Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid is available to eligible students to help them meet expenses while attending college. Students that are eligible for Federal financial aid should apply complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Financing higher education requires long-range planning, careful budgeting and, usually, sacrifice by both the student and family. Funds from Financial Aid programs are supplemental to maximum financial efforts by the family. For each academic year the Financial Aid Office provides updated financial aid information to assist students in planning their financial needs while attending North Country Community College.
Determining Need
In order to be eligible for any Title IV financial aid, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be accepted into a program of study through the Enrollment Management Office leading to a degree or certificate.
- Be a high school graduate or have earned a recognized general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.) or demonstrate ability to benefit by passing an independently administered examination prior to enrollment.
- Be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- Not owe a refund or repayment of any previously received Title IV financial aid funds.
- Not be in default on previously received student loans.
Residence Requirements
Essex and Franklin County residents must have been a resident of the State of New York for one year, and of the County of Essex or Franklin for six months immediately prior to registration.
New York State residents must have been a resident of the State of New York for one year and of a county other than Essex or Franklin for six months immediately prior to registration who can present a Certificate of Residence from that county.
Non-resident students are any students that do not fulfill Essex and Franklin County and/or New York State residency requirements as defined in the two statements above. Non-resident students are required to pay non-resident tuition rates. To qualify for the resident tuition rate, a student is required by law to present once each academic year, on or before registration, a Certificate of Residence indicating that he or she has been a legal resident of the State of New York for one year and of the county in which he or she resides for six months.
2010 Summer Aid Application
Verification Forms
Dependent Verification 2010-2011
Independent Verification 2010-2011
Additional Forms
Legal Dependent Verification Form 2010-2011
Living Expense Worksheet 2010-2011
Special Circumstances Form 2010-2011
Signature Page 2010-2011
Proof of Independence 2010-2011
Consortium Agreement Form
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
Loan Information (For Student and Parent Borrowers)
Direct Loan Instructions 2010-2011
Parent (PLUS) Loan Instructions 2010-2011
www.studentloans.gov
Federal Stafford Loans
Federal Stafford Loans are available as subsidized, unsubsidized, or a combination of both types. Students are not required to make payments on either type of loan while enrolled at least half-time at an eligible educational institution. However, students may find it is advantageous to make regular or interest-only payments while enrolled.
Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded based on each student's demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office. These loans are interest free while the student is enrolled at least half-time at an eligible educational institution or during authorized grace and deferment periods. Interest is charged once the loan is in repayment or when it is in forbearance status.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are awarded regardless of each student's demonstrated financial need. These loans begin to generate interest charges immediately after disbursement. You have the option of making quarterly interest payments or deferring the interest during at least half-time enrollment, grace, and deferment periods, however the interest due will be capitalized (added to the outstanding loan balance).
For information about our FFELP Loans, please click here.
All Federal Stafford Loan applicants must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for the loan.
Alternative Student Loans
Alternative student loans are private, direct-to-consumer loans used to assist with educational expenses not covered by federal aid. In most cases, it is most beneficial to the student and family to use a Federal Parent (PLUS) Loan instead of an alternative loan. You may check with your bank for alternative loans that do not require school certification. North Country does not service alternative loans or provide customer service to students who have problems with these loans. Please consider the information below before deciding to borrow an alternative loan.
Private Education Loan Applicant Self Certification
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PLUS
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Private
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Borrower
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Parent
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Student, but cosigner is often required
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Interest Rate
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Fixed at 8.5% (subject to legislative changes July 1, 2008)
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Variable, subject to change monthly
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Capitalization of interest
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Once at repayment
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Can be as often as monthly
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Amount borrowed
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Up to the cost of education minus other aid
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Loan limits vary by lender and/or program
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Eligibility
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Based on credit NOT income
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Based on credit and income
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Loan discharged upon death or permanent disability of borrower
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YES
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Varies by lender
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Repayment
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Begins within 60 days of final disbursement and has a 10 year repayment plan, can be interest only while student in school
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May begin immediately, varies by lender
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Deferment and/or Forbearance
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Various flexible options available
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Limited options available
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Scholarship Information
The Financial Aid Office does not award scholarships directly. The Enrollment Office will notify the Financial Aid Office of any of the following scholarships which are applied automatically if you are eligible; the Adirondack Scholarship, the Hodson Scholarship, the International Scholarship, and the Canadian Alliance Scholarship. All other scholarships are handled on a case by case basis and are not awarded through the Enrollment and/or Financial Aid Office. If you have received a scholarship from a different source, you should follow all of the instructions that are necessary to receive the scholarship money and notify the Financial Aid Office when necessary. The links below are for your information in finding additional scholarships opportunities. These links are not affiliated with the Enrollment Office so if you have any questions, please contact the person(s) responsible for the scholarship information.
http://www.nccc.edu/scholarship_info.aspx
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/
I am pleased to announce the launch of an exciting, innovative new resource www.college.gov. College.gov was designed by students for students and features first-person accounts of students who overcame challenges to going to college such as peer pressure, lack of family support, and financial barriers. It provides relevant, comprehensive information about why to go, how to go, and how to pay for college or other postsecondary education programs. Young people who may not have considered higher education a viable option will be engaged, informed, and inspired to create their own "roadmap" to college.
External Financial Aid Links
www.college.gov
www.dl.ed.gov
National Student Loan Data System www.nslds.ed.gov
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The Smart Students Guide
NY College Savings Program
HESC (Higher Education Services Corporation)
Important Financial Aid Numbers / Codes
Federal Code: 007111
Federal Student Aid Processor: Duplicate SAR (319) 337-5665, Check SAR Status (800) 4-FEDAID
NYS Tap Program: (888) NYS-HESC
NYS Tap Code: 2258
NYS Higher Education Services Corp: Stafford Loan Inquiry (888) 697-4372
IRS (copies of tax returns of Form 1722): Local Number (914) 471-6662 ext.45
Selective Service: (847) 688-6888
Appeal
Under provisions pertaining to Standards of Academic Progress, Withdrawal or Non-Attendance or Program Pursuit Regulations, students are allowed to appeal the loss of their eligibility to receive Title IV financial aid. The appeal procedures provide students who do not meet the above regulations and who have experienced exceptional or extraordinary circumstances "beyond the student's control" an opportunity to continue eligibility to receive financial aid. Appeals may be granted only where it is determined that circumstances beyond the student's control resulted in failure to satisfy the requirements and where is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet these requirements in the future.
- Students wishing to appeal the loss of their financial aid eligibility must complete and submit an Appeal Application to the Vice President of Enrollment & Student Services by the deadline indicated on the application.
- Students appealing must authorize the release of pertinent information as part of an investigation of the facts concerning the student's failure to meet academic progress regulations.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
Reinstatement of Financial Aid
Students whose appeals have been denied, or how have not appealed and choose to remain at North Country Community College without receipt of Title IV federal student assistance, may request a review of their academic records after the completion of additional credit hours to determine whether the courses taken have brought them up to the appropriate standards. If the academic standard is met, eligibility for receipt of Title IV federal student assistance may be restored for subsequent terms in that year. Further, students who lost their financial aid eligibility, and do not attend North Country Community College for at least one year, may request that their eligibility be reviewed for reinstatement. Students who lose their financial aid eligibility for two different enrollment periods are no longer eligible to receive financial aid at North Country Community College.
Contact Us:
North Country Community College
23 Santanoni Avenue, P.O. Box 89, NY 12983-0089
Tel: 518-891-2915 Toll Free: 1-888-879-6222
finaid@nccc.edu