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Financial Aid

How To Apply For Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid

We want to make sure all students have access to financial aid. To apply, fill out the FAFSA form. It helps determine if you're eligible for federal and state aid. Remember to include "MassBay Community College" and our code (002171) when you fill out the form.

It's best to complete the FAFSA by May 1 each year. Doing so means you'll be considered for all types of financial aid. But if you miss that date, don't worry! You can still apply. Just do it as soon as you can. There are different types of aid available throughout the year.

Keep in mind, it might take 6–8 weeks to review your eligibility once you submit the FAFSA. And there's no guarantee you'll qualify. If you're not eligible, you'll need to arrange a payment plan with the college.

You need to apply for financial aid every academic year. It's recommended to do it online because it's quicker and there are prompts to guide you through the process.

Steps in the Application Process

  1. When applying for FAFSA online, you'll need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to sign and process your application.
  2. To complete your FAFSA, go to FAFSA.gov (Spanish available). The FAFSA gathers details about your income, your parents' income if needed, assets, household size, and uses a formula to figure out your family's contribution to your education costs. Make sure to include MassBay Community College's Federal School Code 002171 on your application so we can receive your information.
  3. You'll get a notification about your application from the U.S. Department of Education. If you gave an email, they'll email you. The FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) summarizes your application info and estimates your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI will determine how much federal student aid you would receive. The Department also checks for eligibility. All schools on your FAFSA will get an electronic copy of your application.
  4. When we receive your FAFSA, we'll notify you via your MassBay account. We'll also email you if additional information is needed to finish the financial aid process. We check your FAFSA for accuracy and might need to verify or correct info. We make sure you meet all requirements for aid; if not, we can't offer financial assistance.
  5. Once we've reviewed your application and you meet all the requirements, we will send you an award notification. The letter shows estimated aid based on full-time enrollment (12+ credits). You will be able to view your award letter via Bay Navigator (the MassBay campus portal). Aid adjustments are made once we confirm your actual enrollment. Please note audited classes and Challenge Exams aren't covered by aid.
  6. Students are eligible to receive a Book Voucher if their aid exceeds their tuition and fees. The book voucher can only be used at the College Bookstore. Students may request a Book Voucher on the Bay Navigator Portal. Those who qualify will receive an email notification from MassBay when a voucher is ready. More details about requesting Book Vouchers can be found here.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Be enrolled and accepted into a degree granting or eligible certificate program
  • Be a U.S citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward your degree
  • Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan or owe money on a federal grant

How to Understand the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

  • FAFSA Submission Summary—an electronic or paper document that summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA form.
  • If you have a Student Aid account and your FAFSA information has been processed, you can view your online FAFSA Submission Summary regardless of the method (online or on a FAFSA PDF) you used to file a FAFSA form.
  • View your online FAFSA Submission Summary by:
    • logging in to your Student Aid account Dashboard,
    • selecting your processed FAFSA submission from the “My Activity” section, and
    • selecting “View FAFSA Submission Summary.”
  • Use the checklist and comments under the “Next Steps” tab to make sure all your issues are resolved. If you need assistance, contact the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend.
  • If you don’t have any changes to make to the information listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary, just keep it for your records.

Do you need FAFSA Assistance?

If you need help with the FAFSA, go here.