Financial Aid

Financial aid can help college students pay educational expenses (tuition, fees, books, supplies and other approved expenses) by using funds provided by federal, state and institutional sources. The funds are distributed in the form of grants, scholarships, student employment or loans. Federal and state agencies have developed regulations governing how to apply for these resources and award procedures.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

In order to be considered for most types of financial aid, a student will need to:

• Apply for admission to CCBC.
• Enroll in an eligible CCBC program that leads to a degree or certificate.
• Establish financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov for the first year and every year of his or her college education.
• Submit the application after January 1 and before March 1 for priority consideration of Maryland state grants and scholarships.

Application instructions are available in high schools, CCBC’s financial aid offices and online at www.fafsa.gov.

The U.S. Department of Education reviews the information submitted on the student’s FAFSA to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Most financial assistance received by CCBC students is based on federal need-based requirements and is determined by subtracting the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the student’s budget. The student’s budget is determined by factors such as course load and dependency status. See a typical student budget.

Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients

• Be an accepted CCBC student
• Enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program
• Demonstrate financial need as determined from the FAFSA
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Possess a high school diploma or GED.
  • A student with home school educational experience needs to provide either:
    • a secondary school completion credential for home schools as provided for under state law, or
    • If the state does not require the credential, have completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that qualifies as an exemption from the compulsory attendance requirements under state law.
• Register for at least six billable hours per semester (Pell grants can be fewer).
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a course of study
• Is not in default on any prior educational loan or does not owe a refund on an educational grant or loan
• Does not owe a repayment on any Title IV, HEA grant previously received from any institution
• Register with the Selective Service if the student is a male 18 to 25 years of age and is not currently a member of the active Armed Forces
• Is not convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs after July 1, 1998 for an offense that occurred while receiving Federal student aid such as grants, loans, or work study.

Types of Federal Financial Aid

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
• Loans:
  • William D. Ford Direct Stafford Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
  • William D. Ford PLUS loans for parents of dependent students

Types of Financial Aid From the State of Maryland

• Need-based grants
• Legislative scholarships
• Career/Occupational programs
• Merit based scholarships
• Other special programs

For more information about state aid contact the Maryland Higher Education Commission at 410-260-4500 or visit the website at www.mhec.state.md.us.

CCBC Foundation Support for CCBC students

The CCBC Foundation offers scholarship opportunities for both full-time and part-time students. Call the CCBC Foundation office on 443-840-3270 or visit the online page for more CCBC scholarship information.

Federal Loans

Loan eligibility is determined by financial need and may be part of a student’s financial aid package. In addition to the FAFSA, a student must submit a separate loan application. All forms and additional information may be obtained from the Financial Aid office.

Loan Application Requirements

• Loan applicants need to meet general federal financial aid guidelines.
• All first-time CCBC borrowers are required to attend an entrance interview with a Financial Aid professional. A loan application can be denied based on the professional judgment of a Financial Aid officer.
• A student borrower will need to attend an exit interview.
• A student borrower is to be enrolled in a program leading to a degree or certificate.
• A student’s grade point averages, number of completed credits, current course work and previous loans will be reviewed.
• A student needs to enroll in at least six credits/billable hours for standard semesters and six credits/billable hours combined for summer sessions.

Loan disbursement for a first-time borrower occurs 30 days after the start of the semester.

Typical Student Budget Used to Calculate Financial Need

To determine eligibility for need-based assistance, the Financial Aid office considers each student’s ability to contribute to the educational budget. Family contribution is also considered. The following budget is typically used when calculating financial need. A student may request an adjustment to this budget from the Financial Aid office if special needs exist.

Average Budget for a Full-Time Student with Baltimore County Residency

The estimated student budget is different for an out-of-county and out-of-state resident. Budget amounts may vary depending on the number of credits in which a student is enrolled:

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires the college to establish standards and monitor the academic progress of all students who receive Title IV funds to determine whether they are meeting the requirements. Students who do not meet these standards are placed on financial aid warning or have their eligibility suspended.

A student must successfully complete at least 67% of their total attempted coursework, including developmental courses, and must maintain the following grade point averages for the number of credits:

(Note: These academic standard requirements are different from the college’s academic standard criteria.)

