Payment Plan & Financial Aid: If you entered into a payment plan agreement (installment plan) you must continue to make payments until your financial aid request has been reviewed and finalized. An official award notification will be sent to you. If you have paid more than the balance owed, you will be refunded any overpayment after financial aid funds are disbursed.
Financial Assistance to Students
The purpose of financial aid is to provide financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to attend college.
General Guidelines
Housatonic offers financial aid to students who have been determined to have financial need, according to Federal need analysis. The financial aid awarded depends on the financial need, the availability of funds at Housatonic, and any other aid the student is receiving. The financial aid package may include grants, loans, work-study, or a combination of these funds. All financial aid awards are subject to change.
Applying for Financial Aid
All applications for financial aid should be completed by May 1 for students enrolling in September, and November 1 for students enrolling in January. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year, but awards made after the recommended deadlines depend on fund availability. A new application must be completed for each academic year.
Eligibility is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The information provided in the FAFSA provides a consistent way of measuring the ability of families and/or students to pay educational costs. The student is determined to have need if the cost of education exceeds the student’s available resources, based upon a standardized formula that was established by Congress. All allowable educational expenses are considered when financial aid applications are reviewed.
The Student Aid Report that the student will receive after filing the FAFSA need not be submitted to the Financial Aid office. The Financial Aid office will download reports electronically.
Requirements for Student Financial Aid
In order to receive financial aid, students must have completed the entire admissions process and be accepted into a degree or eligible certificate program. You may be eligible for financial assistance if you are:
- A citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Trust Territories;
- In good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress according to the standards and practices of HCC (see Appendix XI for Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy For Student Financial Aid Recipients);
- In compliance with draft (Selective Service) registration requirements;
- Not in default in the repayment of any educational loans or owe a refund on any Title IV grant program at any institution.
How Financial Aid Works
Financial aid awards are based on your enrollment status as of the 14th calendar day of the semester. Any course added after that time will not be covered by financial aid and will be billed directly to you.
Students should remember that:
- Financial aid cannot be used for non-credit courses offered through the Continuing Education Program;
- Financial aid cannot be used for audited courses;
- Withdrawal during the first two weeks of any semester will result in the cancellation of all financial aid. Students will be billed by the Business Office for 50 percent of their tuition, all fees and any bookstore charges;
- Please see Policy for Refunds of Cash Disbursement of Title IV Financial Aid for withdrawals after the first 14 days of the semester;
- Financial aid does not cover the cost of any course and/or related books for which a student registers and never attends. The charges for any such course become the responsibility of the student who will be billed directly by the Business Office.
- Financial Aid is NOT available for the Winter Session.
Student Responsibilities
All financial aid applicants are assumed to be familiar with the contents of the HCC catalog. Students are responsible for reading and understanding all forms they are asked to sign and should keep copies of all documents submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
Financial aid recipients must inform the Financial Aid Office in writing of any change in name, address, marital status, family size, or financial circumstances.
Students with questions concerning the accuracy or completeness of their applications should contact the Financial Aid Office. If your application is in any stage of processing or review and you have not received an official notification of financial aid at the time you wish to enroll, you will be responsible for your tuition bill at the time of registration, and must make payment arrangements with the Business Office. If payment arrangements have not been made and you do not have an official notification of financial aid, your classes will, in all probability, be cancelled.
The only formal announcement of financial aid is an official award letter or e-mail sent by the Financial Aid Office. Information online at myCommNet is not official unless you have received an official e-mail award notification or have been sent an award letter.
Please Note...
Applicants are responsible for completing all Federal eligibility and file completion requirements as soon as possible. Under NO circumstances will financial aid be available for the fall semester unless ALL requirements are satisfied by November 15; or for the spring semester by April 15.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy For Student Financial Aid Recipients
A student receiving Federal Title IV financial aid or other financial aid directly administered or certified by the college must maintain satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a certificate or degree program of study. Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients is measured by both quantitative and qualitative standards and is an assessment of a student's cumulative academic record at the college. Students should be aware that the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid recipients differs from the institutional Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
The current Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available online at myCommNet, in Appendix XI of the College Policies section of the Catalog, or in the Financial Aid Office.
