Financial Information

Gulf Coast is one of the best values in education anywhere! That’s because we offer world-class instruction and quality in every aspect of college life, yet we keep tuition affordable.

We believe that expenses should not keep you from meeting your educational goals. That is why we offer scholarships and other financial-aid options to make going to Gulf Coast affordable and convenient.

Tuition and fees are the same at the three college campuses and the comprehensive centers. At Perkinston (the residence hall campus) residence hall students also pay the costs of room rent and meals.

Expenses will vary according to the legal residence of the applying student. For the purpose of determining expenses, students should refer to the section Summary of Expenses listed below. Prospective students should remember that there are a number of nominal miscellaneous fees (listed in the Catalog) that may be charged.

The college refund policy is explained following the section titled Miscellaneous Fees.  The MGCCC Board of Trustees reserves the right to adjust any and all fees as it deems necessary.

Summary of Per Semester Expenses

BASIC CHARGES

*Note: Students enrolled in more than 21 credit hours in a semester will be charged a per-credit hour fee of $155 per credit hour for all credit hours above the 21 hours.

**Note: Some courses require students to purchase their textbooks and/or other instructional materials rather than participate in the Book Service program. Students may contact the campus bookstore prior to registration to determine required purchases.

***Fees for enrollment in Academic, Technical and Career courses will be assessed according to course fee rate.

Fees are non-refundable.

ROOM & BOARD:

Out-of-state residents and international students who are enrolled in 15-21 hours must pay an additional fee of $1,550.00 each semester that is non-refundable ($3,100.00 total tuition). International students will be assessed a one-time application fee of $250.00 and a $100 administrative fee each semester. Out-of-state residents who fall below 15 hours must pay an additional, non-refundable tuition fee of $155.00 per semester hour ($310.00 total tuition fee per semester hour). International students are not permitted to fall below 15 hours during the fall or spring semesters.

Students may refer to “Determining Residency for Tuition Purposes ” under the Admissions section of the Catalog.

Students enrolled in 15-21 hours pay a matriculation fee of $1,550 each semester except during summer session(s). During the summer semester, students enrolled in 12-15 hours pay $1,550.

If a full-time student reduces his or her class-load to less than fifteen (15) hours of classes during the refund period, the student becomes subject to the tuition rate of $155.00 per semester hour.

A residence hall student who falls below twelve (12) hours must move out of the residence hall and continue his/her studies as a commuter student unless his/her remaining in the residence hall is approved by the Vice President.

Student Deferred Fees Payment Schedule

A minimum amount of the total tuition and fees as specified by the Business Services office is due at registration. The balance of the fees may be paid during the semester. The payment dates for each fall semester will be as follows (or the last working day prior to these dates): 1st payment: Registration; 2nd payment: September 30; and 3rd payment: October 31. The payment dates for each spring semester will be as follows (or the last working day prior to these dates): 1st payment: Registration; 2nd payment: February 28; and 3rd payment: March 31. Summer tuition and fees may be paid in two installments.  1st payment: Registration and 2nd payment: The day before 2nd 5 weeks classes begin. A $40 fee will be assessed to each student’s account by the Business Office after the final payment becomes delinquent and the student’s account will be placed on HOLD.

A student who maintains an account balance with the college will not be allowed to register for any future semester or be eligible for an official transcript until his/her account balance is satisfied.

Summary of Expenses of Non-Credit Skill Training Courses

All students enrolled in non-credit skill training courses will need to complete the non-credit registration form, submit the required supporting documents, and pay the registration fee which is due at the time of registration. Students will be entitled to a 100% refund, provided written notification is received by the appropriate campus personnel one week prior to the start of the class.

The MGCCC Board of Trustees reserves the right to adjust any and all fees as necessary.

Explanation of Fees

Tuition — entitles a student to the following:

1. To attend MGCCC Athletic events without charge.
2. To attend lyceum programs.
3. To receive private music lessons and use instruments and practice facilities required in his/her curriculum.
4. To participate in other student activities supported by these fees.

Room and Board — All residence hall students are required to purchase a meal ticket. Students may choose to follow either a 5-day or a 7-day meal plan. 5-Day Meal Plan: Students with a meal ticket electing this plan will be served meals from Sunday dinner through Friday lunch. Students on the 5-day meal plan may utilize the cafeteria services on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday but must pay on a per meal basis. 7-Day Meal Plan: Students electing this plan are entitled to meals from Sunday through Saturday. Residence hall fees are non-refundable.

