Financial Aid
It's important to remember: There is still time to apply for—and receive—financial aid for the 2024-25 school year.
Financial Aid Flier in English Financial Aid Flier in Spanish2024-2025 FAFSA® Updates
There are significant changes to the 2024-2025 FAFSA®.
More information can be found in 2024-25 FAFSA Changes below.
Whether you are hoping to receive grants, looking for student employment or need a student loan, follow these steps to apply for financial aid:
1. Apply to KCC
Complete the admissions application. A KCC admissions form must be on file in order for us to complete your financial aid file.
2. Create a Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID)
Create your FSA ID. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signs your federal student aid documents.
Students, parents and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID. If you are a parent with more than one child attending college, you will have one FSA ID and each student will have his/her own FSA ID.
3. Complete a FAFSA
File your FAFSA electronically, using KCC’s Title IV school code 007690. It will speed up the process considerably.
If you don’t have internet access at home, computer terminals are available on campus in Student Services and Financial Aid. You can also submit electronically from KCC’s North and South extension centers, local libraries and high schools.
4. Check Your Status
Expect an email containing your Student Aid Report (SAR) within seven business days after submitting your FAFSA online. Learn more about how to check your financial aid status and interpret various status codes.
The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.
The law will also affect every state that uses FAFSA data to award state grant aid and every school that participates in the federal student aid programs.
Major changes required by the law include the following:
- Replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) With the Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Modifications to Family Definitions in FAFSA® Formulas
- Expanding Access to Federal Pell Grants
- Streamlining the FAFSA® Form
For more information on the upcoming changes:
To be eligible for financial aid at KCC, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.*
- Be a high school graduate or GED graduate. Official transcripts must be on file in KCC’s Office of Admissions and Registration.
- Have selected and be admitted to an eligible curriculum. An eligible curriculum is one that leads to an associate degree or to an advanced certificate and requires at least 16 semester hours to complete. However, there are some exceptions. Verify eligibility of programs for Title IV aid with the Office of Financial Aid.
- Have financial need (except for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans).
- Enroll for courses by the Financial Aid Eligibility Date
- Be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of six credit hours) for most aid.
- Attend all classes to be considered enrolled.
- Be registered with Selective Service (if required).*
- Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan.
Conviction of drug distribution or possession may make you ineligible.
*Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act
*KCC RISE ACT flier and information
Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility
To maintain your eligibility to receive financial aid once you are enrolled at KCC, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements:
- Maintain the grade point average specified in the academic regulations in KCC’s college catalog. The required GPA is based on the number of credit hours you have attempted.
- Maintain a completion rate of 67% for all hours attempted.
- Complete the program you started before attempting more than 150% of the hours required.
This 150% is determined through the calculation of “attempted hours”:
- All courses taken at KCC and all transfer courses credited at KCC.
- Courses in which you remain enrolled at the end of the tuition refund period each semester, even if you later withdraw from these courses.
- Courses which are of a remedial or prerequisite nature.
- If you change your program of study at KCC, you still will be evaluated under the 150% time frame established for your original program unless a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal is approved. Consult a KCC advisor.
For further information, please refer to your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status and the KCC SAP Policy.
Three types of financial assistance make up the majority of aid provided by the federal government and the state of Illinois: grant assistance, loan assistance and work-study assistance.
Grants
Grants are forms of financial assistance that do not have to be repaid. They are provided for students from limited-income families.
Pell Grant
This is a federally funded program that provides assistance for any educational expenses based on need, academic load, length of enrollment and cost of education. Awards range from $652 to $6,195 per year.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
This is a federally funded program for students who demonstrate exceptional need and are Pell-eligible. Awards range from $150 to $600 per year and can be used for any educational expense.
MAP Grant
This is a state-funded program that provides assistance toward the cost of tuition and service fees. Awards range from $294 to $2,880 per year and fluctuate as funding runs out. It is extremely important to apply as early as possible for this award since funds are limited. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission(ISAC) is suspending the announcement of 2019-20 Monetary Awards Program (MAP) grants for all students whose initial 2019-20 FAFSA is received by the Central Processing System (CPS) on or after April 29, 2019.
Loans
Loans are federally funded sources of assistance that must be repaid with interest. Please refer to the Department of Education’s publication Federal Student Loans for further information regarding Federal Student Loans.
