Financial Aid Programs
There are four different types of financial aid a student can be eligible for at CCC. However, all federal and state aid requires a student to complete the FAFSA. Click Here
There are four types of aid CCC has to offer. They are:
- Grants: Student aid funds which do not have to be repaid as long as the student's enrollment level does not change.
- Loans: Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest.
- Federal Work Study: A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay your education expenses.
- Scholarships: Student aid funds that are usually merit-based and do not have to be repaid. Link to scholarship page
Within each type of aid there are different programs with different requirements for students.
The Pell Grant assists undergraduate students who need financial help for their education. Applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for the grant.
The Pell Grant is disbursed based on a student’s financial aid enrollment status. A student’s financial aid enrollment status is based on the number of credit hours that a student is registered for as of the Pell Recalculation Date (also referred to the Financial Aid Census Date). For the Fall and Spring terms the financial aid census date is the tenth day of the term. Classes added after that date will not count towards a student’s Pell grant eligibility.
The financial aid census date for the summer term is the third day of the June session.
Effective July 1st, 2012 students are limited to 12 semesters, or their equivalent, of Pell grants. Effective July 1st, 2017 a student may be eligible to receive Pell grant funds for up to 150 percent of the student’s Pell Grant scheduled award for an award year.
The purpose of the FSEOG Program is to provide additional grants to students who are Pell-eligible and who demonstrate exceptional financial need.
The Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG) program provides financial aid to students who are residents of Nebraska, have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree, have high financial need and
who are attending an eligible Nebraska college. NOG is funded through State of Nebraska’s general fund appropriations and lottery funds.
This federal program provides part-time jobs for students demonstrating financial need. Hourly rates must meet or exceed the federal minimum wage. Students must be attending at least half-time and usually work eight to 15 hours a week.
Work-study assignments are typically based on the amount of unmet need, lowest expected family contribution, date of application and suitability of skills for the position. Final assignment to a federal work-study position requires an interview with the campus work-study coordinator and the job supervisor.
The majority of these jobs are performed on campus for the college. Additionally, there are community service jobs that may be located either on- or off-campus. At least one of these positions is part of the America Reads Challenge, a reading tutoring program for children in pre-kindergarten through elementary school. Students are encouraged to consider community service work-study jobs whenever possible.
A Federal Student Loan is money borrowed by students for higher education. Educational Loans will need to be paid back after a student graduates, withdraws from all classes, or goes below half-time enrollment.
To be eligible for federal direct student loans, students must be enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester and have completed their Entrance Counseling (EC) and a Master Promissory Note (MPN). All new and returning students must complete EC and an MPN online at www.studentaid.gov.
Subsidized Federal Direct Loans are based on need, while Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans are not need-based. Your need level is determined by your FAFSA information. You may receive a combination of both loans, but the annual aggregate loan limits listed below cannot be exceeded.
The PLUS loan is available to parents of dependent students to help meet remaining costs of education. Maximum eligibility is total cost of attendance minus financial aid. Parents must have a good credit history to qualify.
The interest rate varies depending on the first disbursement date of the loan. For Direct Plus Loans that first disbursed on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2024 the interest rate is 8.05% fixed.
Payments begin within sixty (60) days from the date of the final disbursement, with a $50 minimum payment per month. The parent borrower may prepay the whole or any part of the loan at any time without penalty OR may defer payments if the student is attending school at least at half time status.
Parents must complete a PLUS application and PLUS Master Promissory Note on studentaid.gov. If a parent is denied the PLUS loan, the student will have their unsubsidized loan offer increased up to an additional $4000.00.