Financial Aid and How it Works
Financial aid is money that helps you pay for college.
Grants, Loans and Additional Funding
Grants are free money that does not need to be repaid, and loans are money borrowed that must be repaid with interest. Additional funding is extra financial help from scholarships, work-study programs, or other sources to cover education expenses. These will help students pay for their education.
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Federal Student Loan Information
All first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete entrance counseling and a master promissory note. Students must complete exit counseling when they graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment (fewer than 6 credit hours).
A parent plus loan is another option to help you with their educational expenses.
National Student Loan Data System
For student and parent loan borrowers of Title IV Student Loan, Northampton Community College is required to submit loan information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and this information may be accessed by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions who are authorized users of the data system.
In addition, all student and parent borrowers can access their federal loan history on the NSLDS borrower site. Click on Financial Aid Review and login to that site to find information on your loan history, interest rates and contact information for your lenders.
Alternative/Private Education Loan
Many lenders offer loans outside the federal loan program called "alternative" or "private" education loans. These loans allow students to borrow money to cover the gap between the cost of your education and the amount of financial aid you receive. Because alternative or private loans can have higher interest rates, may require payments while in school, and may require a cosigner; you should consider them only after you've exhausted all other sources of funding.
If you are interested in accepting a private loan, NCC has categorized the most common loans NCC students accepted over previous years to make your search as easy as possible! Visit ELMSelect today to view potential loan options.
*NCC is not recommending or encouraging these loans, rather offering this as a resource for students to utilize.
Net Price Calculator
A net price calculator (NPC) is a mandatory tool on college websites designed to give a personalized budget guideline, rather than a final, locked-in bill.
Withdrawals, Refund, and Return of Federal Funds
If you withdraw from all or most of your classes before completing 60% of the semester, the college must use a federal formula based on your attendance days to calculate how much financial aid you earned and return the unearned portion to the government. This return of funds follows a specific priority order—starting with loans and ending with grants—and you will be held responsible for paying any remaining balance left on your student account.
Contact the financial aid office for assistance with grants, scholarships, student loans, eligibility requirements, applications, and financial aid questions.
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