Federal Stafford Student Loan
Students may qualify for a “subsidized” Federal Stafford Loan based on financial need. Students may qualify for an “unsubsidized” Federal Stafford Loan regardless of other criteria.
Dependent students may borrow up to $5,500 as freshmen for full-time enrollment and sophomores up to $6,500 for full-time enrollment. Independent students may borrow up to $9,500 as freshmen and sophomores up to $10,500 (again for full-time enrollment). Loans are prorated for 3/4 time and half-time enrollment each term. These loans are repaid starting six months after you graduate from college, leave school or drop below half-time student status.
Students who are enrolled half-time, meet standards of satisfactory progress and meet need requirements may be eligible for these loans. The interest rate for Federal Direct Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2018, will increase from 4.45 percent to 5.045 percent for undergraduate Direct Loans. KCC’s Loan Policy is available in the Financial Aid Forms section of this website. Click on the “Financial Aid Forms” tab to get more information under the Stafford/PLUS loans section.
For more information on federal student loan interest rates and repayment, please visit the Federal Student Aid webpage by clicking here.
Federal PLUS Loan
These loans provide for parents who want to borrow to help pay for their child’s education. The interest rate for plus loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2018, will increase from 7 percent to 7.595 percent. A Parent PLUS Loan Application is available by contacting the KCC Office of Financial Aid. Parents must also request a PLUS Loan at www.studentloans.gov for an updated credit report to be considered.
Successful Repayment
Work Study
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Provides jobs for students who have applied for financial aid and are eligible to work as part of their financial aid award package. Participating students work on or off campus; money earned is paid to the student. FWS students must be enrolled at least half-time. Please view the Student Employment tab for details.
Regular Student Employment
View the Student Employment tab for details. For further federal and state financial aid information, visit collegezone.com.
Other Types of Assistance
What is a financial aid eligibility date?
The financial aid eligibility date is the day that the Office of Financial Aid takes a “snapshot” of your total enrollment to determine your Title IV* federal award eligibility for the semester. This “snapshot” locks in the number of eligible credit hours upon which your financial aid award is based.
The eligibility date applies to all courses, even those beginning later in the semester.
When is the eligibility date?
Upcoming eligibility dates
- Summer 2024: June 14, 2024
- Fall 2024: Sept. 6, 2024
- Spring 2025: Jan. 31, 2025
- Summer 2025: June 13, 2025
What does the eligibility date mean to me?
Finalize your schedule by the eligibility date to receive the most aid possible. Title IV* federal award payments are calculated based on your enrollment at the eligibility date. All enrollment activity before the eligibility date (adding a class, dropping a class, withdrawing a class, etc.) impacts your financial aid enrollment status and awards.
- If you drop/withdraw from courses after the semester begins but before the eligibility date: Your financial aid enrollment status is recalculated to exclude those courses.
- If you add courses after the eligibility date: The new classes will not be included in your total enrollment for financial aid purposes. Your Title IV* federal awards will NOT increase.
* Title IV financial aid includes Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Work Study and the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
What else affects financial aid awards?
- Financial aid can only be awarded for courses that are required in your academic program.
- Financial aid is calculated based on enrollment status. Enrollment status may also be affected by limitations on repeated or remedial coursework.
- Attendance is mandatory for Title IV* financial aid eligibility.
- You must be enrolled and attending each course by the posted refund date. Your registration statement has course refund dates.
- By itself, logging in to an online course is not sufficient to demonstrate attendance. You must show participation, such as submitting an assignment or contributing to a discussion board.
- A failed or withdrawn course will negatively affect your financial aid completion rate and you may be required to pay back a portion of your aid.
* Title IV financial aid includes Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Work Study and the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
- On or after October 1st every year (Encouraged to be completed as soon as possible)
- Use PRIOR-PRIOR-YEAR tax information (Example: for 2019-20 FAFSA, use 2017 taxes)
- Go to FSAID.ed.gov and create a user ID
(For dependent students an ID needs to be created for both parent and student - using separate email addresses.) - Log in to FAFSA.gov and complete the financial aid application.
KCC’s school code: 007690 - Complete an admissions application for KCC at kcc.edu/apply and ensure that you provide your social security number on the application.
