What is "Financial Aid"?

Financial aid is money given, paid or loaned to help pay for college.

Gift aid is free money, usually called "grants" or "scholarships".

Self-help aid requires an obligation from the student.  Examples of self-help aid include work-study (job opportunity to earn money) and student loans (money borrowed that must be repaid).

In addition, financial aid is categorized as either: Need-based, where the student qualifies due to his/her financial need as determined by the FAFSA or state aid regulations or

Non-need based, such as merit aid, based on your grades, test scores, hobbies or special talents (artistic, athletic, etc.), and some student and parent loans
 

Grants

Grant aid is available for eligible JCC students from the federal government and NYS and Pennsylvania.

Federal Pell Grant
Available to undergraduate students who are accepted into a degree or eligible certificate program, demonstrate financial need, and enroll for at least three credit hours. Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at http://fafsa.ed.gov/ to apply. The JCC federal school code is 002869. 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Available to students of academic promise who are accepted in a degree program, are Pell Grant recipients, and have great financial need according to the federal aid formula. Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at http://fafsa.ed.gov/ to apply. 

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Award
Available to New York state resident students who demonstrate financial need and enroll in a degree program for at least 12 credit hours. First file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at http://fafsa.ed.gov/  and follow the link for NYS residents at the end of that application to apply for TAP. If you miss filing for TAP when you file the FAFSA, you can do so at hesc.org after you receive your FAFSA results.  The JCC TAP school code is 2085. 

Aid for Part-Time Study Award (APTS)
Available to New York state residents who demonstrate financial need and enroll in a degree program for 3 through 11 credit hours. Primary consideration will be given to students enrolled in 6 to 11 credit hours who have met the priority deadline. The APTS application is available from the financial aid office, or can be downloaded, completed and submitted to the financial aid office by the priority deadline stated on the application.

Veteran's Educational Benefits
Available to full- and part-time students who served in the armed services. Interested applicants should contact the registrar's office at the Jamestown Campus or the financial aid office at the Cattaraugus County Campus. 

Child of Veteran Award
Available to New York state resident students who are children of certain deceased or disabled veterans. Write to State Education Department, Albany, NY 12210 to request an application. 

War Orphan Education Assistance
Available for children of certain deceased or disabled veterans who are enrolled in degree programs. Applications are available through the Veteran's Administration. 

State Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Available to full- and part-time students who meet state eligibility criteria. Write to Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), State Office Building, 8th Floor, 125 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 to request an application. 

Scholarships

Scholarship aid from JCC and many local sources is available to JCC students who meet eligibility criteria. Students must be accepted by JCC admissions and must file for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Aid for Part-time Study application (APTS) if the student is a New York resident. The student must also complete any required scholarship applications and meet the guidelines, including deadlines, of the particular scholarship(s) for which they are applying. For continuing scholarships students must continue to meet specific academic and financial criteria each semester to remain eligible for the scholarship(s) in subsequent semesters. Information on scholarships and scholarship applications are available in the financial aid office. Students should check periodically with the financial aid office for updates on JCC and outside scholarship opportunities. 

Other Outside Scholarship Sources  
All students are encouraged to check their local libraries as references for private sources of aid. Many community organizations and civic groups also provide small scholarships to students. Students are advised to do individual research on what is available locally. Since most aid applications are due in the early spring for the following academic year, students are recommended to review their local newspapers carefully for information on local scholarships. 

NOTE: The financial aid office does not recommend that students use services which charge a fee to obtain financial aid for the student. Since student loans are considered a form of financial aid, the service's obligation to find the student some form of aid can be met by providing the student with loan information.

Employment

Employment (self-help) is available to supplement other forms of financial assistance. A student employed at the college may work up to a maximum of 15 hours per week. Part-time employment provides a way to reduce the amount of money a student borrows. We offer the following forms of student employment: 

Federal College Work Study Program
offered to full- and part-time students in a degree program of study who meet financial need requirements established by the federal government. The total award amount varies depending upon the student's educational budget, the number of hours the student actually works, and the established minimum wage. Students who file for federal aid by the March 1 deadline and indicate they are interested in working on campus will be given priority consideration for this award. Students who did not apply by the deadline may still be eligible and should contact the financial aid office on either campus for a review if interested in working on campus. 

College Student Assistant Program
available to full- and part-time students who are interested in employment on campus. The total amount the student can earn is based on the number of hours the student actually works and the established minimum wage. Interested Jamestown Campus students should contact the Counseling and Career Development Center at the Jamestown Campus for information on which offices hire student assistants. Paperwork for student assistant positions at the Jamestown Campus is processed through the personnel office in the Hamilton Collegiate Center. Interested Cattaraugus County Campus students should contact the financial aid office at the Cattaraugus County Campus.

Loans

Federal Direct Stafford Loans are available to students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours. Although the borrower must repay a student loan, it is considered a form of financial aid by providing the student with the funds necessary to pay for college expenses. JCC cautions students to borrow conservatively to meet their educational expenses.

Subsidized loans are awarded to financially eligible students who indicate an interest in loans by marking “yes” on the FAFSA. The federal government subsidizes this loan program by paying the interest on the Stafford Loan while the student is in college. Students are required to pay interest and principal on their subsidized loans six months after they cease to be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.

Other students who have not been awarded a student loan may be eligible to borrow a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford loan. The unsubsidized loan is a more expensive borrowing option because the student is responsible for interest charges as of the date loan funds are disbursed. We encourage students to consider all available resources in planning for their college expenses before requesting a student loan.

Students who wish to apply for a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct Stafford loan must complete and submit a JCC Student Loan Request Form to the financial aid office after their FAFSA has been reviewed and an award notice has been issued. First-time borrowers will receive instructions to complete on-line loan counseling and a master promissory note. All students will receive approval and disclosure information. Loan funds are applied to eligible student bills each semester after classes begin.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans are federally guaranteed loans available to eligible parents of dependent students who are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.  Borrowers must have an acceptable credit history, and may borrow up to the student's cost of attendance, less other financial aid the student may receive.  Parents may submit their PLUS loan requests to the student's campus financial aid office. 

JCC wants you to be an informed borrower!!  Learn more about the federal Stafford and PLUS loan programs at Federal Student Aid on the Web.  

Jamestown Community College recognizes that a student loan is an important resource for families to pay for college, and abides by the Code of Conduct for Processing Student Loans.