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2024-25 FAFSA Update:  The 2024-25 FAFSA is currently open. Revisions made to this year's application have resulted in a delayed release and further delays for colleges receiving completed FAFSAs. These revisions also resulted in a number of technical issues, some of which have not yet been resolved by the Department of Education. If you experience technical difficulties completing the FAFSA, please contact our office.

Contact Us

Phone 609-570-3210     Email finaid@mccc.edu

 West Windsor Campus 
Located at the Enrollment Center on the second floor of the Student Center (SC):  Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. / Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. / Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. / Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 James Kerney Campus 
Located in KC 218
on the second floor of the KC building:
Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 Virtual Office Hours 
Financial Aid staff are available at the . . .
MCCC Virtual
Enrollment Center

NJ State HESAA Financial Aid Deadlines

The FAFSA must be RECEIVED by the Federal processor (not postmarked) by the dates below to be considered for the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG), Governor's Urban Scholarship, NJ STARS and NJ STARS II programs.

Renewal Students 2023-2024 2024-2025
Submit FAFSA April 15, 2023 May 15, 2024
Complete State Record in NJFAMS October 1, 2023* October 1, 2024*
Complete State Record in NJFAMS – Spring Only March 1, 2024* March 1, 2025*
New Students 2023-2024 2024-2025
Submit FAFSA September 15, 2023 September 15, 2024
Complete State Record in NJFAMS October 1, 2023* October 1, 2024*
Submit FAFSA – Spring Only February 15, 2024 February 15, 2025
Complete State Record in NJFAMS – Spring Only March 1, 2024* March 1, 2025*
* Students have 30 days from initial notification to complete state record in NJFAMS. The dates listed are the final possible deadlines, but students may have earlier deadlines depending on the date of the initial notification.


Opportunities

The federal government, the State of New Jersey, and Mercer County Community College offer eligible students a range of financial aid opportunities. A student or applicant who needs financial aid should apply as early as possible -- even before completing an application for admission.

Most student financial aid is provided in the form of grants through federal and state-funded programs. This money is specifically awarded for education-related expenses including tuition, fees, books, and indirect costs such as living expenses and transportation. Eligibility depends upon financial need. Other grants are available through private scholarships and college-sponsored grants-in-aid.

Specific programs and their eligibility requirements are outlined in the tables below. Students may also qualify for a tuition tax credit through the American Opportunity Tax Credit.


How to Apply

To be considered for all federal, state and MCCC financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The federal school code for Mercer is 002641.

To ensure that financial aid arrives before tuition and fees are due, applications and supporting documents should be submitted before April 15 for the full academic year or the Fall semester, and before September 15 for the Spring semester only.

Students who submit applications after these dates should be prepared to pay semester tuition and fees themselves with the possibility of receiving financial aid after the semester begins. If an award is made, the student will receive an appropriate refund.

Students are additionally encouraged to explore and pursue scholarship opportunities.

General Eligibility Requirements

Federal Aid
For federal financial aid eligibility, students must:

State Aid
To be eligible for financial aid from the State of New Jersey, students must comply with the general eligibility requirements and also must be:

DACA Students
Applicants must:


Academic Requirements

Financial aid is awarded only to students who are enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program and who are making satisfactory academic progress.

Federal regulations require every college to establish, publish and apply reasonable standards for measuring academic progress. The standards must include both a qualitative measure (the cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative measure (the completion rate). In addition, the maximum time to complete a program cannot exceed 150% of its published length. The chart below outlines the minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress to receive financial aid at Mercer County Community College.

Minimum Standards of Progress to Qualify for Financial Aid

Cumulative Credits Attempted Completion Rate Cumulative GPA
0 to 8 00 % 0.00
9 to 19 50 % 1.60
20 to 29 50 % 1.70
30 to 39 60 % 1.80
40 to 47 60 % 1.90
48 or more 67 % 2.00

Cumulative credits attempted counts all coursework, including withdrawals, incompletes, repeats, noncredit remedial courses and transfer credits. The Completion rate is equal to credits earned (which counts only coursework for which the student earned a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, or S, including noncredit remedial courses and transfer credits) divided by the credits attempted. Up to 30 noncredit remedial courses are exempt from this calculation. Students whose coursework consists entirely of noncredit remedial courses and/or transfer credit are exempt from the cumulative GPA standard because they do not have a calculated grade point average.

The cumulative academic progress of each student is reviewed after each term that the student is enrolled. All periods of the student's enrollment except the semester in progress are included in the evaluation, regardless of whether or not financial aid was awarded. Students who fail to meet all of the prescribed standards for satisfactory academic progress will be denied financial aid.

Applicants denied financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress have the right to appeal for reinstatement of eligibility, providing evidence that:

Appeals along with relevant supporting documents must be submitted in writing to the Financial Aid office. The SAP Committee will review the appeal and notify the student by e-mail once a decision has been made.