- The federal processor will process your application and email you once it is done (This means it has been processed by the federal processor, but may have not been processed through the school.)
- Once KCC receives your application we will mail you an initial letter with guidance on what needs to be done next.
- If you are selected for verification this means that the Office of Financial Aid needs additional information to make sure there are no errors. Specific information needed will be sent in the letter. Note that financial aid applications cannot be complete until all steps are completed.
- If all steps have been completed you will then receive a Financial Aid Award Letter with your qualifying award amounts.
It may take between 2 weeks and 2 months from the time we receive your FAFSA to have your awards processed. Apply early!
- You must register by the financial aid eligibility dates
- The financial aid eligibility date is the day that the Office of Financial Aid takes a “snapshot” of your total enrollment to determine your Title IV* federal award eligibility for the semester. This “snapshot” locks in the number of eligible credit hours upon which your financial aid award is based.
- The eligibility date applies to all courses, even those beginning later in the semester.
- Courses added after, or dropped before, the eligibility date will not count towards your financial aid enrollment
* Title IV financial aid includes Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Work Study and the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
- You can charge books at the KCC Bookstore to your student account.
- Charges will be taken from the estimated aid you receive.
- Registration statement and photo ID are required to charge in the bookstore.
- Purchase books/supplies by the financial aid bookstore deadline each semester. Refer to your financial aid calendar for deadlines.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a high school graduate or GED graduate. Documentation to verify that status must be on file in KCC’s Office of Admissions and Registration.
- Have selected and be admitted to an eligible curriculum. An eligible curriculum is one that leads to an associate degree or to an advanced certificate and requires at least 16 semester hours to complete. However, there are some exceptions. Verify eligibility of programs for Title IV aid with the Office of Financial Aid.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
- Have financial need (except for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans).
- Enroll for courses by the Financial Aid Eligibility Date.
- Be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of six credit hours per fall/spring semester and three credit hours per summer term) for most aid.
- Attend all classes to be considered enrolled.
- Be registered with Selective Service (if required).
- Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan.
(Conviction of drug distribution or possession may make you ineligible.)
To maintain your eligibility to receive financial aid once you are enrolled at KCC, you must:
- Maintain the grade point average specified in the academic regulations in KCC’s college catalog. The required GPA is based on the number of credit hours you have attempted.
- Maintain a completion rate of 67% for all hours attempted.
- Complete the program you started before attempting more than 150% of the hours required to complete that program.
This 150% is determined through the calculation of “attempted hours.” They include:
- All courses taken at KCC and all transfer courses credited at KCC. Transfer hours that do not count toward completion of your program of study at KCC may be excluded from the calculation of attempted hours if an appeal is approved.
- Courses in which you remain enrolled at the end of the tuition refund period each semester, even if you later withdraw from these courses.
- Courses which are of a remedial or prerequisite nature, unless excluded through an approved appeal.
- If you change your program of study at KCC, you still will be judged under the 150% time frame established for your original program unless a Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Appeal is approved. Consult a KCC advisor.
For further information, please refer to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Guidelines
- Funds are disbursed well into the semester on designated dates located on Financial Aid Calendar
- Total eligible aid based on eligible credit hours minus student account charges
You can view your “anticipated” refund in Student Self-Service, after signing in.
- Repeating a class more than once
- An excess of 30 remedial credit hours-attendance in a course
- Registration for a course after the financial aid eligibility date
- Registering for a course that is not required for program
Three types of financial assistance make up the majority of aid provided by the federal government and the state of Illinois: grant assistance, loan assistance and work study assistance.
Year Round Pell Grant is now available to Pell eligible students. If you do not see the Pell Grant for summer listed on your financial aid award letter, please contact our office at 815-802-8550 or finaid@kcc.edu to request a calculation of your summer awards.
You must use your FSA ID to complete the FAFSA each year.
If you have forgotten your FSA ID username or password, you can visit the Manage My FSA ID page for help.
You can also call the Federal Processor at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
FAFSA Status
Within seven business days after submitting the FAFSA online, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) at the email address you provided. If you did not provide an email address, the SAR will be sent to your mailing address.
Review the SAR immediately for errors. If corrections are needed, log into the FAFSA website and follow the correction instructions.
