How to Apply

Students wishing to receive Federal student aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Coahoma Community College's Student Information Form (SIF).  The FAFSA and SIF may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office.  The FAFSA may also be completed on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

To receive priority consideration for campus-based Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA must be received by the Department of Education central processing center by March 1, with Coahoma Community College (Code - 002401) designated as a recipient to receive the data.  Applications received after the above date will be considered according to the availability of funds.  Coahoma Community College does not participate in Federal Family Education Loan Programs.

Financial Aid Verification Requirement

Recipients of Title IV funds with missing documents should submit the required information to the Financial Aid Office within sixty days from the date of registration. Recipient's failure to provide required documentation within the specified time frame will be responsible for payment of all charges incurred.

The Financial Aid Office will contact all recipients with missing documents via the mail.  The notification letter will indicate what is required and how to obtain requested information necessary to complete the verification process or resolve conflicting information.

Once the Financial Aid Office receives the requested documentation, if information on the recipient's application warrants correction, the Financial Aid Office will make the necessary corrections.  The recipient can also make corrections on line via the internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Recipients must use their PIN to assess records online or mail corrections to the following address: Federal Student Aid Programs, Post Office Box 7004, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0074.  *Any modifications made due to verified information collected will be mailed to recipients.

All financial assistance is awarded on an annual basis and no award implies automatic renewal.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Coahoma Community College Student Information Form (SIF) must be submitted each academic year.

Once the student’s Institutional Student Aid Report (ISIR) or Student Aid Report (SAR) information with a valid Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is received, the financial aid officers package the student’s aid.  The student’s total financial aid and other resources must not exceed the student’s financial need (cost – the EFC).  Pell Grants are packaged first and cannot be reduced for other aid.  Pell Grants are calculated using the Pell payment schedules that base the award solely on the student’s cost of attendance, EFC, and enrollment status.  Campus-based aid is awarded based on Pell eligibility, EFC, and other resources.  The student’s total aid shall not exceed the student’s financial need (Need = Cost of Attendance minus EFC).

1. The EFC measures the family’s financial strength.  It is used to determine the student’s eligibility for Federal, State, institutional and outside assistance.
2. Financial need is the difference between the EFC and the school’s cost of attendance.

The cost of attendance budget for a student is an estimate of that student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment. 

Awarding Campus Based Aid
(“First Come – First Serve” Basis - availability of funds)

Selecting Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) recipients: 

First selection group – students with the lowest expected family contributions (EFC) who will receive Pell Grants in that award year. 

If the Institution has remaining FSEOG funds after making awards to all Pell Grant recipients with the lowest EFC’s for that award year, the Aid Administrator determines the next selection group.

Second selection group – students with the lowest EFC’s who are not receiving Pell Grants.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The FWS program does not require that priority be given to students who have exceptional financial need.  FWS jobs are made available to the extent of available funds to all eligible students.

The receipt of Federal funds in excess of a student’s eligibility is called an overpayment.  If a student’s error caused the overpayment, the student is responsible for repaying the overpayment.  If the overpayment cannot be eliminated by adjusting later disbursements in the award year, the student cannot receive additional SFA funds until he or she repays the overpayment in full or makes repayment arrangements that are satisfactory to the school.  Unresolved overpayments will be referred to the Department of Education’s Borrower Services- Collections.

An aid administrator may use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis only to alter the data elements used to calculate the EFC.  An aid administrator’s decision regarding adjustments are final and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education.  If you believe that you have special circumstances that should be taken into account, such as a significant change in income from one year to the next or unusual medical or dental expenses, you should contact the office of Student Financial Aid.