Welcome to the Financial Aid & Veteran Services Office Information Pages
For FAFSA help - click FAFSA Assistance
Metropolitan Community College's Financial Aid pages are where you will find resources and answers to many of the questions you may have about financial aid, including: the types of aid available, eligibility requirements to receive aid, the necessary forms and documents needed to process aid and all financial aid deadlines.
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money provided by federal, state and institutional sources to help students meet expenses while attending post-secondary school. Many students are finding it increasingly difficult to finance a college education without some assistance, and you may be having a similar experience. MCC's financial aid programs are intended to help students who would be unable to attend the College without such assistance. MCC is committed to providing information about financial aid resources so that you may pursue your educational goals or upgrade your working skills.
Who is Eligible?
To receive aid from any of the Federal Student Aid programs, students must meet all of the following requirements:
- Have financial need as determined by your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Sign the certification statement on the FAFSA that:
- You are not in default on a federal loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant and
- Certify that all federal aid received will be used only for educational purposes.
- Show you are qualified to obtain a college education by:
- Having a high school diploma or recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) Certificate,
- Completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law or
- Enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the "ability to benefit" alternatives.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have a valid Social Security Number (with exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of Paulou).
- Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program, and taking coursework that is required for completed of that eligible degree or certificate program.
- Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds.
- Maintain Metropolitan Community College Financial Aid Standards of Progress (SAP).
Refer to the basic student eligibility criteria listed on studentaid.gov for additional information.
What Types of Financial Aid Exist?
There are five types of financial aid:
- Grants (Gift-aid)
- Work-Study
- Loans
- Scholarships
- Veteran Benefits
Grants and scholarships are financial assistance that you don't have to pay back. Federal Work-Study allows you to work and earn money to help pay for school. Loans are borrowed money that you must repay with interest. The Federal Student Aid website provides greater detail on Types of Financial.
If you are a veteran, you may be entitled to financial aid benefits offered through The Veterans' Administration. The Financial Aid and Veteran Services office provides advisory services relating to such benefits and periods of earned entitlement.
MCC’s Financial Aid and Veteran Services office offers a financial aid package generally consisting of a combination of grant(s) (gift aid) and work-study employment (self-help aid) to eligible students with a demonstrated need. Aid is awarded as part of the means for you to begin or continue your studies.
The office emphasizes "part of the means" because you and your family must make maximum efforts to assist in meeting college expenses. The Financial Aid office is able to bridge only a portion of the financial gap that may exist between the cost of your education and the money available to you from family, job earnings, savings and other resources. The College participates in, or administers, all major federal and state grant and loan programs. Our goal is to help students pay for their direct educational costs, such as tuition, books, supplies and transportation.
Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)
The cost of attendance (COA) is the amount it will cost students to go to school. Cost of tuition, technology service fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation and personal expenses are used in determining the amount of financial aid students will receive.
The student budgets listed on the COA page are used to determine cost of attendance for MCC students. These annual budgets, for students attending full time (12 credit hours) during the College's academic year, are calculated using three-quarter or four-quarter enrollment. To determine a quarter’s cost of attendance, divide the annual budget figure by the number of quarters for which a student is attending (three or four).
Actual living costs will vary depending on student dependency status, personal spending habits and other variables. The student budgets reflect minimal costs of living incurred by the student while attending MCC.
COA is used to calculate a student's eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Stafford Student Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NSG), Federal Work-Study (FWS) and Board of Governors Tuition Grant (BGTG).
Navigate to the Cost of Attendance page for more detailed information.
NOTE: Personal Expense items include transportation, clothing, medical, telephone, utility, insurance, household, entertainment, etc.
Determination of Need
The Financial Aid office determines financial need by subtracting the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the appropriate student budget. (See student budgets above.) FAFSA, which the student submits to the Federal Processor, is designed to provide this EFC figure.