Communications
You will receive important information by email from the KCC Office of Financial Aid. Make sure to read all documents thoroughly. Check your student email often (or learn how to forward it to a preferred email) to be sure you don’t miss any important information.
Financial Aid Self-Service
The new Financial Aid Self-Service module has all the financial aid details you need, any time you want it.
- Log in to my.kcc.edu
- Under College Applications, choose Self-Service
- Choose Financial Aid
You’ll find: FAFSA status, next steps/process, forms (links and downloads), award info, and more! Make sure to return any requested documents as soon as possible to ensure file completion in a timely manner.
Self-Service Checklist Items
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): School Code-007690
- You must do this beginning Oct. 1 each year.
- You will receive a letter and email from the Office of Financial Aid when your FAFSA has been received.
Complete Required Documents
- Review any missing documents/eligibility items along with instructions on how to complete each item.
Your Application is being reviewed by the Financial Aid Office
- We’ve received your FAFSA and all requested documents and we are working on finishing your award package. It can take several weeks to process a file.
- We will notify you by email if further information is needed or when your awards are ready to review.
Review and accept your Financial Aid Award Package
- ‘Accepted’ status: You are eligible to receive the award. Proration and eligibility restrictions still apply. Make sure to complete all required documents.
- ‘Estimated’ status: There is a hold on the award. Check to see if you are missing any required documents. Contact us for more information.
Review and sign your Financial Aid Award Letter
- If you are not eligible for any awards, and wish to apply for Federal Stafford Student Loans, please visit our office for a loan application.
Refunds/Disbursements
You can view your “anticipated” refund in Self-Service, after signing in. You can check disbursement dates on the Financial Aid Calendar, found on the Financial Aid Forms tab of this page. If award funds exceed KCC costs, a refund check will be issued to you. The date of financial aid disbursement is affected by enrollment in late-starting classes.
The first step is always completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid: FAFSA.
Financial aid at KCC
24-25
- 24-25 Financial Aid Handbook
- 24-25 Financial Aid Important Information
- 24-25 Financial Aid Calendar
- 24-25 FAFSA Application ENGLISH
- 24-25 FAFSA Application SPANISH
- 24-25 Degree Confirmation
- 24-25 Dependency Override Appeal
- 24-25 Unusual Enrollment History Form
- 24-25 Income Adjustment - Dependent Student
- 24-25 Income Adjustment - Independent Student
- SAP Appeal Form
State MAP grant information
Financial Aid Policies
Verification selection
The federal process selects at random one-third of KCC’s students for verification. Check your “Required Documents” on Financial Aid Self-Service for required verification items.
24-25
- 24-25 Dependent V4 Verification Worksheet
- 24-25 Dependent Verification Worksheet-V1, V5
- 24-25 Illinois Residency Requirements-Dependent
- 24-25 Illinois Residency Requirements-Independent
- 24-25 Independent V4 Verification Worksheet
- 24-25 Independent Verification Worksheet-V1, V5
Stafford/PLUS loans
Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward receiving student loans. Once your FAFSA file is complete, contact us or visit our office for a KCC student loan or Parent Plus loan application.
KCC Foundation scholarships
After you’ve applied for FAFSA and begun KCC’s Financial Aid process, review the many scholarships available and apply.
Income Adjustments
You or your parents may have a special circumstance during a school year when your income changes substantially from the prior year. To apply for an income adjustment, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Financial Aid Policies
Need a Job?
Consider student employment:
- Scheduled around your classes
- On-campus jobs = 0 travel time between school and work
- Valuable work experience
- Impressive addition to résumé
Depending on the position, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and up to 29 hours a week during the summer. Most student employment positions pay minimum wage.
Requirements
To be eligible for student employment, you must:
- have a high school or GED diploma
- be eligible to work in the United States
- be enrolled in six or more credit hours during the fall and spring semesters (enrollment in summer classes is optional)
- complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you believe you wouldn’t qualify for financial aid grants, you might qualify for Federal Work Study programs which would make you eligible for more student jobs at KCC.
Apply online
All student employment opportunities will be posted through KCC’s job openings site. Applications are completed online. Below are the types of student employment available.
For more information
Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 815-802-8550 or email finaid@kcc.edu