Frequently Asked Questions
What is financial aid and how do I apply?
How does my enrollment affect financial aid?
What is the award and how is it paid out?
Consumer Information
The BCC Financial Aid Office is happy to work with you to help provide financial resources to assist you in meeting the cost of your education. We offer grants, scholarship, loan and work programs and encourage all students to apply for the many types of assistance we have available. Listed below are financial aid topics to help you understand the application and eligibility process.
Ten Minimum Requirements for Financial Aid Eligibility
1. Complete a FAFSA and BCC Supplemental Financial Aid Application
2. Have a valid social security number
3. Have a high school diploma or a GED
4. Be accepted and enrolled in a degree program or eligible certificate program
5. Maintain satisfactory academic progress
6. Maintain a 75% completion rate
7. Do not owe a refund on any federal or state educational grant nor be in default on any previous educational loan
8. Be a
9. Submit all the required documents to the college or appropriate agency
10. Register with Selective Service, if required
Things no one ever told me …
- You must apply for financial aid every year.
- You may be responsible for some of your own costs.
- If you have a Pell Grant, and you don't use it all during the fall and spring, you may be eligible to use it for summer classes.
- You don’t have to be a full time student (12 or more credits) to qualify for financial aid. Many part time students qualify.
- If you fail to complete your financial aid file, you will be responsible for paying the college for your classes.
- If you drop out of classes, you may be required to repay some of the financial aid.
- If your enrollment level changes, your award will too!
What is financial aid and how do I apply?
Financial Aid
Financial aid consists of grants, scholarships, loans, and work study (part-time) opportunities for students.
BCC Title IV Code
BCC's Title IV Code is 002176. Use this code on the FAFSA to insure that your information is sent to BCC.
How to apply information
The four steps to apply for financial aid.
Financial Aid Deadlines
Applications are accepted year-round; however, because of limited funding, students are urged to apply early. Priority is given to students who complete their file by May 1. On-time applicants have a better chance of receiving aid beyond the Pell Grant and/or loans. In addition, on-time applicants receive notification of award eligibility prior to the tuition due date and are considered for the book voucher program. Late applicants, on the other hand, may be expected to pay their tuition and book charges on their own and be reimbursed at a later date if eligible for financial aid. BCC has a priority deadline of May 1 for the Fall semester and November 1, for the Spring semester. In order to meet this deadline you must have a complete financial aid file. Since the FAFSA can take up to four weeks to process, you should submit this form no later than April 1 for the Fall semester and October 1 for the Spring Semester. All requested documentation must be submitted by the end of the academic year or the last date of attendance, whichever comes first.
Re-apply for Financial Aid
Your eligibility for financial aid must be reestablished each academic year. That means that you should complete the financial aid forms every Spring for the coming school year. The priority deadline is May 1 for classes that begin the following September.
Workshops and Weekly Walk-in Hours
Help with the financial aid process is available through scheduled workshops or on a walk-in basis on Thursdays.
The workshops will assist you with completing the FAFSA and then submitting the form on-line in a computer lab with assistance from financial aid staff.
Walk-in hours are available for any part of the financial aid process, including completed the FAFSA worksheet which you can then complete on-line on your own. Walk-in hours are every Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm in the Enrollment Center. If you need help with the 2009-10 financial aid forms and filed a 2008 federal tax return, bring a copy of the form with you. If you are a dependent applicant, bring in your parent’s tax return also.
Income or Family Situation has Changed
When you complete the FAFSA you will be asked about your income for the prior year. If your current income is lower, you should contact the school's financial aid office after July 1. It may be possible to have your eligibility re-calculated using the most up-to-date information.
PIN – Personal Identification Number
You should apply for a PIN to complete your FAFSA on line. If parent information is provided on the FAFSA, at least one parent should also obtain a PIN. Applying on-line with the PIN will expedite the processing of your FAFSA. NEW for 2008-09: You and/or your parent can apply for a PIN while completing the FAFSA on the Web. In most cases, a PIN will be assigned immediately. The PIN can be used to electronically sign your FAFSA, check the status of your application, obtain application results more quickly, complete the renewal forms in future years, and check your student loan history through the National Student Loan Data System. This PIN is not the same as your accessBCC or OpenNet password.
Send your FAFSA results to BCC
If you did not list BCC to receive a copy of your FAFSA results, you can add BCC after your FAFSA is processed. There are three ways to do this:
- If you have a PIN, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and select “add or delete a school code.”
