FAQ
- What is Financial Aid?
- Who can receive financial aid?
- What if my financial situation has changed since I filed my FAFSA?
- How can I get the best financial aid award package?
- Since financial aid may not cover my entire living and educational costs, what else can I do?
- What is Federal Work Study (FWS)?
- What is the cost of attendance?
- How is my expected family contribution (EFC) determined?
- How do I apply for financial aid at Butte College?
- Do I need to submit other documents to Butte College?
- Do I need to keep copies?
- When do I apply for financial aid?
- Why can't you tell my spouse, parents, or outside agencies what kind of aid I have been awarded?
- Do I have to re-apply for financial aid each year?
- Am I required to use my parents' information on the FAFSA?
- My parents refuse to give me the information I need to fill out my financial aid forms. They say it's nobody's business. Am I out of luck?
- My parents are separated or divorced. Whose information should be given on the FAFSA?
- I'm moving out of my parents' house and will support myself from now on. Do my parents still have to fill out the financial aid application?
- What if my family's situation changes after we apply for aid?
- What steps do you follow to determine my eligibility?
- How are Financial Aid funds awarded?
- If there is remaining need, funding may be awarded in the following order:
- I have a bachelor's degree. Am I completely out of luck?
- How Do I receive financial aid for the Summer?
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money available to assist students with the costs of attending college. Financial aid comes from the federal government, state government, the College, and from private sources in the form of scholarships. Grants and scholarships are assistance you don't have to pay back. Federal Work-Study allows you to work and earn money to help pay for school. Loans are borrowed money that you must repay with interest. The Federal Student Guide provides greater detail on Federal Student Aid.
Who can receive financial aid?
To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements. You must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Register with Selective Service, if required (males 18 to 25). See www.sss.gov for more information.
- Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student into a degree-granting or eligible certificate program
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress according to federal and institutional requirements
- Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal student grant
- Show you are qualified to obtain a college education by
- Having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent
- Completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
Also
- You must have financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)
- You must not have any drug convictions incurred while accepting federal student aid
What if my financial situation has changed since I filed my FAFSA?
You may download an Appeal for Unusual Circumstances form from the Financial Aid web site. Read the instructions carefully. Documentation is required that will allow us to determine if your circumstances will result in a change to your aid eligibility. Students with changed situations, including unemployment, loss of benefits, divorce or other special circumstances, may consider this alternative.
How can I get the best financial aid award package?
Apply early - some grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Note: Grant funds are need-based and are awarded to the neediest students first. (To be eligible for aid for the 2012-2013 school year, the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the federal processor no later than June 30, 2013).
Since financial aid may not cover my entire living and educational costs, what else can I do?
Seek non-work study employment. Use savings. Ask clubs, organizations, churches to which you belong if they have any scholarship funds. Consider living at home or with relatives to save on rent and utility costs. Apply for scholarships. You may request scholarship information at the Butte College Foundation Office.
What is Federal Work Study (FWS)?
FWS is a federally funded student employment program established to assist students in meeting their educational costs through part-time on campus positions or in off-campus positions, some of which are contracted community service positions. Students use the services of the Job Placement Office to assist in finding employment and completing necessary forms. Once you receive your Award Notification email, take it to the Job Placement Office to inquire about your eligibility for FWS. July 30, 2012 is the first day students may apply for work-study for 2012-2013.
What is the cost of attendance?
Average annual costs (tuition, books, fees, room and board, transportation, etc.) determined to be necessary to attend Butte College. These figures are subject to change.
How is my expected family contribution (EFC) determined?
Your (and your spouse's if married, parents if dependent) income, assets, number in household, number in college, and your state of legal residence are used in determining the expected family contribution. The formula applied to your information is determined by the federal government.
How do I apply for financial aid at Butte College?
Complete the FAFSA or the renewal FAFSA online, as soon as possible after January 1 for the coming academic year. Read the application instructions carefully and supply all requested information. Be sure to add the federal school code to your application.
BUTTE COLLEGE SCHOOL CODE 006972
Paper FAFSAs are not encouraged, but may be downloaded from the FAFSA web site if necessary. You can also call the federal processor (1-800-433-4243) to have one mailed to you.
Do I need to submit other documents to Butte College?
