Student Financial Information
It is very important that students understand the eligibility requirements to maintain their financial aid. Please review this information if you are a recipient of aid. If you have not applied yet, please go to www.northampton.edu for application information.
Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility
All students must be making satisfactory academic progress towards a degree, certificate or specialized diploma in order to establish or renew eligibility for participation in any of the Federal or State financial aid programs.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) requires institutions to establish academic progress standards which contain qualitative and quantitative measurements of progress. The Act also requires a maximum time frame for completion of a program. The provisions included in Northampton’s academic progress policy are based on Federal requirements:
1. Successful completion of sixty-seven percent (67%) of all attempted credits.
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average* (GPA) based on attempted credits (including transfer credits):
Total Credits Attempted Minimum GPA Required
9 – 25 1.50
26 – 40 1.75
41+ 2.0
3. Maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the educational program.
Complete copies of this policy are available on the web site and are distributed to all financial aid recipients along with their financial aid award letter.
Total Withdrawals
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% attendance point in a 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. The funds are returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Fed Direct Loan, Subsidized Fed Direct Loan, Parent PLUS Fed Direct Loan, Pell Grant, SEOG Grant. Students withdrawing from all classes are responsible for payment of any balance due after the required return of 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% point of the semester. Students who totally withdraw after 60% of the semester is completed will be considered to have earned 100% of their financial aid.
Student Financial Rights & Responsibilities
You have the right to:
1. Know what financial assistance is available;
2. Know the application deadlines for each financial aid program;
3. Know the cost of attending the College and its refund policy;
4. Know the criteria used to select financial aid recipients;
5. Know how the College determines your financial need;
6. Know what resources are used in the calculation of your financial need;
7. Request from the Financial Aid Office an explanation of the various programs in your financial aid package;
8. Know what portion of your financial aid award must be repaid and what portion is grant money;
9. If you have a loan, know what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the length of time you have to repay the loan and when repayment begins;
10. Know how the College determines whether or not you are making satisfactory academic progress and what happens if you are not.
It is your responsibility to:
1. Review and consider all information about the College before you enroll;
2. Complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time;
3. Return all additional documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application;
4. Read and understand all forms you are asked to sign and keep copies of them;
5. Accept responsibility for all agreements you sign;
6. If you have a loan, notify the lender of changes in your name, address, and telephone number;
7. Be aware of and comply with the College’s satisfactory academic progress policy;
8. Use any financial aid cash refunds only for educational purposes;
9. Accept responsibility for payment of tuition, fees and other college charges that are not covered by financial aid by the specified payment due date;
10. Regularly check your MyNCC email account for information from NCC Financial Aid Office;
11. Notify us in writing if you receive any scholarships and awards that do not appear on your award letter;
12. Know the implications that dropping a class or withdrawing from NCC will have on your financial aid
Bursar’s Office – Student Accounts
"Bursar" is a word you may not have come across before, because it’s unique to colleges and universities. The term comes from the Latin word for purse, and that makes sense once you know that the Bursar’s Office is responsible for:
- Tuition Bill and all related charges
- delivery of all student loan funds and student refunds
- meal plans and flex accounts
- 1098-T Tax Document
Whether on our web site or in person in our offices, we are committed to helping you understand the paperwork, policies and procedures involved in paying your bills at Northampton. Visit our website for complete information.
Payment Obligations
Students who do not meet their financial obligation may not be permitted to register for the subsequent semester, receive official or unofficial transcripts or grades, or participate in graduation. Students may also incur additional collection costs and fees. See the student policies section for information about maintaining financial aid eligibility.
BankMobile Disbursements
When it comes to receiving financial aid refunds and other credit balances, you deserve choices! Northampton Community College has partnered with BankMobile Disbursements to deliver any refund money we may have for you. You will select your refund preference using your personal code which will arrive in your Refund Selection Kit.
Look for your Refund Selection Kit. It will arrive in a bright green envelope and contain your Personal Code. Once you have your code, follow these easy steps:
Refund Options:
- ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT: Money is transferred to another account the same business day BankMobile receives funds from your school.
Typically, it takes 1 – 2 business days for the receiving bank to credit the money to your account.
- ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT TO A BANKMOBILE VIBE ACCOUNT: If you open a BankMobile Vibe account (upon identity verification), money is deposited the same business day BankMobile receives funds from your school.
Refunds
Visit http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/how-it-works/ for more information on how refunds are processed at NCC. Be sure to select a refund preference as soon as you receive your refund selection kit in the mail.
Financial aid refunds for the regular session begin at approximately week 6 of the semester for grants and scholarships, and week 8 for student loans. After the first disbursement, refunds continue to be disbursed weekly every Friday. Check the bursar web site for exact dates.
Regular student refunds from overpayments are processed every Friday beginning with the last day to add classes unless requested earlier by the student.
Allow 10 days for a credit balance to be refunded according to your Bank Mobile Refund Preference.
Student Retention & Completion Rates
Information about student retention and completion rates at Northampton is available upon request from the Registrar in the Student Enrollment Center.
Student Placement Rate
Information about the student placement rate for Northampton graduates is available from the Director of Career and Work Life Services located in College Center 348.