Registration — helps defray costs of increased security personnel and motor vehicle registration permits. All credit students pay a $100 fee to cover cost of processing registration. This fee is non-refundable.

Book Service — Students will pay a book service fee of $40.00 for each book on Book Service. Workbooks and dated material that cannot be reissued must be purchased separately by students. NOTE: Students enrolled in courses that are included in the Book Service program will be charged the Book Service fee whether or not they choose to use the textbook provided by the college.

Book Service Late Fee — Students who return Book Service texts late must pay a late fee of $5.00 per book. If Book Service texts are returned after late registration of the following semester, the $5.00 late fee will be waived and the student will be required to pay the replacement cost for a new text. Students who do not return books on time or who owe money to the college bookstore for any reason will have an administrative HOLD placed on all records.

Technology Fee — helps defray the cost of replacing and upgrading on-campus technology equipment and services. ($75.00). This fee is non-refundable.

Online Course Fee — Students will be assessed an additional fee of $15 per credit hour for online courses. This fee is non-refundable.

Out-of-State — helps pay instructional, administrative, and other operational expenses of the college. This fee is non-refundable.

Deferred Fee Payment Delinquent Charge — A $40 fee will be assessed to each student’s account each semester after the third payment becomes delinquent and the student’s account will be placed on HOLD.

Miscellaneous Fees

Art Lab Fees — Students enrolled in 3-D Design and Ceramics I, II, III will be required to pay a $50 non-refundable per course lab fee.

Science Lab Fees — Students enrolled in a lab based science course (BIO, CHEM, PHY) will be required to pay a $25 non-refundable per course lab fee.

Medical Liability Insurance — All students who enroll in a health sciences program, continuation education, and/or courses that require clinical experiences must enroll in a medical malpractice insurance plan. A group plan is available through the College. The fee is non-refundable and payable at the time of registration.

Returned Check — A $40.00 fee will be charged by the college for each check returned due to insufficient funds or stop payment.

Transcripts of Credit — Official college transcripts may be ordered online. The cost of ordering an official college transcript is $7.00 with an additional processing fee of $2.90 (for a total cost of $9.90).  The transcript ordering fee will be waived for the initial two official transcripts for all students and alumni (the processing fee will still apply).  Students who carry a balance can not receive an official transcript.

Housing Application Fee — A $50 non-refundable fee must accompany the online housing application. This fee does not apply toward the room cost.

Residence Hall (Damage) — Damage to rooms will be assessed on a case by case basis. $25 will be deducted for each lost room key.

Student ID Replacement Fee – Students are required to keep their college ID’s throughout their attendance at MGCCC. There will be a $10.00 replacement fee for any students requiring additional ID cards.

Paralegal Lab Fee – A non-refundable fee of $40.00.

ATI – Students enrolled in the Nursing program are required to participate in the Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Comprehensive Assessment & Review Program (CARP). Fees for this service are assessed and paid at registration. The total ATI CARP fees are $140.00 - $170.00 per student/semester.  ATI reserves the right to adjust fees for the CARP program annually. More information will be provided by course instructors at the beginning of each semester.

EPA-HVAC Certification — Students enrolled in ACT 2433 and CRM 1615 will be required to pay a non-refundable $35 certification testing fee.

Career-Technical Course Fees — Fees for enrollment in Career-Technical courses will be assessed according to Program of Instruction fee rate and are non-refundable.

Fees will be non-refundable.

Refund Policy

To be eligible for a refund for tuition and refundable fees, a student must officially withdraw within the refund period and request a refund upon completion of the withdrawal procedure. Calculation of the amount of refund will be based on the last date of attendance and the following provisions:

1. Out-of-state fees are non-refundable fees unless a student officially withdraws prior to the first day classes meet in an enrollment period.
2. Adjustments to accounts will be calculated based on total refundable semester charges — not percentage of partial payment.

Tuition and Book Service Fees Refund Policy:

• 100% of refundable fees if official withdrawal and request for refund is received prior to the first day of the term.
• 90% of refundable fees through the second week of classes for full-term (fall and spring) classes. Students may contact the campus Business Office to verify the last date of withdrawal to obtain a 90% refund.
• 90% of refundable fees through the first week of classes for short-term (fall and spring) classes. Students may contact the center or campus Business Office to verify the last date of withdrawal to obtain a 90% refund.
• 0% refund thereafter.
• For the refund policy for summer classes, visit Academic Calendar .

