KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following is a list of questions often asked by our students applying for financial aid.

What types of Financial Aid are available at Madisonville Community College?

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is one of the most popular types of federal financial aid. For many students a Pell Grant provides the foundation onto which other types of financial aid may be added. You are not required to pay back a Pell Grant after you graduate, and only undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree (four-year college degree) or a professional degree (doctor, dentist, lawyer, etc.) are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.

To apply for a Pell Grant, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a standard application used to apply for financial aid at any school in the United States. You can apply online at FAFSA on the Web or you can complete and mail a paper FAFSA. A paper FAFSA (including instructions) is available from your high school guidance counselor or the Financial Aid office.

When you submit your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education uses a formula developed by Congress to evaluate your eligibility. This standard formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A Student Aid Report (SAR) containing your EFC and other important information will be mailed to your home. Each college you listed on your FAFSA will receive your EFC electronically.

The amount of money you will be eligible for depends on your EFC, Cost of Attendance (COA), and Enrollment Status. You can receive only one Pell Grant during any academic year, and you cannot receive Pell Grant funds at more than one college at a time.

Madisonville Community C ollege will process your financial aid and present you with a Financial Aid Package. Your financial aid package will explain the amount of your Pell Grant and any other financial aid that you are eligible to receive for the current academic year. The Pell Grant will be paid at least once per term (semester) as long as you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need; that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC). An FSEOG doesn't have to be paid back.

The U.S. Department of Education guarantees that each participating school will receive enough money to pay the Federal Pell Grants of its eligible students. There's no guarantee every eligible student will be able to receive an FSEOG; students at Madisonville Community College will be awarded an FSEOG based on the availability of funds.

The amount of a FSEOG award will vary depending on when you apply, your level of need, and other financial resources assisting you in attending college.

Madisonville Community College will process your financial aid and present it to you in a Financial Aid Package. Your financial aid package will explain the amount of FSEOG and other financial aid funding you are eligible to receive for the academic year. The FSEOG will be paid at least once per term (semester) as long as you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet all other FSEOG eligibility requirements.

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

The Federal College Work-Study Program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study whenever possible.

Madisonville Community College will process your Federal College Work-Study eligibility and present it to you in a Financial Aid Package. Your Federal College Work-Study wages will be at least the current federal minimum wage. Your total Federal College Work-Study award depends on when you apply, your level of need, and the FCWS Program funding level for academic year.

Most FCWS jobs are on-campus, but there is a possibility that some FCWS jobs will be located in a private nonprofit organization or public agency, and the work performed would be off-campus and in the public interest.

The amount you earn cannot exceed your total Federal College Work-Study award as calculated in your Financial Aid Package. Madisonville Community College will consider your class schedule and other personal obligations when assigning work hours. FCWS wages are paid two weeks in arrears on the 15th and the 30th of each month. You may participate in FWS as long as you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and meet all other FWS eligibility requirements.

KHEAA Kentucky College Access Program (CAP)

The College Access Program (CAP) provides grants to Kentucky's financially needy undergraduate students to attend eligible programs at Madisonville Community College. CAP Grants are awarded to Kentucky residents enrolled for at least six semester hours (half time). To qualify for a CAP Grant, the total Expected Family Contribution (EFC) toward the student's educational expenses cannot exceed $3,850.

The CAP award amount per semester for students attending Madisonville Community College will offset most of the tuition charges for the semester. To apply, you must complete a FAFSA. The FAFSA can be picked up from your high school counselor offices, the Financial Aid office, or you can apply online using FAFSA on the Web. You must submit your FAFSA prior to March 15 each academic year to be considered for the CAP Grant.

KHEAA Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES)

Governor Paul E. Patton and the 1998 General Assembly provided Kentucky high school students a great opportunity to make their education pay with the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). KEES is administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Students who try to get the most from high school by studying hard and making good grades (C+ and above) can earn scholarships for college or technical school. The better students do in high school, the more they will earn toward their college scholarships.

No application is necessary for the KEES award, but you may need to notify the Financial Aid office if you have earned a KEES award. They will request your KEES funds after the start of each semester.

KHEAA/Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)

Information on the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority/Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFELP) and Direct Loan programs is available on the KHEAA website. Please contact the Financial Aid office for additional FFELP or Direct Loan program information.

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Am I eligible to receive Student Financial Aid?

To be eligible, you must:

In addition:

Note: A valid Student Aid Report (SAR) or a valid Individual Student Information Report (ISIR) and all other Required Backup Documentation must be on record with the college financial aid office on or before the last date you attended an eligible class or the last day of the semester (which ever occurs first).

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What are the 3 easy steps to apply for Financial Assistance at a Madisonville Community College?

  1. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at FAFSA on the Web. The FAFSA has deadlines for federal and state aid.