- If you do not have a PIN, wait until you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) either by e-mail or postal mail (If you misplaced your SAR, call 1 800 433 3243 and request that a duplicate SAR be sent to you.) Look for the four-digit DRN on the first page of your SAR and then call 1 800 433 3243. Follow the prompts to add BCC to the list (BCC code is 002176).
- If you have your DRN, the BCC Financial Aid Office can add the school for you. Provide BCC Financial Aid Office with your DRN, social security number, full name, and date of birth.
Tax Forms
Need a copy of your federal income tax form? Click here for instructions and a request form, or call 1-800-8291040.
How does my enrollment affect financial aid?
Admission to an Eligible Program
You need to be admitted to an eligible degree or certificate program to receive financial aid. All Associate Degree programs are eligible and certificate programs that are 24 credits or greater in length are eligible. The certificate programs that require less than 24 credits are not eligible for aid. If you have not applied for admissions, complete the BCC admissions application process as soon as possible. Don’t wait to be admitted before completing your financial aid forms. It is best to apply for admission and financial aid at about the same time.
Conditional Admission
Conditional admission means that you have been admitted to a program, but additional information is needed by the Admissions Office (usually an updated high school transcript). You may still receive a financial aid award offer, however financial aid cannot clear your bill and you will not be eligible for a book voucher or financial aid payment until the “conditional admit” status is resolved.
Full-Time or Part-Time Enrollment
One of the biggest myths of financial aid is that only full time students are eligible. Many part time students qualify for financial aid. Some even qualify when they're only enrolled in one course. However, some financial aid programs do require a certain enrollment level. For example, you need to be enrolled in at least six credits to receive a student loan, while some students can receive the Pell Grant when enrolled in only three credits. The golden rule of financial aid is "You must apply." It's free and our office will be glad to help you through the process. Once we have your information, we will do all we can to identify resources to help you meet your costs. An audited class is not considered when determining enrollment level for financial aid purposes.
Enrolling in Two Schools
If you enroll in more than one school during the same semester, you will need to take extra steps for financial aid consideration. Federal and state regulations do not allow you to receive financial aid from two schools at the same time. Contact the Financial Aid Office of the home school for a Consortium Agreement. When the Consortium Agreement is approved by both schools, the home school may consider your enrollment at the second school and may include financial assistance for that enrollment. You will be billed by both schools. The financial aid offered at the home school will pay charges at the home school only. You will need to make your own payment arrangements for the tuition and fee charges at the second school.
Withdrawal from a Class
Federal guidelines require that students receiving financial aid must successfully complete 75% of the courses they attempt. This means that withdrawals, failures or incomplete classes may jeopardize your eligibility. It's wise to assess the demands in your life (family, work, etc.) and enroll in only as many courses as you're sure you can successfully complete. Finish what you start and you can be sure that your financial aid will remain available for you. If you fall below a 75% completion rate, you may lose your financial assistance. Appeals are heard at the beginning of each semester by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.
Withdrawing or Dropping Out Means Paying Back Financial Aid
As if there weren't enough reasons to stay in school, financial aid recipients have one more. Recipients who drop all their classes are required to pay back a portion of the financial aid funds.
If a financial aid recipient withdraws completely from BCC, the financial aid will be prorated based on the percentage of the semester the student completes.
- For example, a student who attends up to the 30% point of the semester is eligible for only 30% of the financial aid award.
- Financial aid award funds used to pay off charges may be reduced or cancelled leaving the student with unpaid charges.
- A student who has received a financial aid check and then totally withdraws from BCC may be required to return all or part of that check.
Also, a financial aid recipient who does not pass at least one course for the semester may be required to return all or part of the financial aid funds received.
- For example, a student who receives an F grade, a W grade, and an Incomplete grade may need to return some financial aid funds (student did not successfully complete any classes).
- If you receive a passing grade after your financial aid is recalculated, it is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office. In limited situations, Pell Grants can be restored if the Financial Aid Office is notified of the passing grade within a specific timeframe. The timelines for restoring aid are tight so contact a financial aid counselor for more information. Generally loan and/or state funds cannot be restored.
- A student who receives a W grade and a C grade will not need to return financial aid funds (student received at least one passing grade; A, B, C, D, S are passing grades).
Please review our Withdrawal Flyer for further information about the BCC and financial aid refund policies. If there are circumstances preventing a student from completing the semester, the student needs to officially withdraw from BCC. The student should contact the Counseling Center.
Grades Affect Your Eligibility
In order to be considered for financial aid, federal regulations require that you make satisfactory academic progress. Federal Guidelines and the College's Minimum Satisfactory Completion Rate Policy specify that students must complete their degree requirements in no more than 150% of their scheduled completion time. This means that you must complete 75% of the courses for which you register each semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress, Probation, and Dismissal
Students enrolled in the College are classified in one of three categories of academic standing: satisfactory academic progress, probation, or dismissal.
