Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Paying for college can be one of the toughest parts of earning a degree — but it shouldn’t prevent students from achieving their goals! Cuyahoga Community College offers many payment options, including grants, scholarships, student loans and public benefits. Student financial aid may be available for an entire academic year or for part of the year. Students may only use financial aid at ONE institution per semester.
Per federal and state regulations, primary considerations in selecting financial aid recipients are based on financial need; U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizenship status; and the potential to succeed in an academic program at Tri-C. Some types of financial aid are based on criteria other than financial need.
Check out Financial Aid TV, a collection of video clips providing quick answers to common questions.
Financial Aid Workshops and Events
The Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office hosts virtual and in-person workshops throughout the academic year that are geared toward assisting students with completing the FAFSA application, learning about financial aid policies and applying for scholarships opportunities at Tri-C.
Financial Aid Application Procedures
Students applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. Obtain complete information about procedures and the financial aid application process on the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships webpage.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA and all required verification documentation at least eight weeks prior to the priority deadlines listed below:
| Summer Session | May 1 |
| Fall Semester | July 1 |
| Spring Semester | December 1 |
Financial Aid Options
State Grant Program
The State of Ohio invests significant resources in a wide array of programs. Visit the Ohio Higher Ed: University Systems of Ohio website for the following grants and scholarships to see if you may qualify. Awards are based on many factors such as academic merit, areas of study, military status and financial need.
- Choose Ohio First
- Nurse Education Assistance Loan Program
- Ohio College Opportunity Grant
- Ohio Education and Training Voucher Program
- Ohio War Orphans Scholarship
- Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund
- Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program
In order to qualify for participation in these programs, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility in the above-mentioned grant programs. As such, all students must complete a FAFSA to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs.
Ohio College Opportunity Grants
Additionally, students who qualify for the Ohio Education Training Voucher funded by the Foster Care to Success are also eligible for the state grant based on financial need throughout the academic year. Community college students who receive the Pell Grant but may have exhausted all or part of the Pell Grant within an academic year may be eligible to receive the Ohio College Opportunity Grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to enroll in the summer term.
Federal Programs
Pell Grant
Students may be awarded the Pell Grant based on annual income, household size and other factors as determined by the Federal Methodology used to calculate all financial aid eligibility. Pell Grant recipients are eligible to receive awards to complete their first undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Students are limited to 12 full-time semesters (24 equivalent half-time semesters) of Pell Grant eligibility. Students apply for the federal Pell Grant by completing the FAFSA.
Students may be awarded up to $7,395 per academic year for 2023-2024, based on the number of enrolled credits each semester.
Students may also take advantage of Year-Round Pell. Students wishing to take advantage of Year-Round Pell must be enrolled for at least six credits during the summer semester. Students must maintain Pell Lifetime Eligibility. Summer 2023 will be the last summer students will be required to attend at least six credits.
Students CANNOT receive a federal Pell Grant from more than one school at a time.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program provides grants to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need to help meet postsecondary education costs. Students must be eligible for the Pell Grant. FSEOG recipients are eligible to receive awards from this program for the period required to complete their first undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Students apply for FSEOG funds by completing the FAFSA. Awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Students who may be eligible for this program are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible each year to ensure full consideration.
Federal Direct Student Loan Program
Students who apply for loans will be awarded either a subsidized or unsubsidized loan based on financial need. Students must be enrolled in at least six credits and maintain satisfactory academic progress in their course program of study. During the in-school period, all interest is paid by the federal government on subsidized loans. Interest on unsubsidized loans will accrue from the time the loan is disbursed to the student. Loan amounts are based on a student's year in college and dependency status as established by the U.S. Department of Education. Repayment begins six months after the student leaves school or drops below six credits. Students must complete the FAFSA to be considered for the Direct Loan Program.
Parents may also choose to borrow a Parent PLUS Loan for students who are enrolled in at least six credits. Parent PLUS Loan applications are available at any Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office. Loans are awarded based on an approved credit check. Students must complete the FAFSA to apply for the Parent PLUS Loan to ensure they are considered for all types of aid programs.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
This federal program provides funds for part-time student employment, up to 20 hours per week at Tri-C or at a community service agency. Students apply for FWS funds by completing the FAFSA. Awards are contingent on availability of funds and need. Students who may be eligible for this program are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as early as possible each year to ensure full consideration.
Changes to Financial Aid Awards
Students must notify the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office of any other aid they will receive, including remission of fees, tuition assistance and scholarships from other sources. If a student receives institutional or external awards, the financial aid award may be revised.
If a student's financial aid changes, the student will receive an email notification that awards were revised. Every effort will be made to adjust a student's aid prior to the disbursement of funds. In some cases, our office may have to return federal or state funds a student receives that exceed financial need. This could result in the student owing a balance. We reserve the right to review and revise a financial aid award due to the following circumstances:
- Available funding change
- Student's FAFSA information adjustment
- Revisions that affect a student’s eligibility for awards
- Student's enrollment modification
- Changes resulting from the verification process
- Additional sources of financial aid are received by the student
- Correction of errors
Additionally, change in financial aid awards may also be a result of students’ compliance with Financial Aid Policies.
NOTE: A student may request a review of aid eligibility if the family's financial situation changed since filing the FAFSA. Students may meet with a financial aid advisor to discuss changes to their financial situation.