All students should apply for financial aid whether they think they will qualify or not. Completing your FAFSA is the gateway to unlocking all of your potential financial aid options like grants, scholarships, work-study, and more.
Types of Aid
There are a variety of financial aid options. Select one from below to view more information:
Grants
Grants
At Northampton Community College, we believe that higher education should be affordable and accessible to all. For students in the Northampton county area and surrounding counties, there are many financial grants and scholarship opportunities available. Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of common grants we accept along with helpful links to guide your research.
This grant is awarded to students with exceptional financial need based on your FAFSA submission. This grant is applied for by completing the FAFSA and submitting it to Northampton Community College.
The FSEOG is a form of aid for students with exceptional financial need. The amount of the SEOG award will depend on a student's financial need and enrollment status. Priority for SEOG is given to students who apply by the May 1 NCC priority application deadline.
The Pennsylvania State Grant is awarded by the state government to students with exceptional financial need. Students must be at least half-time (6 credits), taking classes in their program of study, and lived in PA for at least 5 years to potentially qualify.
Scholarships
Scholarships
NCC has one of the largest scholarship programs in Pennsylvania! Each year, Northampton Community College is proud to award over 600 scholarships to our students. We offer funding based on a wide range of qualifying factors such as academic achievement, financial need, program of study and more. Students who are permanent residents of Northampton and Monroe counties are given first preference, and you must be an NCC student to apply. The earlier you enroll at NCC and apply for a scholarship, the better your chances of receiving one. Follow the steps below to get started!
You must be admitted as a student to Northampton to be considered for a scholarship. Our online application is fast, easy and free so apply now if you haven’t!
To be considered for a scholarship, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed. The FAFSA is separate from NCC's scholarship application and has different deadlines for each semester.
Applications for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 award periods are now open. Submit your scholarship application as soon as you are enrolled in your courses.
In addition to our other scholarship offerings, you may also be eligible for private scholarships or grants from an outside organization or agency. Some sources to explore are employers, unions, professional organizations, and community and special interest groups.
You'll need to check into these opportunities on your own, but we've assembled a list of free scholarship research resources on the web to get you started.
Work-Study
Work-Study
Today’s workforce is fiercely competitive. We know that pursuing a higher education is more important than ever before, and yet, it is often not enough to land graduates a job. Work experience is an essential component in a student’s journey to prepare them for the workforce. The Federal Work-Study Program offers the unique opportunity to work on or off campus while students gain professional experience in a range of fields.
Higher education is an investment. We encourage you to take advantage of available opportunities to plan a career path, build your professional network and resume, and to learn valuable skills for the next phase of your academic journey.
Even if you think you are not eligible for financial aid, we encourage you to fill out your FAFSA. If you are not eligible for the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program, there is an abundance of employment opportunities available on Handshake!
Accessing Work-Study at NCC
Review your financial aid offer on Workday Student (Click “Finances,” then “View Financial Aid”) to see if you have Federal Work-Study available on your initial financial aid award. Email [email protected] if you do not see work study on your award and would like to participate in the program.
Accept your Federal Work-Study Award on Workday Student (Click "Finances," then "Accept/Decline Awards."
Review and apply for work-study jobs on Workday Student (click "Career," then "Find Student Jobs"). Then finalize your work-study job.
How it works
Award eligibility is based on financial need. Full award amounts are not guaranteed - students may earn up to a maximum of their award amount. Wages are at least $7.25 (current minimum) but vary across positions. In addition to the duties and responsibilities, wages are based on factors such as the student’s prior work experience, skill set, and level of education.
Academic responsibility comes first! Work hours are scheduled around class times. Students may obtain more than one work-study position but may not earn more than the total award amount. The award would be divided between positions. Earnings are paid in bi-weekly paychecks through Bankmobile. Funds are not applied directly to the student’s tuition bill.
Loans
Loans
The process of applying for financial loans can seem like a confusing and difficult process for students and their parents. At Northampton County College, we make managing your loans simple by matching you and your parents with funding, federal and private loans, scholarships, grants and other opportunities to ease the finances of college tuition.
