Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education (Federal), New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (State), and Mercer County Community College (Institutional) offer eligible students financial aid to pay for their educational-related expenses. These cost of attendance expenses include tuition, approved fees, books, supplies, room, board, transportation, and personal expenses. For consideration, students should apply by the published deadlines for each agency.

Financial aid is provided to students in the form of grants, work study, scholarships, and loans. Eligibility for the awards depends upon financial need. Specific programs and their eligibility requirements are outlined in the tables below. This is determined by the information provided on the FAFSA. Students may also qualify for a tuition tax credit through the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Federal Financial Aid
For federal financial aid eligibility, students must:

• Complete FAFSA & requirements for appropriate academic year
• United States Citizens or Eligible Noncitizens
• Enrolled in an approved Associate’s degree or Certificate program
• Earned a High School diploma or GED
• Not be in default of a Federal student loan or received an overpayment of a Federal grant
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

NJ State Financial Aid

• Complete FAFSA & requirements for appropriate academic year
• Complete NJFAMS requirements for appropriate academic year
• United States Citizens or Eligible Noncitizens
• Enrolled in an approved Associate’s degree or Certificate program
• Earned a High School diploma or GED
• Not be in default of a Federal student loan or received an overpayment of a Federal grant
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
• New Jersey residents for at least 1 year

DACA Students

• Complete NJFAMS Alternative Financial Aid Application
• Complete Non-Resident Affidavit at Mercer C.C.C.
• Attend NJ high school for at least 3 years
• Graduate from NJ high school or received GED in NJ

Federal regulations requires Mercer C.C.C. establish, publish, and apply reasonable standards for measuring students’ academic progress. The standards must include both a qualitative measure (Cumulative GPA) and a quantitative measure (Cumulative Pace or Completion Rate). In addition, the maximum timeframe used to complete an eligible Associate’s degree or Certificate program cannot exceed 150% of its published length.  The chart below outlines the minimum standards of SAP to receive financial aid:

Attempted  Credits includes all completed, withdrawn, incomplete, repeated, remedial, and transfer credits.

Cumulative Pace (Completion Rate) is the number of credits for all courses successfully completed divided by the number of all Attempted Credits.  Coursework that is successfully completed earned grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, or S.

Cumulative GPA is the average GPA of all courses completed.

SAP is reviewed for all students enrolled at the end of each semester/term.  All periods of the student's enrollment are included in the evaluation, regardless of whether or not financial aid was awarded. Students will receive an updated SAP status, after their progress is evaluated, each semester/term.

SAP Statuses:

New – New with no prior college credits (eligible for aid).

Satisfactory – Meeting minimum SAP standards (eligible for aid).

Warning – Close to not meeting minimum SAP standards.  Needs to begin improving progress (eligible for aid).

Warning Maximum Timeframe – Close to exceeding the time allowed to complete degree or certificate program (eligible for aid).

Failed Probation – Not successful during prior probation semester & failed to meet the standard by receiving ‘W’, ‘I’, ‘NC’, or less than a 2.0 GPA for the semester (ineligible for aid).

Unsatisfactory – Not meeting minimum SAP standards (ineligible for aid).

Unsatisfactory Maximum Timeframe – Exceeded the time allowed to complete their degree or certificate program (ineligible for aid).

If a student is Unsatisfactory or Unsatisfactory Maximum Timeframe, they may be eligible to appeal this status.  To begin the appeal process, they will schedule to meet an Academic Advisor to review their Academic Plan for the upcoming semesters/term.  Next, the student will complete an SAP Appeal explaining why they are appealing.  The appeals will be reviewed by the SAP Committee (anonymous).   Finally, a decision will be made by the committee to either approve or deny the appeals within 7 business days.  Appeals must include the following:

• Explanation of Unforeseen Circumstances (i.e.: illness, injury, death, family, employment, etc.) that prevented successful completion of courses attempted
• Explanation why the degree/certificate program has not been completed within timeframe, including whether student is now enrolled in 2 ^nd or healthcare degree/certificate program; the length of time needed to complete the new program (only for students that are Unsatisfactory Maximum Timeframe)
• Method that will be used to improve academic performance in the future

Once the appeal is reviewed by the committee, it will either be denied or approved.  Students will receive notification in their myMercer portal and email accounts.  If the appeal is denied, the student will not be able to receive financial aid for the upcoming semester/term.  If they are registered for class(es), they will be responsible for the bill.  If the appeal is approved, the student’s financial aid will be reinstated.  Students will receive an updated SAP status, after their appeal is reviewed:

Approved – Students will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated.  They will be in a probationary status and monitored closely each semester/term.  While on probation, students must maintain a 100% completion rate (complete all classes registered for) & receive a 2.0+ GPA for the semester.  No withdrawal (W), incomplete (I), or no credit (NC) classes will be accepted while on probation (eligible for aid).

Approved for 1 Semester - Students will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for 1 semester/term only.  This will be the last semester/term the student is allowed to receive financial aid at Mercer C.C.C. (eligible for aid for 1 last semester/term only).

