Federal School Code: 006972

• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or pass the Ability-to-Benefit Test (ATB). For additional information, view the Assessment page on the ATB
• Be enrolled and accepted into a degree-granting or eligible certificate program
• Be a U.S citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Must have a valid Social Security Number
• Once enrolled, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward your educational goal
• Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan or owe repayment of a federal grant
• Register with Selective Service, if required (males 18 to 25).If you are over the age of 26 and never registered, you will have to mail a Request for Status Information Letter to the Selective Service Agency to evaluate your information.

• Request a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov .
• The Department of Education PIN (Personal Identification Number) is an electronic signature used to sign the online Federal Student Aid application. Parents of dependent students must obtain separate PINs. Their electronic signature is also required. 
• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal Application at www.fafsa.gov every year between January 1^st and March 2^nd. About 5-7 days later, the Department of Education will send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to both the applicant and to each of the schools listed on the FAFSA.
• Check the SAR for accuracy and completeness. If an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was not calculated, there is missing information you must provide. If you estimated your household income prior to filing taxes, return to www.fafsa.gov to make corrections.
• If the March 2^nd Cal Grant Priority deadline has passed, fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. 

• If your FAFSA is missing information, you will receive a Missing Information letter that lists the additional items that are needed to complete the student’s application.  These items are also listed under My Documents in your MyBC.
• A financial aid file is not complete until all requested items have been submitted. The priority deadline for completing a financial aid file at Butte College is May 1^st. Files are processed according to date order. If you miss the priority date, please return all requested items as soon as possible. Your delay in returning items will delay completion of your file.

About one-third of financial aid applications are selected for a process called verification. Such applications are marked by an asterisk (*) next to the EFC on the SAR. Students must submit a verification worksheet and a tax return from the previous year, for the student and/or for their parents or spouse.

It is possible that the verification process can result in a change to the EFC and may result in further requests for additional information. Please respond to all requests as quickly as possible.

 FOR STEP 2 AND STEP 3: All requested forms are available through WebAdvisor or the Financial Aid Web site. You can check to see if any forms are required by logging onto your WebAdvisor account. Look under Financial Aid and then click on My Documents. If forms have been recently turned into our office, please allow three days to post. Important: Documents received will be date stamped and files will be reviewed in date order when all requested documents have been received. 

At the end of each semester and at the end of the summer, all files are reviewed for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Financial aid students must be making progress toward a degree or certificate by maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and by completing the units for which they are paid. For additional information on SAP policy, click on the Satisfactory Academic Progress link. SAP page coming soon

New for 2011-2012! Once the file is complete, the student will receive Financial Aid Notification by email.The email will direct you to MyBC to view your actual award. Students who are ineligible for grants will not have any funds listed but may be eligible for a loan. After receipt of the Financial Aid Notification Email, a student may submit a separate application for a Federal Direct Loan. Please note: Loan applications are available only at the Financial Aid Office and are not online. Loan applications will be discarded for students who have not yet been notified.

New for 2011-2012!Beginning with the 2011 fall term, Butte College will be partnering with Higher One^®,a financial services companywhich will provide a new method to receive financial aid disbursements. Paper checks will no longer be available directly from Butte College. Students eligible for a financial aid disbursement, now called a “refund,” can opt for the payment type of their choice – opening a OneAccount with Higher One, an ACH transfer into another bank account, or a paper check from Higher One. Watch your mail for a Higher One green envelope and please activate your card as soon as you receive it.

The Financial Aid Notification Email lists the four main disbursement dates for the year. Awards are disbursed after your file is complete and you have cleared all holds. Your financial aid will be automatically applied toward any outstanding balance and the remainder will be refunded to you.

If your file is not completed in time for the first semester disbursement, eligible students may receive funds at an intermediate disbursement date. All grants are based on full-time enrollment (12 units). Students enrolled in less than full time will have their aid adjusted.

The first financial aid disbursement for the fall and the spring semesters will be made to students before classes begin. Students who apply late or complete their files late, will receive their funds about two to four weeks after they receive their Financial Aid Notification Email from Butte College. Students who opt for Mobile Alerts from Higher One will receive an email when the funds are available in their account.