Eligibility

Eligibility

Full-Time and Part-Time students: To be eligible for most kinds of financial aid, you must demonstrate financial need and meet all federal, state and institutional eligibility requirements.  Scholarships and some grants may be based on academic merit or documented economic hardship.

Awarding – General awarding is based on an anticipated full-time enrollment at a pending status and if less, awards may be reduced after the registration period each term and prior to disbursement.  Awarded amounts may vary continually as student finalize their schedule and after an initial award notification during the registration period, due to changes in the number of credits registered until the start of the term or changes in late-start term credits. Therefore, it is recommended that students notify the Financial Aid Office of changes in their credit load, especially if registered for less than 12 credits each term.

ATTENTION: All awards, loans included are contingent upon meeting all eligibility criteria which govern the listed awards such as, class attendance, satisfactory academic progress, Federal and state appropriations which are subject to change without notice.

Eligible students may be funded between July 1st – June 30th  (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer terms), based on Federal, NJ State and or CCM Foundation scholarship and grants application terms and conditions (annual filing required).

 

1. You must have and submit proof to CCM Admissions Office earning a –
   • High School diploma (final transcript) or a
   • General Education Development (GED) Certificate or
   • Home Study School equivalency from an authorized US Department of Ed. Accrediting Agency or
   • Not meet any of the above, you must complete the appropriate Ability-To-Benefit (ATB) test for Federal financial aid assistance – ACCUPLACER, receiving passing scores in Arithmetic (>=230), Reading (>=233) and Writing (>=233) or
2. You must be accepted for admission to CCM in a degree seeking or an approved Career Pathway certificate program.  Additionally, student’s enrolled for non-credited courses and/or audited course credits, are not eligible to receive financial aid.  Exception* – Developmental and ESL course work are eligible to receive financial aid up to 30 non-credit hours only, as prescribed by the College.
3. *Eligibility for ESL and Developmental course credits:
   Registered students accepted to a CCM Degree or eligible Certificate Program taking ESL and or Developmental courses may be eligible for Federal and NJ State financial aid assistance for no more than 30 credits. All additional course credits must be required for their CCM degree or eligible certificate program for continued financial aid assistance.  Non-Degree seeking students taking ESL and Developmental courses only are not eligible for aid.
4. You must register for courses required for your CCM Program of study (Degree) to maintain financial aid eligibility (student loans included).  To view your required courses, consult  CCM Program Evaluation or  Student Planner online.

What types of funding assistance are available? 

• All categories may be available: Federal | NJ State | CCM Foundation Scholarship | External Scholarship.
• Unemployment Educational Benefits: Through New Jersey State Workforce Development Partnership Program.
  • Complete once you have received your waiver from the Department of Labor: CCM Unemployment Tuition Waiver Request

Certificate Programs Listing – Eligible for funding assistance

Eligibility

1. Full-time (12 or more crs. per term), Quarter-time (9-11.5 crs. per term), Part-time (6-8.5 crs. per term) and Less Part-time (3-5.5 crs. per term) enrolled degree or approved certificate students may receive financial aid assistance.  The colleges financial aid eligible terms are: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.
2. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
   1. International students please refer here
   2. NJ DREAMers (undocumented students) complete: NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application and refer here for CCM Admissions requirements.
3. Must apply using your “legal” name (name on social security card)
4. You must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by Federal, State and CCM regulations.
5. You must not be in default or owe a refund on a Federal grant or educational loan.
6. Changes in the number of registered credits or if registered for courses NOT applicable toward your current major (CCM degree) will affect the amount you were awarded, as you will be responsible for those courses out-of-pocket.

Changes to Your Family’s Financial Situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

If your or your family’s household financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the school you plan to attend to discuss how your current financial situation has changed.

Additionally, if you have already completed your FAFSA for the coming school year, you may submit a request for financial aid Professional Judgement (download form) with supporting documentation to our office for review.  Note that our Financial Aid Office decision is final and cannot be appealed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Visit StudentAid.gov/coronavirus for more information.

 

Claimed an early withdrawal from your retirement plan account due to an economic hardship?

Students “If you and/or your parents or spouse claimed an early withdrawal from an eligible retirement account on the 2020 U.S Federal Income Tax return, you may be eligible for a re-evaluation of your state grant eligibility for the academic year 2022-2023.”

Eligibility Requirements –

Your early withdrawal must have been taken due to an economic hardship and IRS form 5329-Additional taxes on qualified plans must have been filed with the 2020 tax returns, with codes 1-3 or 5-12 listed.

• Upload all statements and documents listed to NJ State Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA):

• 1.  Copy of all pages of your parent(s) 2020 Federal Income Tax Transcript, including IRS Form 5329.
  2.  Copy of all pages of your and/or your spouse’s 2020 Federal Income Tax Transcript, including IRS Form 5329.
  3.  A signed statement requesting a review of the applicant’s file in response to this letter, with the applicant’s full name, date of birth and NJFAMS ID.

HESAA’s  secure online upload:
https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/GrantsUploadDocuments.aspx.

Other Helpful Links –

• • • 1. 1. 1. FAFSA4caster.
               • CCM- Estimated family contribution (EFC) Federal Pell Grant eligibility table , based on term credits
            2. NJ Quick Calculator  (State TAG Grant)
               • Estimated NJEI Index TAG eligibility Table
               • Estimated CCM- CCOG Award Table
            3. College Cost/Investment Calculators (State HESAA)
            4. CCM- Net Price Calculator (federal aid) or try

Maintaining Eligibility:

Satisfactory Academic Progress – SAP (.pdf) in your course of study (major).  A description of satisfactory academic progress, cumulative grade point average requirements and more are available in English and Spanish. Failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements may affect future financial aid eligibility.

 

SAP Appeals – Notified students of being at risk of financial aid ineligibility, have a right to appeal for continued financial aid eligibility.  The appeal letter is your opportunity to inform us of reason(s) for current academic standing, such as unusual and or extenuating circumstances (i.e., death in family, serious illness- medical statement, etc.), or withdrawing/stop attending classes, or returning to the college after a leave of absence.  Attention: Currently registered students may delay their submission of the SAP Appeal letter until the end of the term, based on their improved academic progress of 2.0 gpa or greater.  Additionally, withdrawal from class or all classes after the withdrawal period, are treated as failed courses.  Exception- CCM approved medical withdrawal. Contact the Dean of Students or the Registrar’s Office.

Currently registered students may delay their submission of the SAP Appeal Letter (if requested) until the end of the term, after grades are received.  At which time, the Financial Aid Office will automatically re-evaluate their academic progress, informing them of the results by requesting either an SAP Appeal, or notifying them of their continued financial aid eligibility, based on meeting the satisfactory academic progress requirements.

Withdrawal Policy for Financial Aid Recipients-

Message:  Financial aid recipients are advised to consult with a financial aid advisor to determine the impact (if any) their withdrawal from the college, or reduced number of credits may have, if previously awarded aid (loans included).

CCM Return of Federal Financial Aid Policy (Title IV Funds) –

Return of Federal Title IV Funds – This is the colleges federally calculated assessment of federal financial aid (Pell, SEOG, Stafford Loan) recipients who withdraw officially (last date of class attendance) or unofficially(stop-out/never attended) from the college prior to the end of the semester.  Calculated results may result with the term ineligible award amount portion returned to the U.S . Department of Education, as per their terms and conditions.