For full Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies click here.

Students whose appeals are denied must attempt at least one additional credit at their own expense before they may submit a new appeal.

Student whose appeals are approved will be placed on probation; while on probation, students must all of their courses with no failures 'F', withdrawals "W', incomplete "I", or no credit 'NC' grades of any kind and earn a term GPA of 2.00. Failure to meet any of these terms will result in a Failed Probation status and suspension of financial aid.



NJ STARS Forms


Financial Aid SAP Forms and Publications


Federal and State Aid

Listings of federal and state financial aid programs along with eligibility requirements and application instructions appear below.

 Federal Stafford Loan Information 2023-24 (PDF)

 Federal Direct Loan Adjustment Form 2023-24 (PDF)

 

FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS

Program Special Eligibility
Requirements
Award
Amounts
Program
Information
How
to Apply
Federal Pell Grants Applicants must:
 Demonstrate financial need
 Take at least 1 credit of program-required coursework
Up to $6345 per year Students who have earned B.A. or B.S. degrees not eligible  File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) listing MCCC as a college you plan to attend
 Submit any other required information/documents to the MCCC Financial Aid office
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Applicants must:
 Demonstrate financial need
 Apply on or before April 15 (Sept. 15 for Spring only)
$400-$800 per year at MCCC Priority to students with the lowest SAI who are eligible for Pell
Federal Work Study Program (FWS) Applicants must:
 Demonstrate financial need
 Take at least 6 credits of program-required coursework
Determined by hourly rate of pay and number of hours per week, generally from $800 to $3000 per year Employment is on- or off-campus; students may work a maximum of 15 hours per week when classes are in session depending upon FWS budget

WILLIAM D. FORD DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM

Program Special Eligibility
Requirements
Award
Amounts
Program
Information
How
to Apply
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan Applicants must:
 Take at least 6 credits of program-required coursework
 Demonstrate unmet financial need
Up to:
 $3500 (0-29 completed credits)
 $4500 (30 or more completed credits)
 Repayment begins six months after leaving school
 Interest rates vary by year
 Same as federal aid programs
 Accept desired loan(s) through MyMercer student portal
 Complete Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Applicants must:
 Take at least 6 credits of program-required coursework
Up to:
 $6000 (0-29 completed credits)
 $6000 (30 or more completed credits)
 Combined Stafford Loan totals may not exceed stated limit
 Repayment of interest begins immediately unless lender agrees to accrue it
 Interest rates vary by year

NEW JERSEY STATE AID PROGRAMS

Program Special Eligibility
Requirements
Award
Amounts
Program
Information
How
to Apply
NJ STARS (Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship) Applicants must:
 Rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class at the end of their junior or senior year
 Demonstrate college readiness
 Enroll in at least 12 credits
Tuition for up to 18 credits per semester, up to five semesters  For high-achieving New Jersey high school students; not based on financial need
 Available for Fall and Spring only
 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or HESAA Alternative Application (if applicable)
 Complete all requirements on state portal
 Have your high school mail official high school transcript with class rank to Financial Aid office
Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) See NJ state aid requirements under the "General Eligibility Requirements" section. Up to $3120 per year at MCCC  Students with any prior college degree are ineligible
 Students may receive five semesters of funding; EOF-funded students may receive eight semesters
 Available for Fall, Spring, and Summer
 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or HESAA Alternative Application (if applicable)
 Complete all requirements on state portal
Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Applicants must:
 Have a household AGI between $0 and $100,000
 Enroll in at least 6 credits
Tuition and eligible fees for up to 18 credits; depending on income, covers all, one-half, or one-third of tuition and eligible fees  Students may receive up to five semesters of funding
 Students with any prior college degree are ineligible
 Available for Fall and Spring only
 Last-dollar grant applied after all other gift aid
 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or HESAA Alternative Application (if applicable)
 Complete all requirements on state portal
Educational Opportunity Fund Grant (EOF) Applicants must:
 Be full-time students
 Be historically disadvantaged both educationally and economically
Up to $1600 per year  Special counseling services available
 Some students may be allowed part-time enrollment with EOF director's approval
 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or HESAA Alternative Application (if applicable)
 Complete all requirements on state portal
 Submit an application to the EOF office

MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS

Program Special Eligibility
Requirements
Award
Amounts
Program
Information
How
to Apply
Private and Foundation Scholarship Applicants must:
 Demonstrate merit and/or need
 Complete the general online application
$200-$6500 per year at MCCC Scholarship funding is donated by businesses, organizations, and individuals  File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
 Submit online AwardSpring application
Foundation Athletic Scholarship Applicants must:
 Be outstanding athletes
$100 to full tuition and fees Must be recommended by MCCC coach or athletic director Contact the MCCC Athletics Department (e-mail athlete@mccc.edu)

OTHER SOURCES

Program Award Amounts and Eligibility Program Information How to Apply
Scholarship and loan programs from foundations,
companies, unions, clubs, associations, high schools
Vary by program Libraries, high schools, guidance offices, scholarship publications Varies by programs

 


Veterans Benefits

Veterans and eligible dependents who wish to receive Veterans Administration Educational Assistance (GI Bill®) should contact the Military and Veterans Affairs office, located in the Ennrollment Services office at the West Windsor Campus or the Student Services office at the James Kerney Campus. New students should bring their original Discharge Document (DD form 214 / copy 4) or a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE).

