Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's

How do I apply for financial aid?

Students apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA (FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid) and adding MassBay’s school code: 002171. If additional documentation is requested, students must respond to these requests as quickly as possible.

How and when will I be notified that I am eligible for financial aid?

Once your financial aid file is complete and your application is reviewed, you will receive an email notification to your MassBay email.

Why does the FAFSA say that I have to include my parent(s) information if I support myself?

The federal definition of an independent student is very specific and does not necessarily mean that the parent(s) are supporting the student. Students are considered "independent" for financial aid purposes, if they meet any of the following criteria:

• Is 24 years old.
• Is currently married.
• Is an orphan or ward of the court.
• Is a Veteran.
• Has dependents who receive more than half of their financial support from the student.
• Is a graduate student.
• Is an emancipated minor.
• Is or was in legal guardianship.
• Is homeless (see FAFSA for details)

Students who do not meet these criteria must provide a Dependency Override Form. An appeal process is available for the student with extenuating circumstances that make it impossible for the student to obtain their parent(s)' information. Examples of extenuating circumstances are listed on the Dependency Status Review Form.

What should I do if I have a special circumstance?

If you (and your family) have special circumstances that might affect your financial situation, notify the financial aid office. In some cases, the financial aid office may decide to take these special circumstances into account and adjust your cost of attendance. You’ll be asked to complete a Special Circumstance form and provide our office with adequate documentation to support any special circumstances.

Possible examples of special circumstances may include:

• Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
• Unusual medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
• A family member who recently became unemployed
• Changes in income or assets that may affect your eligibility for financial aid

I received a letter stating that I am not eligible for a MASSGrant, does this mean I am not eligible for financial aid?

No. If you are denied a MASSGrant, you may still be eligible for our other aid programs.

What happens if I withdraw from the college? Can I still keep my financial aid?

If you attend classes but later withdraw, you can keep a part of your financial aid, depending on when you officially withdraw. A federally mandated calculation is done to determine how much of the financial aid you can keep. Basically, you earn a percentage of your financial aid for each day you attend classes. For example, if you attend 30% of the semester, you may keep 30% of your financial aid. Students who receive state grants or tuition waivers may be able to keep enough grant or waiver just to cover the costs of their tuition and fee charges. Once you attend 60% of the semester, you are considered to have earned 100% of your financial aid. If you receive a financial aid refund check and withdraw before earning 100% of your financial aid, you may be required to return some of these funds. More information is available in the Financial Aid Office. It is very important that you complete the official Withdrawal process. Review our Withdrawal and Refund Policy here.

What is the FAFSA Submission Summary that I received?

The FAFSA Submission Summary was sent to you by the U.S. Department of Education's federal application processor. If you provided an email address on the FAFSA, then it was emailed, otherwise it was mailed. It has important information that you should review.
Review all of the data you provided and make sure it is accurate. If you find a mistake you can make corrections at www.fafsa.gov.
Check on the last section and be sure you see MassBay Community College listed as one of the schools that received your information.
MassBay encourages students and parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool as the fastest and most accurate means of providing tax information. If you did not initially use IRS Data Retrieval you may be able to make a correction and utilize the tool.
The federal processor matches some of your personal information with other federal agencies to verify that you have met certain eligibility requirements. If there is a mismatch you will be required to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. It is important to respond to all requests for additional information in a timely manner.

What is MassBay’s federal school code?

The Federal School Code is 002171.

Can I use financial aid to buy books?

Yes. Once you receive financial aid and your federal aid exceeds your tuition and fees, you can request a Book Voucher on Bay Navigator. You'll get notified by the Student Accounts Office once the bookstore allowance is available.

If you're using student loans for books, make sure all loan requirements are done before getting the allowance. If you decide not to use the allowance, the funds will be refunded later in the semester. Learn more about the Book Voucher program.

How long does it take to receive an Award Letter?

Once you complete the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office reviews your application to determine if additional documents are necessary. If more information is required, we must wait until you respond to this request before we can continue working on your file. Once your file is complete, depending on the time of year, it may take several weeks before you will receive an Award Letter. Although you can submit your FAFSA as early as October preceding the next fall semester, the Financial Aid Office will begin reviewing applications in March. It is not unusual for the entire process to take 12-16 weeks.

I received a letter stating that I am on Financial Aid Suspension - What does this mean?

Students are placed on suspension if they are not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. Academic records are reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure students meet these standards. Students who are suspended do not qualify for financial aid but may regain eligibility by either submitting an appeal or paying out-of-pocket until they meet the standards. More information can be found on our SAP Policy.

Who is my student loan servicer?

To find out which loan servicer is servicing your loan(s), view your StudentAid.gov account Dashboard.

If my financial aid exceeds my tuition and fee charges when will a refund check be available?

Refund checks for students with a credit balance are generally available in late October for the Fall semester, middle of March for the Spring semester, and mid-point of July for the Summer term. The Student Accounts office will do a direct deposit or mail your check to your address on file. Contact Student Accounts for more information or go to: Withdrawal and Refund Policy Schedule | Spring 2024 | MassBay Community College.

How is the amount of my award determined?

Your financial aid award is based on a number of factors including but not limited to: the Student Aid Index (SAI) from your FAFSA, the number of credits you plan to enroll, your dependency status, and whether or not you applied by our Priority Filing Dates.

What is Anticipated Aid?

Anticipated financial aid is aid that has been awarded but has not been disbursed. You should compare your financial aid award to your bill to ensure you have enough to cover your outstanding balance. You can view both your Award letter and Bill through Bay Navigator (MassBay’s online portal).

Remember, financial aid is awarded based on a full-time schedule (12+ credits). If you are registered for less than 12 credits, your aid will be adjusted at the end of the Add/Drop period for any and all classes you are enrolled in. Please be aware that you may reviewed multiple times if you are enrolled in various sessions. For example if you are enrolled in Day Classes and 8 Week courses in the same semester, you will be reviewed twice, at the end of each session’s Add/Drop period. Please remember that different types of aid have different credit requirements, click here to view. Financial Aid is always disbursed after the semester has started and attendance has been verified.

If you have a student loan, you must complete the loan acceptance process before it can be disbursed. You will be notified by MassBay email about your next steps.

If you have financial aid remaining after subtracting your bill, you may use these funds to buy your books and supplies in the form of a voucher at the MassBay Bookstore during a period of time in the beginning of each semester. Click here for more information on Book Store Vouchers/Allowances.

When is financial aid disbursed?

Financial aid funds are generally credited to students’ MassBay accounts around 45 calendar days into each semester and weekly thereafter.

How do I maintain eligibility for financial aid each year?

While certain aid programs have their own criteria, students generally maintain their eligibility by filing their FAFSA on time each academic year and meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.