Federal Direct loans are loans you may receive to pay for educational expenses. You must be enrolled in at least six credits per semester to qualify for a Direct loan. There are two types of Direct loans to NCC students:
Subsidized Direct Loans are based on your demonstrated financial need. The federal government will pay the interest on a subsidized loan while you are in school and during any grace periods.
Unsubsidized Direct Loans are available for students who don't demonstrate financial need. You are responsible for all interest that accrues on the loan. You may choose to make interest payments while in school or defer interest payments, which will then be added to the principal of the loan.
Students who would like to be considered for a Direct loan will need to complete and submit a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN may be completed online (studentaid.gov). Students who are borrowing for the first time while at NCC are also required to complete online entrance counseling before a Direct loan can be granted.
Federal Direct PLUS loans are loans offered to the parents of dependent undergraduate students to pay for student educational expenses. Parent loans protect your guardians from jeopardizing their credit scores, but still allow them to give you the financial help you need. Because most students often don't have established credit, parent loans serve as a great backup route.
As with student loans, a student must be enrolled in at least six credits per semester for his/her parent to apply for a Direct PLUS loan. However, unlike a student loan, a Direct PLUS loan is approved based on the parent's credit worthiness. If you are planning to apply for a Direct PLUS loan, please read the Northampton Community College's Lending Code of Conduct (PDF).
Private Student Loans
A private student loan is an education loan from a bank and is usually an option of last resort for most Northampton area community college students. You are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (studentaid.gov) to apply for federal, state and institutional grant aid first.
The next step would be to apply for a student Federal Direct Loan. If you are still unable to cover your educational expenses, then a private student loan may be a viable option for you. Several local banks offer private loans for Northampton Community College students, too. Learn more about NCC's loaning process by talking with a Financial Aid officer today.
Applying for FAFSA
You will need to gather some important paperwork (like your federal tax information, other income information, social security number and driver license number) in order to complete the FAFSA application online at studentaid.gov. Applying for financial aid through the FAFSA is FREE, so be certain you are using the government website. Northampton Community College's federal school code is 007191.
Instructions:
1) Go to studentaid.gov, and under the FAFSA Form tab, select "Complete the FAFSA Form".
2) If you are a returning user, log in. If this is your first time, click "Start Form."
3) If you are the student applying for aid, select "I am a student and want to access the FAFSA form."
4) Select "Create an FSA ID"; an FSA ID is required to electronically sign the FAFSA. In the pop-up, select "Exit FAFSA Form," read the information on the screen and then select "Get Started."
5) Fill out your information to get your assigned FSA ID. Once submitted, you will be returned to the FAFSA Form to continue your process. You may be asked to sign in with your new FSA ID and password.
For assistance with filling out your FAFSA application, view Filling Out the FAFSA Form.
You can also book an appointment with NCC's Financial Aid Department to get help completing your FAFSA.
Pennsylvania Residents - The FAFSA is the first step in applying for a Pennsylvania State grant. The Pennsylvania State grant program is administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) which may request additional information by contacting you through your email address provided on the FAFSA or by regular mail (if no email address was provided).
Next Steps After You Apply For Your FAFSA
After you submit your FAFSA, please respond promptly to any requests for additional information from the NCC Financial Aid Office.
Students who have their financial aid application completed by the Northampton Community College semester priority application deadlines (fall start May 1, spring start October 1, summer start April 1) and have responded to all requests for information will be notified of their eligibility for financial aid before the tuition due date for the applicable semester.
You can still apply for financial aid after the priority deadlines. If you are a late applicant and have not been notified of your financial aid eligibility before the tuition due date, you will need to pay your semester bill in full by the tuition due date or enroll in the NCC tuition payment plan available from NCC's Bursar Office. If you receive financial aid after you've paid your semester bill in full, you will receive a refund of this aid. If you receive financial aid after you've enrolled in the NCC tuition payment plan, you will receive a refund of any excess financial aid. Make sure to select your refund preference.
