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Eligibility for Financial Aid

Eligibility requirements for receiving financial aid may change from year to year. Specific requirements are established by the U.S. Department of Education for federally funded aid programs. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority and the North Carolina Community College System determine eligibility for state funded programs. Any local and/or private scholarship sources determine the eligibility for awarding funds from their respective programs.

Students must be in a program leading to a degree, diploma, or eligible certificate (at least 16 semester hours in length) to be eligible for Federal financial aid. Therefore, students enrolled as Special Credit/Undecided are not eligible to receive Federal financial aid. In addition, any student in default of a student loan or owing a repayment of Pell Grant funds will not be awarded financial aid.

All students receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress. At MTCC, students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 and complete 67% of all credit hours attempted. Students that receive financial aid and subsequently withdraw from classes before the end of the semester may be required to repay a portion of Pell Grant, SEOG and ACG funds.

Students falling below the minimum standard for academic progress and/or in ineligible status due to overpayment of Pell Grant funds or student loan default should contact the MTCC Financial Aid Office to determine how their eligibility may be regained.

Application for Financial Aid

Students applying for financial aid at MTCC should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is no technical deadline to apply for financial aid at MTCC, but students should apply at least six weeks prior to the beginning of their first semester at MTCC. Funds are limited in some financial aid categories, i.e. NC Student Incentive Grant (SIG) and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). Therefore, early applicants are most likely to receive assistance if eligible and funds area available. Students may also be required to submit additional internal and external scholarship applications if interested in applying for aid other than or in additional to Federal and State funds. FAFSA forms and scholarship applications are available in the MTCC Financial Aid Office and at local high school guidance offices.

Student financial aid information is kept confidential within the MTCC Financial Aid Office. Student financial aid awards are disbursed once a semester and can be adjusted according to changes in eligibility and enrollment.

Special Tips

• Apply for Federal Aid Programs at least eight (8) weeks in advance of the semester of entry.
• Apply to outside sources for non-governmental and non-institutional aid programs.
• Complete all forms as accurately as possible to avoid delays in processing.

Nondiscrimination in Aid Awards

As with all programs of the College, financial aid awards are made equitably without regard to age, race, color, sex, handicap, disability, religion, political affiliation, or national/ethnic origin.

Types of Aid

I. Government Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Federal Work-Study (FWS) Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) Vocational Rehabilitation

II. State Aid Programs

North Carolina Community College Grant (NCCCG) North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (NCELS) Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS) Golden LEAF Scholars Program—Two-Year Colleges Less Than Half Time Grant Targeted Assistance Grant WIOA

III. Institutional Aid

Â鶹ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees Scholarship Crane Fund for Widows and Children

IV. Other Scholarships

American Society for Quality control Fund of the Community Foundation of WNC Route 70 Cruisers Scholarship American Legion Post 56 Veteran’s Memorial Scholarship Gerald P. Cox and Meillia S. Cox Family Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Jeld-Wen Scholarship State Employee’s Credit Union Foundation Scholarship Wells Fargo Technical Scholarship William Harold Smith Scholarship

Veterans Benefits

Most curriculum programs at Â鶹ÊÓƵ are approved for recipients of veterans’ benefits. The Veterans Certifying Official, located in the Student Enrichment Center, will assist any person who thinks he or she is eligible for veteran’s benefits in making application.

No student eligible for benefits from the Division of Veterans Affairs will be certified until all admissions criteria have been met and transfer credit evaluated.

All veterans are expected to meet the requirements concerning academic progress, class attendance, and conduct which are listed for all students in the catalog. Further requirements include that any recipient of veterans benefits who: (1) withdraws from all subjects undertaken will have his/her educational benefits terminated by last date of attendance; (2) drops any of his/her courses may have benefits reduced and (3) drops below a satisfactory level of progress will be considered on academic probation and can continue to receive benefits for no more than two semesters during academic probation. When performance meets the level of satisfactory progress, the recipient may be recertified.

Recipients of veterans benefits may not receive benefits for: (1) a course for which they already have credit which includes repeating a course in which they have received a grade of "D" at MTCC – with certain exceptions; (2) a course they have failed more than once; (3) a course they receive credit for by examination and (4) a course which is not listed in their approved curriculum, unless it is their graduation semester during which exceptions can be made with the approval of the Veterans Certifying Official.

Due to certain restrictions recipients of DVA benefits must consult the Veterans Certifying Official before enrolling or before making course substitutions.

Students enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) will receive their full monthly benefit, (9-11 credit hours) will receive 3/4 of their monthly benefit, (6-8 credit hours) will receive 1/2 of their monthly benefit and (1-5 credit hours) will be reimbursed for the cost of their tuition and fees.