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Financial Aid
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.
Students may also qualify for a tuition tax credit through the HOPE Scholarship.
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). No other application is required. The application should be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To receive an application through the mail, call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). The federal school code for Mercer is 002641.
So that financial aid arrives before tuition and fees need to be paid, applications and supporting documents should be submitted before May 1 for the full academic year or the fall semester, and before October 1 for the spring semester only. These dates are subject to change, so any person who intends to apply should contact the Financial Aid office at (609) 586-4800 ext. 3210 or e-mail finaid@mccc.edu for current deadline information.
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 interested in any particular scholarship opportunities
are requested to submit a Scholarship Interest Form by the May 1 deadline.
Financial Aid Office Hours
Located in SC 263 on the West Windsor Campus, the Financial Aid office is open:
| Monday - Friday: |
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| Wednesday evening: |
until 7 p.m. |
| Summer |
| Monday - Friday: |
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Wednesday evening: |
until 7 p.m. |
General Eligibility Requirements
Federal Aid
For federal financial aid eligibility, students must:
- be United States citizens or eligible noncitizens;
- be accepted in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate;
- have a high school diploma or GED certificate;
- be registered with the Selective Service (if required);
- not be in default status on a student loan or owe a refund on any Title IV federal aid program; and
- maintain satisfactory academic progress.
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:
- New Jersey residents for at least one year;
- enrolled for at least 6 credits; and
- able to demonstrate financial need according to the state's need analysis system.
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 toward their objective.
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 table below outlines the minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress to receive financial aid at Mercer County Community College.
- "Credits attempted" counts all coursework, including withdrawals, incompletes, repeats, noncredit remedial courses and transfer credits.
- "Credits earned" counts only coursework for which the student earned a grade of A, B, C, D or S, including noncredit remedial courses and transfer credits.
- The "completion rate" is equal to the credits earned divided by the credits attempted.
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.
Financial Aid
Minimum Standards of Progress
| Credits Attempted |
Cumulative GPA |
Completion Rate |
| 0 to 8 |
0.00 |
00 % |
| 9 to 19 |
1.60 |
50 % |
| 20 to 29 |
1.70 |
50 % |
| 30 to 39 |
1.80 |
60 % |
| 40 to 47 |
1.90 |
60 % |
| 48 or more |
2.00 |
66 % |
The cumulative academic progress of each financial aid applicant is reviewed annually when spring semester grades are posted or when the annual financial aid application is received, whichever is later. 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:
- an error was made during the academic progress evaluation; or
- mitigating circumstances (serious illness or injury, death in the family, etc.) prevented successful completion of courses attempted; or
- the maximum time frame to complete a program was exceeded due to a curriculum change or the pursuit of more than one associate degree or certificate.
Appeals must be submitted in writing along with relevant supporting documents to the Financial Aid office. The Academic Progress Appeals Committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing once a decision has been made.
Students ultimately judged not to be making satisfactory progress may once again meet satisfactory progress standards by enrolling for one semester at their own expense and achieving a grade of C or better in all courses attempted. Upon successful completion of the semester, an appeal for reinstatement of eligibility may be submitted to the Financial Aid office.
Federal regulations permit financial aid to be awarded for no more than 30 semester hours of noncredit remedial coursework. Once a student has attempted a total of 30 semester hours of remedial courses, no additional remedial courses will qualify for financial aid. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are exempt from the remedial course limit.
Academic eligibility for all New Jersey financial aid programs is governed by the same standards of progress described above.
Questions & Answers About Financial Aid
Select general questions to read answers:
Specific situations:
Who can get financial aid at Mercer County Community College?
Most students can receive financial aid if they need it, but there are some general requirements everyone must meet.
How do I apply for financial aid?
You will be considered for all available financial aid and scholarship programs at Mercer if you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). No other application is required.
Paper FAFSA forms can be used, but the best way to file is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Online applications get processed 7-14 days faster than paper applications, and the online edits will help you avoid mistakes.
Use federal school code 002641 for Mercer.
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid used to apply for all available financial aid and scholarship programs at Mercer. No other application is required. Applications are available at the Financial Aid office or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
What is a PIN and how do I get one?
Your Personal Identification Number (PIN) serves as your electronic signature and access code for various U.S. Department of Education systems. Students (and parents) who file the FAFSA online will not have to print, sign and mail the paper signature page if they have a PIN.