  2. Review your SAR (Student Aid Report). One to four weeks after you submit your FAFSA, the federal government will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). This will be delivered via e-mail if you submitted your FAFSA online, otherwise it will be mailed to you. The SAR confirms the information reported on your application and lists your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the amount you and your family could contribute toward your education, although this amount may not match the amount you and your family end up contributing. Contact a Financial Aid Administrator if changes need to be made on the SAR.

  3. Set up an appointment to discuss your SAR with a financial aid representative. They will review your SAR and may request additional documentation from you and / or your parents.

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How do I apply for financial aid using the electronic FAFSA and the (DOE) Personal Identification Number (PIN)?

Because your U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Personal Identification Number (PIN) serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, it can speed up the FAFSA application process by weeks. If you have never received a (DOE) PIN or you are unsure if you already have a PIN, please access the PIN web site. Be sure to keep your PIN in a safe place once you receive it; you will be able to use the same PIN in the future to apply electronically for student aid and access your U.S. Department of Education records.

You must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for Federal and State aid programs offered by Madisonville Community College. The FAFSA is available in a paper version that may be picked up from the Financial Aid office and an online version via FAFSA on the Web.

Do not submit more than one application. The FAFSA is also used for most state aid. The information from the FAFSA is automatically submitted to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) for consideration of eligibility for the College Access Grant (CAP) other KHEAA programs.

You must fill out the form accurately using your exact name and Social Security number as reflected on your Social Security card. The information that you supply may be verified by Madisonville Community College, the state government, or by the U.S. Department of Education. You may be asked to provide income tax returns, institution worksheets, and other information. If you can't or don't provide these records to the Financial Aid office, you may not get federal or state student aid. If you get federal or state aid based on incorrect information, you will have to pay it back; you may also have to pay fines and fees. If you purposely give false or misleading information on your FAFSA or other requested forms, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both.

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What records will I need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

If you Determine Dependency Status as an Independent student, you will need to gather the following records and information for you (and your spouse if married) before attempting to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you Determine Dependency Status as a Dependent student, you will need to gather the following records and information for you and your parents (or stepparents, if applicable) before attempting to complete the FAFSA.

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What records or documentation will the Financial Aid office require?

In addition to needing information for completing the FAFSA, you may also be required to complete and/or furnish the following forms or information to the financial aid office.

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How will I get my money?

Madisonville Community College has written procedures which are available to you from the Financial Aid office. After the charges for tuition, fees, and often books are deducted from your awards, all financial aid funds (refund checks) will be mailed to the student at the address he or she provided to the Admissions Office (not the address on the FAFSA).

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What are Educational Tax Credits?

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA-97), passed by the U.S. Congress in August of 1997, provides assistance for students and/or their parents the opportunity for paying or saving for college. The new legislation includes tax credits for college cost and tax-sheltered education savings accounts. This legislation offers you and / or your parents an excellent opportunity to save money or assist in paying for some of the costs in achieving your educational goals.

The following two tax credits are available to persons who pay higher education costs.

The following rules apply to both The Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credits.

The amount of each credit is determined by the amount you pay for qualified tuition and related expenses for students and the amount of your modified adjusted gross income. These education credits are subtracted from your tax but they are nonrefundable. This means if the credits are more than your tax, the excess is not refunded to you. If your filing status is Married Filing Separate, you cannot claim the higher education credits.

The credits are based on qualified tuition and related expenses you pay for you, your spouse, or a dependent you claim on your tax return. In general, qualified tuition and related expenses are tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution. Fees for course-related books, supplies and equipment, and student activity fees are included in qualified tuition and related expenses only if the fees must be paid to Madisonville Community College as a condition of enrollment or attendance. Qualified tuition and related expenses do not include:

If you pay for qualified tuition and related expenses for an academic period that begins in the first three months of the following year, you can use the prepaid amount in figuring your credit.

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What are some important terms I need to know concerning financial aid?

Academic Year

A period of time Madisonville Community College uses to measure a quantity of study. For example, the academic year may consist of a fall, spring semester and summer sessions, during which you complete a minimum of 24 semester hours. The KCTCS academic year begins in July of each year and runs through June of the following year.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

When you apply for federal student aid, the information you report is used in a formula established by the U.S. Congress. The formula determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an amount you and your family could contribute toward your education. If your EFC is below a certain amount, you'll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Citizen/Eligible Noncitizen

You must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:

  • U.S. citizen
  • U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
  • U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

If you're not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) showing one of the following designations in order to be eligible:

  • Refugee
  • Asylum Granted
  • Indefinite Parole
  • Humanitarian Parole
  • Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
  • Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)

If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you aren't eligible for federal student aid. If you're in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa only, or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only, you can't get federal student aid. Also, persons with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible for federal student aid.

