Jackson Community College
Student Services Parents & FamilyFinancial AidJCC's Financial Aid office is located on the second floor of the Potter Center, in room 210. Contact them at (517) 796-8410. Federal policy requires students and parents to take financial responsibility for the student’s education, based upon such factors as income, assets, number of family members, etc. For those eligible for financial assistance according to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), assistance is available in the form of grants/scholarships, work-study, and student loans. It is essential to keep track of your financial aid paperwork and all mailings from the Financial Aid Office. Keep a folder just for your paperwork. Make sure your student understands the importance of reading all mail from Financial Aid and responding promptly to all requests. Feel free to call with any questions.
How to Apply for Financial AssistanceTo determine the expected family and student contribution toward educational expenses, the student must complete the appropriate forms for financial aid so a need analysis can be completed. Almost all forms of aid start here.
To ensure a Financial Aid award for the Fall semester, each student must complete the FAFSA and submit all necessary documentation by June 1st. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all required documentation is accurate and submitted in a timely manner. Information received after June 1st may be too late for timely Fall processing. Upon receipt of the required application and additional necessary information, the application will be evaluated, and the student will receive an email or paper mail notification of an award or denial of aid. A student must meet the following Federal eligibility requirements to receive financial aid at JCC:
Standard Student Expense Budgets and Cost of AttendanceFinancial Aid amounts are based on a budget of living modestly while attending college. Budgets are determined yearly to reflect costs in the Jackson County area. Cost of education includes tuition, fees, and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. The cost of attending Jackson Community College is much lower than living at and attending a university. Thus, your financial aid package might be a higher amount when your student transfers. Look not just at how much financial aid you receive but what the total cost of attending college is, including fees, tuition, room and board. Sources of Financial AidJCC uses three primary sources of financial aid: Federal, State, and Institutional. In addition to these three, students and families might have access to other scholarships and loans that are not handled through the college. These include scholarships offered by churches, community foundations, credit unions, service clubs, and high schools. Some employers also offer tuition reimbursement or scholarships for employees and families. Check with your employer to see what might be available. Additionally, in Jackson County, the John George Student Loan fund is available for eligible graduates of Jackson County high schools who attend Michigan public colleges or universities. Find out more about this low-interest loan program by contacting Comerica Bank. Types of Financial Aid Available at JCC
PATH Tuition Grant assists manufacturing workers dislocated by plant closures by providing 12 credits of tuition. JCC established the PATH (Programs for Adult Transitions to Higher education) Scholarship fund of up to $50,000 per year to provide scholarships for Jackson County residents who have been involved in a manufacturing plant closing or forced manufacturing layoffs within the past 12 months. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until allocated scholarship funds are exhausted. Students are responsible for fees and books. PATH recipients will also be able to participate in free college and career preparation workshops and will receive a one-credit First Year Seminar course, worth one credit, including tuition and fees, free as part of PATH. Financial Aid Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy did my college student receive a bill if they have Financial Aid?Every student that enrolls at JCC receives a bill. Financial Aid funds get applied to the account on the payment deadline. The student can check their status online on eServices under the Student tab and clicking on Account Summary or Financial Aid Status by term. How often does my student need to apply for Financial Aid?The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) needs to be submitted every year. The application is available starting on January 1st and needs to be completed prior to June 1st for Fall packaging . You will do a renewal on a yearly basis. Be sure to print out your copies and confirmation numbers. The student may apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov Do we need to report financial information about step-parents?Yes, if the parent has remarried then the step-parent’s income must be reported on the FAFSA when the FAFSA is submitted. What is Work Study?Work Study is an opportunity your student has to work on campus or in the community on specific projects such as literacy. The federal or state government provides money to JCC to pay the wages. The amount you see on your award letter is the amount that you can earn by working for the college. The money comes in paychecks every two weeks, not in a lump sum and not credited toward your tuition bill. There is no penalty for turning down work study, but it is a great opportunity for students to have a convenient job that works around the class schedule. Are any scholarships available and how does my college student qualify?Check the Scholarship page of JCC’s Financial Aid website. More information about scholarships can be found at these locations:
My student is receiving a scholarship to attend JCC. How do I make sure that the scholarship has been credited to their account?Different scholarships have different verification procedures. If your student is receiving a Michigan Merit Award for their achievement on the MEAP test and has asked that JCC be notified, then the State will instruct JCC to credit their account. For more information about the Michigan Merit Award visit the Award website at: http://treas-secure.state.mi.us/meritaward/meritindex.htm. If your student is receiving a scholarship from an external source (such as a corporation or charitable organization), the award amount will be credited to their JCC account at the time JCC receives the payment from the provider. The best way to confirm that the award has been or will be made is to check with the provider of the award. If you have any further questions regarding financial aid, please contact our Financial Aid Office at (517) 796-8410. Can students lose financial aid?Yes. Students have to stay eligible according to the guidelines for whatever type of financial aid is being received. Most scholarships, for example, require students to be enrolled in at least 6 credits and passing at a 2.0 or higher. Students must pass 67% of all attempted coursework and maintain a minimum 2.0 financial aid grade point average (GPA). The financial aid GPA counts withdrawals (W) and Incompletes (I) as a 0.0 grade. This means that courses dropped after the add/drop period and all incompletes are calculated and count for future Financial Aid consideration as a 0.0 on our 4.0 grading scale. What are options to make payments?Payment arrangements are required within 72 hours of registration. Cash, check or credit card payment, in full, is accepted at any of our locations or online. If you need to pay for tuition and fees in partial payments, FACTS Tuition Management is a third party company that collects tuition payments electronically for JCC. You can sign up online. Gift Certificates are available for purchase in any amount. These may be purchased at the Business Office in the Potter Center on main campus. What happens if my student does not pay?If satisfactory payment arrangements are not made in this time frame, JCC can re-sell your student’s seat in those classes. They would then receive notice by mail that they have been dropped from the class and need would need to re-register. Non-payment does not guarantee being dropped. The student is responsible for paying for or dropping classes in a timely manner. |