All matriculated students attending the College are expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Students who do not maintain an acceptable cumulative Satisfactory Progress Index (SPI) will either be placed on academic probation or be academically dismissed. Students who do not maintain satisfactory progress cannot hold or run for elected or appointed positions in any school activity.
The SPI is a measure of a student's academic progress toward a degree. The SPI is calculated in the same manner as the Grade Point Average (GPA), except that courses with grades of "I", "U", and "W" are included. No grade points are earned for these courses, but they are counted in total credits attempted. The semester's SPI, therefore, is calculated by adding the grade points earned in all courses that semester, and then dividing by the total credits attempted in those courses, including courses for which the student received grades of "I", "U", and "W".
Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA by the end of the second academic year (measured by a period of time, not by the student's grade level) to receive financial assistance.
A student who is determined to be making unsatisfactory progress may appeal the decision based on extraordinary circumstances. Appeals will be heard in January and June by the Academic Standings Committee.
In order for a student to maintain good standing, a student would have to receive a SPI of 1.2 after 15 credits, 1.5 after 30 credits, 1.8 after 45 credits, and 2.0 for 46 or more credits.
What is the award and how is it paid out?
BCC Financial Aid Award Letter
Once your financial aid file is complete, you will receive a financial aid award letter listing your financial aid award offer. Review the letter carefully. The award offer is valid only for the enrollment level specified on the letter. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you expect your enrollment to be different from what is specified on the letter. In most cases, the award offer will fluctuate with enrollment changes. Follow-up on any comments listed or additional information requests.
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Recipients
Send a copy of your award letter to the Financial Aid Office – be sure to keep your original letter. To receive these funds, you need to enroll in college for the fall semester immediately following high school graduation; complete the FAFSA maintain full time enrollment and a 3.0 GPA. Twelve credits or more is considered a full time semester. At BCC, the scholarship is valued at $24 per credit or a minimum of $288 per semester. This program is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Book advances give students the opportunity to use some of their financial aid funds in advance of the first disbursement to purchase books at BCC’s
No additional paper work is needed to use a book advance; however, you must have a valid BCC Student ID Card. The card will be swiped at the BCC
The advances are available beginning about one week before the semester begins up through the third week of the semester. To see dates for the program check the Financial Aid Calendar
Book voucher limits are:
- $500 for full-time students (12 or more credits)
- $400 for 3/4-time students (9-11 credits)
- $300 for 1/2-time students (6-8 credits)
- $200 for 1/4 time students (less than 6 credits)
A student may meet the eligibility requirements, but not be eligible for the limit. An example would be a full-time student with a $200 pending credit balance. Although the full-time limit is $400, the student will only be eligible for $200 book advance.
There are no cash refunds on books returned that were bought with a book advance. Also, you don’t need to spend your entire book advance. All book advance charges are added to your tuition bill from BCC. If your eligibility changes and/or your financial aid award is not enough to cover the book advance charges, you are responsible for repaying the charge. Also, if you drop a class or fully withdraw from
Financial Aid Check Distribution
Your financial aid award is first applied to outstanding charges and any advances you've received, such as book vouchers. So, if your financial aid award is greater than your charges, you will receive a check in the amount of the excess funds.
Your accessBCC account will show an estimated disbursement date which reflects the date the college expects to receive payment from federal and state agencies. This is not the date you can expect to receive a check. Awards, enrollment, and charges are verified and checks are then distributed to students. We distribute funds within fourteen days of receipt.
Check distribution dates are posted on the BCC Event Calendar. For the Fall semester, check distribution begins in October; for the Spring Semester, check distribution begins in March; for the Summer, in August. The Student Accounts Office will notify you when the check payment is available.
Loan Checks
Loans are made in two payments. As is the case with all financial aid, the payment is applied to your charges first; any remaining funds are then paid to you. If you are attending in the Fall and Spring, you will receive a payment in the Fall and a payment in the Spring. If you are attending for one semester only, the loan (except Perkins) will still be made in two payments – usually half of the loan is paid around mid-semester and the second half is paid about one month later. Promissory notes and entrance interviews must be complete before payments can be authorized.
FACTS Monthly Payment Plan
BCC offers the convenience of a monthly payment plan for tuition and fee charges. Contact the Student Accounts Office or more information.
Health Insurance Waiver
If you are being charged health insurance on your bill and already have health insurance, you can waive this charge.