If you do not have one already, you (and your parents, if needed) can apply for a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. It will take 7-10 days to receive your PIN in the mail.
When should I file my FAFSA?
Apply by
May 1 for the academic year
or October 1 if you do not plan to start attending until the spring term in January.
Applying on time means you are considered for all of the programs we have. Applying late means you might miss out on certain ones, and your financial aid probably won't be ready when you have to pay tuition.
What if I need help with my FAFSA?
Help is available at the Financial Aid office on the West Windsor 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.
What happens after I file the FAFSA?
You will get a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail about three or four weeks after you file. Read your SAR carefully and check the information you reported.
If anything seems wrong or you do not understand something on your SAR, do not try to correct it yourself! Instead, contact us right away for help. New Jersey residents will also receive a Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) regarding state aid.
Where can I get access to the Internet on campus?
You can use the library computers on the West Windsor Campus.
I just got my Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. Does this mean I have financial aid?
Not yet, but you have taken the first and most important step in the process. If Mercer is listed as one of the colleges on your SAR, you will receive a follow-up letter from us in a week or two.
However, if Mercer is not on your SAR, call 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243 and ask them to add college code 002641. You will be asked for the DRN number on the top right corner of your SAR when you call.
Now that I have my SAR, how long will it take to get my financial aid award?
That depends on you. We will ask you for certain documents to complete your application. Get them in right away, and you should have an answer a week or two later. Keep in mind that some applications will take a little longer if more documents have to be verified or errors corrected.
How will I know when I get financial aid?
A Mercer Award Letter with the college logo at the top will be mailed to you as soon as all your documents are received and verified. The award letter shows the fund names and amounts you will receive each semester. Award letters start going out in June. No money goes to pay your tuition until you have our award letter.
I was told my application is a reject. What does this mean?
Rejects happen when your application is missing something, like a signature or answer to an important question. Sometimes the answers you gave just don't seem to make sense.
Whatever the reason, your application's going nowhere and we can't fix it. You must provide what's missing or correct what's wrong. Have the DRN number from the top right corner of your SAR ready and call 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243 for help.
I got my Student Aid Report (SAR), but I was told you have no record of my application. How is that possible?
There are two reasons this might happen. Mercer is not listed as one of the colleges on your SAR or you applied so recently that we don't have your application record yet.
To add Mercer to your SAR, call 1 - 800 - 433 - 3243 and ask them to add college code 002641. If you just applied or added Mercer, wait a few days and check again. Records are loaded once a week.
I got my Student Aid Report and Mercer is listed on the form, but I never heard anything from the college. What happened?
Chances are you had an old address on file in the Student Records office, and our letters went there instead of where you live now. You can fix this problem by completing a Demographic Change Form at the Student Records office. If the address we have is correct, bring your SAR to the Financial Aid office so we can review it.
I have an award from the State of New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, but I was told the money isn't there. What's going on?
This one really is confusing! What you have is called a Student Eligibility Notice (SEN). It shows your eligibility for a specific dollar amount of New Jersey financial aid, but it's not an automatic tuition payment.
Before we can use these funds to pay your tuition, you must be registered as a full-time student (12 credits) and meet all other state, federal and college financial aid requirements. These funds are approved for payment only when you see them on your Mercer Award Letter.
I applied for financial aid. Why was my schedule dropped for nonpayment?
Applying for financial aid is only the first step in a process. You may soon be awarded financial aid, but not until everything is checked out and you get your Mercer Award Letter. Your printed schedule shows the date your tuition is due and the amount. Unpaid schedules are dropped if not covered in full by a financial aid award before the payment deadline.
I don't have my Mercer Award Letter yet, but my tuition is due. Can anything be done to hold my schedule?
You may ask the Financial Aid office to extend your payment deadline. In order to qualify for an extension, we must have your application record from the federal processor.
If we have not yet received your application record, your schedule can be held if you go to the Accounting office before the payment deadline and request a deferred tuition payment plan.
I received my Mercer Award Letter, but my schedule was dropped anyway. Why?
There are two possibilities.
Your award for the semester did not cover the full amount of tuition and fees, or
You were approved for a student loan but did not return the loan promissory note before the payment deadline.
To find out if your tuition is covered in full, call the Accounting office at 609-586-4800, ext. 3256.
Federal and State Aid
Listings of federal and state financial aid programs along with eligibility requirements and application instructions appear below.
FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS
| Program |
Special Eligibility
Requirements |
Award
Amounts |
Program
Information |
How
to Apply |
| Federal Pell Grants |
Applicants must:
demonstrate financial need |
Up to $4,050 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 verification of all types of income and other requested documentation to the MCCC Financial Aid office |
| Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) |
Applicants must:
Demonstrate financial need
Apply on or before May 1 (Oct. 1 for spring only) |
$400-$1000 per year at MCCC |
Priority to students with the lowest family contribution who are eligible for Pell |
| Federal Work Study Program (FWS) |
Applicants must:
Enroll at least half-time (6+ credits)
Demonstrate financial need |
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 up to 14 hours per week when classes are in session and 28 hours per week during vacations |
WILLIAM D. FORD DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM
| Program |
Special Eligibility
Requirements |
Award
Amounts |
Program
Information |
How
to Apply |
| Federal Direct Stafford Loan |
Applicants must:
Be taking at least 6 credits
Demonstrate unmet financial need |
Up to:
$2,625 (freshman)
$3,500 (sophomore) |
Repayment begins six months after leaving school
Interest rate is variable, adjusted annually, not to exceed 8.25% |
Same as federal programs
Submit a loan request form to the MCCC Financial Aid office |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan |
Applicants must:
Be taking at least 6 credits
Exhaust eligibility under the subsidized program (above) |
Up to:
$2,625 (freshman)
$3,500 (sophomore)
* Combined Stafford Loan totals may not exceed stated limit |
Repayment of interest begins immediately unless lender agrees to accrue it
Interest rate same as above |
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:
Graduate in the top 20% of their high school class
Enroll in an associate degree program
Be full-time students
Enter the program no more than two years after high school graduation |
Tuition and college fees for 2 years |
For high-achieving New Jersey high school students; not based on financial need
High schools make recommendations to the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority |
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA)
|
| Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) |
See NJ state aid requirements under the "General Eligibility Requirements" section. |
$974 to $2,054 per year at MCCC |
Students who have earned degrees are not eligible at MCCC
Students may receive five semesters of funding; EOF-funded students may receive eight semesters of funding |
Same as federal programs |
| Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program |
Applicants must:
Rank high in high school graduating class
Achieve high SAT scores |
$1000 per year |
High schools make recommendations to the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority |
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority makes selections |
| Educational Opportunity Fund Grant (EOF) |
Applicants must:
Be full-time students
Be historically disadvantaged both educationally and economically |
$255 to $850 per year |
Special counseling services available
Some students may be allowed part-time enrollment with EOF director's approval |
Same as federal programs
EOF applicants must be interviewed by an EOF counselor |
MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS
| Program |
Special Eligibility
Requirements |
Award
Amounts |
Program
Information |
How
to Apply |
| Grant in Aid (GIA) |
Applicants must:
Be talented students who benefit the college community |
Vary |
Students must be recommended |
Faculty/staff recommendation only |
| Private & Foundation Scholarship |
Applicants must:
Demonstrate merit and/or need |
$200-$3000 per year at MCCC |
Scholarship funding is donated by industry, clubs, and organizations |
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Submit recommendations if requested |
| 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 |
Special Eligibility
Requirements |
Award
Amounts |
Program
Information |
How
to Apply |
| Scholarship and loan programs from foundations, companies, unions, clubs, associations, high schools |
Vary by program |
Vary by program |
Libraries, high schools, guidance offices, scholarship publications |
Varies by programs |
MCCC Scholarships and Awards (partial listing)
Civic groups, professional societies, local corporations and generous individuals support an extensive scholarship program at Mercer. Many of these scholarships are awarded at the annual honors convocation which immediately precedes commencement exercises.
Following is a partial listing of numerous MCCC scholarships and awards which become available regularly. For more information and to ascertain eligibility, contact the associated academic divisions and/or the college Financial Aid office
[see also the MCCC Foundation scholarship brochure].
Students interested in any particular scholarship opportunities are requested to submit
a Scholarship Interest Form by the May 1 deadline.
Fred Anker Memorial Award -- Given in memory of this Business Division faculty member and dean to an outstanding continuing student in business administration.
Theresa Ann Antinoro -- Given in memory of Teri Conti Antinoro, awarded to a graduating student in the Nursing/Radiography program.
Architecture -- Endowed scholarships awarded annually to architecture students based on talent and academic achievement.
