Applying for Aid
All students applying for financial aid are required to complete a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form,
which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
after January 1. Or, students may call (800) 433-3243 to obtain an application.
The Federal School Code for Community College of Philadelphia is 003249.
You may use the Office of Financial Aid Checklist for guidance to complete your application.
The FAFSA application is required to apply for all Federal Programs, the
Federal Pell Grant, the PHEAA State Grant, the Federal Stafford Loan and
PLUS Loan and for all aid awarded by the Financial Aid office, including
funds from federal sources, the College and private sources.
Since the application process for all of the above grants and loans takes approximately four to eight weeks by mail and two weeks electronically, students are advised to file early. The priority filing deadline is April 15. Filing early and filing online are two options that may reduce the processing time. Deadlines for other grants are listed on the College’s Frequently Asked Financial Aid Questions (FAQ) page. Students needing assistance completing the financial aid application should call the Office of Financial Aid at 215-751-8270 or 215-751-8271 (general announcement line). All students are encouraged to file online and file early.
STUDENT AID REPORT (SAR)
Once you have completed the FAFSA application, you will receive a Student
Aid Report (SAR). However, if
you file online you will not receive this report. However, you
can download your SAR by visiting the FAFSA website. You will also receive
a confidential Postcard containing your Federal Personal Identification
Number or PIN. If you do not receive your PIN within 4-6 weeks you may
request your pin by visiting the federal PIN website at www.pin.ed.gov.
Your PIN may be used to access your FAFSA information online, make changes
or corrections or to supply your signature electronically.
VERIFICATION
Review your Student Aid Report thoroughly and respond to any comments
on the report. For example, if you have been selected for verification
you must submit a copy of you and possibly your parent's tax information
along with a verification worksheet. Click
here to open the worksheets for dependent students. Click
here to open the worksheets for independent students. You
must complete, print and sign the worksheet before submitting it to the
Financial Aid office. Verification is the process that the Department
of Education (DOE) uses to make sure that the information reported on
the FAFSA is accurate. Some FAFSA applications are selected because of
inconsistent information, and others are chosen randomly. For applications
that are selected, the Financial Aid office requests copies of the student's
(and if a dependent student, your parent's) federal income tax returns,
W2s, as well as a verification worksheet. The information provided by
you on the FAFSA is compared to the tax information submitted to the IRS.
If necessary, corrections are made, and the student is notified of any
corrections made and the effect the changes will have on his or her aid
eligibility. Corrections are then sent back to the DOE for review. If
the DOE accepts the corrections, Community College of Philadelphia is
notified, and the verification process can proceed.
SELECTIVE SERVICE
Male applicants between the ages of 18-26 are required to register for
selective service in order to qualify for financial aid. If your SAR indicates
that you must register for selective service you may do so on line at
www.sss.gov. You may
also register at your local post office. High school students may do so
in the guidance counselor's office, or you may call selective service
directly at (847) 688-6888. This process takes approximately two to four
weeks and you will receive written notification of your registration.
You must submit this information to your financial aid administrator.
The financial aid process can be complicated. There are some ways to make it easier on both you (independent status) and your parents (dependent status). The key to a successful financial aid experience is organization:
- Be thorough. Read all instructions carefully. Never leave required questions on your FAFSA blank. This may cause a delay in processing.
- Obtain financial aid forms early and apply early.
- Keep copies of all documentation that you sign, including tax forms.
- Know the language; keep a list of the programs for which you have applied and become familiar with their terms, conditions and requirements.
- Read and respond. Read all and any information you receive from the Financial Aid office or your lender. If you do not understand, ask questions. If additional information is required from you, respond promptly.
- Always ask for help. If you have questions, visit Financial Aid's FAQ page or contact your financial aid administrator in the Bonnell Building, BG-3, on the Main Campus.