Note: Citizens and eligible noncitizens may also receive loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFELP) and William D. Ford Direct Loan (Direct Loan) programs at participating foreign schools. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau are eligible only for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOGs), or Federal Work-Study. These applicants should check with this financial aid office for more information.

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The estimated total cost of attending a Madisonville Community College. For full-time students, COA is generally calculated on an annual basis and it includes direct costs such as tuition and fees and indirect costs such as books, supplies, housing, transportation, and other expenses. Other expenses that might affect COA include loan fees incurred, child or dependent care paid, costs related to a disability, illness, or other special circumstances and other miscellaneous expenses approved by the financial aid administrator within federal guidelines. An adjustment for additional work-related expenses while participating in a Cooperative Education program may be included. Books and supplies will vary. Housing is an expense you may incur, however, Madisonville Community College does not charge you or bill you for housing unless you live on campus. Contact the financial aid administrator if you have unusual expenses that might affect your COA.

Dependent Care

An allowance as determined by Madisonville Community College for students with one or more dependents is based on expenses reasonably incurred for dependent care and the number and age of such dependents.

To include a dependent care allowance in your COA, you must furnish documentation that you have a dependent (i.e. a person who is included in your household size) and that the dependent has care in order for you to attend college. The amount may be determined as an amount per individual dependent. The allowance does not have to reflect actual costs but may be a reasonable projection of the costs expected to be incurred by you for dependent care. To be included, documentation from the caregiver is required.

Default

Failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed to when you signed a promissory note. Default also may result from failure to submit requests for deferment or cancellation on time. The consequences of default are severe.

Eligible Program for Financial Aid

A course of study that leads to a degree, certificate or diploma and meets the U.S. Department of Education's requirements for an eligible program. To get federal financial aid, you must be enrolled in an eligible program.

Financial Aid Package

The total financial aid (federal and nonfederal) offered to you by your college. You will receive an award letter from your college detailing the types and amounts of financial the types of aid you are eligible to receive for the current academic year. Your signature may be required to accept your financial aid package.

General Education Development (GED) Certificate

A certificate students receive if they've passed a specific, approved high school equivalency test. Students who don't have a high school diploma but who have a GED may still qualify for federal student aid. A school that admits students without a high school diploma must make a GED program in the vicinity of the school available to these students and must inform them about the program.

Enrollment Status

The load of coursework you carry during a term (semester). Enrollment status may be either full time or part time and is generally based on the number of credits you are taking. Twelve credits are required for full time status. Financial Aid enrollment status for students pursuing a degree program (AA, AS, AAT, AAS, etc.) or a diploma or certificate is based on credits.

Regular Student

One who is enrolled in an institution to obtain a degree, diploma or certificate. Generally, to receive aid from the programs at Madisonville Community College, you must be a regular student. (See the definition of eligible program.)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, certificate or diploma. You must meet the written standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress of Madisonville Community College. You must have a satisfactory Grade Point Average (GPA) by the end of your first academic year (may be less than two semesters for students not starting in Fall) of study and successfully completed 67% of all credits attempted (including transfer credits or credits earned in high school), maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and not exceed the maximum time frame for a degree. You must continue to maintain satisfactory academic progress for the rest of your course of study to remain eligible for all federal and state student financial aid programs.

Selective Service Registration

If required by law, you must register, or arrange to register, with the Selective Service to receive federal student aid. The requirement to register applies to males who were born on or after January 1, 1960, are at least 18 years old, are citizens or eligible noncitizens, and are not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. (Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau are exempt from registering.)

Student Aid Report (SAR)

The paper SAR is the federal output document printed by the FAFSA processor and mailed to you if you submit a paper FAFSA. An electronic SAR is the output document emailed (no paper SAR will be mailed) to you if you apply electronically or give your email address. The SAR contains the family's financial and other information reported by you on the financial aid application. Your eligibility for aid is indicated by the EFC printed on the front of the SAR. Madisonville Community College participates in the Electronic Data Exchange and other services offered by the U.S. Department of Education and can receive your information via the Internet on an institutional document called an Individual Student Information Report (ISIR). Your SAR or the ISIR and other information furnished by you are used to prepare your financial aid package.

Verification

A procedure whereby the United States Department of Education requires the financial aid officer at Madisonville Community College checks the information you reported in the financial aid application, by requesting a copy of the tax returns filed by you, your spouse, and/or your parent(s). In addition, Madisonville Community College must verify students selected through the Federal Central Processing System, following the procedures established by federal regulations. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will indicate if you have been selected for verification. The FAFSA processor will print an asterisk next to the EFC (on the Student Aid Report (SAR) or the Individual Student Information Report (ISIR)) to identify students who have been selected for verification.

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