Financial Aid

North Central Texas College administers a variety of programs for students who need assistance in financing their education.

There are four basic financial aid programs available to students:

• grants
• loans
• work-study employment
• Scholarships.

Each program is funded either through federal, state, institutional, or local sources.

Qualifying

Except for most scholarship programs, eligibility for financial assistance at North Central Texas College is based almost exclusively upon demonstrated need. It is understood, however, that this need varies greatly from one individual to another. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the college of the need for financial assistance and to provide the information necessary to establish the individual student’s qualifications for such assistance. Financial Aid is not currently available through federal or state resources for those students who enroll in dual credit, non-credit, or concurrent courses.

The following table is offered as an aid to students in comparing costs of attending North Central Texas College to personal financial resources. Although the prospective student should keep in mind that some figures are estimates, it is hoped that this information will be of assistance in determining relative financial need as it applies to the prospect of applying for financial aid at NCTC.

The costs outlined are based on enrollment for a regular academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) and a class load of 15 hours each semester.

*Out-of-state tuition & fees - $9,000.00
**Room & Board, Transportation based on off-campus figures.

Financial aid is available for most students who have demonstrated need. It is not awarded until after the student has submitted a FAFSA application. Again, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the college of need and to supply information necessary to establish eligibility.

Application & Eligibility

The NCTC Financial Aid Office encourages prospective college students to apply early for financial aid. FAFSA applications are available to complete as early as October 1st of each year. FAFSA applications may be completed online at StudentAid.gov, or applications may be printed, filled out, and mailed directly to FAFSA. The NCTC school code is 003558.

Please note: FAFSA applications are free to all students. Be wary of scams that require payment for the submission of a FAFSA application. FAFSA applications are processed by the U. S. Department of Education. Students are notified by email and/or regular mail as to the status of their financial aid application. Any additional documentation required to complete the financial aid process will be requested by the school’s Financial Aid Office via email or regular mail. Eligibility for financial assistance is established by the data students and parents input on their FAFSA application. All students who are eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid must be admitted to the college as regular degree-seeking students and show proof that they have graduated from an accredited high school or received a GED.

Application Deadlines

Students must apply for financial aid each academic year. Federal application opens October 1st of the prior year through June 30th of the following year. Priority deadlines may be set by each state or college. NCTC Financial Aid priority deadlines are as follows below.

• May 1st - Fall Registration
• October 1st - Spring Registration
• March 1st - Summer Registration

Meeting the Priority Deadline means that NCTC has received a student’s FAFSA application and all required documents prior to the dates listed above. Any FAFSA application submitted after these dates is considered a late application. The average processing time for a FAFSA application is four to six weeks, beginning with the actual online FAFSA submission to the school file completion date. Late or incomplete financial aid applications are accepted and processed past the semester priority deadlines, but students should be prepared to set up a payment plan or pay in full at the time of registration.

Financial Aid Late Awards

Late awards will be processed and disbursed during the appropriate semester for students whose FAFSA applications are incomplete or late. Students whose applications are completed after final exams will receive their disbursements during the next semester and after grades have been reviewed. Financial Aid disbursements are based on student attendance as of the term census date.

Summer Awards

Year-Round Pell allows students to receive up to 150% of a regular Pell grant award over the course of an academic year. This allows students to continue taking summer classes in order to finish their degree faster than normal. Students must have Pell eligibility and not exhausted their lifetime limit. Students who have remaining student loan eligibility are eligible to receive their loans as long as they are enrolled in six college credit hours during the summer term. NCTC considers the summer semester as part of the preceding award year and all summer sessions are considered as one semester for determining enrollment status for student grants and loans.

Financial Aid Distribution

Financial aid is distributed to eligible applicants on a first come first serve basis. Awards may include a combination of federal and state aid depending on the financial needs of the student and the availability of funds.

