FIRST
Apply to PVCC and select a program of study (a degree or certificate program).
- Full-time and part-time students may apply for financial aid for credit classes.
- Audited and noncredit classes are not eligible for financial aid.
- Financial aid can be used for classes taken up to two times if the grade earned in the first class is W (withdrawal), U (unsatisfactory), or F (failure).
- You receive financial aid from the school where you plan to graduate, so you can receive financial aid from only one school at a time.
SECOND
File the FAFSA online after you have applied and been accepted to attend PVCC. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is key to the entire financial aid process, so make sure to remember this term! Follow the three steps below to file FAFSA online.
When to File FAFSA
File your FAFSA several months before you plan to begin classes. While you can file the FAFSA at any time, priority is given to students who file by March 31 for the upcoming fall semester, but you may still apply for aid after this date.
File FAFSA Every Year
Your financial aid covers only one academic year (fall, spring and summer), so you must submit a new FASFA every year. Be sure to file early to avoid delays in receiving your financial aid.
If You Plan to Attend the Summer Semester
If you plan to take classes during PVCC's summer session, there is also a simple Summer Session Aid Application form that you will need to complete and give to the Financial Aid Office after you have filed the FAFSA.
FAFSA Step 1: Obtain a Federal Student Aid PIN. This PIN (personal identification number) allows you to sign, file and access your FAFSA information online. If you are a dependent student, your parents can also obtain a PIN.
FAFSA Step 2: Assemble the following ahead of time in order to complete the FAFSA:
- Your most recent income tax returns
- Social Security numbers
Your parents will need to be involved in this process if you are under the age of 24 and considered a dependent. Your parents' federal tax information and signatures will be required.
FAFSA Step 3: Complete the FAFSA Online
You must fill in PVCC's school code 009928 on the application so that PVCC can receive an electronic copy of your FAFSA. It typically takes several weeks for your filed FAFSA to be processed by the U.S. Department of Education, and then PVCC has to review the information provided by the federal government in order to determine whether you are eligible for financial aid. Just a reminder that the FAFSA covers only one academic year, so you'll need to complete a new FAFSA each year.
THIRD
Review Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
After you file the FAFSA, the U.S. government sends you a Student Aid Report (SAR) based on the information you supplied. PVCC will receive an electronic copy of it provided that you indicated PVCC's school code 009928 on the application form. Check the SAR for accuracy. If there are errors, you will need to update or correct your FAFSA promptly because PVCC's Financial Aid Office uses this information to determine whether you are eligible for financial aid.
FOURTH
Review Your Award Letter from PVCC
You will receive a letter from PVCC indicating whether financial aid will be awarded to you, the types of financial aid offered (grants, loans, etc.) and how much aid you will receive. (This combination of aid is called your financial aid package.) Review the award letter carefully. You are assumed to accept your financial aid package unless you contact the PVCC Financial Aid Office to decline assistance. If you are offered a loan and wish to accept it, you will need to select a lender and complete the loan request form enclosed with your award letter. Be sure to follow the instructions.
Find out if your financial aid award has been deposited into your account by checking your financial aid account frequently through MyPVCC.
FIFTH
Continue Steps to Enroll. You are responsible for tuition and fees not covered by your financial aid package.
