FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

Forms and Applications

Itawamba Community College believes that no qualified student should be denied an education because of financial need. Therefore, through a program of scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment, Itawamba Community College provides a comprehensive plan to assist students who establish a definite need.

If a student is interested in study abroad, he/she may be eligible for financial aid if the Dean of Academic Instruction of Itawamba Community College approves the study abroad credit.

Application…  All applicants for student aid of any type must meet admission standards at Itawamba Community College. All applications and information may be secured from: 

Director of Financial Aid
Itawamba Community College
602 W. Hill Street
Fulton, MS 38843

Forms and Applications can be found at http://www.iccms.edu/forms/

Priority Deadline - The official financial aid award year begins August; therefore, students are encouraged to begin their application process as soon as possible, preferably January, February, or March.  Priority deadline for College Work-Study is April 30.

Federal Programs and Methods of Distribution

http://studentaid.ed.gov

All Federally funded aid requires the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined from the FAFSA.  Cost of attendance is calculated by totaling estimated fees based on whether a student lives on campus, with parents, or off campus.  Unmet need is calculated by subtracting the EFC and aid awarded from the Cost of Attendance.  (Budget-EFC-Aid=Unmet need).

Federal Programs

• Federal Pell Grant - A need based program, 100 percent federally funded. No repayment is required. Federal Pell Grants are awarded based on Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and hours enrolled. This number is computed by the Department of Education. Enrollment is frozen at a designated time during each term. The student's enrollment at that point in time and their EFC will determine their eligibility for Pell Grant. If a student totally withdraws after enrollment is frozen, the amount of the Pell Grant may have to be revised. Students are required to complete over 60% of the semester in order to receive 100% of their Pell and other Federal Student Aid. If a student withdraws prior to the 60% point in the term, their Pell and other Federal Student Aid awards will be pro-rated based on the withdrawal date or last date of attendance. Awards range from $609 - $5350 per year. A Federal Pell Grant Payment schedule can be found on our website at http://www.iccms.edu/paying_for_college.asp.
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) – A need based program, 75% federally funded and 25% institutionally funded. No repayment is required. ICC has a limited amount of funds and these funds are awarded to students with the highest amount of need and the lowest EFC. Pell grant eligible students who live on campus and have no other aid or scholarships are considered first. Students enrolled in a professional health program and who have to attend summer term are also given top priority for summer SEOGs. Finally, students with the lowest EFCs and who have a high unmet need are given next priority. Students should be Pell eligible and have an unmet need in order to qualify. These funds are limited and are awarded to either independent or dependent students. Students do not have to be enrolled full time. Grant amounts average approximately $100 – $4000 per academic year. Approximately 275 students share some $180,000 per year.
• Leveraging Educational Access Program (LEAP) - A need based program, federally and state funded. No repayment is required. Students must be full time, have an unmet need, and be a Mississippi Resident to be considered. Students with the highest need are awarded first. These funds are limited. Approximately 30 students share some $ 18,000 per year. Grant amounts average approximately $300 per semester. Students should contact the ICC Fin Aid Office to apply.
• Federal Work-Study - A need based program. 75% federally funded and 25% institutionally funded. Students are generally prioritized on a first come first serve basis. Priority deadline is April 30. Students who were previously awarded work study and requested by faculty and staff will also be given priority. Students must complete the FAFSA and the ICC financial aid application indicating that they want to be considered for FWS. The student application process must be complete, including verification, before an award is made. ICC has a limited amount of Federal funds. Students with an unmet need are generally awarded Federal work study. A limited amount of institutional work study funds are available to students without unmet need. Students do not have to be full-time and may be independent or dependent. Award amounts average approximately $600 -$700 per semester and $1500-$1800 for summer term. Approximately 250 students share some $250,000 per year.
• Academic Competitiveness Grant - An Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is for first-year undergraduate students (eligible to receive up to $750) and second-year undergraduate students (eligible to receive up to $1,300).  ACG is 100% federally funded. 
  
  Students indicate on their FAFSA application that they completed a rigorous course of study during high school.   ICC will attempt to evaluate the high school transcripts of all first-time students to determine if the student is eligible.  See http://studentaid.ed.gov and click on Federal Student Aid Programs for the latest information.
  
  The ACG eligibility criteria are listed below:
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
  • Be Federal Pell Grant eligible;
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program;
  • Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of your program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution, or enrolled in a certificate program of studies of at least one year (for first year eligibility) or two years (for second year eligibility);
  • Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second year student);
  • Not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program (if you are a first-year student); and
  • Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year (if you are a second-year student).

• Teach Grant - (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. The Teach Grant is 100% federally funded. In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students (see below for more information on high-need fields and schools serving low-income students). As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed.
  