Once your financial aid application has been completed and reviewed, you will receive an award letter with information about your eligibility for grants, scholarships, work study benefits and loans. Students can check if their financial aid application is complete or if any documents are still needed, as well as view financial aid awards (once processed) by checking their financial aid information in their Workday Student Portal.
Viewing Your Financial Aid Award
To view your Financial Award:
1. Log into Workday, and under "Your Top Apps" click “Finances” and then “View Financial Aid”.
2. Enter the correct award year.
3. Select “Print Award Letter” and “Accept/Decline” awards to review and finalize your aid.
Don't see your Financial Aid Award?
1. Complete or check your FAFSA application at studentaid.gov.
2. If your FAFSA is completed, make sure to upload any items needed to finalize your aid in Workday.
3. Then, register for classes.
Does your Financial Aid Award enrollment status not match your registration?
1. Make sure all courses are counting towards your degree, if not check with advising to see if they can help you select an alternate course. From Workday Home Screen, click ‘Academics’ then “view my academic progress”
2. Any “unused registrations” are not counting towards your current program of study and are not reflecting as eligible for financial aid.
How long does it take to find out how much aid I will receive?
If there is nothing additional needed, and a student is enrolled in courses that apply to their primary program, financial aid will be evaluated within 3 business days.
If enrollment for the upcoming semester is not yet open, financial aid will typically be estimated based on full time until registration opens, at which time awards will be adjusted to reflect the student’s actual enrollment.
View the visual Workday Quick Reference Guide (QRG).
Using Financial Aid & Refunds
The Bursar's Office handles the payment and refund side of the Financial Aid process. This means that we receive the payments, whether they are loans, grants or scholarships, and then apply those funds to the financial aid recipient's tuition bill.
Any remaining funds are refunded to the student and may also be used for one of the following educational purposes:
Books & Supplies
Only students with excess financial aid can access a book credit. You can use up to 100% of your credit balance (maximum allowed $1,200) to purchase required textbooks and supplies at any NCC Bookstore. Amounts and percentages of credit allowed for purchases are set by NCC each semester and NCC reserves the right to decrease allowable amounts in future semesters.
Note: Certain types of third-party funding may not be available until 2 weeks prior to the start of the semester and may only allow purchase of required textbooks.
NCC Childcare
Pay for childcare services received at the NCC Children's Center.
To transfer funds to a childcare account, visit the Bursar's Office at either the Main or Pocono campus enrollment office to fill out a transfer request form.
Refunds
Excess financial aid that is not used for other purposes will be refunded to the student. Students need to select their refund preference.
After a student’s attendance is verified the funds are requested to be sent to the school. Once the school receives the funds any refund of excess financial aid is processed within 14 days.
Students with private alternative loans may need to sign a paper check at the bursar's office for funds to be disbursed. If we contact you to come to the Bursar's Office to sign a check, please respond promptly. Outdated checks are returned to the lender and may not be reissued. Check your email for a notification of loan amounts and disbursement dates.
Withdrawal Policy: Financial aid funds are for educational purposes only and are contingent upon your remaining eligible for financial aid. Should you drop, withdraw or fail to attend your classes, your financial aid award may be reduced or reversed and you may be responsible for returning all or part of your refund. See the Financial Aid Office prior to making any schedule changes. Learn more about our refund policy here.
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Our Financial Aid office is open Monday - Friday to assist our students. Summer hours are different. See hours below and contact info.
BETHLEHEM (Student Enrollment Center, 3835 Green Pond Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18020)
Mon, Thu, Fri: 8am - 5pm
Tue & Wed: 8am - 6pm
610.861.5510
Pocono (Keystone Hall - Enrollment Services, 2411 Route 715, Tannersville, PA 18372)
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8am - 5pm
Wed: 8am - 6pm
570.369.1801
Virtual assistance is available Mon, Tue & Thu from10am - 2pm, and Wed from 10:15am - 2pm, or schedule an appointment during a time that works for you.
From end of May to early July, NCC offices run on summer hours and are closed on Fridays.
Summer Hours:
Mon-Thu: 8am - 6pm
Other Resources