Apply for Financial Aid

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Financial Aid Application ProcessGirl smiling

To apply for federal or state financial aid complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Under school choice list Ocean County College and our school code 002624. Most financial aid is not automatically renewable. You must reapply and continue to qualify for grants, loans and/or work awards each year you enroll.

Filing the free federal application online using an e-signature has a shorter processing time (7-10 days) and results in fewer errors than filing a paper FAFSA (3-4 weeks).

Filing FAFSA online
1) To file electronically using an e-signature, you must register for a PIN by accessing www.pin.ed.gov or by creating a pin when you are filing your FAFSA.

If you have a PIN, but it's lost or forgotten, request a duplicate at the same web site.

NOTE: The FAFSA must include PINs for both the student and one parent, if a dependent student, when filing electronically.

2) File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), by one of the following means:

3) List Ocean County College in college choice section. Our school code is 002624.

4) Receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Acknowledgement within several days of filing the FAFSA online. It will be e-mailed, if you listed as e-mail address on the FAFSA, or postal mailed if not.

5) If a New Jersey resident, receive a New Jersey Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) within several weeks notifying you of your eligibility for the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG).

6) Receive an official award notification from Ocean County College within several weeks, if you have not been selected for verification and there are no eligibility requirements to resolve. Your award letter will be posted on OCC's Web Advisor and/or postal mailed.

NOTE: OCC will begin processing 2009-2010 FAFSA in late March, 2009.

Computer Availability
If you do not have access to the internet or a computer, computers are available in the Ground floor Lobby of the Administration Building, across from Financial Aid strictly for the use of filing a FAFSA. Computers are also available in the Library.

Filing A Paper FAFSA
If you cannot file online, complete a Paper FAFSA and mail it to the U.S. Department of Education's processor. A self-addressed envelope is enclosed with the paper application material. To obtain a paper FAFSA please contact them at 1.800.433.3243. The college will no longer be able to provide a paper FAFSA. It can take 3-4 weeks for your application to be processed and to receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).

Priority Deadlines

Fall 2009 Enrollment
(never attended prior to Spring 2008)

New students: For Fall Must File by October 1 and no later than March 1 for Spring. (In order to be eligible for NJ grants)

For returning students (Received TAG in 2008-09) The deadline is June 1, 2009.

Complete the Verification Process (if selected)

If a student is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, the Financial Aid Office:

  1. Will send a letter advising you of the items that must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office,
  2. Enclose a Verification Worksheet for you [and your parent(s), if applicable] to complete, sign and return, 
  3. Request signed photocopies of your [and your parent(s)', if applicable] latest U.S. income tax returns, all accompanying schedules, and W-2 wage statements. If you [and/or your parent(s), if applicable] have not and are not required to file tax returns, a Statement of Non-filers of a U.S. Income Tax Return must be completed. Either an income tax return or statement of non-filing must be provided by the financial aid applicant [and by the applicant's parent(s), if applicable].
  4. All information is kept confidential.

Renewal of Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid is not automatically renewed from year to year. It is the student's responsibility to know financial aid deadlines, obtain the Free Student Guide at www.studentaid.ed.gov/guide.

Transferring to OCC and Financial Aid
A transfer student should add Ocean County College, school code #002624, to his/her college choice list on the FAFSA. If a student filed online and has a PIN (and parent has a PIN, if applicable), the addition of OCC to the college selection section is easy. Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Otherwise, notify the Department of Education by phoning 1-800-433-3243 and ask the customer service representative to add OCC. You will have to provide name, social security number, birth date, and the DRN number from your Student Aid Report.

You will receive an award letter or a request for documents to complete the verification process within 10-15 business days of OCC receiving your financial aid application. (Even if you completed the verification process at another school, you must cooperate with OCC and provide the requested documents.) The College will review your financial aid history to ensure that there is no over award of financial aid during the academic year. Please Be Aware that your financial aid is subject to change based on error, omissions, receipt of additional aid resources, or changes in your eligibility.

All awards are contingent on your maintaining eligibility throughout the award year. A description of the minimum federal eligibility requirements, satisfactory academic progress policy, withdrawal from courses and return of Title IV funds policy, and other consumer information related to the awarding and disbursement of financial aid is available online at www.ocean.edu/aid.htm or you may request the information from the Financial Aid Office.

If you want a student loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note before OCC will certify a loan. In addition, you must complete entrance loan counseling and a student loan worksheet.