Financial Aid

Students may be eligible for financial aid, provided they file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)*, meet all enrollment requirements, and qualify based on financial need. For students who meet all eligibility requirements, their award is initially based on full-time enrollment (12+ credits); however, a student’s actual award may be prorated based on the number of credits they are enrolled in on the last day to add/drop for a given semester.

Financial aid is awarded based on the information a student and their parents (in the case of dependent students) provide on the FAFSA. This form is used by the Federal Government to determine what a family can afford to pay for College. The cost of attendance at NSCC includes both direct costs payable to the institution (tuition, fees and health insurance for those students who need it or cannot waive it) and indirect costs based on a student’s individual circumstances (e.g., housing/food allowance, books, supplies, transportation).

This cost of attendance and the information provided on the FAFSA are then used to determine an individual student’s financial aid award for a given semester or academic year. This award may include free aid such as scholarships, grants, and waivers as well as self-help such as loans and work study. The amount of financial aid award can be affected if the student adds or drops one or more courses after the designated freeze date. See the College’s Refund Policy for information regarding withdrawing from all courses.

* If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA and are an approved “High School Completer” under the Massachusetts tuition equity law, you can complete the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) and still attend for free.