Student Financial Services

Welcome to Student Financial Services!

The Student Financial Services team at Mount Wachusett Community College understands that financing your college education is often the most demanding part of the process. Comprised of both Financial Aid and Student Accounts, Student Financial Services is here to help you navigate the way. We offer a comprehensive program that makes the most of the federal, state, and institutional monies available to you. Our team is committed to assisting you and your family in finding the financial means to achieve an affordable education here at The Mount.

The Student Financial Services team will try, to the extent possible, to award grant funds (funds that do not have to be repaid) to cover tuition, fees, and book expenses. Applying for financial aid early in the year is crucial to receive the maximum aid possible. Since the college does not have sufficient funds to assist everyone, many students find it necessary to obtain a student loan to meet the required costs.

We are here to help you manage your college costs and payments and are committed to working with you to make paying for college easier. You will find we highly encourage accessing the maximum amount of resources as early as possible in your college career so that you can be in the best position to pay for your college expenses.

Contact Us

Student Financial Services can be contacted at 978-630-9169 or via email to sfs@mwcc.mass.edu.

Office Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 8am-5pm
Tuesdays: 8am-6pm
Fridays: 8am-4pm

Financial Aid Documents

The 2023 – 2024 year covers Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 semesters.

Changes to the 2024 – 2025 FAFSA

The 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be available as of the traditional October 1st date. The anticipated launch date of the 2024-25 FAFSA will be in December 2023.

Why is the FAFSA application changing?

Congress recently passed the FAFSA Simplification Act to streamline the financial aid process for students and families.

While in some cases FAFSA simplification could increase students’ financial aid eligibility, others may see a decrease in aid. Several important changes that can impact the application process and resulting financial aid offers for students are outlined below.

Key changes:

• Easier FAFSA application process with a reduced number of questions.
• The Federal Pell Grant expands to more students and will link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level.
• The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) has been replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is a different way to determine aid eligibility.
• Schools will use the SAI to determine eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
• Unlike the EFC calculation, the SAI will not include the number of family members in college. This may reduce need-based aid eligibility for current students with siblings in college.
• The guidance on which parent income to report for students whose parents are separated or divorced has changed to the parent who provides the most financial support to the student, rather than the parent who lives at the student’s primary residence.
• To speed up processing time, parents without a Social Security Number will be able to apply for an FSA ID and submit their FAFSA application online. They will no longer have to print, sign and mail the form.
• Students who qualify for a dependency override due to homelessness, or not being able to access their parents’ financials, no longer need to recertify their dependency status each year (unless their situation changes).
• Male students under the age of 26 are no longer required to register with the Selective Service System to receive federal financial aid.

This list of key changes is not limited. Please check back often as information may be updated based on guidance from the Department of Education. You can also find additional information on the Federal Student Aid website.

Need Help? We are here for you!

The North Central Educational Opportunity Center (NCEOC) team at MWCC provides free and confidential financial aid, and academic, and career counseling for adults living in the 29 cities and towns of North Central Massachusetts. Students hoping to apply for MassReconnect are also eligible for support from the NCEOC team. You don’t have to go it alone, we’re here to help!