Financial Aid (14)
Yes. You must apply for financial aid every year. If your financial circumstances change, you may get more or less aid. Note, that your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college. Your financial aid package also depends on making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, such as earning a minimum number of credits and achieving a minimum GPA.
No. You can apply for financial aid any time after October 1, prior to the academic year you plan to attend. To actually receive funds, however, you must be admitted and enrolled at the university.
Yes. WU grades can affect your financial aid. You should speak to the financial aid office if you receive a WU grade.
You should file a FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov and indicate your interest in federal work-study by checking the appropriate box on the FAFSA. Checking the box does not commit you to accepting work-study. You will have the opportunity to accept or decline it later. Leaving the box unchecked will not increase the amount of grants you receive.
You can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is the application form required for all federal aid. The application for New York State aid can be found at www.hesc.ny.gov.nnYou can receive assistance with filing your financial aid by contacting your financial aid office.
If you have a Bursar hold you should speak to a representative in the Bursar Office.nnPlease contact the Office of the Bursar at (718) 289-5617 / (718) 289-5617 or via email at: Bursar@bcc.cuny.edu.
Yes. Many families mistakenly think they don’t qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free. There is no good excuse for not applying.
Pell Grants are the foundation of federal student aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. Pell Grants are for undergraduate students.
Financial aid covers school expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. The various categories of student financial aid are grants, work-study, loans and scholarships.
If you or your parents are employed ask your company or labor union if it has a tuition reimbursement program.
Check to see if the church or community organization you or your parents belong to has an educational grant or scholarship program.
If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the child of a veteran, you may be eligible for veterans’ educational benefits. Learn about your eligibility for these benefits at the Veterans Administration GI bill website.
Vocational and Educational Services for individuals with Disabilities (VESID) is a NYS government office that provides a variety of educationally related services and some financial assistance for eligible students.
If you are a recipient of public assistance, you may qualify for Training Related Expense (TRE) payments through the Office of Employment Services (OES) of the Human Resources Administration.
The New York State Department of Education, in conjunction with the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), makes a number of academic merit and service awards each year. For more information about more than a dozen NYS sponsored academic award programs, please visit HESC’s Grants, Scholarships and Special Awards page.
For those who wish to conduct your own scholarship searches, you may want to try the following free scholarship searches:
To inquire about BCC Foundation scholarships visit: https://www.bcc.cuny.edu/admission-financial-aid/financial-aid/scholarships/
You can apply for financial aid even before you’ve been accepted to a college.
Students will be able to file a FAFSA as early as October 1, prior to the Fall semester they will be attending.
There are several available resources to help you. For information on available scholarships you can visit the following websites:
For general information about federal student financial assistance programs or help in completing the FAFSA, or to obtain federal student aid publications, call FAFSA 1-800-433-3243.
The financial aid administrator at your college can help determine what you’re eligible for. There are, however some basic guidelines for all applicants. They must:
- Demonstrate financial need; this means that your cost of education is greater than your family contribution
- Be working toward a degree or certificate
- Be enrolled in an eligible program
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, be a New York state resident for NY state aid (TAP)
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Be registered with the Selective Service (if required)
- Maintain academic progress once in college
- Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate
- Not be convicted of selling or possessing illegal drugs while receiving aid
- Not be in default of federal student loans or state student loans for NY state financial aid (TAP)
