What is financial aid and how do I apply?

Financial Aid
Financial aid consists of grants, scholarships, loans, and work study (part-time) opportunities for students.

BCC Title IV Code
BCC's Title IV Code is 002176. Use this code on the FAFSA to insure that your information is sent to BCC.

How to apply information
The four steps to apply for financial aid.

Financial Aid Deadlines
Applications are accepted year-round; however, because of limited funding, students are urged to apply early. Priority is given to students who complete their file by May 1. On-time applicants have a better chance of receiving aid beyond the Pell Grant and/or loans. In addition, on-time applicants receive notification of award eligibility prior to the tuition due date and are considered for the book voucher program. Late applicants, on the other hand, may be expected to pay their tuition and book charges on their own and be reimbursed at a later date if eligible for financial aid. BCC has a priority deadline of May 1 for the Fall semester and November 1, for the Spring semester. In order to meet this deadline you must have a complete financial aid file. Since the FAFSA can take up to four weeks to process, you should submit this form no later than April 1 for the Fall semester and October 1 for the Spring Semester. All requested documentation must be submitted by the end of the academic year or the last date of attendance, whichever comes first.

Re-apply for Financial Aid
Your eligibility for financial aid must be reestablished each academic year. That means that you should complete the financial aid forms every Spring for the coming school year. The priority deadline is May 1 for classes that begin the following September.

Workshops and Weekly Walk-in Hours
Help with the financial aid process is available through scheduled workshops or on a walk-in basis on Thursdays.
The workshops will assist you with completing the FAFSA and then submitting the form on-line in a computer lab with assistance from financial aid staff.
Walk-in hours are available for any part of the financial aid process, including completed the FAFSA worksheet which you can then complete on-line on your own. Walk-in hours are every Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm in the Enrollment Center. If you need help with the 2009-10 financial aid forms and filed a 2008 federal tax return, bring a copy of the form with you. If you are a dependent applicant, bring in your parent’s tax return also.

Income or Family Situation has Changed
When you complete the FAFSA you will be asked about your income for the prior year. If your current income is lower, you should contact the school's financial aid office after July 1. It may be possible to have your eligibility re-calculated using the most up-to-date information.

PIN – Personal Identification Number
You should apply for a PIN to complete your FAFSA on line. If parent information is provided on the FAFSA, at least one parent should also obtain a PIN. Applying on-line with the PIN will expedite the processing of your FAFSA. NEW for 2008-09: You and/or your parent can apply for a PIN while completing the FAFSA on the Web. In most cases, a PIN will be assigned immediately. The PIN can be used to electronically sign your FAFSA, check the status of your application, obtain application results more quickly, complete the renewal forms in future years, and check your student loan history through the National Student Loan Data System. This PIN is not the same as your accessBCC or OpenNet password.

Send your FAFSA results to BCC
If you did not list BCC to receive a copy of your FAFSA results, you can add BCC after your FAFSA is processed. There are three ways to do this:

If you have a PIN, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and select “add or delete a school code.”
If you do not have a PIN, wait until you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) either by e-mail or postal mail (If you misplaced your SAR, call 1 800 433 3243 and request that a duplicate SAR be sent to you.) Look for the four-digit DRN on the first page of your SAR and then call 1 800 433 3243. Follow the prompts to add BCC to the list (BCC code is 002176).
If you have your DRN, the BCC Financial Aid Office can add the school for you. Provide BCC Financial Aid Office with your DRN, social security number, full name, and date of birth.

Tax Forms
Need a copy of your federal income tax form? Click here for instructions and a request form, or call 1-800-8291040.