Exceptions to the Above are as Follows:

• Meal costs on the Perkinston Campus are refundable up to the unused balance of cost if applied for during the first three months of the semester.
• Title IV Federal Student Aid — All aid for students who are receiving Title IV Federal Aid are refunded to the appropriate source on a pro-rata basis upon the student’s total withdrawal during the first 60% of the enrollment period.
• Non-Credit Refund Policy — Registrants for Continuing Education classes (including seminars, workshops, and skills classes) will be entitled to a 100% refund, provided written notification is received one week prior to the start of the class. If the class is canceled, a full refund will be given. A registrant may designate a substitute person to attend if notification is received at least 24 hours prior to beginning of the class/program. The College reserves the right to substitute instructors, change class schedules, and cancel programs due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. Any exceptions to this policy must be submitted in writing to the Vice President of Community Campus or designee for approval. Travel to Learn programs are not eligible for refunds unless the college cancels activities/trips.
• Student Medical Withdrawal — MGCCC has adopted a statement addressing the required procedures to accommodate credit students with an unforeseen medical problem. These procedures address the refund of tuition for currently enrolled students who must withdraw from classes due to a medical emergency. Copies of these procedures and required forms can be obtained at the campus Dean of Instructions office.
• Residence hall fees are non-refundable.
• Appeals for any other refund due to extenuating circumstances may be made in writing to the Dean of Instruction.

In all cases, unpaid charges will be deducted during the calculation of refunds.

A number of financial assistance options are available for students from federal, state and local sources. These options include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities. Financial Aid Offices at each MGCCC campus can provide further information about the options.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Programs

MGCCC administers federal, state, institutional and outside financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, work programs, and loans. Some aid programs require that you demonstrate financial need. The basic types of financial aid are:

Grants and Scholarships do not have to be repaid unless you withdraw from school and owe a refund.

Work Study allows you to earn money for your education.

Loans allow you to borrow money for your education and must be repaid with interest.

Federal Student Aid Programs include Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Work-Study. The FAFSA, or (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the primary application for this aid. For further details, see The Guide to Federal Student Aid (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa)

FAFSA School Code-002417

Grant Programs

Federal Pell Grant:

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree and meet Satisfactory Academic Policy Standards (link https://mgccc.edu/enroll/financial-aid/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap/)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):

The FSEOG grant is awarded based on availability of funds to undergraduate students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients and have exceptional financial need.

State Grants

Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG):

This grant is offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 2.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 15 or above. Students may apply after October 1 each year online at Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid (www.msfinancialaid.org).  The application deadline is September 15 each year.  Students must maintain 15 credit hours each semester to be eligible.

Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG):

This grant is offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 3.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 29 or above, or semifinalist/finalist of the National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship competition. Students may apply at Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid (www.msfinancialaid.org) after October 1 each year. The deadline is September 15 each year.  Students must maintain 15 credit hours each semester to be eligible.

Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP):

Grant offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 2.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 20 or above. Students must demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) by March 31 of each year. Students may apply at Mississippi Office of Student Aid (www.msfinancialaid.org) after October 1 each year.

Institutional Scholarships

General Information

A maximum of two Institutional Scholarships may be applied to a student’s account each semester.  Institutional Scholarships are applied after all applicable grant funds have been credited to the student’s account.  In the case of multiple Institutional Scholarships, a student should choose the two scholarships which benefit him/her the most. Refunds of Institutional Scholarships will only be awarded if the student’s account balance reflects zero after all payments are applied.

The amount of funds received from an Institutional scholarship is limited to tuition and/or book rental for commuter students and tuition, book rental, and/or room/board for residential students. Fees including, but not limited to, registration fees, technology fees, on-line class fees, Career-Technical program fees, excessive credit hour fees (any credit hours above 18 semester hours), etc., will not be included in the amount of Institutional scholarship funds awarded. Any fees applied to the account of a student who qualifies for a cash refund of Institutional Scholarships will be deducted from the student’s cash refund prior to receiving the cash refund.

Merit Scholarships

Academic Excellence Scholarships:

The college provides academic scholarship opportunities for full-time, first time to enter college students with qualifying ACT scores.  To be eligible to receive an Academic Scholarship, students must be legal residents of Mississippi, meet all admission requirements and register for classes. There is no application for this scholarship. The appropriate Academic Scholarship will automatically be awarded to the students account after meeting all criteria listed below and registering for 15 credit hours. Hours taken as a dual enrolled/dual credit high school student do not affect scholarship eligibility. The scholarship is renewable for up to four consecutive semesters, including summer.

