Grants, loans, scholarships, and a federal work-study program are available to help eligible students cover the costs of tuition, books, and other expenses.
Students interested in applying for financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), copies of which may be obtained from high school guidance counselors or from the financial aid staff at RCCC. Or you can complete the FAFSA online. The application needs to be completed at least four to six weeks prior to the intended date of enrollment. Non-high school graduates are ineligible to receive federal aid.
You can register for a personal identifying number that allows you to access various U.S. Department of Education Systems. Follow the graphical link below to register for your PIN.
Federal Pell Grants are awarded by the US Department of Education.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are awarded to a limited number of students exhibiting exceptional financial need. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients.
North Carolina Student Incentive Grants are available to legal residents of NC who are accepted for full-time enrollment or who are already enrolled full time and maintaining satisfactory progress. Eligibility is determined by a state agency.
NNorth Carolina Community College Grants are available to legal residents of NC who are enrolled at least half time (six semester hours) and maintaining satisfactory progress.
Loans
NC Student Loans for Health, Science, and Mathematics are appropriated by the NC General Assembly for students seeking careers in health, science, and mathematics disciplines within NC.
Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program (NESLP) provides financial assistance to Associate Degree Nursing students. The NESLP works in conjunction with existing financial aid resources to ensure enrollment and retention, with awards based on financial need.
North Carolina Nurse Scholars Program (NSP) provides scholarships to outstanding high school graduates and other persons seeking to become a registered nurse, to LPNs seeking to become RNs, and to licensed RNs returning to school for a baccalaureate degree. NSP awards are based on academic merit.
Roanoke-Chowan Community College Foundation, Inc. Loan Fund provides short-term, interest-free loans to students who are in good standing with the College and who are facing an immediate financial need. Loans are made to cover tuition or books. Loans, other than a $300 tuition loan, shall not exceed $100.
A number of scholarships are made available through the state, the RCCC Foundation, Inc., various individuals, businesses, and civic and service organizations.
Scholarship guidelines and eligibility requirements can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. Awards are determined annually and are subject to the availability of funds.
The Federal Work-Study program is administered based on the availability of funds and allows students to work part-time at the College in order to meet educational expenses.
Golden L.E.A.F. Foundation Scholarship Educational Assistance assists Hertford and Bertie County residents negatively impacted by the decline in the economy. Eligible students may register in curricular studies or in occupational extension courses.
Targeted Assistance (High Demand/Low Enrollment) Program provides financial assistance for students enrolling in credit or non-credit programs having an enrollment substantially less than the program capacity, but for which there is a high demand for employees in the College's service area.
WIA (Workforce Investment Act), NAFTA/TAA (North America Free Trade Agreement/Trade Adjustment Assistance)or Dislocated Workerare federally funded programs that help cover the costs of tuition, fees, books and/or supplies for students enrolling in certain programs and who, according to the Employment Security Commission/JobLink Guidelines, are economically disadvantaged. Detailed information can be obtained from the local employment security office.
Vocational Rehabilitationassists disabled persons in obtaining training necessary for gainful employment.
Telamon provides financial assistance for migrant and seasonal farm workers.
Child Care Assistance may be provided to single parents and displaced homemakers to help with child care expenses. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Loans provided directly by the College must be repaid within 90 days. Students failing to make repayment in a timely manner will receive written notice from the College. Unpaid student accounts will be referred to the NC Attorney General's Office or the Department of Revenue for collection.
Students having an outstanding debt to RCCC, including charges, fees, fines, defaulted payments or student aid overpayments, will not be allowed to register early, register, graduate, receive a diploma or certificate, or receive or have an academic transcript forwarded until all debts have been cleared.
Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid
As mandated by the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended in 1980), RCCC has established minimum standards of satisfactory progress for students receiving Title IV financial aid.
To receive or to continue to receive aid, students must maintain satisfactory progress according to the College's academic and financial aid standards each semester or lose their aid eligibility.
Satisfactory progress for financial aid is determined by the following criteria.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the College's
general catalog.
Students, by the midpoint of their program, must successfully complete 67 percent of
the credit hours attempted annually (two semesters for degree programs; one
semester for most diploma programs).
Students must complete their program within 150 percent of the program's advertised
length.
Hours attempted for which W grades were earned after the refund period and hours
attempted with F grades will be calculated in measuring satisfactory progress.
Transfer credits from other postsecondary institutions will not be used to determine
academic progress, but will be used to calculate the 150 percent time frame for
program completion.
No Title IV aid will be awarded for AU (audit) grades.
Students in default of any federal, state, or institutional student loan or in arrears of
any grant cannot be awarded federal financial aid until repayment is made or until satisfactory arrangements are made.
Financial aid (Title IV) will be limited to 30 credit hours of developmental courses.
For federal financial aid purposes, full-time students are defined as those students who
are enrolled for 12 or more credit hours each semester; three-quarter time students are those enrolled for 9 to 11 credit hours each semester; half-time students are those enrolled for 6 to 8 credit hours each semester; one-fourth time students are those enrolled for 1 to 5 credit hours.