Since its founding, Northampton Community College has been committed to offering excellence in education at a moderate cost. While NCC adheres to the principle that students and their families have the primary responsibility to pay for college costs as their means permit, financial assistance programs represent a bridge between a family's ability to pay and the cost of higher education. Last year, the College awarded over $45.5 million in financial assistance to approximately 7,200 full and part-time students. The NCC Financial Aid Office administers many types of financial assistance including federal, state, private and institutional financial aid programs to help students meet their educational costs.
Most financial aid offers are made on the basis of financial need. A student's financial need is determined by deducting the student's expected family contribution (EFC) from the cost of education. To qualify for financial aid, you must demonstrate financial need while maintaining academic progress. Financial aid awards must be applied to educational expenses such as tuition, fees, books, room, board, supplies, transportation or other educational costs.
Financial aid offers may consist of grants and/or scholarships (funds which do not have to be repaid), loans (low interest loans which require little or no payment while a student is attending college on at least a half-time basis), employment (money which a student earns through work either on or off-campus) or a combination of these sources.
Foundation Scholarships
To encourage and assist students, NCC also offers scholarships from over 200 different scholarship funds for students who meet the awards' requirements. Funds for scholarship assistance are provided through the efforts of the Northampton Community College Foundation and the generosity of alumni, community leaders, local employers and friends of the College.
The NCC Foundation, established in 1969 as a private, non-profit corporation to support educational programs and activities that cannot be funded through the College's regular income sources, enables NCC to provide more private scholarship support than any other community college in Pennsylvania.
Students must complete the financial aid application process to be considered for scholarship support. More details about the foundation scholarships process and a link to the scholarship application can be found at: https://www.northampton.edu/scholarships
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid at Northampton Community College a student must:
- Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) via the Web at studentaid.gov. A student and parent can create an FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA.
- NCC's Federal Code for the FAFSA is 007191
New students should not wait to be admitted to NCC before applying for financial aid. Returning students must annually reapply for financial aid for each academic year a student wants to be considered for financial aid.
The Northampton Community College financial aid priority application date is May 15. Fall students who complete their financial aid application by the priority date will be notified of their eligibility for aid before tuition is due for the following Fall semester. The priority application date for the Spring semester is October 1st of the previous year. While financial aid applications are accepted throughout the year, it is important to meet the priority application dates if a student expects financial aid to help pay his/her semester tuition and fee charges by the tuition due date.
Eligibility
To receive aid, a student must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid social security number;
- Be enrolled in an eligible academic program;
- A high school graduate or have a recognized General Equivalency Diploma (GED);
- Be an undergraduate student who has not previously earned a bachelor's degree (for most types of aid);
- Not be in default on any previous student loan nor owe a repayment on an adjusted federal grant;
- If male and age 18-25, be registered for Selective Service
- Comply with Northampton Community College's Academic Progress Policy requirements.
Student Employment
NCC offers on and off-campus jobs to students who have financial need through the Federal Work Study Program. A student's earnings under this program are not credited to the student's account, but are paid to the student every two weeks. Students are responsible for securing their job by interviewing with the job's supervisor. A list of available positions can be found on the Work Study link on the Financial Aid page of the NCC Web site. Students who are interested in community service positions should contact the Work Study Coordinator in the Financial Aid Office.
Veteran's Benefits
We are proud to be a Veterans Administration (VA) approved Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). Our Military-Affiliated Student Services Office is a resource for military-affiliated students that may pertain to the VA, military funding for education, EAP, FTA, and MYCAA. The School Certifying Official (SCO) will act as the liaison between you and the Department of Veteran Affairs. The SCO will submit a certification of enrollment to the VA for your VA Education benefits and other VA benefits programs. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the SCO in the Adult & Military-Affiliated Student Services Office of enrollment, changes in enrollment, termination of student status, and /or changes of address and phone number. Failure to do so may delay or jeopardize current or future benefits.