The staff will assist veterans in completing necessary paperwork in a timely fashion. Alternatively, the application may be completed online at www.gibill.va.gov. If filing online, print and bring a copy of your application to the Military and Veterans Affairs office.

Initial application for benefits should be completed as far as possible in advance of registration for classes. Returning students must submit a copy of their class schedules to the Military and Veterans Affairs office for certification with the Veterans Administration. Any changes in enrollment status or change of major must be reported to the Military and Veterans Affairs office as soon as they occur.


New Jersey National Guard Free Tuition Program

New applicants for the National Guard Free Tuition Program should complete their paperwork six to eight weeks before registration. All National Guard students, both new and returning, must submit an original Commander's Letter of Certification (NJDMAVA form 621-2-R15Nov00) each time they register for courses. This letter must be dated no more than 60 days prior to registering for courses.

All applicants, new and returning, must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. In addition, National Guard students must complete and submit an application to MCCC and take the college skills placement test.

All veterans and National Guard students may submit appropriate documents to be evaluated for the possible awarding of credits for military training. Contact the Military and Veterans Affairs office for additional information: (609) 570-3231 or e-mail vets@mccc.edu.


New Jersey Volunteer Tuition Credit Program
(for Volunteer Fire, First Aid, Rescue Squad Members)

Active volunteer fire, first aid, or rescue squad members in good standing, and their dependent children and spouses, may enroll in courses of up to $300 in value per semester and $600 in value annually, up to a maximum of $2,400 over a four-year period, provided that they:

Local fire companies and rescue squads can provide additional information.

Questions & Answers About Financial Aid


1.  Who can get financial aid?
Most students can receive financial aid if they need it, but there are some general requirements everyone must meet.


2.  How do I apply for financial aid?
First, make sure you (and your parent, if needed) have an FSA ID (see question #3). Next, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our federal school code for the FAFSA is 002641.


3.  What is an FSA ID and how do I get one?
The FSA ID is a username and password you use to log in to studentaid.gov and to sign your FAFSA. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn't be created or used by anyone other than you-not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You'll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a FAFSA and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.

Click here to create an FSA ID. You'll need your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth. You'll also need to create a username and password and provide answers to challenge questions so you can retrieve your account information if you forget it.

It is recommended that you provide a mobile phone number and email address when you make your FSA ID. This will make it easier to unlock your account, retrieve your forgotten username, or reset your forgotten password


4.  When should I file my FAFSA?
The FAFSA for the upcoming school year becomes available on October 1 each year. Submit the FAFSA by April 15 for the full academic year or September 15 if you plan to attend only the spring term that begins in January. Apply as early as possible to allow enough time for your aid to process before tuition is due. Students who apply on time receive priority consideration for all funds. Students who apply late may miss out on certain funds. Students who apply late may not have their financial aid processed by the tuition due date and may need to wait to register for classes or pay out of pocket to reserve desired classes.


5.  What if I need help with my FAFSA?
Help is available at the Financial Aid office on the main campus or the Student Services office at the James Kerney Campus. Always bring your and your parents' tax returns (if needed) when you come for help. You may also call the toll free Federal Student Aid help line at 1-800-433-3243.


6.  What happens after I file the FAFSA?
If you provided a valid e-mail address on your FAFSA, you will receive an e-mail response within 3-5 days with a link to your online Student Aid Report (SAR). If no e-mail address is provided, you will receive a paper SAR by regular mail within three weeks.

Read your SAR carefully and check the information you reported. If anything seems wrong or you do not understand something on your SAR, contact us right away for help.

After submitting the FAFSA, New Jersey residents may receive emails from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) about eligibility for or additional requirements to apply for New Jersey state financial aid programs.


7.  Now that I have my SAR, how long will it take to get my financial aid award?
That depends. We may have to ask you for certain documents to complete and verify your application. After submitting the FAFSA, you should begin checking the Financial Aid Self-Service section of your MyMercer student portal and your MCCC student email address every day. If you have any added requirements, they’ll be listed on the checklist found on your portal, and you will be notified via email. Submit any required documents right away, because we cannot continue processing your application until all requirements have been completed. Once your file is complete, you should have an answer within two to four weeks.


