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What is Financial Aid
Student Eligibility
Sources of Financial Aid
Other Financial Aid Policies
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Financial Aid Online Resources
Financial Aid Handbook
Scholarships through NHCTC Foundation


Financial Aid Overview

The Financial Aid Office at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth is located in the main office:
277 Portsmouth Avenue, Stratham NH 03885.
Phone: (603) 775-2313 Fax: (603) 772-1198
Email: seacoastfinaid@ccsnh.edu     Online Financial Aid Handbook: www.ccsnh.edu/links.html

The college's financial aid program assists students who are unable to meet their expenses entirely from their own and family resources. Financial aid provides funds for direct (tuition and fees) and indirect (books, supplies, equipment, and a reasonable allowance for living expenses and transportation) college expenses. The funds come in three different forms: grants, which do not have to be repaid; loans, which do have to be repaid; and part-time jobs from which the student earns an hourly wage. Students awarded financial aid may receive any or all of these forms of aid.

A student starts the financial aid application process by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov, at high schools, and in the college Financial Aid Office.
Our Federal School code is 002583.

A new FAFSA must be filed each year. The financial aid year begins with the summer term at NHCTC – Stratham. The 2007-08 FAFSA is the application for aid for summer 2007, fall, 2007, spring 2008. The 2008-09 FAFSA is the application for aid for summer 2008, fall, 2008, spring 2009.

The preferred filing date is May 1st for the up-coming financial aid year. Students who meet this filing date may be considered for additional institutional funds and state grants. If you do not make the preferred filing date, the following should be used as a guide so that your financial aid may be in place before you start classes.

 
Begin Enrollment
FAFSA

File By

Summer 2007
2007-08

May 1, 2007

Fall 2007
2007-08

June 1, 2007

Spring 2008
2007-08

October 1, 2007

Summer 2008
2008-09
May 1, 2008
Fall 2008
2008-09
June 1, 2008
Spring 2008
2008-09
October 1, 2008

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the aid programs listed below, a student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, have a high school
diploma or GED, and be admitted to an eligible program.

For most programs, a student must have financial need, as determined by the federal need analysis calculation, based on the information provided on the FAFSA. Several loan options exist for students who do not demonstrate financial need. For some grants and most loans, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). Students who accept loans must complete loan counseling and sign a promissory note. To receive aid in future semesters, a student must meet qualitative and quantitative standards for satisfactory academic progress. These standards are described below and in the college's Financial Aid Handbook, available online at www.ccsnh.edu/links.html . The website address is mailed to each student who receives a financial aid award.



Sources of Financial Aid?

The Pell Grant is a federal grant, designed to assist financially eligible students with the cost of attending college. A Pell Grant does not have to be paid back. To receive a Pell Grant, the student must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, and be an undergraduate who does not have a bachelor's degree. .

If a student receives a Pell Grant and withdraws from college before completion of 60% of the semester, the student may be responsible for repaying monies to the college and/or the Federal Government.

The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is for students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. The SEOG does not have to be paid back. To receive an SEOG, a student must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, and be an undergraduate who does not have a bachelor's degree. Limited funds are available and are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to students enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). Awards range from $100 to $1,000 per year.
If a student receiving a SEOG withdraws from college before completion of 60% of the semester, the student may be required to forfeit monies to the college and/or the Federal Government.

If a student receiving an SEOG withdraws from college before completion of 60% of the semester, the student may be required to forfeit monies to the college and/or the Federal Government.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) gives students an opportunity to earn money for educational expenses by working at a part-time job. Students typically work as lab, library, and office aides, under the supervision of a faculty or staff member; off-campus positions are also available. Students are paid at least the current federal minimum wage and are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and to perform assigned work in a responsible and professional manner. Students must meet their course requirements prior to working a work-study job. In most cases, work-study hours are limited to 12-15 hours per week.

Work-study recipients must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, including demonstrated financial need.

Perkins Loans are low-interest loans, made directly through the college with funds from the federal government and the repayment of previous borrowers. Students may borrow up to $3000, depending on the availability of funds. Repayment begins and interest accrues six months after the borrower is no longer a half-time student. Students must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, including demonstrated financial need, and must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). Students receiving a Perkins loan will be required to do loan counseling and to sign a promissory note.