Only if they are requested. Remember to include your name and Butte College ID number on all documentation submitted, including parent documents.
Do I need to keep copies?
Yes! Keep copies of all forms completed and any materials used to prepare the forms, such as tax returns.
When do I apply for financial aid?
As soon as possible after January 1 of the school year you plan to attend. (i.e., Jan. 1, 2012 for academic year beginning August 2012)
Why can't you tell my spouse, parents, or outside agencies what kind of aid I have been awarded?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as the Buckley Amendment) limits access to educational records without expressed written consent.
Do I have to reapply for financial aid each year?
Yes. However, once you have filed a FAFSA, you may be able to file a Renewal FAFSA the next year. It won't be nearly as complicated the second, third, or fourth time around. A Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is designed for students who applied for aid the previous year. You may use this online application to complete and submit the Renewal FAFSA on the Web. Be sure to correct any information that has changed since the previous year, especially new financial data.
Am I required to use my parent's information on the FAFSA?
The instructions in the FAFSA will explain whether or not you must include parent information. If you have been declared independent by a financial aid administrator in the past, or if you think your special situation merits a review, request and complete a Dependency Status Appeal Form from the Financial Aid Office.
My parents refuse to give me the information I need to fill out my financial aid forms. They say it's nobody's business. Am I out of luck?
Contact the Financial Aid Office at the College. He or she can review your circumstances and explain your options.
My parents are separated or divorced. Whose information should be given on the FAFSA?
On the application, information should be given for the parent you lived with the most in the last 12 months. If you don't live with either parent or lived with both parents for an equal number of days, information should be given for the parent who provided the greater amount of support to you during the last calendar year. FAFSA instructions have information that will be helpful if you have questions about providing information from separated or divorced parents.
I'm moving out of my parents' house and will support myself from now on. Do my parents still have to fill out the financial aid application?
You may only apply for financial aid as an independent student if you meet any of the following criteria:
- You were born before January 1, 1989;
- You are an orphan or a ward-of-the-court, or were a ward-of-the-court until age 18;
- You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
- You are married;
- You have legal dependents (other than a spouse); or
- You can document unusual circumstances (such as adverse home situation) - contact the Financial Aid Office for further information
Students who do not meet this criteria are considered dependent on their parents by federal law no matter where they live (there are limited exceptions--please note them in the FAFSA instructions). If your parents do not provide their information on your application, you probably cannot be considered for aid.
What if my family's situation changes after we apply for aid?
Give the new information to the financial aid office. That office can determine if the change will affect your eligibility for assistance.
What steps do you follow to determine my eligibility?
First, we assign you a Cost of Attendance budget based on your dependency status. This budget is based on the full-time cost of tuition, books and supplies and an estimated cost for living expenses.
Second, we subtract the EFC that was reported on your Student Aid Report. The result is your Estimated Financial Need. You will receive funding, as available, up to this remaining need amount.
How are Financial Aid funds awarded?
The Federal Pell Grant is subtracted from the remaining financial need.
If there is remaining need, funding may be awarded in the following order:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Other grants (for example, FSEOG, Cal Grants, BIA Grants)
- Scholarships
- Work-study employment
- Loans
All of these funds are limited and are awarded until they are depleted. In addition, there is a maximum limit for each award.
This means that it is possible for you to have remaining need even after all funds have been awarded.
I have a bachelor's degree. Am I completely out of luck?
No. You are not eligible for a the Pell Grant, FSEOG and Cal Grant.
But you are eligible for BOGFW, Federal Work Study and a Federal Direct Student Loan.
The same formula as above will be used and any unmet need will first be filled by BOGFW and then with FWS. You may also be eligible to apply for a Federal Direct Loan.
How Do I receive financial aid for the Summer?
Students may receive financial aid payments (Pell) for attending summer classes if:
- They did not receive their full Pell Grant during the regular school year (Fall and Spring semesters), in other words, if a student attended and was paid at full time status for both Fall and Spring semesters, then that student would have no remaining eligibility for the summer (Butte College places the summer session at the end of the academic year for financial aid payment purposes);
- They apply for summer Pell Grant payments between May 1 and the final day of Spring semester (a short one-page application is all that is required in addition to the normal application paperwork required for regular year awards). You can pick up the application from the financial aid office.
