Financial Aid

Several federal, state, and college financial aid programs are available to MWCC students. Grants and scholarships are free financial assistance programs available for low income individuals. Low interest student loans may be borrowed by most students.

Students should apply for financial aid as soon as college attendance is contemplated. The absolute deadline for the MASSGrant program is May 1. The priority deadline for campus aid packages, including Pell Grant and loans, is April 1 for September enrollment and November 1 for January enrollment. Applications completed after those dates will be reviewed, but students may not receive the same level of aid and the determination of eligibility may not occur prior to the tuition and fee billing due date.

To be considered for financial assistance:

• Students must be accepted to the college in an eligible degree or certificate program (non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid).
• Have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed a high school education in a home school setting that is recognized as a home school under state law.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
• Meet satisfactory progress and other applicable regulations.

Most financial aid programs require half time enrollment. Limited Pell grant funding is available for students enrolled less than half time. Students must have a high school diploma or High School Equivalency. Students enrolled during high school are not eligible for financial aid.

The first step in applying for all forms of financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and must be completed each academic year. The FAFSA opens on October 1, 2022 and closes on June 30, 2024.

The financial aid process can be lengthy (three to six weeks) for all paperwork to be finalized. After completing the FAFSA, students and the college will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processing center.

Students may be required to complete the "verification" process to ensure the validity of the information presented on the application. Verification of income and other data may be required. Students will be notified, via their student email, if additional documentation is necessary.

Following the completion of all required paperwork, students will be given an award notification via their student email account. Any credit balance remaining after the tuition and fee charges have been satisfied will be available for use to purchase books and supplies in the college bookstore. Once attendance in classes is verified, financial aid funds will be disbursed, and any excess credit balance will be refunded to the student via the Bank Mobile Disbursement process.

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of financial need. Need is the difference between the estimated cost of attendance and the calculated amount the student and family can reasonably be expected to provide. The student and family contribution is affected by income, assets, number of family members, and number of family members in college.

Some low-income students receive enough grant funding to cover the entire tuition and fees bill, including book expenses. Other students may receive partial grant funding and choose to borrow a student loan to cover remaining tuition, fees and book charges. At times, students will not qualify for any grant assistance but can borrow a student loan to pay for part or all of their tuition, fee, and book expenses. There are situations where the maximum student loan and other aid awards may not cover direct educational expenses.

Mount Wachusett Community College is committed to ensuring that students are able to have access to quality education while accruing as little student debt as possible. A variety of financial literacy programs are available to students to assist them with personal financial planning and the management of student loan debt. The average student debt that an MWCC student might anticipate is $10,636 at the conclusion of the associate’s degree. Approximately 48% of MWCC graduates borrow money through student loans to complete their MWCC degree.

Students who do not qualify for enough financial aid, or apply too late to determine eligibility before classes begin, will be required to satisfy the tuition and fee bill. The Student Accounts Office has an interest-free payment plan available that allows the entire or partial tuition and fee bill to be paid in monthly installments.

Special Conditions

Should a student or parent’s family situation or income change after the FAFSA has been processed, a “special condition” may exist that would warrant recalculation of financial aid eligibility. A special condition or special circumstance is a reason that would make the standard calculation inappropriate for a particular situation, but most typically results from job loss, divorce, or death of a family member. Students who experience these changes in family circumstances are encouraged to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to request reconsideration of eligibility.

Assistance is Always Available

The financial aid process may be complex, and many times students are not familiar with the procedures and understanding of where to obtain the necessary data. The Student Financial Services Office can assist students with the process at any time. Students should not hesitate to call or visit the office if they have any questions about the procedures, forms, or processing guidelines.

For More Financial Aid Information

For complete information about the federal and state student financial assistance programs available to MWCC students, stop by or call the Student Financial Services, 978-630-9169. By applying for financial aid early, students will have more information earlier to determine the actual amount they will have available to pay for the necessary expenses.