Frequently Asked Questions

Use our step-by-step guide for applying for financial aid.

• U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens

• High schools graduates or have a GED

• Be registered with Selective Service, if required

• Enrolled in a degree seeking program

• Make satisfactory academic progress

• Not be in default on an educational loan

No, apply as soon as possible after January 1 and list the codes for all schools that you are considering on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). North Central Texas College Federal School Code is 003558. You won’t receive a North Central Texas College Financial Aid award letter until you have been accepted to NCTC.

Financial aid funds are electronically credited to a student's bill as long as the aid has been accepted in the NCTC Financial Aid Portal and all loan required documents have been received. If a student has more financial aid than college charges, the balance will be distributed approximately 30 days after classes start to the multifunctional Student ID MasterCard (unless the student designates another financial institution). First-time loan borrowers will receive a delay in disbursements.

Visit the business office or set up your payment plan online.

Yes. When your financial aid is posted to your account, any unpaid institutional charges (tuition and fees, books, dorm/meal plan, etc.) will be paid before you receive any credit balances.

In order to receive financial aid, you must be taking classes that work toward a degree or certificate offered at NCTC. If a student is enrolled in courses that do not count toward their degree or certificate, they cannot be used to determine enrollment status.

Financial aid will pay for 30 hours of remedial coursework. Remedial hours attempted beyond the 30 hour limit will not be included in the student course load for determining enrollment status.

Yes. Financial Aid Applications for the new school year open on October 1st of the prior year.

This will depend on several factors such as your EFC (Expected Family Contribution), your loan level, types of benefits and other resources you have available. North Central Texas College will put together a financial aid package that comes as close as possible to meeting your need. Once you have received notification of your awards, you and your family can determine how much money your family will need to contribute. We encourage you use our Net Price Calculator

A simple formula determines your need at NCTC: cost of attendance minus Expected Family Contribution minus any other financial aid equals financial need.

You will be eligible for summer financial aid if you have not already reached your maximum annual or aggregate limits on loans and Pell Grants during the fall and spring semesters.

If you don’t have an unmet need, your other aid would be reduced.

To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress you must be completing an acceptable percentage (67%) of attempted course work. In addition, you must have an adequate GPA (2.0).

The amount of Pell Grant that you receive is based on the number of hours you are currently taking. If you drop a class before the census date, your award eligibility will be reduced if it changes your attendance status (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time). Dropping a class can reduce your Pell Grant and could also impact your future loan level. Loan recipients who drop below half time will start using their loan grace period. Dropping a class can also create satisfactory academic progress problems, and you might not be eligible for any future financial aid assistance.

If you are receiving Federal Student Aid and completely withdraw from the college, you may be required to pay back the unearned portion of the money. To avoid any penalty, you must complete at least 60% of the semester. Always check with NCTC Financial Aid Office for specific details. Withdrawal can create satisfactory academic progress problems causing an automatic cancellation of any pending financial aid.

Once North Central Texas College Office of Financial Aid receives your FAFSA® information, they will determine if you are eligible for the following types of financial aid.

• Federal Pell Grant

• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

• Federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans

• Federal work study

No, you can still send your FAFSA® in to apply for a Pell Grant and a Stafford Loan.

NCTC priority processing deadline is June 1st. You want to meet this deadline to be considered for all types of aid. If you do not have your tax returns completed by mid March, you can estimate income figures on the FAFSA®. However, it is best to complete your tax return early and provide accurate information. This will avoid corrections and delays in processing your aid.

There are two easy methods to request your tax return transcript, first you can call 1-800-829-1040 and choose the option "Your Personal Account Information". You can also request a tax return transcript at www.irs.gov

Go to studentaid.gov and choose "make corrections" on the FAFSA® website, add our school code (003558) to your application and submit the correction. You will need your FSA ID for this option. Another option is to replace or insert our school code (003558) on your paper SAR (Student Aid Report) and mail it back to the processor. The paper SAR must be signed by you, and, if you are a dependent student, your parent. You may call 1-800-433-3233 to make the school code change. You will need your data release number (DRN) for this option. The DRN is the four-digit number located in the bottom left hand corner of the SAR.

The parent you lived with most in the last 12 months should complete the FAFSA®. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, answer in terms of the parent who provided the most financial support during the last 12 months or during the most recent calendar year that you actually were supported by a parent. Support includes money, gifts, loans, housing, food, clothes, car, medical and dental care, payment for college costs, etc.

Yes, if your parent is married on the day you completed the FAFSA®.

Yes. See the definition of an independent student in the next section.

The definition of "Independent" is defined specifically by the law. You will automatically be considered independent for financial aid purposes if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are 24 years old.

• You are married on the date you complete the FAFSA® (answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced).

• Supports a child.

• At the beginning of the school year, you will be working on a graduate, doctorate or master's degree program.

• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed forces.

You are considered a veteran if you:

• Have engaged in active service in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

• Is a National Guard or Reserve enlistee who was called to active duty for purposes other than training.

• Were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and were released under a condition other than dishonorable.

No. You must accurately report marital status at the time you complete the FAFSA®. You might want to wait and complete your FAFSA® after you are married. Consult with your financial aid advisor on this situation.

Yes, loans are part of the federal student aid program and considered financial aid.

The federal government is responsible for the interest that accumulates while you are in college at least half time with a subsidized Stafford Loan. You are responsible for the interest that accumulates while you are in college with an unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least six undergraduate hours.

You will go into your grace period starting the date you drop below half time and any future disbursements will be canceled. You will also be required to complete exit counseling.

Yes! Here are a few websites.

• www.studentaid.ed.gov
  Federal Student Aid Gateway-the source for free information, guidance and tools for federal student assistance-from the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid.

• www.collegefortexans.com (Texas State Financial Aid)
  Information about State Programs. This website has additional information about state grants, exemptions, and waivers.

• www.finaid.org
  Basic Financial Aid information, scholarship search, financial aid calculators, etc.

• www.nasfaa.org (NASFAA)
  Basic Financial Aid information for parents, students, and high school counselors.

• www.tgslc.org (Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation)
  Great basic information for students of all ages.

• www.nslds.ed.gov (Information about your previous student loan)
  Students with Previous loans can get information about who owns their loan, how much they owe, etc.

• www.fastweb.com (FastWeb)
  Good Scholarship Search program.

• www.maldef.org
  Scholarships for undocumented students.

• www.fondofuturo.com.co
  Scholarships for undocumented students.

• www.irs.gov (Internal Revenue Service)
  Tax information.

• www.sss.gov (Selective Service)
  Men between the ages of 18-26 are required to register with selective service.

• FAA Code of Conduct

Disclaimer
Students in search of scholarships to pay for college may find some of the links here useful; however, this information is provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement. Neither the Office of Financial Aid nor North Central Texas College can guarantee the accuracy or the timeliness of information found at any of the links above. It is critical that students verify information, particularly where deadlines are concerned.