Denied - Students will not have their financial aid eligibility reinstated.  They will be required to pay for their semester/term.  If they improve their academic progress during the out-of-pocket semester/term, they may appeal for the next semester/term (ineligible for aid).

For more information, please see Mercer C.C.C. SAP Policy .

 
You can attend Mercer County Community College tuition-free* through

New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship

Current New Jersey high school seniors who rank in the top 15% of their graduating class (end of either the junior or senior year) may be eligible for the NJ STARS I program. To be eligible, students must:

For more information, contact Ms.Trish Muka, Associate Director in the Office of Financial Aid at (609) 570-3213 or by e-mail at mukat@mccc.edu.

**Pays up to 18 credits/semester for 5 semesters, not including summer
**College & Tech fees not covered

Explore other financial aid opportunities.

 see also Mercer Honors Program
 see also Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

• NJ STARS Withdrawal and Drop Form

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)

NEW JERSEY STATE AID PROGRAMS

MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS

OTHER SOURCES

Veterans and eligible dependents who want to receive Veterans Administration Educational Assistance (GI Bill®) to pay for their classes should complete a VA Education Benefits Application. For assistance, please contact the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. Once the application is complete, bring a copy to the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. New students should also bring their original Discharge Document (DD form 214 / copy 4) or a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE).

The application for benefits should be completed before registering for classes. Students must submit a copy of their class schedules to the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs for certification of benefits with Veterans Administration. Any changes in enrollment status or change of major must be reported to the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs as soon as they occur.

The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs is located at the West Windsor Campus in Enrollment Services area of the Student Services Building and the James Kerney Campus in the Student Services area.

All applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. In addition, new National Guard students must submit an Admission’s application, take the college skills placement test, and complete their National Guard Free Tuition Program paperwork 6-8 weeks before registration.

National Guard students must submit an original Commander's Letter of Certification (NJDMAVA form 621-2-R15Nov00) each semester they register for courses. This letter must be dated no more than 60 days prior to registering for courses.

Students should submit appropriate documents to be evaluated to the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Active volunteer fire, first aid, or rescue squad members in good standing, and their dependent children and spouses, may enroll in courses. The allowance will be up to $300 per semester and $600 annually, up to a maximum of $2,400 over a 4-year period, if the student:

• Resides in a municipality that has agreed by the enactment of a resolution to participate in the program;
• Maintains a 2.00 GPA throughout the degree or certificate program;
• Executes an agreement to continue service as a volunteer for a period of at least 4 years.

Please contact your local fire companies and rescue squads for additional information.

• Who can get financial aid?
• How do I apply for financial aid?
• What is an FSA ID and how do I get one
• When should I file my FAFSA?
• What if I need help with my FAFSA?
• What happens after I file the FAFSA?
• Now that I have my SAR, how long will it take to get my financial aid award?
• How can I check on the status of my financial aid application?
• How will I know when I get financial aid?
• How can I find out if my tuition has been covered by financial aid?
• My portal for the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) says I am eligible for TAG and/or CCOG. Is my tuition covered now?
• I was told my application is a reject. What does this mean?
• I got my SAR, but I was told you have no record of my application. How is that possible?
• I applied for financial aid. Why was my schedule dropped for nonpayment?

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.

When a student withdraws from their classes, the Office of Financial Aid is required to review the student’s progress before they can determine how much financial aid the student is now entitled to.

If the student has withdrawn prior to completing 60% of their enrollment for the semester, the college and/or student must return unearned Federal financial aid to the following sources 1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan 2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan 3. Federal Pell Grant 4. Federal SEOG. NJ State awards will be reduced to a prorated amount if it is not disbursed prior to the student’s withdrawal.

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 $700 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.

*If you request additional money in your Bookstore Credit for purchases, email finaid@mccc.edu.

Financial Aid is assistance from grants, loans, scholarships, and work provided by Federal, NJ State, local ,or private sources to help meet college expenses.

Most of financial aid is based on financial need, enrollment status, satisfactory academic progress, attendance, and availability of funds. It is intended to supplement, not to replace family and student contributions.

The information you supply on the FAFSA is used to determine your contribution to your college education. Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending Mercer County Community College (tuition, fees, transportation, books, personal expenses, etc.) and the student’s contribution to their education.

The Consortium Agreement certifies that if a student normally attends one institution, but visits another for a semester, only one can administer Title IV and NJ State financial aid.

Guidelines for students interested in participating in a Consortium Agreement and Mercer County Community College is their ‘Home’ institution:

If you are a Mercer County Community College student and visiting another college or university, please follow these steps to participate in a consortium agreement with Mercer as your “home” institution:

1. Visit Enrollment Services to complete a “Request to Take Course at Another Institution” form.
2. Visit the Office of Financial Aid to complete a Consortium Agreement.
3. Obtain the billing statement & class schedule from the other institution.
4. Submit all three (3) documents to Mr. Stephen Waniak waniaks@mccc.edu for review.

Guidelines for students interested in participating in a Consortium Agreement and Mercer County Community College as their ‘Host’ institution:

If you are enrolled as a student at another college/university and visiting Mercer County Community College, please contact Mr. Stephen Waniak waniaks@mccc.edu to have your form from your “home” institution completed.