Award amounts must be accepted by the student before aid can be disbursed. Students accept aid online through the NCTC OneLogin Portal. Financial aid grant and loan awards will be applied towards the amounts owed for tuition, fees, and books. If a balance due remains, students will be responsible for making a payment with the NCTC Business Office before classes begin. Credit balance amounts will be disbursed to students within the first thirty (30) days of class. First-time students who are first-time loan borrowers must wait thirty (30) days for their first loan disbursement. Refunds are disbursed back to the student based on their “Direct Deposit Designation” made through the MyNCTC student portal.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Financial aid recipients are required by law to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the College. Non-compliance results in disqualification for further financial aid assistance. Copies of the minimum standards of progress necessary to maintain eligibility are available from the NCTC Financial Aid Office or Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

Financial Aid Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress towards an NCTC Associate’s Degree or an approved NCTC Certificate Program in order to receive Federal Title IV and/or State Financial Aid.

After each semester the academic records of all students are reviewed to determine if Satisfactory Academic Progress is being maintained. A student’s entire academic record is reviewed including all credits earned at prior institutions even if financial aid was not used to earn these hours. NCTC transfers credit hours that are applicable to any program of study offered. All hours count toward completion rate, even courses earned as a dual credit student, but the GPA does not get transferred. All students, including transfer students, must submit transcripts from all prior colleges and have them evaluated by the end of the first semester of enrollment. Students without degree evaluations may not be eligible to receive aid for the following term. All Title IV funds awarded are affected by this policy. The requirements for these standards are set by Federal regulations (34CFR 668.34).

Good Standing

A financial aid student is in good standing when they have:

• Maintained at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) AND
• Completed 67% of all courses attempted AND
• Complete degree within the 150% time frame (i.e., an associate degree of 60 credit hours must be completed within 90 credit hours; a certificate program of 30 credit hours must be completed within 45 credit hours).

Warning Status

A financial aid student is placed on warning when:

• the student’s cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 OR
• the student completed less than 67% of all courses attempted OR
• the student reaches the maximum time frame for completing their degree or certificate program.

Students on a Warning Status who do not meet the requirements for Good Standing will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Suspension

A financial aid student who does not make satisfactory academic progress for the prior two semesters or has reached the maximum attempted hours allowable without earning a certificate or degree is placed on Financial Aid Suspension and no longer eligible for Federal or State grants or loans.

Probation/Academic Plan/PMAX Plan

Financial aid suspension can be appealed on the Financial Aid Tab in the student’s MyNCTC account. Appeals are evaluated and approved or denied based on the student’s Pace of Academic Progression. If it is determined that the student’s Pace of Academic Progression is attainable within an academic semester the student is placed on Probation.  If not, the student is placed on an Academic Plan or PMAX-Plan. Students on an Academic Plan or PMAX Plan are required to make sufficient academic progress at the end of each payment period in order to maintain eligibility for Financial Aid.

Students can also regain eligibility by paying for classes out-of-pocket and bringing their financial aid progress back into Good Standing. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office once grades are posted to have financial aid reinstated.

Repeated Coursework

The regulatory definition for full-time enrollment status for undergraduate students has been revised to allow a student to retake (one time only per previously passed course), any previously passed course. For this purpose, “passed” means any grade higher than an “F,” regardless of any school or program policy requiring a higher qualitative grade or measure to have been considered to have passed the course. This retaken class may be counted towards a student’s enrollment status, and the student may be awarded Title IV aid for the enrollment status based on the inclusion of the class.

Programs Available

The chart below outlines the major financial aid programs available at North Central Texas College along with eligibility requirements and application procedures. Not all scholarship programs are listed, check with the Scholarship Office for information about other specialized scholarship programs.

Summary of Student Financial Assistance Programs Available at North Central Texas College

For more detailed information about these and other financial assistance programs, call or write:

Office of Financial Aid - North Central Texas College
1525 W. California, Gainesville, TX 76240
(940) 668-4242
(940) 498-6294
finaid@nctc.edu

North Central Texas College Foundation Scholarship Office
1525 W. California, Gainesville, TX 76240
(940) 668-7731, ext 4907
scholarships@nctc.ed