Criteria

*Must show proof via official high school transcript
**Includes book voucher

Academic Excellence Residential Scholarship

Criteria

**Note:  Room rates range from $1200 – $1300. Board ranges from $900 to $1,050.
*Scholarships above began in the 2018-2019 academic school year.

Guidelines

In order to keep an Academic Excellence Scholarship, students must maintain the required grade point average or higher. Students who drop below the required cumulative GPA requirement and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement will be placed on scholarship probation for one probationary semester to allow the student to regain the required cumulative GPA and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement. If the student does not meet the probationary requirements, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship.

Honors Scholarships:

Students eligible to participate in the Honors College may receive a scholarship. Interested students must complete the Honors Application (PDF) and contact the program sponsor at the campus they plan to attend. Priority deadline is April 1. To be eligible for an Honors Scholarship, a student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester. To remain eligible, students must maintain a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average with no grade lower than a C and must complete 15 or more semester hours. Students must take seven hours of honors credit each semester to include the honors forum.  Information regarding entrance and continued eligibility for the Honors College and Honors Scholarship can be found in the Instructional Programs Section of the Catalog.

Leadership Scholarships:

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Leadership Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship open to students who during their senior year in high school served as Student Body President or Senior Class President.  Interested students must submit the Leadership Scholarship Application (PDF), be first time entering freshmen and legal residents of Mississippi.  To remain eligible for the scholarship, student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average while enrolled in 15 or more hours per semester. Scholarship is renewable for up to four consecutive semesters, including summer. Priority deadline is April 1.

Career-Technical (CTE) Scholarships:

Full-tuition scholarship awarded to Mississippi residents that are full-time, “first-time to enter college” freshmen career/technical students who have a high-school diploma and have completed a two-year secondary career/technical/ program with an overall high school average of B or above.

A half-tuition career/technical scholarship is also available for students with a “C” average in academic courses and an “A” average in career/technical courses.

A student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester. CTE Scholarship recipients must follow the catalog course sequence for the first 30 hours of the approved program. Any deviation from this sequence will need to be approved by the program advisor. To continue to receive a CTE scholarship to remain eligible student must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. Students who do not adhere to the catalog course sequence or students who drop below the 2.5 cumulative GPA requirements and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement will be placed on scholarship probation for one probationary semester to allow the student to re-enter the catalog course sequence or to regain the 2.5 cumulative GPA and/or satisfy the 15 semester hour completion requirement. If the student does not meet the probationary requirements, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship.

For career programs, these scholarships are renewable for the length of the program. For career/technical programs, it is renewable for the length of the program, which may include summer enrollment for programs that require summer attendance as indicated in the college catalog. For two-year programs that do not require summer attendance, the scholarship is renewable for four consecutive fall/spring semesters.

Career and Technical Student Organization Competition Scholarships:

Full-tuition scholarship awarded to Mississippi residents that are full-time, “first-time to enter college” freshmen career/technical students who have a high-school diploma, have completed a two-year secondary career/technical program and have either placed first in a state competition or first, second or third in a national competition sponsored by an MDE recognized student organization.

A student must be enrolled in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester. CTE Scholarship recipients must follow the catalog course sequence for the first 30 hours of the approved program. Any deviation from this sequence will need to be approved by the program advisor. To remain eligible student must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. Students who do not adhere to the catalog course sequence or students who drop below the 2.5 cumulative GPA requirements and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement will be placed on scholarship probation for one probationary semester to allow the student to re-enter the catalog course sequence or to regain the 2.5 cumulative GPA and/or satisfy the 15 semester hour completion requirement. If the student does not meet the probationary requirements, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship.

The Career and Technical Student Organization Competition Scholarship is renewable for the length of the program as prescribed in the college catalog and is applicable to all career technical programs which award a diploma, Associate of Applied Science degree, or Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Education degree.

MDE Nationally Recognized Vocational Student Organizations are:

Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
Future Farmers of America (FFA)
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
SkillsUSA
Technology Student Association (TSA)

High School Equivalency (HSE) Scholarships:

Scholarships for Students with High School Equivalency Test Scores

Students who have taken an High School Equivalency test within the past three years and are first time college students may be eligible for the HSE Scholarship.
Students who earn a 145 to 164 on the GED and a 45-64 on the HiSET may receive a $465 during one semester.
Students who obtain a College Ready score of 165-200 on the GED or College and Career Ready score of 65 – 100 on the HiSET qualify for $930 during on semester.

