Financial Aid Process

Please read the following material thoroughly. If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid Office. 

The Financial Aid Process
Students applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority consideration for SEOG and LEAP grants will be given to applications received by April 15. In order to ensure that you receive funds prior to the start of the term, make sure that all requested documents and/or information has been received by the Financial Aid Office a minimum of four weeks prior to the start date of your term. An application must be completed for each academic year attended. New applications become available each January. Applications can be submitted online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It is important to follow the instructions issued with the application. The Cochise College Scholarship Application and the Fry Grant Application become available in spring each year. The application deadlines will be prominently displayed in the Financial Aid Office (usually mid-April to early May.) Award recipients are selected by the Foundation Scholarship Committee and will be notified by the Foundation Office. Notices of other scholarships are posted on the scholarship boards and in the Financial Aid Office as they are received. The applications are generally available in the Financial Aid Office or online.

High School Diploma/GED
Students applying for federal financial aid should have earned their high school diploma or GED certificate. If not, an ability-to-benefit test will be administered by the Cochise College Testing Center. A passing score must be obtained to qualify for aid. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress
Once you have received federal or state funding for a term, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to qualify for additional funding. The “Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements” brochure is available in the Financial Aid Office. 

Complete Financial Aid File
Your financial aid file is not complete until all documents requested by the Financial Aid Office are received. When necessary, additional documents may be requested anytime during the aid year.

Verification
The Department of Education selects 30 percent of all students who complete the FAFSA for verification. If you are selected for verification, you will be asked for the following documents: a signed copy of your federal income tax return, a copy of your parents’ federal tax return if you are a dependent student, and a completed verification worksheet. Documentation of untaxed income may also be required. A financial aid technician will verify the accuracy of your information. If corrections are required, the technician will submit them electronically. Expect processing to be delayed approximately three weeks.

Student Budgets
Student budgets are based on the program of study, expected enrollment, and living arrangements. Average costs for all students are used. The following costs are included in each standard budget: tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board (students living with parents have board costs only), transportation, personal allowance, and loan fees. Some programs of study, such as nursing and aviation maintenance technology, may also have an additional allowance for lab fees, tools, flight time, etc. The academic year budget below is an example for full-time students living off campus and registered in standard degree or certification programs. Budgets may vary from year to year. 

Tuition and fees: $ 1,282
Books and supplies: $1,000
Room and board: $5,900
Transportation: $1,876
Personal expense: $1,350
Total: $11,408 

A copy of your assigned budget may be obtained in the Financial Aid Office.

Award Letters
Award letters are displayed online. You will need your Cochise College Student ID Number to access your financial aid information through your Cochise College CC account. We do not routinely mail award letters. Instructions for accessing your personal information were issued to you by the Admissions Office. Awards are made when your application data is correct and complete.

Loan Procedures
You will be offered a student loan if you indicated on the FAFSA that you are interested in receiving a loan. If you want to accept the offered student loan you must download and complete the loan acceptance form (found under Financial Aid Forms) and return it to the Financial Aid Office. You must also select your lender. Your loan application will not be certified until the Financial Aid Office has received this form. If you are a first-time borrower at Cochise College, you must also complete loan entrance counseling prior to certification. Loan entrance counseling is found online in the Financial Aid section. If you do not have Internet access, contact the Financial Aid Office, and we will assist you with the loan entrance requirement.Your certified loan application is sent to Sallie Mae. Your application will then be submitted for guarantee. Once the guarantee has been received, the promissory note will be sent to you. You must complete your portion of the application and return the note to Sallie Mae. Your loan funds will be sent to the college electronically, based on the disbursement date indicated by the college. Once the funds are received, the college has three days to get the funds credited to your account. If you have not registered for your classes, the funds will be put on hold and will not be released by Sallie Mae until we notify them of your enrollment in classes. Once the funds have been credited to your account, the college will deduct any charges owed and then either deposit the balance in your bank account or mail a check to you.

Financial Aid Refunds
If the financial aid awarded to you is greater than the institutional charges, you will receive the difference either by direct deposit or mail. If the financial aid awarded is less than the monies owed by you, you must pay the difference by the last date to pay, which is published in the class schedule.