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Frequently
Asked Questions
How
do I apply for financial aid?
When
do I apply?
Do
I need to apply for student financial aid every year?
What
is a Missing Information Letter?
What
is an Award Letter?
When
will I receive my student financial aid funds?
Do
I have to accept the student loan on my Award Letter?
How
do I find out if I qualify for a Board of Governor's Enrollment Fee
Waiver (BOGW)?
What
if I don't have enough money to buy my books?
What
is Satisfactory Academic Progress?
How do I apply for financial aid?
The FAFSA,
or Free Application for
Federal Student Aid, is the basic application for
all federal and state financial aid offered at College of
the Canyons. You may complete
the application at the U.S. Department of Education's
Website www.fafsa.ed.gov.
When do I apply?
At a community college you can apply for federal student aid all
year long. The FAFSA
becomes available January 1st of the award year. You must
apply by the last day of the Spring term in order to be eligible for
financial aid for the current award year.
Do I need to apply for
student financial aid every year?
Yes, to continue receiving aid, you
must reapply each year and demonstrate that you still have
financial need, in others words - YOU MUST RE-QUALIFY EVERY
SCHOOL YEAR. Students who filed a FAFSA
last year will receive Renewal FAFSA
information in the mail from the U.S. Department of Education.
Renewal students will find their renewal applications on the
FAFSA On The Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Students need to only update the information that has changed and
answer any blank questions.
What is a Missing
Information Letter?
After
you apply, you may be requested to submit
additional documents to complete your file. The Missing
Information Letter will be mailed to your home address and it
will describe exactly what documents are needed to complete
your file.
What is
an Award
Letter?
An Award
Letter informs you of your eligibility for student
financial aid. The
letter, will tell you how we determined your
cost of attendance, estimated family contribution, financial
need. It also informs you of what financial aid types and dollar amounts
for which you have qualified. This award letter is the
college's contract with you for the academic year. IMPORTANT
NOTE: The college reserves the right to modify your
awards at anytime.
When will I receive my
student financial aid funds?
Your Award Letter will advise
you of each type of aid you've been offered. You
will find the disbursement dates for each type of aid awarded
on the Important Dates
page. Grant checks
are mailed to your permanent address on file in the Admissions
Office. Student loan checks must
be picked up in person at the Student Business Office.
Click on this link to go to
Important
Dates page which provides additional information on grant and
loan disbursement dates.
Do I have to accept the student loan on my Award
Letter?
No. You do not have to accept a loan if you do not want one.
However, if you choose to receive a Student Loan you must complete
the loan application process.
How do I find out if I
qualify for a
Board
of Governor's Enrollment Fee Waiver (BOGW)?
You
must complete a FAFSA, or
a BOGW Application, and submit it to the Financial Aid Office.
Qualifying is based on your residency status, prior year income and family
household size, or that you are a recipient of public
assistant benefits. The BOGW program provides waivers of
enrollment fees and other registration related fees for
qualified California resident students. THIS IS NOT A CASH GRANT. BOGW
applications are available from the Financial Aid,
Admissions, Counseling, EOPS/CARE and MESA offices, and is
included in the College of the Canyons Schedule of Classes.
You can also apply online at
www.cccapply.org
What if I don't have
enough money to buy my books?
You
are expected to have resources available for the purchase of
books as financial aid student grant and loan checks are
generally delayed about thirty days after the start of each
term. If you have already been awarded a
Pell Grant and
are waiting for funds to arrive, you may be eligible for an advance against your grant to purchase your
books at the COC Bookstore through the Book
Scrip Loan Program. Your book advance will be automatically
deducted from your Federal Pell Grant check once your grant check is disbursed. Inquire in the Financial Aid Office.
What is Satisfactory
Academic Progress?
- Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA (grade point average)
- Complete at least 67% of ALL units you attempt
- Finish your educational objective within 150% of the maximum
allowable units.
This website is being updated and
maintained by the Financial
Aid Office: (661) 362-3215
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