*Minimum of 15 on four subtests and 4 on Language Arts Writing Test

Mississippi Distinguished Young Women, Miss Mississippi America, and MS Miss Hospitality Scholarships:

A full-tuition scholarship awarded to full-time, “first time entering” freshmen student (hours taken as a dually enrolled high school student do not affect scholarship eligibility). To be eligible, a student must be a Mississippi Distinguished Young Women preliminary winner and/or a Miss Mississippi America preliminary winner and/or a Mississippi Miss Hospitality preliminary winner and enrolled in a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester.

This scholarship is renewable up to two consecutive semesters. To remain eligible, students must maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average and remain enrolled in a minimum of 15 semester hours. Students who drop below the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirements and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement will be placed on scholarship probation for one probationary semester to allow the student to regain the 3.0 cumulative GPA and/or satisfy the 15 semester hour completion requirement. If the student does not meet the probationary requirements, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship. Priority deadline is April 1.

Performance and Service-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded on a student’s individual abilities. Interested students should contact the appropriate departments regarding tryouts. These scholarships include such performance and/or service groups as managers, band, cheerleaders, choir, drama, Mississippi Sound, Perkettes, Reflections, and Resident Assistants.

To be eligible for Performance and Service-Based Scholarships, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester. This scholarship is limited to six total semesters. To remain eligible, students must also maintain a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average. Students who drop below the 2.5 cumulative GPA requirements and/or the 15 semester hour completion requirement will be placed on scholarship probation for one probationary semester to allow the student to regain the 2.5 cumulative GPA and/or satisfy the 15 semester hour completion requirement. If the student does not meet the probationary requirements, the student will no longer be eligible to receive the scholarship. Priority deadline is April 1.

Athletic Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded based on a student’s individual abilities. Athletic Scholarships require students to comply with all MACJC and NJCAA policies. The awarding of athletic scholarships will be in accordance with the MACJC Handbook as approved by the community and junior college presidents.

*Please note that all residents on scholarship on the Perkinston campus are required to take a minimum of 15 hours to live on campus. 9 of those 15 hours may be online classes.

Foundation and Alumni Scholarships

Scholarships made available through gifts from individuals, corporations and organizations. They are awarded to students based on merit and/or need, based on the eligibility criteria established by the donor.

Applications are available from any MGCCC Financial Aid Office or a high school guidance office. The priority deadline to apply for alumni/foundation scholarships is April 1 of each year. For a current listing of Foundation scholarships, please visit the college website https://mgccc.edu/enroll/financial-aid/scholarships/foundation-alumni-scholarships/.

Employee Fee Waiver

Full-time employees/retirees, their spouse, and dependents who are children of full-time employees/retirees are awarded a full-tuition waiver. In cases of children being married or over 21 years of age, it will be necessary for the employee to certify in writing to the Vice President of Administration and/or the Vice President on the campus affected that he or she is contributing at least fifty percent to the support of the child. Recipients of the employee fee waiver are expected to maintain “satisfactory academic progress” as outlined in the financial aid section of the MGCCC catalog. These funds are non-refundable to students.

Senior Citizens Tuition Waiver

Persons above the age of 65 may be admitted on the first day of classes on a space-available basis to any course offered by the College without tuition; however, all fees must be paid by the student (registration, book service, and technology fees, etc.) This does not include private or semi-private music lessons. Those 62-64 are admitted under the same conditions if retired. Regular admission requirements must be met prior to registration.

College Employment Programs

Work-Study Program:

Part-time, on-campus employment is available to eligible students. Students must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility and the college work-study application. Eligibility is based on financial need, other aid awarded and availability of funds. Students are employed part-time and are paid monthly. Students who complete financial aid files by June 1 will be given priority consideration.

Loan Programs

Federal William D. Ford Loan Programs are low interest loans that students and parents of dependent students may obtain from the U.S. Department of Education. They include the Federal Subsidized Direct Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan and the Federal PLUS Direct Loan. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), entrance loan counseling, a Master Promissory Note and accept offered loan award on Web Services.

