Students may be eligible for financial aid during the summer term.
Summer aid depends on:
- Enrollment level
- Remaining Pell Grant eligibility
- Registration status
Summer awards are usually processed during the spring semester.
Financial Aid – Options
Understanding Your Financial Aid Options
Paying for college can feel confusing, but you are not alone. Mount Wachusett Community College offers different types of financial aid to help make college more affordable.
Financial aid may come from the federal government, the state of Massachusetts, or MWCC. Some aid is free money you don’t pay back, and some must be repaid.
Below are the main types of aid available to students.
Financial Aid Options
Grants are funds that usually do not need to be repaid. They are often based on financial need.
Examples include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- MassGrant and MassGrant Plus
- MassReconnect (for eligible adult students)
- MWCC Grants and Tuition Assistance
Grant amounts depend on FAFSA information and enrollment level.
Scholarships are another form of free money for college. They may be based on academic achievement, community involvement, or other factors.
Current students can apply for scholarships through MWCC Award Spring or outside organizations.
Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid. MWCC participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, including:
- Subsidized Loans (government may pay interest while you’re in school)
- Unsubsidized Loans (interest begins right away)
- Parent PLUS Loans (available for parents of dependent students)
To receive a loan, students must complete the FAFSA and required loan steps.
Federal Work-Study helps students earn money through part-time jobs while in school. Work-study jobs may be on campus or with approved community organizations. Students are paid every two weeks based on hours worked.
MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (MWCC)
Financial Aid Terms Of Agreement
It is the responsibility of financial aid applicants and recipients to read this
information and abide by these terms, please read carefully.
Books & Refunds
- Books: Students whose approved financial aid (excluding federal work-study) exceeds their tuition and fees will receive a bookstore credit via WebConnect. This credit can be used starting two weeks before the semester begins and continues through the first two weeks after classes start (for cycle 2 courses, the credit is available one week before and one week after the course begins). Loan funds are only accessible if both the MPN and Entrance Counseling are completed. Students are encouraged to purchase all required books, which typically cost about $100–$200 per course. Student Financial Services cannot assume responsibility for book charges for late applicants or for books not available in the bookstore during the initial two weeks of the semester.
- Refunds: If total financial aid exceeds tuition, fees, and book charges, the remaining balance will be refunded, See iConnect for details.
Financial Aid Offers
- Admission to the University and into a degree/credential program is required before a financial aid offer is made.
- Financial aid recipients are responsible for keeping Student Financial Services and Scholarships Office informed of changes in academic status, name, social security number, or I.D. number.
- Financial aid offers will be updated to reflect changes in enrollment status or the availability of additional sources of funding.
- Aid offers are subject to adjustment throughout the year.
- Aid offer payments will be based upon the actual enrollment status at the end of “Add/Drop Period” (the first week of the semester).
- For financial aid purposes, the period of enrollment is defined as the first official day of instruction through the last day of finals.
- Students are limited in receiving financial aid funding from only one educational institution per term.
- Financial aid offers are subject to the availability of funds. Approval for reinstatement of your aid offer does not guarantee the same funds offered in the original award.
- Enrollment status: 12 credits or more per semester is considered full-time; 9-11 credits is three-quarter time; 6-8 credits is half-time; and 1-5 credits is less than half-time.
- Tuition, fees and book costs resulting from official or unofficial withdrawal prior to the end of the “Add/Drop Period” will be the student’s responsibility.
- It is the responsibility of the student to satisfy the tuition and fee bill.
- Students with an approved and verified financial aid offer to cover all charges may defer the payment of tuition and fees until the aid is paid.
- Only permanent Massachusetts residents are eligible for Part-Time Grant. Tuition Waiver, Mount Wachusett Grant, and MASSGrant.
Grants & Waivers
- The Federal Pell Grant: Aid offers are initially based on the enrollment reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The actual amount of the grant will be adjusted according to your enrollment status at the end of the Add/Drop Period.
- Part-Time Grant*: Awards are valid only for enrollment of 6–11 credits per semester.
- Tuition Waiver (TW)* and Adams Scholarship*: Awards may be used only for Tuition-Day billed courses. The Tuition Waiver is applicable only for day school tuition at the Gardner campus, and usually does not apply to any “S” courses, evening courses, web courses, or courses at campuses other than Gardner. Awards may not exceed $25 per day credit of enrollment. For example, if a TW is awarded for $300 (12 × $25) and the actual enrollment is 6 day credits, the disbursement will be $150 (6 × $25). No more than one type of tuition waiver can be applied per semester.
- Mount Wachusett Grant (MWCC)* and College Assistance Grant (CAG): Aid offers may not exceed the total of tuition and fees. You must be enrolled at least half-time.
- MASSGrant*: Aid offers are estimated and require full-time enrollment of 12 credits or more per semester, for a maximum of four semesters at the community college level. Aid offers and payments are authorized by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Awards are issued by OSFA for the college listed on the FAFSA. It is the student’s responsibility to notify OSFA of enrollment at MWCC if another college is listed and to comply with all requests from OSFA for proof of Massachusetts residency. Aid offer amounts are always tentative until confirmed by OSFA.
Rules, Eligibility & Revisions
- Financial aid recipients must notify the Student Financial Services and Scholarships Office of all resources not previously reported or included on their aid offer. Examples include scholarships, rehabilitation benefits, fee waivers, and other educational benefits or allowances. Students are responsible for all overawards, and repayment may be required.