To maintain your eligibility for VA Education Benefits and Financial Aid, students must maintain good academic satisfactory progress. Satisfactory academic progress per federal guidelines in the categories of GPA (grade point average) and CR (completion rate). This means you must complete a minimum of 67% of all credits attempted and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better. Progress information is available from the Military-Affiliated Student Services Office or the Financial Aid Office.
Students are responsible to meet with their academic advisors to ensure courses selected are a requirement for their selected program of study. VA Benefits will not be processed for courses that are not required.
Military-Affiliated students can use the ‘Veterans’ Benefits Application Checklist’ to review the steps required at NCC which is available online at www.northampton/military-affiliated. If a student had indicated they are military-affiliated on their initial application ‘Workday’ will prompt an automatic benefits request form for students to upload supporting documents and request to use benefits. If you do not receive the military benefits request form, please email veterans@northampton.edu The benefits form must be completed every semester before registering for classes. Upon completion of the benefits request form, students will need to agree to the NCC certification policy and will be added to the “Military-Affiliated Student Services Blackboard Page”.
Questions may be directed to the Adult & Military-Affiliated Student Services Office at 610.332.6097
PA Act 11 – Discounts for Veterans, Military Personnel, and their Dependents
As required by PA Act 11 of 2015, Veterans and Military Personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children may be eligible for reduced tuition and fees rates as outlined below.
1. Veterans, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who reside in the Commonwealth of PA will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate. For purposes of this policy, a veteran student is defined as an individual who: (a) Served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard, and was discharged/released from service under conditions other than dishonorable; or one who is an active-duty service member; and (b) Resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Northampton Community College.
2. Active military personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who are enrolled in online (distance) classes, and who reside outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to our Commonwealth of PA rate.
3. Any individual who receives VA education benefits under chapters 30,31,33,35, or 1606, and who resides outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to our Commonwealth of PA rate.
4. Civilian personnel who work at a Department of Defense facility in the Commonwealth of PA, their spouses, and or dependent children, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
Those who qualify for reduced rates, as outlined above, are exempt from the 90-day residency waiting period but must provide both proofs of service and proof of residency before the start of the semester for which reduced rates are to be granted. Proof of Service must be documented with a DD214, current military ID, and/or VA Certificate of Eligibility. Spouses and dependents must also provide either military ID, VA Certificate of Eligibility, or other proof of connection to the veteran or military personnel with a Birth Certificate or recent IRS 1040. Once the current semester has ended, the reduction cannot be applied for an adjustment. Future terms only will benefit from the reduction to student accounts
Federal Financial Aid
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements For Financial Aid Eligibility
This policy applies to any student entering or returning to NCC. A student’s entire academic record is reviewed even when a student was not a financial aid recipient during prior enrollment. College approved academic restarts are not considered when computing financial aid satisfactory academic progress. The following requirements must be met for eligibility for federal financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study).
Only courses required for your current major are eligible for financial aid consideration.
I. Completion Rate
A student must successfully complete sixty-seven percent (67%) of all credits attempted at NCC plus any credits accepted as transfer credits and credits by exam.
Financial aid can be applied only once to repeat any course where the student received a passing grade, including a “D”. Although students may receive financial aid for repeated courses, credit for a course is given only once.
II. Grade Point Average
A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average based on the total number of credits attempted including transfer credits. Total credits attempted include all courses plus transfer credits and credits by exam.
| Total Credits Attempted Including Transfer Credits |
Minimum Cumulative GPA Required |
| 9-25 |
1.50 |
| 26-40 |
1.75 |
| 41+ |
2.00 |
III. Maximum Time Frame
For federal financial aid eligibility students must complete their program within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the current educational program. This includes all semesters of enrollment even if no aid was received. Once a student attempts more than 150% of the credits that it normally takes to complete his/her program of study, he/she is no longer eligible for financial aid. Exceptions may be made for students who have changed their major.
| Example: |
Length of Program |
Maximum Time Frame |
|
60-credit program |
90 credits attempted |
|
30-credit program |
45 credits attempted |
Appeal Process
Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements have the right to appeal. All appeals must be in writing and must be submitted within 45 days of the date of the notice of denial. Appeal forms should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020.