  To receive a TEACH Grant you must meet the following criteria:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need.
  •  Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  •  Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program.
  •  Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or
    plan to complete such coursework. Such coursework may include subject
    area courses (e.g., math courses for a student who intends to be a math
    teacher).
  • Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25).
  •  Make an appointment to meet with the Financial Aid Director to determine
    eligibility and complete the TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling.
  •  Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (see below for more information on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve).

  High-Need Field -High-need fields are the specific areas identified below:

  •  Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
  •  Foreign Language
  •  Mathematics
  •  Reading Specialist
  •  Biology, Physics, and Chemistry
  •  Special Education
See http://studentaid.ed.gov/  and click on Federal Student Aid Programs for the latest information.
• Federal Stafford Loan Program - Students must complete the FAFSA , the ICC financial aid application and entrance counseling before being awarded a student loan. Once a student sends in all needed documentation, the student is awarded. Students indicate on the ICC application the loan amount and the lender they prefer.
  
  Students must have an unmet need to qualify for subsidized loans (Government pays the interest while you are in school). A freshman student can borrow up to $3500 subsidized loan per year. A sophomore student can borrow up to $4500 subsidized loan per year. Student loans must be repaid.
  
  Unsubsidized loans (interest starts accruing from the time you take out the loan) are also available. Dependent students can borrow up to $2000 for the year. Independent students can borrow up to $6000 per year. Student loans must be repaid.
  
  Reminder: Students must be enrolled in at least six hours to receive loan funds.
• Parent Plus Loan Program – Parents must apply for the Parent Plus Loan with the lender of their choice. Have the lender contact ICC Financial Aid upon approval of the Plus Loan. ICC Financial Aid will certify the loans. Parents can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid and resources. Plus loans must be repaid.
  
  Reminder: Students must be enrolled in at least six hours to receive loan funds

 

State Financial Aid Programs

http://www.mississippi.edu

For more information and applications for the following State Programs, contact Mississippi Student Financial Aid, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211-6453, call 1-800-327-2980, or visit Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning website http://www.mississippi.edu 

The Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP) provides full tuition to all qualified, college-bound Mississippi residents who apply and enroll full-time at any state public and nonprofit two-year or four-year eligible college or university to pursue a first baccalaureate or first associate undergraduate degree.

The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) offers up to $2,500 per year to Mississippi residents who are first-time freshmen attending state approved public and nonprofit two-year or four-year eligible colleges and universities.

The Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) offers up to $500 per year to Mississippi residents attending state-approved public and nonprofit two-year colleges.

Other State Aid - http://www.mississippi.edu

County Guaranteed Tuition Programs

The County Tuition Grant programs are coordinated with Federal and State aid and scholarship funds to assure that your tuition will be paid for four consecutive regular academic semesters.  Your participation in this program is contingent upon your compliance with a few requirements and the availability of program funds.

Click on the following links for more information and applications:

• Chickasaw County Residents
• Itawamba County Residents
• Lee County Residents
• Monroe County Residents
• Pontotoc County Residents

Veterans Benefits and Mississippi National Guard

Information on veteran benefits and Mississippi National Guard can be found on our website at http://www.iccms.edu/pay_for_college/veterans_benefits.asp or by calling 1-888-GIBILL1.

Payment Schedule

The financial aid office will collect all financial aid awards (grants, loans, Work-Study, institutional Scholarships and all other scholarships) and credit all awards to the Business Office account. The financial aid office will authorize the Business Office to pay the appropriate awards. Check the ICC website http://www.iccms.edu/paying_for_college.asp for dates.

Federal Pell Grant, SEOG, ACG and Teach Grant will be paid accordingly. Enrollment status will be checked in mid September for the fall and in early February for the spring. Dropping classes before this date may reduce the amount of the student's grant. These amounts will be disbursed to the student's Business Office account. School charges will be withheld. Any refund will be mailed in late October for fall awards and in late March for spring awards.

Loans will be disbursed to the Business Office account for the student. School charges will be withheld and any remaining funds will be mailed. Fall loans will be disbursed on Fridays, beginning in late September. Spring loans will be disbursed on Fridays, beginning in mid February. Reminder: Students must be enrolled in at least six hours to receive loan funds. Spring and summer only loans must be disbursed in two equal installments approximately 30 days apart. School charges will be withheld from loan funds and any remaining refund will be mailed.

State Aid, County Grants, Institutional Scholarships and other Scholarships will be paid accordingly. Enrollment status will be checked in mid September for fall and in early February for spring. Dropping classes before this date may reduce the amount of the student’s financial aid package. These amounts will be disbursed to the student’s Business Office account. School charges will be withheld and any remaining refund will be mailed. Fall refunds will be mailed approximately two days after enrollment confirmation. Spring refunds will be mailed approximately one week after enrollment confirmation.

Federal and Institutional Work-Study students are paid once a month for hours worked. Please see the ICC website at http://www.iccms.edu/paying_for_college.asp for a pay schedule.