8.  How can I check on the status of my financial aid application?
You may check the status of your application online at any time by logging into your MyMercer student portal and clicking on Financial Aid Self-Service (be sure to select the appropriate academic year on the drop-down menu on the Financial Aid Self-Service home screen). You may also contact the Financial Aid office with any questions about your status.


9.  How will I know when I get financial aid?
An award letter will be available on your MyMercer student portal, Go to Student Self-Service, and click on the Financial Aid section.


10.  How can I find out if my tuition has been covered by financial aid?
If you registered for classes, you may check the status of your account online. Log into the MyMercer student portal, click on Student Self-Service, and then click on Student Finance. A negative balance indicates that your total payments (including all types of financial aid) exceeds your charges. You do not need to pay a negative balance; this is the amount owed back to you as a refund. Any questions about billing, charges, or payments must be directed to bursar@mccc.edu.


11.  My portal for the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) says I am eligible for TAG and/or CCOG. Is my tuition covered now?
Even if your NJFAMS portal indicates you have been awarded state grants like TAG and CCOG, these grants may not be immediately applied to your account. Once HESAA has determined your eligibility, we must certify your enrollment and then manually add on the appropriate aid. Our staff works to add these awards as quickly as possible, and we award students in the order that their enrollment is certified. We cannot guarantee that state awards are posted to students’ accounts before tuition is due, so you may need to make a payment out of pocket to reserve your classes as you wait for your state grant. The best way to ensure your state aid is posted early is to register for classes as early as you can.


12.  I was told my application is a reject. What does this mean?
A FAFSA may be rejected for a number of reasons. If your FAFSA is rejected, you will see a rejection notice on the Financial Aid Self-Service section of your MyMercer student portal. When you log back into studentaid.gov and re-enter your FAFSA, you should see a notification informing you what needs to be corrected for the FAFSA to be accepted.


13.  I got my SAR, but I was told you have no record of my application. How is that possible?
There are several reasons this might happen. You can log back onto studentaid.gov and check that you have submitted the FAFSA for the current academic year, that MCCC is included on your list of schools, and that you actually submitted the FAFSA and did not just sign it or save it. If any of these items was not completed correctly, the FAFSA must be resubmitted. It takes 1-2 weeks for us to receive a FAFSA once it is submitted, so if you applied within that time frame, you likely just need to wait a bit longer. If none of these solves the issue, please contact the Financial Aid office.


14.  I applied for financial aid. Why was my schedule dropped for nonpayment?
Applying for financial aid is only the first step to receive an award. You must complete any additional requirements and your application must be processed before you can be awarded financial aid. Once you get your financial aid award letter, you may need to take action to accept your aid before it can be applied to your tuition bill. While you wait for your financial aid award, you are responsible for any tuition due dates. Failure to make a payment by the posted deadline may result in your classes being dropped for nonpayment.


Financial Aid Websites

Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- for online FAFSA filing
Federal Student Aid ID -- create an FSA ID to sign and submit a FAFSA online
Master Promissory Note -- sign a MPN to receive accepted federal student loans
Loan Entrance Counseling -- complete entrance counseling to receive accepted federal student loans
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority -- information for New Jersey residents on all financial aid programs administered by HESAA
NJFAMS Student Portal -- create an account and log into NJFAMS to check the status of your state financial aid programs
HESAA Alternative Application -- students ineligible to complete a FAFSA may be able to apply for NJ state financial aid using the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application
ELMSelect -- research and compare private student loans
ECMC Repayment Plans -- loan repayment solutions
ECMC -- loan default management resources

When a Student Withdraws

Withdrawal from all courses before 60% of a term has expired will result in a pro rata reduction and return of financial aid previously awarded, except work-study earnings. The school and the student must return unearned financial aid by repaying funds to the following sources, in order, up to the total net amount disbursed from each source: to Unsubsidized Stafford Loan; to Subsidized Stafford Loan; to Federal Pell Grant; to Federal SEOG.

State funding will be reduced to a prorated amount if not disbursed prior to withdraw. The reduced award will correspond to the scheduled net credit load.

YOU WILL BE BILLED FOR ANY UNPAID CHARGES THAT RESULT FROM OUR RETURN OF FEDERAL FUNDS.


Bookstore Credit Opt Out

Students who are awarded but wish to opt out of the bookstore credit must submit a request to the financial aid office. Bookstore Credits are extended one week prior to the start of the term to eligible students. This allows students to use a portion of their financial aid to purchase required books for registered courses before classes begin. The bookstore credit is not an additional financial aid award and the cost of books purchased will be deducted from any financial aid awards. The maximum authorized amount will be determined by the student's eligibility not to exceed $1200 per term. If your financial aid awards do not cover the cost of Tuition, Fees, and Books, or if you become ineligible for financial aid, you will be responsible for payment of any remaining semester charges.