YOUR FINANCIAL AID                            

                        BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Carefully review the following important information regarding financial aid at Bergen Community College.  Keep this information with your financial aid award notice and refer to it when you have questions.  If the following information does not resolve your question or concern, feel free to contact our office at 201/447-7148.

• HOW YOUR FINANCIAL NEED WAS DETERMINED: 

The Financial Aid Office used information from your Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) to determine your need.  This information included family size; number in college; adjusted gross income; untaxed income; and certain assets.  If you were determined to be dependent for federal student aid purposes, parent(s) information was also used.

• HOW YOUR AID WAS DETERMINED: 

The College used your FAFSA results; your cost of attendance; your enrollment period; your year-in-school and several other factors to determine the amounts and types of financial aid programs you would be offered.  If you have experienced changes in any of these areas, you should notify our office immediately.

• HOW YOUR COST OF ATTENDANCE WAS DETERMINED: 

The College used information from several sources to determine your individual costs including in-county vs. out-of-county status; NJ residency vs. non-residency; length of enrollment, and housing plans.  If you have experienced changes in any of these areas, you should notify our office immediately.

Please note that your award was determined assuming full-time enrollment.  If that is incorrect, you must notify our office and financial aid may be adjusted.

• HOW YOUR FINANCIAL AID WILL BE DISBURSED: 

Financial aid is first applied to any charges you may owe the College. If there are funds remaining, a check for the difference will be mailed to you shortly after the semester begins.  An exception is Federal Work Study.  In that program, funds are paid directly to you based on the number of hours you have worked.  

Note that you are responsible for any remaining charges after all financial aid is applied to your account.

• FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS YOU MAY HAVE BEEN OFFERED: 

Following is a brief description of some of the major financial aid programs you may have been offered.  Please note that there are generally two kinds of financial assistance; 1) gift-aid, which is money that does not have to be earned or repaid, and 2) self-help, which is money requiring repayment or work. 

Federal Pell Grant

An entitlement program based on financial need and enrollment.  Pell Grants are usually the foundation of federal student aid, to which other federal and non-federal sources may be added.  If you are eligible for a Pell Grant, you will receive the full amount you qualify for. Pell Grant amounts in the most recent year ranged from $400. - $4,050.

Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

A federal grant program based on exceptional financial need.  The College will determine whether or not you receive this grant.  Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants and these grants are usually extremely limited because of funding limitations.

New Jersey Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG)

A grant program based on financial need.  Award amounts are determined by the state of New Jersey.

Federal Work Study

A part-time employment program based on financial need.  Eligible students typically work on-campus and are paid at an hourly rate every two weeks depending on the number of hours worked. After completing appropriate payroll forms, students are assigned to work in one of several College departments.  Do not begin working before you receive an authorization showing your department, your supervisor, your hourly rate of pay and the number of hours you will be working. You must must also be careful not to exceed the earnings limitation shown on your financial aid award notice.

Federal Stafford Loans/PLUS

Loans in this program are made by participating lenders such as Union Bank, Educaid and PNC Bank.  Amounts are primarily determined by your year-in-school and the loan may be either subsidized or non-subsidized depending on the amount of your financial need.  Students must enroll at least half-time to receive this loan.  Parent (PLUS) loans are also available for qualifying students. 

New Jersey Class loans

A supplemental loan program offered by the state of New Jersey.  Borrowers must first complete a FAFSA and be considered for Stafford Loans.

Other possible sources of assistance include the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), the Outstanding Scholar Recruitment Program, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished and Urban Scholars Awards, the unemployed persons tuition waiver program and Veterans Educational Benefits such as the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the National Guard Tuition Waiver program. 

• TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF YOUR AWARD: 

This award assumes sufficient funding by the U.S. Department of Education for the federal student aid programs offered.

This award assumes that you have disclosed to the Financial Aid Office the types and amounts of any assistance you expect to receive from other sources such as private scholarships, vocational rehabilitation or similar sources. 

Your award is based on number of credit hours.  If you have not yet enrolled, your award assumes full-time enrollment.  If you subsequently enroll for fewer hours, you must contact our office and your award may be adjusted.  Also, note that you must enroll in a degree program in order to receive federal student aid. 

This award assumes that you have provided all documentation needed to establish eligibility.  Your award is not finalized until any required verification is complete.

This award assumes that you are meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements as outlined by the Financial Aid Office.

If you withdraw from your classes, you may be required to repay a portion of the aid you receive.

If your award includes a Federal Stafford Loan, you must complete a master promissory note and online entrance loan counseling before your loan can be disbursed.

You must also complete loan exit counseling before you graduate or if you should drop below half-time status.

If you are offered Federal Work Study, you must pick up an authorization form and complete the required payroll forms before beginning your job.

Financial aid is an annual process, you must complete a FAFSA each year.  Scholarships generally require a separate application.

If, after completing a FAFSA, you experience any unusual circumstance that you believe could affect your financial aid eligibility, you should immediately notify our office.  Some examples of unusual circumstances are: separation or divorce; death of a spouse or parent; loss of employment or benefits; or unusual medical expenses.

While you are not required to accept this award, you must contact our office if you are requesting any changes.  Bergen Community College, Financial Aid Office, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ  07652-1595.