Policy for Refunds & Repayments of Cash Disbursements of Title IV Financial Aid (Withdrawal Information)
Students who officially withdraw between the 15th day and the 60% point (generally the 9th week) in any semester will be subject to a Title IV calculation to determine how much federal financial aid was actually earned.
Students who stop attending classes at any time during a semester or register and never attend are considered unofficial withdrawals. The College will perform the Title IV calculation and will assume that 50 percent of your federal financial aid was earned.
In both of the above situations, a letter will be sent to you explaining your financial obligation to the College and the US Department of Education. You will have 45 days from the date of the letter to pay the College.
How Financial Aid Credit Balances Are Processed
Students must remain in attendance to be eligible for refunds of financial aid monies after all debt to HCC is satisfied. If a student does not remain in attendance, the excess aid will be returned to the Federal government. In the case of students who withdraw, payment will be prorated based on length of attendance according to the Federal Title IV Refund calculation.
Refunds of any amount after eligible educational expenses are deducted are normally made by the State Controller's Office.
What Programs Are Available
Federal Programs -
Pell Grant is a federal grant based on need and restricted to students pursuing a first undergraduate degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant - a federal grant usually awarded to Federal Pell recipients with greatest financial need.
Federal Work Study - a federal program for students with financial aid eligibility which provides an opportunity for students to work and earn an income. It is expected that any earnings will be used for costs relating to attendance at the College.
Federal Family Educational Loan Program - Federal Stafford and Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Financial aid eligibility must be determined before loan applications can be processed.
Contact the Financial Aid Office regarding any additional requirements for these programs.
State Programs -
Connecticut Aid for Public College Students - a state grant awarded by the College in various amounts to full- or part-time students with demonstrated financial need. Students must be Connecticut residents in order to qualify.
Connecticut Community College Grant Program - a state program awarded by the College as a grant for full- or part-time students with demonstrated financial need. Students must be Connecticut residents in order to qualify.
State Work Study - A State program for students with Financial Aid eligibility which provides an opportunity for students to work and earn an income. Students must be Connecticut residents.
Awards of all Federal and State Financial Aid resources are determined by the Financial Aid Office.
Veterans' Educational Benefits
Housatonic is approved by the State Department of Higher Education for student benefits under appropriate chapters of Title 38, U.S. Code. Under specific circumstances, spouses, widows, widowers, and children may also be eligible for these benefits. Veterans or their dependents should contact the Veteran's Representative in the Registrar's Office for assistance in effecting certification of eligibility.
Housatonic, through the State of Connecticut, is also able to offer veterans tuition waivers for General Fund courses. To be eligible, a veteran must have served honorably on active duty during qualified war eras and fulfill residency requirements. Please refer to the Admissions section for more information.
Each veteran must present a valid Form DD-214 when applying for student benefits under the G.I. Bill or Tuition Waiver.
NOTE: The Advanced English Proficiency (ESL) certificate is not a vocational program approvable for veteran benefits. However, veterans and eligible dependents may be paid for remedial, deficiency or refresher courses (such as ESL) when it is determined that they need the courses in order to pursue a program for which they would be otherwise eligible. Certification of need (as determined by testing) can be made to the VA.
Tax Credit Programs
The Hope Scholarship provides up to $3,300 for qualified education expenses. Eligible students can receive up to a $1,650 tax credit for each of the first two years of college.
The Lifetime Learning Program helps students offset the cost of education by providing a Lifetime tax credit of 20% of qualified tuition and fee expenses, up to $2,000 per year.
For more information on these programs, consult your tax advisor, the IRS, or ask for a free HCC brochure.
Housatonic Community College Foundation, Inc. Scholarships
The Housatonic Community College Foundation is committed to the education of all HCC students. To this end, financial assistance is available for tuition and fees based on academic achievement and financial need as determined by the Scholarship Committee of the Foundation Board of Directors.
