A. To complete an electronic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) simply go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can complete your FAFSA anytime after January 1. The paper version of the FAFSA is available through MATC or your high school counselor.

 

The FAFSA will determine your eligibility for all Title IV Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Stafford Student Loans, Academic Competitiveness Grant and Federal Work Study). Not all aid is based on need. Consequently, everyone can be eligible for some type of loan.

 

FAFSA Deadlines:
" January 1 is the first day a student can submit a FAFSA application for the following academic year.

 

Even though MATC does not have a priority deadline, you should complete your FAFSA as early as possible after tax returns have been completed for previous year.

A. After you submit your FAFSA, the federal processor performs an initial eligibility check and calculates need levels on the information provided. You will receive confirmation in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor and your information will be forwarded to the MATC Financial Aid Office electronically for additional eligibility checks. The MATC Financial Assistance Office will contact you if further information is needed.

 

A. In order to supply a student's FAFSA information to an institution, the Federal Processor uses a six-digit number called a Title IV Federal Code. The school code for MATC is 005500.

 

A. A PIN is your Personal Identification Number and is needed to sign your FAFSA electronically. You can request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. If you are required to include your parent(s) information on the FAFSA, the parent signing the FAFSA will also need a PIN. You should retain your PIN information. The PIN does not expire and can be used each year when you complete your FAFSA.

 

A. Because every student's situation is different, processing time will vary. A few of the factors that can effect processing time are: if a student is selected for verification, how quickly all requested documents are submitted to our office and when the FAFSA was originally submitted. MATC will start processing applications by the end of March and applications will be processed in the order in which they were received. Generally, once you submit your FAFSA it will take 3 - 5 weeks for it is be processed. Although the Financial Aid Office will try to keep in touch with you, it is your responsibility to make sure all documents are submitted in a timely manner and that your file is both accurate and complete.

 

A. The Federal Government randomly selects applications for verification as they are submitted. It is then the schools responsibility to request copies of taxes and other information to verify that the data reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. Errors must be corrected and sent to the Federal Processor. Eligibility for financial aid can change due to verification.

 

A. EFC is the Expected Family Contribution level determined by the US Department of Education. In short, EFC reflects the family's ability to pay for college during the award year. It is based on the information provided by the student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or confirmed through the verification process. EFC is the sum of the parental contribution (dependent student only) and student contribution. EFC does not reflect what the student or parents may have in "cash on hand" but the amount the family is expected to pay throughout the award year.

 

A. No, only the information used to determine eligibility transfers to another school. The student must go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and make a correction to their processed FAFSA. The correction is adding the Title IV code for the school you are transferring to. Once the correction is made the school added will electronically receive the results of your FAFSA and will determine your eligibility for their institution.

 

A. It is not unusual for students to be enrolled at more than one institution at a time. However, you cannot receive financial aid from both institutions. The school you plan to receive a certificate/degree from should be the school you receive financial aid from. That institution can award aid based on the hours from both schools. If you are enrolled in classes that are not on the MATC campus, you need to provide MATC Financial Aid Office with proof of enrollment of those hours.

 

A. Cost of Attendance (COA) is the allowable expenses a student will incur by attending college. COA can vary widely between certain categories of students within an institution and even between certain institutions. The following items are included in the COA at MATC:

 

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies/Tools
Room and Board
Transportation
Personal/Misc. Expenses
Loan Origination Fees
Daycare

 

Expenses associated with attending college are not tailored to individual expenses but reflect an average paid by MATC students in a particular program.

A. According to federal regulations, Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the allowable Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine need. If the EFC is low enough, a student may be eligible for a Pell Grant and/or other campus-based aid. It is the policy of the MATC Student Financial Assistance Office to award students their maximum eligibility in all available funds categories.

 

A. Students must be enrolled at least half-time, 6 credits. Financial aid can vary depending on enrollment status. At MATC 6 - 8 credits is ½ time, 9 - 11 credits is ¾ time and 12 or more is full-time.

 

A. The Higher Education Act of 1992 clearly states which students will be considered independent of parental support for education costs. Independent students must be able to document at least one of the following criteria:

 

24 years old by Dec. 31 of the award year
Orphan or ward of the court
Veteran of the Armed Forces of the U.S.A.
Enrolled in a graduate or professional program (beyond a bachelor's degree)
Married
Student has legal dependents other than spouse

 

If you do not qualify under these rules, the financial aid administrator or Financial Assistant Committee may consider exceptional circumstances that would allow you to be independent. The unwillingness of a parent to provide support or the choice of a student not to accept support are unacceptable reasons to be considered independent. If you have exceptional circumstances, contact the MATC Financial Aid Office.

A. Aid cannot be disbursed until all required documents have been submitted and you officially enroll in the number of hours for which aid was processed. Generally, funds are disbursed at Final Registration/Fee Payment day, which is just prior to the start of each semester. After the semester starts, funds are available in the MATC office.

 

If a student is receiving Federal Stafford Student Loan funds and is borrowing for the first time, you must be in school 30 days before those funds can be disbursed.

A. Unfortunately, family or personal circumstances can take a turn for the worse during an award year. The federal government allows each school to develop a policy of Professional Judgment to review unforeseen circumstances that limit a student or family's ability to pay for college expenses. For special circumstances to be considered, complete the Professional Judgement Form