- Less Than Half-Time: Students enrolled less than half-time (1-5 credits) may only qualify for a reduced Pell Grant (if eligible), TW, and SEOG (if offered). Student loans, work-study, and other grant programs are not available. It is recommended that students consult with Student Financial Services before enrolling or dropping below 6 credits per semester.
- December Graduates: Students who meet graduation requirements at the end of the Fall term are subject to loan proration based on units of enrollment.
- Revisions: Aid offers may be revised during the year if Student Financial Services discovers incorrect information, if enrollment changes, or upon receipt of outside scholarships and third-party payments. Students who enroll in contract courses or receive employer tuition assistance may also be subject to financial aid revisions upon determination of their actual out-of-pocket expenses.
- Concurrent Enrollment: Federal regulations state that students may receive financial aid funding from only one school during any given enrollment period. You must report any instances of concurrent enrollment to Student Financial Services.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress: Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to remain eligible for financial aid.
- Limitations on Financial Aid Eligibility: Students may only receive financial aid for coursework required to complete their current program of study. Financial aid can only be used to fund the first repeat of a course that has already been completed with a passing grade. Eligibility for a Pell Grant is available for a maximum of 12 full-time semesters over a student’s lifetime.
Student Loans & Work-Study
- Federal Work-Study (FWS): Students who receive a FWS aid offer should reach out to the Federal Work Study coordinator regarding next steps in the process. Work-study wages are $15.00 per hour, paid bi-weekly, and are used to help cover personal expenses (cannot be used to reduce billed costs).
- Federal Direct Student Loan: If you have been offered a loan in your aid offer notification, we have estimated an amount you may borrow, within eligibility levels, to cover tuition, fees, and book charges. Please carefully consider the actual amount needed prior to requesting a loan. The offer may be reduced; however, any increases must be approved by Student Financial Services. To request a loan, complete the online loan process. First-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance loan counseling electronically at www.studentaid.gov. Be sure to read the online Federal Stafford Loan Instructions for loan processing and policy guidelines. The online loan process must be completed and approved during the semester for which the loan proceeds are being borrowed; loans cannot be processed retroactively for prior semesters attended. If you wish to cancel all or a portion of these funds, you must provide Student Financial Services with a cancellation request no later than 14 days from the date of disbursement. Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible to borrow.
Payment Options
MWCC offers several flexible ways to pay your tuition and fees, making it easier to manage college costs. Students can pay in full using credit card, check, or money order, or choose an interest-free monthly payment plan through Nelnet that spreads payments over the semester. Financial aid, scholarships, waivers, and third-party payments (such as employer support) may also help cover costs. To stay enrolled in classes, it’s important to have your balance paid or secured by the due date. Current students can find step-by-step payment instructions and manage their account through the iConnect student portal.
Important Next Steps For Loan Borrowers
- Go to studentaid.gov and sign in with your FSA ID.
- Select Entrance Counseling (Required) and click Start. Do not choose Financial Awareness Counseling.
- When asked to select a school, choose:
- State: Massachusetts
- School: Mount Wachusett Community College
- Click Notify This School.
- Select Undergraduate Student and click Continue.
- Read the information and answer all questions. If you answer a question incorrectly, the correct answer will be provided.
- Estimate your financial aid and expenses for the year. There are no right or wrong answers—just provide your best estimate.
- Continue through all sections until you reach the completion screen.
- When finished, you will see a message confirming that you have successfully completed Entrance Counseling.
- You may print or save a copy of your completed counseling for your records.
- Go to studentaid.gov and sign in with your FSA ID.
- Select Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note).
- Choose MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans and click Start.
- Complete the MPN in one session.
- Enter your personal information.
- When asked to select a school, choose:
- State: Massachusetts
- School: Mount Wachusett Community College
- Provide information for two personal references, including their addresses and phone numbers.
- Read all terms and conditions.
- Check the box confirming you have reviewed the information.
- Sign the MPN using your first and last name and click Sign.
- A confirmation message will appear letting you know your MPN has been successfully submitted.
- You may print or save a copy for your records.
- Go to mwcc.edu
- Click on the iConnect link at top right of page
- Enter your Username and Password and click Login
- Under My Apps click on WebConnect
- Click on Student and Financial Aid
- Scroll down and click on Financial Aid
- Click on Award Information
- Click on Awards for the Year
- Select the Academic Year from the drop-down menu and click Submit
- Read and click on Accept from the drop-down menu and click Submit
Information
Questions? Contact Student Financial Services For Assistance.
The Student Financial Services team is here to support you.
Current students should log into iConnect to view:
- Your financial aid offer
- Required forms and documents
- Scholarship information
- Loan steps
- Billing and payment options
Questions? Contact Student Financial Services
Summer financial aid may be available to help eligible students pay for summer classes at MWCC. Students who have completed the FAFSA for the current school year will have their eligibility reviewed by the Student Financial Services Office based on financial need and any remaining Pell Grant funds from the fall and spring semesters. Most financial aid programs require students to be enrolled in at least 6 credits, enrolled in a degree or certificate program, and meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. Some students may still qualify for Pell Grant funding with fewer than 6 credits based on FAFSA results.
Summer aid may include Pell Grants, student loans, work-study, bookstore credits, and other limited grant funding. Because funding can be limited, students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA, register early for summer classes, and enroll in both Summer I and Summer II courses at the same time when possible. New and continuing students can access more details about summer financial aid eligibility, deadlines, and loan request information through iConnect.