Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)

Most financial aid programs require at least half-time attendance (enrolled for 6-11 credits per semester). Some funding requires full-time attendance (12 credits or more). Some limited federal funding is available to students who are enrolled less than half time (fewer than 6 credits) and are also eligible for a Pell Grant. Students enrolled less than half time (fewer than 6 credits) during any semester will not be eligible for a student loan. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine what aid you may be eligible to receive. Financial aid is available to citizens or eligible non-citizens who are matriculated students and are considered to be degree seeking. You must be able to prove that you have completed high school or passed the GED exam to be considered. If in doubt, it is best to apply and find out what you may be eligible to receive. 

A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed and submitted to the federal government as soon after January 1 as possible. You must file the FAFSA via the Federal Student Aid web page. The application will determine your eligibility for federal and state aid. The application does take four to six weeks to process, so complete the application as soon as possible. Remember to list Lehigh Carbon Community College on your FAFSA so that your information is sent to our Office of Financial Aid. The school code for LCCC is 006810. Visit our forms page for more information.  

• May 1 for the upcoming academic year (fall and spring) 
• December 1 for the spring (January) semester only 
• March 1 for the summer session 

Financial aid is offered to cover the costs of tuition, fees, books, and other expenses related to education, such as transportation. If the financial aid applied to your invoice is more than the costs for your tuition and fees, you may be offered bookstore credit to be used in the college bookstore at the beginning of each semester. Any excess funds remaining on your account after the completion of the drop period will be refunded to you for that term. 

“Satisfactory academic progress” refers to a requirement by federal regulation which states that a student must be making progress toward completion of their degree requirements. This progress is measured both in terms of the cumulative grade point average (GPA) and the number of credits completed toward the degree during each period of attendance at the college. Progress requirements are applied to all students who are presently receiving financial aid, regardless of whether they have received aid in prior semesters. 
 
In general, the GPA may not drop below a 2.00 and aid cannot be extended once the student’s attendance exceeds the equivalent of six full-time semesters for a two-year associate degree. Academic progress is greatly impacted by a student’s failure to complete a course or by their withdrawal from the course. You can find more information on the academic progress policy here.  

• Pell Grant: Federal grant awarded on the basis of need. This does not need to be repaid. 
• Pennsylvania State Grant: Grant awarded to Pennsylvania residents on the basis of need and the cost of the institution the student is attending. This does not need to be repaid. 
• Miscellaneous Grant: Funds received from an outside source. These grants will be applied to the student’s account as dictated by the awarding organization. 
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): A federal grant awarded to Pell recipients as funding is available. This does not need to be repaid.  
• Direct Loan Program: Federally funded loans that enable a student to borrow money at a low interest rate to cover educational expenses. 
• Direct Plus Loans: Federal loan that enables a parent to borrow money toward the cost of a child’s education. 
• Work Study: Allows students to work on campus and collect payment for the hours they have worked. Wages are paid directly to the student. 

Financial aid may be reduced or canceled if: 

• You were awarded up to the cost of attendance and are subsequently awarded a state grant. The state grant will be applied to your account, leaving you less to repay on your student loan.  
• You drop a class, but some class enrollment remains during the first three weeks of the semester. The Office of Financial Aid is required by law to reduce your financial aid based on the number of credits in the remaining classes. This means you may owe money to the college. 
• You completed a total withdrawal at any point during the semester. Your aid is prorated based on the amount of time you spent in class. After the financial aid is prorated, you may owe money to the college. 
• Your instructors reported that you stopped attending classes before the official end of the semester. Your aid is prorated to that last date of attendance and your financial aid is adjusted. After the financial aid is adjusted, you may owe money to the college.