Financial aid recipients are reviewed for satisfactory progress at the end of each semester, including summer. A student who does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards is automatically placed on financial aid warning after one semester. A student who is suspended because of academic progress is ineligible for any further financial aid until satisfactory academic progress is reestablished.

A student who is suspended from receiving financial aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress, as outlined by the financial aid academic standards section, may appeal the suspension by submitting a completed and signed appeal form with documentation to the Financial Aid office. After the appeal is reviewed, the student will receive a written notification of the decision of the appeal.

A student is allowed 98 attempted credits to complete the program of study and receive financial funding. A student who completes 98 credits and plans to pursue additional credits must meet with the designated financial aid officer for approval.

A student may take developmental courses and receive financial aid but cannot exceed 30 semester hours of developmental courses without special authorization from the financial aid officer.

Registration and Tuition Payment Deadlines

Registration Deadlines for Financial Aid

Late start or special session courses that are added to a student’s schedule after the third week of the fall or spring semester will not be covered by financial aid.

Tuition Payment Deadline

If financial aid is not awarded by the time tuition payment is due, a student will need to make tuition payment arrangements using the FACTS Management payment plan in the Bursar’s office. Classes will be cancelled for nonpayment if tuition is not paid by the deadline date.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy

The Financial Aid office is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for a student who withdraws, drops out, is dismissed, or takes a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term. The federal Title IV financial aid program is recalculated in these situations.

If a student leaves the institution prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term, the financial aid office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV Funds formula:

The percentage of payment period or term completed equals the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:

Aid to be returned equals (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.

• If a student earned less aid than the disbursed amount, the institution is required to return a portion of the funds and the student is required to return a portion of the funds. When Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution.
• If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution owes the student a postwithdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student’s withdrawal.

Refunds are allocated in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
• Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans
• Federal Direct Parent (PLUS) Loans
• Federal Pell Grants for which a return of funds is required
• Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants for which a return of funds is required
• Other assistance under the Title for which a return of funds is required (e.g., LEAP)

For more information, please contact the Financial Aid office:

CCBC Catonsville, 443-840-4170
CCBC Dundalk, 443-840-3160
CCBC Essex, 443-840-2170

Student Employment

Federal Work Study and Institutional Aid are awarded to students for employment in a variety of jobs/areas throughout the college and the surrounding community. Jobs are generally limited to a maximum of 15 hours a week while classes are in session. Individual hours available for employment are restricted to the amount of the award for each student. Enrollment in at least six credits/billable hours and satisfactory progress are necessary to maintain eligibility for these programs.

Financial Aid for Continuing Education Programs

Continuing Education

An eligible financial aid student may receive assistance for enrollment in the education programs listed below. Contact the campus Financial Aid office for more information.

• Machine Tool/Machinist
• Medical Assistant
• Surgical Technology

National Guard Benefits

A student who is enlisted in the National Guard can receive as much as 36 months of tuition assistance when enrolled in a VA approved institution. The student must agree to serve six years and complete initial basic training to be eligible.

A guardsmen or reservist who plans to enroll in a CCBC degree or certificate program will need to submit the original Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD2384) to the Veterans’ Service office before applying for benefits.

Veterans’ Educational Benefits

CCBC is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission to grant and administer the Veteran Educational Benefits Program through the Department of Veteran Affairs for veteran students, enrolled in approved associate degree and certificate programs in the College Catalog. A veteran who plans to enroll in an approved CCBC degree or certificate program will need to submit all of the required VA forms, documents and paperwork, including the original separation papers (DD214) for enrollment certifications by the Veteran’s Certifying Official. Benefit payments will vary depending upon the student’s eligibility and the VA Educational Benefits Program. Complete information concerning eligibility requirements for veterans, eligible spouses or dependents, how to apply, programs covered and payment rate information for the benefits listed below is available on the Department of Veterans Affairs website: www.gibill.va.gov.

• Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act Chapter 33 (effective 8/1/09)
• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Chapter 30
• Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Chapter 1607
• Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA) Chapter 35
• Vocational Rehabilitation Educational Assistance Program Chapter 31

The CCBC Veterans Service Office is available to answer questions and assist with the processing of applications for educational benefits for veterans and other military personnel. Information is also available on the Veterans link at www.ccbcmd.edu.