Robert V. Blanchard Memorial -- Awarded annually to a student dedicated to learning and professionally entering the field of funeral services.
Ed Blissit Scholarship -- Awarded in memory of Ed Blissit to students in the Accounting program who demonstrate financial need.
John P. Boorsch Memorial Scholarship -- Given in memory of John P. Boorsch to a student enrolled in a computer-related field.
Roy Church Memorial Scholarship -- Given in memory of Roy Church, awarded to a student enrolling or enrolled in the Architecture program.
The James Colavita Scholarship -- Endowed by the family with support from the friends, colleagues and students of this former coordinator of Ceramics and Sculpture. Recognizes the achievements of an outstanding fine arts student who will be ascending to sophomore status.
The CYBIS Art Award -- Provides a scholarship to an outstanding continuing visual arts student.
DiDonato Horticulture Awards -- In memory of the DiDonato family, for deserving students in the Ornamental Horticulture program.
Louis H. Draper Memorial Scholarship -- Awarded in memory of Louis H. Draper, Photography program coordinator, to an outstanding full-time photography student.
Jamil E. Faridy Scholarship -- Awarded to a second-year, full-time architecture student with financial needs.
Jodi Fessler Laboratory Scholarship -- Awarded to a continuing student who is outstanding in the study of Biology Laboratory.
Gerald Klein Scholarship -- Given in memory of former faculty member Gerald Klein, awarded to a continuing student in the Advertising/Computer Graphics program.
Ronald J. Kopcho Memorial Scholarship -- Given in memory of the former dean of the Liberal Arts Division and professor of psychology to a continuing student in the Humanities and Social Science program with an interest in psychology.
Laurenti Charitable Trust -- Awards a scholarship to a continuing student enrolled in the Hospitality program.
John M. "Jack" Mainzer III Memorial Scholarships -- Given in his memory by the Mainzer family to a continuing student in the Nursing or Fire Science Technology programs.
Anthony J. Mennuti Memorial Scholarships -- Awarded in memory of Anthony J. Mennuti, MCCC Assistant Dean for Institutional Advancement, to continuing liberal arts students studying English.
Mercer County Women Tennis Academic Award -- An endowed scholarship awarded to the team member with the highest GPA each semester, made possible by an anonymous donor.
National Westminster Bank Scholarship -- Given to a continuing student in the Business Division.
Colombia Bibbo Petrolle Scholarship -- Given in memory of Columbia Bibbo Petrolle, awarded to a full-time student enrolled in the Funeral Service program.
Harry D. Trought Memorial Scholarship -- Given in memory of Harry D. Trought, a former MCCC employee, to an outstanding aviation student.
Visual Arts -- An endowed fund established by the faculty to recognize outstanding student achievement. Awarded annually to an ascending freshman in any of the six visual arts programs.
Work Study on Campus
The Federal Work Study Program is a federally funded program for students who need financial assistance to help with educational expenses. The program provides a maximum of 14 hours of work per week when classes are in session and up to 28 hours per week during vacations.
For more information contact the Career Services office or e-mail finaid@mccc.edu.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans and eligible dependents who wish to receive Veterans Administration Educational Assistance (GI Bill) should contact the Office of Veterans Affairs, located in the Admissions 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. Initial application for benefits should be completed as far as possible in advance of registration for classes. Returning students should submit a copy of their class schedules to the Veterans Affairs office for certification with the Veterans Administration. Any changes in enrollment status or change of major must be reported to the Veterans Affairs office as soon as they occur.
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 Veterans Affairs office for additional information. Call 609-586-4800 ext. 3240 or e-mail vets@mccc.edu.
New Jersey Volunteer Tuition Credit Program
The grant allows for active volunteer fire and rescue members, their spouses, and dependent children to receive $600 annually ($300 per semester) to be used for higher learning.
Those eligible are limited to a maximum of $2400 over a four-year period for tuition at county colleges, four-year colleges, and county vocational and technical schools. Participating students must maintain a minimum "C" grade point average. In addition, the student must agree to serve as a member of a volunteer emergency services organization for a minimum of four years.
For more details, contact your local volunteer fire company or rescue squad.
Financial Aid Websites
The Financial Aid Information Page
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
FastWEB Scholarship Search
Federal Student Aid
Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) number from the U.S. Department of Education
Student Gateway to the Federal Government (careers, planning an education, paying for college)
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