Financial Aid FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Paying for College

Paying for college can be complicated, there are scholarships, loans, grants... how does all of that work? Below is a collection of questions that we hear from other students. Hopefully you can find the answers to your questions here. If not, send us an email or give us a call from our Contact Info box on this page.

General Questions

To be considered for Federal financial aid, you must:

  • Be past the age of compulsory school attendance in Arizona (over 16 years of age) and not concurrently enrolled in high school, an elementary or secondary school program, or taking college credit to earn a high school diploma or GED.
  • Have a high school diploma or GED (effective July 1, 2013).
  • Be a U.S. citizen, national or eligible permanent resident of the United States.
  • Be enrolled or admitted to a degree or certificate program at GCC which is eligible for Federal Aid.
  • Not owe a repayment of a Federal Grant or be in default on a Federal Stafford Loan.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the Maricopa Community College District Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

No, it is free to apply.

  • First, you and your parent (if dependent) need to apply for an FSA ID.
  • Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can submit your FAFSA between October 1 and June 30, but the earlier the better. Financial Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Early applications have a better chance of receiving a maximum award.
  • Glendale Community College information for form:
    •  school code 001076.
    • address 6000 W. Olive Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85302.
  • Apply for Scholarships.

The Department of Education Website has a page dedicated to Avoiding Scams.

FAFSA Application

The Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have an agreement that allows the IRS to transfer your (and your parents' if dependent) tax information into your FAFSA form. You can visit the Department of Education's website for more information.

General eligibility is determined through your complete FAFSA Application, which is processed within 3-5 business days. Once the FAFSA is received by the school, a determination can take a variable amount of time depending on each file.

Yes. If you did not list GCC on your FAFSA, you must add GCC’s school code (001076) and submit it. GCC is unable to view or process eligibility without a valid FAFSA transaction on file. GCC will receive the information within 3-5 business days as long as you are officially admitted to the school.

Student Center & Pending Items

Communications and award notifications are sent to your Student Center and your Maricopa Student Email.

In your Student Center, off to the lower right, you will see a section entitled “Tasks.” This is where you will see any items required to complete your Financial Aid file; these items will keep your file from being awarded.

  • To check the status of a submission, click on the "Tasks" and it will provide a current status (initiated, received, returned, etc).
  • Please ensure all items are completed in a timely manner.
  • Missing or late submissions will hinder the completion of your file.

If you list multiple Maricopa Community Colleges on your FAFSA, each school will list Tasks they will need to complete your file. Many times they will be duplicates because the same documentation is required at each school.

Verification can be completed online through your Tasks section in your Student Center. For detailed assistance, including step-by-step guides, please visit the Financial Aid Verification Support Page.

Tax transcripts can be ordered through the IRS website, by mail or by phone. You will need the tax filer's social security number, date of birth and the address exactly as printed on 1040.

Awarding & Enrollment

If you have funds leftover after all tuition, fees, and any other debts have been paid, monies are sent through the Maricopa Student Refund Program (MSRP). MSRP gives students options regarding receipt of funds.

Aid is not disbursed until after your classes begin. Your tuition, fees, and book advance (if eligible) will remain as a debt until after the Pell Recalculation date.

If you are a first-time loan borrower, your funds are held for 30 days after the start of the first day of school. This is to allow the borrower extra time to consider whether they wish to keep the loan or cancel it before disbursement. Therefore, your debt may remain in your Student Center until then. 

No, you can only receive aid at one school at a time. However, in most instances, it is possible for a Maricopa Community College to fund enrollment for classes at another institution. To determine eligibility, a completed Consortium Agreement form must be submitted to the Home School by their deadline date.

Students are required to make payment arrangements with their Host School. Please contact your Host School's Student Business Services Office regarding options.

This is the date when your financial aid award is calculated, based on your eligible level of enrollment. If you drop classes after the Pell Recalculation date, you may be required to pay back financial aid money.

Level of enrollment refers to your enrollment status based on the number of credits you are registered for.

LEVEL OF ENROLLMENT NUMBER OF CREDITS
Full-time 12 or more
Three-quarter time 9 to 11.99
Half-time 6 to 8.99
Less than half-time 5.99 or less

“Dropping a class” usually means you will receive a Tuition Refund and the class does not show up on your Official/Unofficial Transcripts.

“Withdrawing from a class” doesn’t usually create a refund, but will report on your Transcripts as a class that was attempted but not completed.

If you drop a class(es), withdraw from a class, or are removed from a class roster after your Pell Recalculation date, you may be required to pay back financial aid money. Please contact the Financial Aid Office about your specific situation. You can also find more information here: Financial Aid Withdrawal Policies and Procedures.

A student may repeat a previously passed class once with the second attempt counting towards a student's overall enrollment.

All credits of repeated coursework are included in the Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation and this could affect your eligibility to continue to receive federal assistance.

Other FAQ's

To receive Federal Financial Aid, students must achieve satisfactory progress toward completing their degree. Academic Progress is measured by your Grade Point Average (GPA) and rate of completion. Please refer to the measurements outlined in the Maricopa County Community College District Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

FERPA stands for The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It protects students’ personal and private information from being shared with unauthorized individuals. To learn more, please visit MCCCD’s FERPA website and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) website.

You will receive a notice in your Maricopa Student Email when your Tuition Payment Statement 1098-T is available (if eligible).