It starts with the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at studentaid.gov, is used to apply for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. Please read our CCC FAFSA Guide.​​​

Steps to Apply

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The Federal Student Aid website provides a list of the information you will need in order to complete your FAFSA.                   

You might need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA form:

  • Your parents’ SSNs if they have SSNs and you’re a dependent student
  • Tax returns
  • Records of child support received
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail these supporting records unless instructed to do so.     

         

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Every contributor—anyone (you, your spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) who’s required to provide information on the FAFSA form—needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online form. We strongly recommend you and your contributor(s) create StudentAid.gov accounts before starting your FAFSA form. When you create your account, be careful to enter your name and Social Security number (SSN) exactly as they appear on your Social Security card. You and your contributors can access the StudentAid.gov account by using an FSA ID (account username and password).

Note: Contributors without an SSN can create a StudentAid.gov account too to fill out their portion of your FAFSA form online.

To start the online FAFSA form, select “Log In To Start.” You’ll be taken to the “Log In” page to enter your account username and password. After logging in, you’ll be given the option to select your applicable role to fill out the FAFSA form: “Student” or “Parent.” You (the student) should select “Student.” If a parent wants to start their dependent child’s FAFSA form, they should select the “Parent” option.

 

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Submitting FAFSA is free. You should never pay for assistance with completing your FAFSA. You can receive in-person assistance at your college Financial Aid Office. Additionally, the Federal Student Aid web site provides a number of tools and help resources.               

Make sure that you:                      

  •  Type information carefully (we often see mistakes on names, birthdays, and social security numbers)
  • Sign and submit your FAFSA (check that your status is “submitted”)
                
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You will need to monitor your student portal To Do list and your CCC email, as we may request additional information. You can access both your student portal and email by logging into my.ccc.edu using your CCC username and password.​       

 

                      

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You will receive notification of your financial aid award package in your CCC student email and can monitor your financial aid in my.ccc.edu. Note that if you add, drop, or withdraw from classes, receive any additional outside financial assistance, or require any corrections to your FAFSA, your award may be adjusted.                

 

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If you plan to use financial aid to purchase books, you must first complete the book voucher authorization process​. You will then be able to purchase your books and materials with your financial aid book voucher at the CCC Online Bookstore.                 

 

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Financial aid does not disburse to your student account until after week 2 of the semester for Federal Grants and after week 4 for Federal/Private loans. You will see a "balance due" on your account until after the disbursement. Please review your pending financial aid award to determine whether your aid will cover your balance due.
 
To access your pending award in the Student Portal, click on the Student Finance Account section, then click on the Pending Financial Aid section.
 
If you enroll in both 16-week and 12-week/8-week classes, your Financial Aid will not disburse until after the second week of the mini-term start date. Funds remaining after tuition and book voucher amounts are deducted will be released to you within 14 days of the date the credit balance was created.                  

 

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Review important information about how enrollment changes and failure to comply with deadlines can affect your eligibility. Consult our Financial Aid Calendar​​​​ to understand important dates including FAFSA processing, awarding, and refunds.              
                

*Students who have remaining financial aid funds and who owe a past due amount for tuition or fees from a prior academic year will have $200.00 applied to the prior year balance from current year remaining funds.

 

             

             

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