Information about scholarship applications and deadlines is publicized regularly throughout the HCC community. Preference is given to students in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and who have completed at least 9 credits at Housatonic. Students are notified when applications are available and when the deadlines are for submitting them.
In addition to HCC Foundation scholarship funds, the following are available to incoming and current students:
Awards & Scholarships for Incoming Students
The Koskoff-Bieder Scholarship Fund—established in 2007 to assist incoming students who are working part-time, demonstrate financial need, are in good academic standing and are not receiving financial aid. Preference given to applicants who participate in FSW's Business Youth Center Program.
Awards & Scholarships for Current Students
Elizabeth Raymond Ambler Trust Scholarship – provides tuition assistance to current HCC students. The scholarship qualifications are based on scholastic achievement and financial need.
Barden Foundation Scholarship - awarded to two students who are continuing their education in science, including computer science.
Kim Thibodeau Chiaraluce Endowed Scholarship Fund - established to provide funds for a young woman attending the College for the academic year either on a full- or part-time basis who demonstrates academic achievement and financial need.
The William Pitt, III Foundation Scholarship - awarded to full-time Housatonic students who are in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.3 or better and who are not receiving financial aid. Students are not required to have 9 credits for this particular scholarship.
The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Scholarship - given to a current HCC student who is currently employed, preferably at a Subway Restaurant. Student must demonstrate success in all areas of academic achievement, participation in extra-curricular activities, and financial need.
Doane Scholarship - established in memory of a Housatonic lab assistant and awarded to a student continuing his or her education in computer science, mathematics, or engineering.
Mrs. Marguerite Sullivan Dunigan Endowed Scholarship Fund - established to honor Marguerite Sullivan Dunigan's achievements as a single mother, grandmother, friend, sister, Housatonic student, and graduate. Awarded to a single mother currently attending HCC.
President Edward J. Liston Endowed Scholarship Fund - established to provide funds for students enrolled in one of the College's two-year degree programs and who demonstrate academic achievement or financial need and involvement in extracurricular activities.
Elizabeth Pfriem Endowed Scholarship Fund - awarded to Housatonic Foundation Scholars. Scholars are current HCC students in good academic standing who demonstrate financial need and have completed 9 or more credits at the College with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Domenico Simone Scholarship – requirements for this scholarship are need-based and merit-based. Also, the student must be in the Business or Math/Science department.
The Southern Connecticut Gas Company Community Scholarship - Awarded to a current full-time or part time HCC student who has completed one year at the College. Preference will be given to a student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who demonstrates financial need
Connecticut Women's Forum Endowed Scholarship fund is awarded to female students with financial need who are enrolled in any two-year program at HCC.
Dale Ward Endowed Scholarship Fund is awarded to graduating students who are the recipients of the HCC Senate Scholarship and who plan to continue their education.
Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation Scholarship is awarded to a HCC student pursing a course of study in the area of allied health.The Luiz Claudio dos Santos Memorial Scholarship is a tuition scholarship awarded on an annual basis to a foreign student who maintains a GPA of 2.5 or above and demonstrates financial need.
Robert Gerard Naples Scholarship Award is awarded to a graduating student in the math/science program who has demonstrated excellence in academics and plans to go on to complete the requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.
The Nursing Scholarship Fund will provide tuition assistance to a student in the pre-nursing program. A student must be in good academic standing. Preference is given to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who have completed 9 or more credits. Students receiving full financial aid are ineligible.
Additional scholarship information for graduating students can be found in the Academic Support & Student Services section of the Catalog.
Supplemental Assistance Fund
The Housatonic Community College Foundation has established a Supplemental Assistance Fund for students who experience unexpected financial problems directly related to their ability to continue their studies at Housatonic. Applications are available each semester and are reviewed by a committee on a case-by-case basis. Students are limited to a maximum of $500 during their Housatonic career.
Early Childhood Laboratory School Funds
The Foundation may assist students with tuition for their children at the Housatonic Early Childhood Laboratory School.