Financial Aid FAQ || St. Clair County Community College

Be a U. S. citizen or eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security Number.
Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or pass an approved ability- to- benefit (ATB) test.
Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree.
Register (or have registered) with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25.
Certify that you will use your federal financial aid for educational purposes only.
Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money on a federal student grant.

See "How is financial aid eligibility determined?" for more information.

Is there a deadline for applying for financial aid?

To be eligible for federal grants and loans, we must have received your valid Student Aid Report (SAR) by the last day of your enrollment. However, to be considered for grants from the State of Michigan, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that the federal processor receives your FAFSA by March 1st.
Login to the WAVE system to check your financial aid status.

Why am I being asked to submit copies of my tax returns and W-2s?

One third of students who file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are selected for verification which means copies of tax returns, W- 2 forms, etc. must be submitted to our office. We cannot proceed with the processing of your request for financial assistance until ALL of the required documentation has been submitted. DependantVerification Worksheet | IndependantVerification Worksheet

Login to the WAVE system to check your financial aid status , accept or reject awards or to see what documents we still need from you.

How is eligibility for financial aid determined?

See How is financial aid eligibility determined? for more information.

When will I be notified of my financial aid awards?

We cannot award you financial aid until you have been admitted to St. Clair County Community College and your financial aid file has been completed. To have a complete financial aid file, you must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitted any documentation requested
by the Financial Aid Office.
Login to the WAVE system to check your financial aid status , accept or reject awards or to see what documents we still need from you.

Note: Once you have filed your FAFSA, you may be selected for verification. If you are, you will need to submit to the Financial Aid Office at St. Clair County Community College a signed copy of your federal tax returns and W-2 forms. If you are independent, you will also need to provide a signed copy of your spouse’s federal tax returns and W-2 forms. If you are dependent, you will need to provide a signed copy of your parents’ federal tax returns and W-2 forms.
Dependant Verification Worksheet | Independant Verification Worksheet

About the first week of May, we will begin reviewing completed financial aid files and sending out award letters. When you have received your award letter, review the awards and if you wish to apply for a loan, request the Loan Request Form from the Financial Aid Office.

If you are receiving the Federal Stafford Loan for the first time, you will receive a Master's Promissory Note (MPN) from the Financial Aid Office that must be completed and returned to the FAO before loan funds can be disbursed to St. Clair County Community College for you. You will also need to complete a Loan Entrance session. (Mapping your Future Entrance Counseling)

When will I receive a bill for my tuition and fees?

You receive your bill at the time you register for classes.

What happens if my employer is paying for my tuition?

You must contact the cashiers office in Room 123 ATC. (maps and directions)

When will financial aid credit to my student account?

Generally, scholarships and grants will credit to your account around the fourth week of class. We must first verify your attendance in classes and confirm your enrollment before any financial aid can be credited. For federal and state funds, we must also receive the funds for you before we can credit them to your account. Since loans require you to sign a promissory note, they take longer to disburse. Per federal regulations, if you are attending college for the first time, we cannot disburse your Federal Stafford Loan before the 30th day of classes.

When must my bill be paid in full?

Your tuition and fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. Failure to pay your bill may result in you being dropped from your classes or your not being able to register for the next semester.
Note: Grades and transcripts will be held until balance is paid in full.

When can/will I get a refund on financial aid?

If a credit balance is created when financial aid is credited to your student account, you will receive a check for the difference between the balance on your student account and your financial aid. Refund checks are printed within 14 days of the credit balance occurring. See the Return of Title IV Funds for more information.

What happens if I withdraw from all of my classes?

After the first week of classes, you are required to pay all or a portion of your tuition and fees depending on when you withdraw from classes. Federal regulations require that we prorate your financial aid based on the length of time you were in classes. For example, if you attended classes for 35 days of the semester and there were a total of 110 days in the semester, you would be eligible for 35/ 110 or 31.81% of your federal financial aid.

To officially withdraw from St. Clair County Community College, you must notify the Enrollment Services Office.

For a copy of our Refund Policy, please contact the Financial Aid Office at St. Clair County Community College.

What happens if I stop attending any or all of my classes?

Enrollment must be verified at the time loan disbursements are received from your lender. If you have never attended a class, you will be considered to not be enrolled in that class. For example, you register for 6 credit hours but only attend one of the classes, when your enrollment is verified, you will be considered to be enrolled for only 3 credit hours and therefore ineligible for some types of financial aid.

If you begin attending classes but later stop, at the point you stop attending classes, you will be considered to have unofficially withdrawn from those classes. If you have not completed at least 60% of the semester, some or all of your financial aid may be revoked.

Federal regulations require that we recalculate your financial aid if you do not attend classes beyond the 60% point in the semester. The amount of financial aid that you qualify for is determined by the number of classes in which you are enrolled, the type and amount of financial aid you received and how long you attended classes.

If there is a medical or family reason why you must withdraw or stop attending classes, please contact the Director of Financial Aid to discuss how your aid will be affected.