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
Grants are a form of gift aid and do not need to be repaid. Eligible JCC students can receive:
Federal Grants
Pell Grants are determined by a federal formula that considers the financial information submitted by the student and parent(s) on the FAFSA application and the number of credit hours the student is enrolled in as of the end of the first week of classes each semester. PELL grants are applied to student bills each semester and are pro-rated for students who enroll in less than 12 credits/semester.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are awarded to students with exceptional financial need who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Due to limited SEOG funding, eligible students who file the FAFSA application by March 1st receive priority consideration for these funds. This grant is credited to students’ bills for the fall and spring semesters by the financial aid office and may be adjusted for changes in level of enrollment.
Academic Competitive Grants (ACG) are awarded to students who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant and have successfully completed a rigorous program of secondary education recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education. The ACG is credited to the semester bills of eligible students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours/semester and is pro-rated for less than full-time study (12 credits/semester). This grant is available for up to two years; second year recipients must have a 3.0 GPA.
Click here to learn more about federal grants.
New York State Grants
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant for NYS resident students whose financial eligibility is determined by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in accordance with NYS laws and the state budget. After completing the FAFSA, students apply for TAP by completing an online application . Qualifying students will receive credit for this award on their student bills. TAP is available to students enrolled full-time, and may be adjusted for part-time enrollment (6-11 credit hours) for students who were first-time, full-time students during or after 2006-07 and have earned 12 credits or more in each of the two consecutive preceding semesters.
Aid for Part-time Study (APTS) is a grant for part-time NYS residents awarded to selected JCC students, with priority to those enrolled in 6-11 credit hours. Part-time students must apply for APTS by submitting a separate application to the college financial aid office. Limited funding restricts this application period; please file as soon as possible to participate in this program. Students will be notified of their eligibility and awards will be credited to student accounts when financial and academic eligibility is confirmed.
Other NYS Grants and Scholarships
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) provides a number of scholarship and grant opportunities for resident students including Veteran’s Tuition Awards, Scholarships for Excellence, and Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans.
Click here to learn more about New York State sources of financial aid.
Pennsylvania State Funds
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Grants are for Pennsylvania residents who take at least 6 credit hours at either the Jamestown Campus or Warren Center. PHEAA will calculate awards based upon information the student submits on the FAFSA and their state grant application. PHEAA grant estimates are not included on your award notice. PHEAA will forward a roster of financially eligible students to JCC at the beginning of each semester for confirmation of academic eligibility, and qualifying students will receive credit for this award on their student bills.
Click here to learn more about sources of financial aid for Pennsylvania residents.
Scholarships
JCC students are the beneficiaries of over $500,000 in annual scholarship support provided through the Jamestown Community College Foundation. Our signature USA (Unified Student Assistance) Scholarship provides local high school graduates ranked in the top 20% of their class a full NYS tuition scholarship for up to two years of full-time study.
Work-Study
Federal Work Study (FWS) is an employment program for students to earn a paycheck while participating in a work experience at the college. Eligibility is determined by information submitted on the FAFSA, any other sources of aid a student may receive, and level of enrollment. Eligible students may work up to 15 hours per week and receive a paycheck on a bi-weekly schedule. FWS positions are limited, and interested students are encouraged to apply for work-study jobs as soon as possible. Open positions are posted at the Career, Counseling and Development Centers.
Loans
Student loans, unlike grants, scholarships and work-study, are borrowed funds that must be repaid with interest. JCC encourages students to first consider all other available resources to pay for college, including state aid programs where the student maintains their permanent residence, and to borrow conservatively to meet their educational expenses.
JCC families have access to federal student loans by borrowing from the Department of Education through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Students are advised of their eligibility for a federal Direct Loan by the JCC financial aid office after completing the FAFSA application and are issued a JCC Student Loan Request Form.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans are available to students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours. Although the borrower must repay student loans, they are considered a form of financial aid as they provide the student with the funds necessary to pay for college expenses.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans are federally guaranteed loans available to eligible parents of dependent students. Borrowers must have an acceptable credit history.
Borrowers who wish to apply for a Direct Stafford or PLUS loan must complete and submit a JCC Student Loan Request Form to the financial aid office. We recommend that students file their loan request form immediately so that funds are available on time for payment of student expenses. First-time borrowers will receive instructions to complete on-line loan counseling and a master promissory note. All borrowers will receive approval and disclosure information. Loan funds are applied to eligible student bills each semester after classes begin.
Private Education Loans
Some students may not be financially or academically eligible to receive the benefit of federal, state or institutional grants and loans, or may have educational expenses that exceed available sources of financial aid. A private or alternative education loan may be an option for students in these situations to consider for college funding. These loans should only be pursued after all other financial aid resources have been exhausted. We recommend that students check with the financial aid office to confirm they have received all available federal, state and institutional funds before pursuing alternative loans.
JCC cautions all students to be conservative in their borrowing and to thoroughly research and learn the borrower’s rights and responsibilities prior to applying for any loan. Private loans are issued through different lenders and may have varying interest rates and fees. Eligibility is generally based on income and credit history and most students are required to have a cosigner. These loans generally charge fees and interest rates that are higher than those available through the Federal Direct Student Loan Programs and should be considered only as a last alternative, after all federal and state aid options have been considered. For more information on the differences between the Federal Student Loan programs and private education loans, you can visit the Department of Education’s Federal Aid First web site.
The “FinAid: The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid” web site has a private education loan section that provides helpful information about loan comparison services and charts that may be useful if you are considering a private education loan.
The College does, upon student request, certify student eligibility for private alternative loans. Since these loans may be issued by various lending institutions, the College abides by the Code of Conduct for Processing Student Loans to ensure that its employees avoid conflicts of interest, or the perception thereof, in connection with their responsibilities relating to providing and administering student loans.
Other Sources of Aid
We encourage students to apply for funds from outside sources, such as private grants and scholarships, employee reimbursement plans, state Offices of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Native American aid, veteran’s benefits and workforce development and re-training programs.
Private scholarships are offered by many different and unexpected sources such as community foundations, labor unions, church groups, and civic and professional organizations. Ask your employer, family, and friends; conduct research on the Internet or at your local library; check with your high school guidance office and watch your college/high school newspaper.
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