Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Process

MWCC offers several types of financial aid, including federal, state, and college programs. Grants and scholarships are free money for students with financial need. Student loans are also available and usually have low interest rates.

Apply early!

  • MASSGrant deadline: May 1
  • Priority deadlines:
    • May 1 for fall (September) classes
    • November 1 for spring (January) classes

If you apply late, you might get less aid or not know your eligibility before your bill is due.

Who Can Get Financial Aid?

You must:

  • Be accepted into an eligible degree or certificate program
  • Have a high school diploma, GED, or approved home-school education
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Make satisfactory academic progress
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan from any college
  • Most programs require at least half-time enrollment (some Pell Grants are available for less than half-time)

Students still in high school are not eligible.

How to Apply

  1. Complete the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov every year.
    • The 2026–2027 FAFSA opens October 1, 2025 and closes June 30, 2027.
  2. Processing takes 2–3 weeks. After you submit, you’ll get a FAFSA Submission Summary.
  3. You may need to provide extra documents for verification. Check your student email often.
  4. Log in to iConnect > Pay My Bill > My Financial Aid and My Student Account weekly to stay updated.

After You’re Approved

  • You’ll get an award notification to your MWCC email.
  • Any extra money after tuition and fees can be used for books during the voucher period.
    • Voucher period starts 2 weeks before and goes 2 weeks into the start of all Quick Semesters.
  • Refunds are sent through BankMobile after attendance is confirmed, usually later in the semester.

How Aid Is Calculated

Aid is based on financial need, which is:
Cost of attendance – Student Aid Index (SAI)
Your SAI depends on income, assets, and family size.

Some students get enough grants to cover everything, including books. Others may need loans. Sometimes, even the maximum aid won’t cover all costs.

Debt and Support

MWCC works to keep student debt low. Average debt for graduates is about $9,635, and about 11% of students borrow loans. Financial literacy programs are available to help you manage money and loans.

If you don’t get enough aid or apply late, you must pay your bill. MWCC offers an interest-free payment plan with monthly installments.

Special Circumstances

If your family’s income or situation changes (job loss, divorce, death), talk to a Financial Aid Counselor. You may qualify for a recalculation.

Need Help?

The Student Financial Services Office can help anytime. Call 978-630-9169, send us an email at sfs@mwcc.mass.edu, or visit us. You can also schedule a zoom appointment with your financial aid counselor on iConnect>Pay My Bill>Book Appointment with Financial Aid Counselor. Applying early gives you more time to plan.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Awards range from $740 to $7395 per year and are awarded to low income students. The amount of the award is determined by enrollment status (full or part-time) and family contribution.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Pell grant recipients have preference. The awards range from $100 to $1,200 per year.

Massachusetts State Grants 

All awards in this section require a student to be considered a resident of Massachusetts at least 1 year prior to the start of the academic year.  Dependent students parent's must live in Massachusetts for at least 1 year prior as well.

MASSGrant

Provides need-based financial assistance to undergraduate students who reside in Massachusetts. Students must be enrolled full-time, at least twelve credits per semester, and meet the SAI requirements to be eligible to receive this grant. Eligible students will receive notification from the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance. Application deadline is May 1 prior to the academic year. This grant is limited to four semesters while enrolled at a community college.

MASSGrant Plus

Students must meet Massachusetts residency requirements and could be enrolled full-time or part time. Application deadline is November 1 of the academic year.

MWCC Grant

Funds are awarded from the Massachusetts Cash Grant program to Massachusetts residents who maintain half-time enrollment status, and demonstrate need. The award amount cannot exceed the total cost of tuition and fees.

       Tuition Waiver

Awards cannot exceed state-supported tuition charges (Tuition-Day Charge). Recipients must be Massachusetts residents for one year and demonstrate need.

College Assistance Grant

This is a college funded grant program available to needy students who do not receive adequate assistance from other available financial aid programs. Students must file the FAFSA and meet general financial aid eligibility criteria. Funding is limited.

Prison Education Program

Mount Wachusett Community College has agreements with several federal/state DOC prison locations in the state of Massachusetts. For more information contact the Student Financial Services Office.

Loans

Emergency Student Loan Fund

These funds, made available by the Student Government Association, are available to students during the college academic year on a short-term basis for college-related expenses. Contact the Student Services office for more information about this program.

Federal Direct Loan Program

The William D. Ford Direct Student Loan is for students who do not qualify for (or receive a limited amount of) grant and scholarship aid. This is a low, variable-interest rate loan that does not have to be repaid until after enrollment ceases or the student is below half time enrollment. Subsidized loan funds are interest-free during college enrollment; however, the interest subsidy is available for a total of 3 years for students enrolled in a two-year associate degree program. The loan range is $200 to $10,500 per year. Students must demonstrate financial need for a subsidized Direct Loan. There is also an unsubsidized Direct Loan for students who do not demonstrate financial need.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan (dependent students)

A parent of a dependent student may borrow up to the maximum cost of education minus the student’s total financial aid award.

Alternative Loan Programs

Upon request, the Financial Aid Office can provide information about alternative loan programs that offer assistance to students who do not otherwise qualify for federal loans or need additional assistance beyond the federal loan limit.

MWCC Foundation Inc. Scholarships

Scholarships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Like grants, they do not have to be repaid and are for direct costs: tuition, fees and books. Students must be in good academic standing with the college. More than 50 awards are available for students who are interested in particular fields of study, who are members of underrepresented groups, who live in certain areas, or who demonstrate financial need.

Deadlines

The scholarship process will open around mid January. All other scholarships close on June 15th.

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are available online through the AwardSpring icon in the iConnect portal. All scholarships require an essay, as explained on the scholarship application.

For more information on scholarship criteria, call MWCC’s financial aid office 978-630-9169, email sfs@mwcc.mass.edu, or visit mwcc.edu/financial.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

Eligible students may obtain part-time employment on or off-campus during the academic year and summer. The average award is $2,500 per academic year. The hourly wage is set at the current state minimum wage, and earnings are paid every two weeks. Off-campus employment must be with a public or private nonprofit agency and arranged with the Student Financial Services Office. Community service and literacy tutoring jobs are encouraged and available through the FWS program.

College Work Study (CWS)

This program is funded by the college and has limited availability.  Eligible students may obtain part-time employment on-campus during the academic year and summer. The average award is $2,500 per academic year. The hourly wage is set at the current state minimum wage, and earnings are paid every two weeks.