Title IV Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is required by federal regulations to establish minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) that recipients must make toward completion of a diploma or degree program. These standards encourage successful completion of an educational goal in a timely manner. This policy is separate from the MGCCC Scholastic Progress Standards policy and is monitored by the Directors of Financial Aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress standards apply to the following Title IV federal financial aid programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplement Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Direct Loan Program
• Federal PLUS Program

Students Receiving Federal Financial Aid Must:

1. Maintain a minimum completion rate for all attempted hours and
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA); and
3. Complete a diploma or degree program before they have attempted 90 hours

Hours Earned and Grade Point Average Required for Eligibility

• Academic history is reviewed for all students applying for financial aid, regardless of whether financial aid was received during past enrollment.
• Academic history includes transfer hours, scholastic forgiveness hours, withdrawal hours, incomplete hours, repeated hours and developmental hours.
• Attempted Hours include all MGCCC and transfer hours in which the student has enrolled.
• Earned Hours include all MGCCC and transfer hours completed a grade of A, B, C, D, P, S.
• The formula for calculating the completion rate is: Earned Hours/Attempted Hours.

Maximum Time Frame:

All recipients of federal financial aid have a maximum of 90 attempted hours (1.5 x 60 minimum hours required for most MGCCC programs) to complete a diploma or degree program. Transfer hours are included in the 90 attempted hours. The maximum time frame is adjusted on an individual basis for programs which require more than 60 hours.

Developmental Courses:

Developmental Classes will be treated in the same manner as other college courses attempted.  At the student’s request, a maximum of 15 hours of developmental courses can be removed from the completion rate and maximum time frame determination.

Repeated Courses:

Repeated courses are counted as attempted hours in the completion rate and maximum time frame determination. Students cannot receive financial aid for more than one repetition of a previously passed course. In addition, students cannot receive financial aid for any repetition of a previously passed course due to the student failing other coursework (Example:  Student fails Nursing I and has to repeat the entire semester.  Financial Aid will cover the failed class but not the other classes.)

NOTE: STUDENTS HAVE A LIFETIME PELL GRANT LIMIT OF 12 FULL-TIME SEMESTERS OR THE EQUIVALENT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL TRACK THIS VIA THE NATIONAL STUDENT LOAN DATABASE SYSTEM (NSLDS). THIS IS A FINAL DECISION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CANNOT BE APPEALED TO THE SCHOOL.

Transfer Students:

Official transcripts from all previous colleges attended (regardless of whether or not financial aid was received) must be forwarded to the MGCCC Admissions Office and be evaluated for transfer credit and SAP compliance before eligibility for Federal Financial Aid can be determined. All credit hours attempted (including those for which grades of W, WF, I, and WP) that are received will be included as hours attempted.

Transfer credit will be subject to the same SAP standards as institutional credits, and a SAP status will be assigned to the transfer student as calculated according to this policy. This status will be effective beginning the student’s first term of enrollment at MGCCC.

SAP Review and Notification

Academic progress is reviewed at the end of each term to determine compliance with the grade point average (GPA), completion rate and maximum time frame standards. Students who fail to meet the GPA and completion rate standard for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status. Students who began the semester on “Financial Aid Warning” and still failed to meet the GPA and completion rate standard at the end of the semester will be placed on “Financial Aid Suspension”. Students who exceed the maximum time frame standard for the first time, and subsequent times, will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status.  Attempts to notify all ineligible students via their MGCCC e-mail account will be made; however, MGCCC Web Services will serve as official notification of SAP eligibility.

It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with SAP and to monitor his/her progress each term.

Financial Aid Appeals

Students placed on “Financial Aid Suspension” due to extenuating circumstances may appeal this status by completing the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal  form and submitting supporting documentation and a graduation plan. Each appeal will be considered on its own merit by the Campus Financial Aid Appeals Committee.  See Schedule (link )  for deadlines and notification dates.  Appeals submitted without supporting documentation and a graduation plan will be denied.  Students will be notified of the appeal decision via official college e-mail and Web Services.

Students who have completed the appeal process and have been approved will be placed on “Financial Aid Probation”. Students must complete each probationary term in good standing to avoid being placed back on “Financial Aid Suspension”.

Because students must demonstrate “progress” in the GPA and completion rate, the minimum standards for students on probation are:

• Must follow the approved Academic/Graduation Plan
• Must earn a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the end of the probationary term
• Must not receive any withdrawals, failing, or incomplete grades (W, WP, WF, F, I, IP)

Students who fail to meet the above standards at the end of the “Financial Aid Probation” semester will be placed on “Financial Aid Suspension” for future semesters.

Campus Financial Aid Appeals Committee

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals that are submitted with supporting documentation and a graduation plan by the deadline(s) will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee prior to the next scheduled payment. Students will be notified of outcome by the 15th of the month (1st of the month deadlines) or 1st of the month (15th of the month deadlines) or the next business day. Please see Standards of Academic Progress Appeals Schedule on the Financial Aid page of the college website.  Appeals submitted without supporting documentation will be denied.  The decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final.