4 Easy Steps to Applying for Financial Aid?

Remember you must apply each year!

Filling out the FAFSA and applying for student financial aid is free.  Be wary of mailings or websites that offer to submit your application for you or to find money for school if you pay them a fee.  Generally any information or service you pay for can be offered for free from your school or the U.S. Department of Education.

Step 1         Apply for your Personal Identification Number (PIN)

Apply early for your PIN so you will be ready to electronically sign your FAFSA. You may submit your request for the PIN online. Note: If you are a dependent student both you and a parent will need to acquire one.

Step 2         Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To apply for federal aid, complete the FAFSA online. Filling online will reduce processing time of the application by the Department of Education from weeks to days.  The Student Financial Aid Office suggests that you complete the PreApplication Worksheet prior to completing the online FAFSA.  Follow all directions for submitting your FAFSA as listed on the FAFSA web site. If you filed your FAFSA online, you may review your SAR and make any corrections online three to seven days after you have submitted your FAFSA. You may choose to complete a paper FAFSA which is available by calling the Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243. Return your signed paper FAFSA to “Federal Student Aid Programs” in the envelope provided and be sure to list COCC's federal school code 003188 on the application. You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within two to four weeks. Approximately two weeks after you submit a complete FAFSA, COCC will receive your information from the federal processing center. Don't forget to submit a COCC Application for Admission, which can be completed online.

Step 3         Return Requested Documents

After you have applied for financial aid at COCC, will receive information about logging on to your ‘Student Online Services’ account.  Since the Financial Aid Office may require additional documents, use the account to download the necessary forms and to verify that all requirements needed to process your aid are satisfied.  Return any information requested by the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.  Students may login to their ‘Student Online Services’ account at www.cocc.edu and click ’My Login’.

Step 4         Financial Aid Award & Disbursement

Within two to four weeks of receiving all required information , the Financial Aid Office will send you an Award Status Notification.  This notification will indicate that a financial aid package has been processed and is available online to accept or decline.  For those student that opted not to participate in the electronic award process, the financial aid office will send the traditional paper version of the Award Letter.  Note: All new student loan borrowers will need to complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note from a lender online.  Actual financial aid paid is based on the number of credits in which a student is enrolled at 5 p.m. on the second Friday of the term.  Aid is first applied to tuition, fees, and other outstanding charges in the academic year.  If financial aid is not sufficient to cover all charges, the remaining balance must be paid by the third Friday of the term.  However, if financial aid exceeds the account balance refund checks will be issued to the student.  Additional term disbursement information is available online.

Tips to complete the FAFSA are also available.