FUNDING YOUR FUTURE PAYING FOR COLLEGE: FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS GET HELP PAYING FOR COLLEGE!
There is money out there to help you pay for college, and at SUNY Westchester Community College we are prepared to help you find it. Here’s an overview of financial support available to our students: GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED FINANCIAL AID: Federal and state programs provide funding to support your college education. These include Federal Pell Grants, Federal work study, the New York State Tuition Assistance Program, the New York State Excelsior Scholarship, and New York State DREAM Act awards. Most aid is available to students with financial need. Follow the steps listed on the back of this brochure to find out what you qualify for. Complete your financial aid applications – youmight be surprised! WCC FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS ANDGRANTS: TheWestchester Community College Foundation raises money to help students like you achieve their educational goals. Each year, about $2million are awarded to deserving students. Scholarship awards are available for many types of full-time students: incoming, continuing, graduating students who are continuing their education at 4-year institutions, international students, and DREAMers. All full-time SUNY Westchester Community College students who apply for financial aid will be automatically considered for Foundation scholarships. Most scholarships are awarded in the fall and provide a full academic year of support. Awards renew for another academic year if all requirements aremet. Some scholarships require additional applications for consideration. Visit www.sunywcc.edu/scholarships for more information. OTHER SOURCES: The Office of Student Financial Assistance can help you find other sources of support, including: • Private scholarships fromoutside the college • Federally-subsidized loans • Private loans Our Career Center can help you find part-time employment or paid internships. HOWCAN I FUNDMY COLLEGE EDUCATION? $2MILLION+ IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY THE WCC FOUNDATION EACH YEAR
Median Earnings and Tax Payments of Full-Time Year-RoundWorkers Age 25 and Older, by Education Level, 2018 For more info about this study, visit trends.collegeboard.com Understand college costs, explore average salaries, and expected demand for jobs at www.suny.edu/smarttrack Studies show that education pays for itself. Engage your passion for learning to increase your earning potential, expand your employment options, and broaden your horizons. INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST OF ATTENDANCE AT SUNYWCC: EDUCATIONPAYS NON-NEWYORK RESIDENTS PAIDDIRECTLY TO THE COLLEGE ESTIMATED COST AFTER APPLYING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PACKAGE THESE EXPENSES ARE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY STUDENT ANDWILL VARY APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID TOBE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS LIKE THIS NEWYORK RESIDENTS Calculate a personalized estimate at www.suny.edu/ howmuch Estimated tuition and fees -$4,836 -$12,226 Estimated books and supplies -$2,400 -$2,400 Estimated personal expenses -$1,600 -$1,600 Estimated transportation -$2,400 -$2,400 Estimated roomand board (off-campus) -$6,400 -$6,400 Estimated aid, grants, and scholarships +$8,468 +$7,222 Estimatedwork-study award (if eligible) +$1,984 +$1,984 Estimated annual net cost $7,184 $15,820 WHOPAYS THE NEWYORK RESIDENT TUITIONRATE? If you have lived in New York State for at least 12months, or have attended a New York high school for at least 2 years and graduated, youmay be eligible for New York resident tuition. Review the requirements at www.suny.edu/smarttrack/residency
Kyrie overcame homelessness, domestic violence, and food insecurity largely due to the support available at SUNY Westchester Community College. Scholarships made her college education feasible. Kyrie went on to study at New York University (NYU) with a full-tuition scholarship where she graduatedwith Honors. She has since gone on to complete her Masters of Social Work at the University of Michigan. Kyrie now works in her field of study as a case manager helping refugees resettle in the United States. Receiving scholarships helped her plan her future with confidence. “I NOWLOOK INTO THEMIRRORWITH CONFIDENCE ANDHOPE FOR THE FUTURE.” Kyrie Philbrook, SUNYWestchester Community College Class of ’15
HOWTOGET HELP PAYING FOR COLLEGE: SIGNUP AT FAFSA.GOV TOREQUEST FSA IDs FOR YOU AND YOUR PARENT(S) COLLECT NECESSARY INFO: • Your social security number • Your parents’ social security numbers and dates of birth • Your parents’ marital status • Tax returns for you and your parents • W-2s for you and your parents • Bank, stock, real estate, and business records for you and your parents • Untaxed income records • Your driver’s license number • Your alien registration number (for non-U.S. citizens) FILE THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) The fastest way to file is online at www.fafsa.gov. You can also call 1-800-4-FED-AID to request a paper application. Our school code is 002881. IF YOU’RE A NEWYORK STATE RESIDENT: COMPLETE THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) APPLICATION Use the link on the FAFSA confirmation page or visit www.hesc.ny.gov for more information. Our school code is 2160. IF YOU’RE A NEWYORK STATE RESIDENT: COMPLETE THE EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Visit www.hesc.ny.gov to apply for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship. WATCH YOUR EMAIL INBOX You will receive a notice from the U.S. Department of Education with a link to access your Student Aid Report (SAR). FOLLOWUP You’ll receive a financial assistance package fromSUNY Westchester Community College that includes any financial aid and scholarships you qualify for. Follow the instructions included with the package so that your awards may be applied. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Although international students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid, they can apply for scholarships by completing the International Student Application at www.sunywcc.edu/international The DREAMAct gives undocumented and other students access to state-administered aid and scholarships. To determine your eligibility and to apply, visit www.hesc.ny.gov/dream. PRIORITY DEADLINE Complete steps 1 - 5 by March 1 to secure financial assistance for the fall. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND OPPORTUNITY FINANCIAL TIPS GRADUATE ON TIME Taking 15 credits a semester will help you graduate on time. Reducing your time in college saves money on tuition and expenses. Did you know that a fifth class can be taken in one semester, often free of additional tuition? TEXTBOOKS: RENT OR BUY USED A Student can save hundreds of dollars a year by first searching for used or rental textbooks before buying new. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX CREDITS Tax credits like the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit can offer up to $2,500 a year in tax credits to offset your cost of attendance. BORROWWISELY Be aware of which aid types require repayment. Scholarships never require repayment. Only borrowwhat you can afford to repay. DEVELOP A FINANCIAL PLAN Use SUNY Smart Track’s Financial Literacy Tools to explore your path after college and develop a financial plan. Learnmore at www.suny.edu/smarttrack/literacy PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES ARE FREE Applying for private scholarships from outside the college can result inmoney for tuition and expenses that does not need to be repayed. Every bit counts towards your expenses; books and travel costs can be offset bymultiple small awards. Start your search here: www.fastweb.com www.studentaid.gov www.bigfuture.org www.sunywcc.edu/scholarships SUNYWestchester Community College helped Jeremiah follow his dreams by linking himupwith a scholarship that fueled his selfdevelopment. Jeremiah graduated with a dual degree in Cybersecurity and Computer Information Systems. His goal is to continue his education at MIT or Cornell and then establish a tech company that bridges the cybersecurity gap between the Westernworld and Africa. Jeremiah Konde Chaettle, SUNYWestchester Community College Class of ’19
FAST FACTS Scholarships: awarded based on a variety of criteria including scholastic achievement, activities andmajors. Subtypes include: WCC Foundation Scholarships: student must meet eligibility criteria. Details at www.sunywcc.edu/scholarships Private Merit Scholarships: offered by organizations outside the college. Federal Pell Grant: student must demonstrate financial need and complete a FAFSA to apply. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): student must be Pell Grant eligible and complete a FAFSA to apply. Federal Iraq and Afganistan Service Grant: for student whose parent of guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afganistan after 9/11/01. Student must be Pell Grant ineligible. Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant: for student who intends to teach in a high-need field in a school that serves students from low income families. The program requires a four-year service obligation and will convert into a loan if the service obligation is not met. More at www.studentaid.gov Federal Work Study: provides part-time job opportunities. Amount depends on your level of financial need, other aid received, the availability of jobs, and your schedule. More at www.sunywcc.edu/workstudy Federal Veterans Benefits: for student who is an eligible veteran. Learnmore at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill NewYork State DREAMAct: gives undocumented and other students access to TAP, the Excelsior Scholarship, and other state-administered scholarships. Determine eligibility and apply at www.hesc.ny.gov/dream NewYork Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): available to New York State resident or student who qualifies under the NYS DREAM Act. Amounts are based on net taxable income and other factors. SUNY Tuition Credit: student must be TAP eligible. Award is based on tuition and amount of TAP received. State University Student Assistance (SUSTA): student must be TAP eligible. Award is based on amount of unmet financial need. Types of aid that require repayment: Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Alternative Loans Types of aid listed above do not require repayment.
HOWTOGET STARTED AT SUNYWESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPLY FOR ADMISSION. Applying is the first step to becoming a SUNY Westchester Community College student. You can apply quickly and easily online by visiting www.sunywcc.edu/apply Apply for financial aid and scholarships throughWestchester Community College by completing your FAFSA and TAP application. See the back panel of this guide for full step-by-step instructions. Get help completing your FAFSA or any other aid applications at an in-person workshop offered by our Office of Student Financial Assistance. For workshop details and schedules visit www.sunywcc.edu/finaid COMPLETE YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS. ATTEND A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCEWORKSHOP
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