An appeal should include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances which resulted in the student’s inability to meet the requirements along with third party documentation to support the appeal. Information about the student’s plan to make up any deficiencies should also be included.
Note: State grant eligibility is based on standards set by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Institutional appeals do not cover State grants. Loss of State grant eligibility may be appealed directly to PHEAA in cases of illness or death in the family.
Evaluation
An evaluation of academic progress will be done after the end of the spring semester or when students reapply for financial aid. Students who do not meet the requirements will be notified within ten days of the completion of the evaluation.
Note: An evaluation will be done at the halfway point of the program for students enrolled in one-year programs.
Appeal Process
Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements have the right to appeal. All appeals must be in writing and must be submitted within 45 days of the date of the notice of denial. Appeal forms should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020.
An appeal should include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances which resulted in the student’s inability to meet the requirements along with third party documentation to support the appeal. Information about the student’s plan to make up any deficiencies should also be included.
Note: State grant eligibility is based on standards set by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Institutional appeals do not cover State grants. Loss of State grant eligibility may be appealed directly to PHEAA in cases of illness or death in the family.
Evaluation
An evaluation of academic progress will be done after the end of the Spring semester or when students reapply for financial aid. Students who do not meet the requirements will be notified within ten days of the completion of the evaluation.
Note: An evaluation will be done at the halfway point of the program for students enrolled in one-year programs.
PHEAA State Grant Academic Progress Policy
A student is required to successfully complete a minimum of 6 credits per semester for each part-time State grant received and a minimum of 12 credits per semester for each full-time State grant received. Credits earned for repeat courses which were previously counted when State grant progress was verified cannot be counted again. Failures to meet the minimum credit requirements means that a student is not eligible for further State grant aid until that student has successfully completed the required number of credits
Example:
- Part-time Grant - minimum of 6 credits required per semester
- Full-time Grant - minimum of 12 credits required per semester
A student is eligible for 4 semesters of full-time grants (or the equivalent) at a two-year institution.
Full-time students progressing at the rate of only 24 credits per year (or the equivalent), while meeting the minimum State grant progress standard, will utilize all of their State grant eligibility before completing their program.
Note: PHEAA (PA State Grant) - Students taking more than 50% of their semester credits on-line may not qualify or may be eligible for a reduced PA state grant award. PHEAA also has a Remedial Course Exception Policy which limits the number of developmental courses considered for State grant eligibility. For further information please check the NCC Web site under Financial Aid / Types of Aid / Grants and Scholarships / Grants / Pennsylvania State Grants. You can also contact PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392 or www.pheaa.org.
Questions should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 610.861.5510.
Federal Financial Aid Recipients Who Withdraw
The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act requires the College to calculate a return of federal student aid funds for students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60 percent attendance point of the semester. Using the Federal formula, the percentage of the semester attended is used to calculate the amount of the student's earned versus unearned federal student aid funds. The number of calendar days spent attending classes is divided by the number of calendar days in the semester. The unearned portion of federal student aid funds will be returned to the appropriate aid program. Funds are returned in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Subsidized Direct Loan
- Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
- Pell Grant Program
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Students receiving financial aid who withdraw from all of their classes may not receive further financial aid disbursements, may lose some or all of the aid that has already been disbursed to their account and are responsible for payment of any balance due after the required return of unearned federal student aid funds. Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing will be subject to the return of federal funds at the end of the semester based on the 50 percent point of the semester.
Notification of Award
Students who have their financial aid applications completed by the priority application deadline will be notified of their eligibility for aid by the tuition due date. They will receive a financial aid offer. Included with the offer are instructions, conditions governing the offers and disbursement information about how and when students will receive financial aid funds.
Financial Aid Information
Financial aid forms and information are available on the web at
https://www.northampton.edu/financialaid. You can call the NCC Financial Aid Office at 610.861.5510 or e-mail us at
financialaid@northampton.edu.