If a student receiving a Perkins loan withdraws from school before 60% of the semester is completed, the student may be required to repay monies to the college.

Stafford Loans are low-interest (6.8%) loans made to students by private lenders. 1st Year Students (31 or less credits achieved) may borrow up to $3,500 per academic year. 2nd Year Students (32 or more credits achieved) may borrow up to $4,500 per academic year. Repayment begins six months after the borrower is no longer a half-time student. In the case of subsidized loans, interest begins to accrue six months after the borrower is no longer a half-time student.

Subsidized Stafford Loans do not accrue interest while the student attends college.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans do accrue interest while the student attends college.

All Stafford borrowers must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits,) do loan counseling and sign a promissory note. Subsidized Stafford loans are only awarded to students demonstrating financial need on the FAFSA. Unsubsidized loans are offered regardless of financial need.

The Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program provides funds to the parents of dependent students, for educational purposes. Parents may borrow up to the student's cost of attendance, less any financial aid. The annual interest rate for these loans is fixed at 8.5%.

The student who is a dependent of the borrower must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, and must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). The borrower will be required to sign a Promissory Note.

New Hampshire Incentive Program (NHIP) provides grants for New Hampshire residents attending college within or outside the state of New Hampshire. Applicants must be at least half-time students (6 credits) and must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, including demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is the May 1 prior to the start of the academic year.

Alternative Loans are student loans made by private lending institutions. Alternative loans are in the student's name; a cosigner is frequently required. Once a complete application has been received, the lender will perform a credit check and inform the student if the loan is approved, if a co-signer will be required, and the interest rate.
Just like other student loans, alternative loans must be repaid.

Scholarships from institutional, federal, state and private sources are available for use at NHCTC – Stratham.
In addition to the Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs administered by the Financial Aid Office (603-775-2313 or seacoastfinaid@nhctc.edu ) there are many other sources of scholarship or grant aid.These programs all have their own eligibility, application, and/or deadline requirements. Many are restricted and some are very competitive, but they are all worth investigating.

Financial Aid related Web Resources
Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (F.A.F.S.A.) F.A.F.S.A. - Fill out your Financial Aid Form online
http://mapping-your-future.org/ Entrance and Exit Loan Counseling
http://www.nhasfaa.org/ NHASFAA - A home page for NH residents which includes and explanation of process and sources of funding.
http://www.collegeboard.com/ College Board - This site includes updates for career, scholarships and financial aid information.
http://www.nhheaf.org/ New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation
http://www.collegenet.com/ College Net - This site provides college bound students with information on financial aid, scholarship and study abroad programs.
http://www.petersons.com/ Peterson's.com - This site offers much of the same information as College Net, but also provides job listings.


Other Financial Aid Policies

Returns of Federal Title IV Funds for financial aid students who withdraw, officially or unofficially, from all of his/her courses for a semester or from the college prior to the 60% point in a semester, are guided by special return policies as designated by the United States Department of Education. The exact amount required to be returned will vary depending on the amount of grant and loan funds the student received and at what point in the semester the student withdrew. In addition, the student will be liable for the balance owed the college for tuition and fees. Specific return policy information is available through the Financial Aid Office, and published in the Financial Aid Handbook, at www.ccsnh.edu/links.html

Financial Aid Recipients must make Satisfactory Academic Progress in their current educational program to retain financial aid eligibility. The standards for satisfactory academic progress are both qualitative and quantitative, and are measured against a student's cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and his/her "incremental" progress in terms of completing a minimum amount of work at stated intervals.

When a student is reviewed for satisfactory academic progress, all enrollment periods for the current program are included in the review. This includes enrollment periods during which the student did not receive financial aid and enrollment periods during which the student did receive financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic progress is reviewed by the Financial Aid Office at the end of each semester.

More detailed information on Satisfactory Academic Progress is published in the Financial Aid Handbook, at www.ccsnh.edu/links.html .


 
 
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