Tuition & Financial Aid FAQs

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) collects data that the federal government uses to determine your eligibility for federal and state aid, including grants, loans and work-study.

1. After you complete and submit your FAFSA, you will receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail or email.
2. Review the information on the SAR, check for accuracy, and update information if necessary.
3. Once the NCC Financial Aid Office begins processing applications, you will receive a letter in the mail along with a list of required forms and/or documents.
4. Forward all requested forms and documents to the Financial Aid Office. Please respond to NCC as soon as possible with all documents.
5. Once your file is complete and you are accepted by Admissions, the Financial Aid Office sends you an Award Letter that indicates the types and amounts of aid for which you are eligible.
6. We strive to send you information in a timely manner. However, if corrections must be made or if documentation is required, this process may take longer. Be patient, and complete all forms in a timely manner.

When you receive your SAR, review it carefully to make sure it is correct and complete.

If it is correct, keep the SAR for future reference.

If you need to make corrections and you applied electronically, you must make corrections through FAFSA on the Web, using your FSA ID. If you applied using a paper FAFSA, correct the answers on the SAR, sign it, and mail it back.

If your Student Aid Report (SAR) is selected for the verification process, the college must compare your Student Aid Report with documents, including IRS Tax Transcripts, that verify your financial status.

All requested documents must be received by the student’s last day of enrollment or the end of the term, whichever is earlier.

Approximately one-third of all Student Aid Reports are selected for verification.

You must complete the admissions process and be accepted to NCC before the Financial Aid Office can process your financial aid documents.

The federal government has established the criteria to determine whether you must report parental information. 

Your dependency is determined by answering dependency questions on the FAFSA.  

• If you answer “NO” to all of the dependency questions, you must provide parental information.
• If you answered “YES” to at least one of these questions, skip the questions asking for parental information.

You are not required to complete the FAFSA, but we encourage you to do so.

A FAFSA is required to get a Federal Direct Loan, a Parent Direct PLUS Loan, or a work-study position. Some scholarships may also require a FAFSA to be filed.

Students may be eligible for part-time aid; however, you must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours fall, spring and summer terms) to be eligible for a student loan.

If your financial aid is not enough to pay for your tuition and fees, you must pay the remaining amount by the first day of your term.

If you are not able to pay the balance at that time, you can set up a payment plan option or contact the Business Office at 712-324-5061 or 800-352-4907.

NCC offers a monthly payment plan to try to accommodate the financial needs of some students.

It is not a loan program.

There is a $25.00 non-refundable enrollment fee assessed each semester you enroll in the payment plan.

The monthly payment plan allows you to budget and make monthly payments to pay your outstanding balance at NCC.

Contact NCC’s Business Office at 712-324-5061 or 800-352-4907 to discuss payment options.

If you have financial aid remaining after paying tuition and fees, you may be able to charge your books to your NCC account.

You must contact NCC’s Business Office for approval. 

No.  Financial aid cannot be used to purchase any tools. 

Even if you receive a financial aid balance check, you may not use these funds to purchase tools. 

The FAFSA is available October 1 of the year preceding your college attendance. You may complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year, using earlier income and tax information. 

• For the 2020–2021 FAFSA, you—and your parent(s), as appropriate—will report your 2018 income and tax information.
• For the 2021–2022 FAFSA, you—and your parent(s), as appropriate—will report your 2019 income and tax information.

Remember that financial aid is given on a year-by-year basis, and you must reapply each year.

NCC’s priority deadline is April 1. 

To qualify for state-funded programs, submit the FAFSA to the processor by July 1 of the year preceding your enrollment.

NCC offers scholarship opportunities. You can apply online. Please pay attention to deadlines!

If you receive financial aid (including loans and work-study), federal regulations require you to make satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving financial aid funds. To maintain financial aid eligibility you need to:

1. Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
2. Earn on a cumulative basis 67% of all credits ever attempted.
3. Complete your course of study within the maximum time limit.

Students who choose to borrow money by taking out a Federal Direct Loan are required to complete a Direct Loan Entrance Counseling session. This must be completed before the first loan disbursement can be released to the borrower.

Yes!

All students receive an NCC email account. You must check your NCC email at least once a week.

We notify students about pertinent campus information via their NCC email. The Financial Aid Office communicates when information is needed and to request a student to come to the office.

Your email is found in MyPlace, along with important information regarding:

• your class schedule
• your grades
• your bill
• financial aid
• campus information