semester or completely withdraw from school, you may not receive the full amount of your loan or the loan may be cancelled.
Students receiving Stafford and PLUS Loans must sign a master promissory note before funds are credited to student accounts. You may have funds deposited directly to your student account at the college if your lender participates in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Lenders who do not participate in EFT issue checks payable to the student or to the student and the college. The student must endorse the check in the Cashiers Office. Federal PLUS loans must be endorsed by the parent and returned to the Office of Student Financial Aid before any funds are released to the parent.
Federal Work Study
Federal Work Study (FWS) is a student employment program. The award does not credit to your student account and does not pay your college charges directly. Students must request FWS awards at one of the MC campus financial aid offices. If you receive a FWS award, the Office of Student Financial Aid will help you find a job on campus or off campus in a community service agency. The college pays you biweekly for the hours you work in each pay period. The college directly deposits student earnings from FWS jobs to the student’s personal checking or savings account after you are placed in a job and complete a time sheet. Students may not work in FWS jobs until all required employment paperwork has been completed and returned to the Financial Aid Office.
Private/Alternative Loans
Student Assistants
This program is designed for those students who do not qualify for the Federal Work Study program. Students work on campus in various locations and have the same salary range as on campus Federal Work Study students. Positions in the Student Assistant program are available based on the level of College funding.