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Federal grants do not have to be repaid! 

Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the FAFSA. Awards vary and are based on your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for Pell Grant funds.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG is free money given to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Funds are very limited in this program. .

A federal student loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. There are two types of federal student loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.

Federal direct student loans are low-interest government loans available to help students defray college costs. Student loans must be repaid. The interest rate is capped for direct student loan programs at 6.8%. The annual rate is determined by congress by July 1st of each year. The government charges you a fee to process the loan on your behalf. This fee is called an origination fee and is withheld from each payment sent to the college. Students must complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and online entrance counseling to receive a federal student loan. Students must enroll in six credits to be eligible for a federal direct loan.

Repayment begins once the student is no longer enrolled in college for a minimum of six credit hours. Students who transfer from ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Cortland to another college may have their loans deferred while they attend another Title IV eligible institution. There are two types of federal direct student loans; subsidized and unsubsidized. 

Subsidized

Subsidized direct loans are based on financial need. Interest on a subsidized loan does not accrue until the student drops below half-time enrollment status or stops attending the college. 

Unsubsidized

 Unsubsidized direct loans are non-need based. Interest accrues on the loan while the student is enrolled in college. 

The chart below summarizes the maximum student loan eligibility based on dependency status and number of earned credit hours. 

Annual Direct Loan Limits

Aggregate Loan Limits: Maximum Outstanding Loan Debt

Learn more about .

A federal PLUS loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. There are three types of federal student loans; subsidized, unsubsidized and parent loans.

The Direct PLUS Loan is a low interest government loan available to credit worthy parents of dependent students. PLUS loans can help pay for educational expenses that are not covered by other financial aid.

The PLUS loan requires approval from the U.S. Department of Education and is based on the parent borrower’s credit worthiness as determined by a credit check. Parents who have passed a credit check are eligible to borrow the difference between the ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Cortland cost of attendance minus any other financial aid the student receives. The maximum PLUS eligibility is included on a student’s financial aid award letter.

PLUS borrowers must complete a PLUS Master Promissory Note and, in some cases, entrance counseling to learn about their rights and responsibilities as a parent loan borrower. The interest rate is capped at 7.9%. The parent borrower enters repayment sixty days after the loan proceeds are applied to the student’s billing account. The parent borrower has the option to defer loan payments while the student is attending classes at ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Cortland.

Federal Work-Study provides part-time employment opportunities for students to work on campus when they are not attending class.  If you are eligible for Work-Study, you will be contacted by directly by the Financial Aid Office.

Work-Study

For questions regarding work-study eligibility or assistance finding a job, contact the Financial Aid Office.

For questions about work-study forms, direct deposit, or payroll, contact Human Resources.

View Work-Study Handbook

Looking for Non-Work-Study Employment?

If you are enrolled and would like to find a non work study job on campus follow the instructions below:

1. Head over to .
2. Select On-campus Non-FWS Campus jobs in the quick search box.
3. Read and agree to the disclaimer that pops up.
4. View the jobs that are listed and click on the job title of a particular job that you want to apply for.
5. Once you have reviewed the job details you can apply for the job by clicking on the click here to apply for this job link.
6. You will then need to fill out the online job application and choose submit application.
7. Once you have submitted a job application it will be forwarded to the listed supervisor and they will contact you via email.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is a tuition grant awarded to eligible New York State residents. You may receive a maximum of six full-time semesters of TAP at a two-year college. Awards are based on New York State net taxable income. Must be enrolled in at least one 15-week course to be eligible.

Part-time TAP

Part-time TAP is available to New York State residents who were first-time freshman during or after the 2006-07 academic year, must be taking between 6-11 credits, and have a 2.0 GPA. Must be enrolled in at least one 15-week course to be eligible.

Aid for Part-time Study (APTS)

The Aid for Part-time Study (APTS) program provides grant assistance for eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies. To be considered for an APTS award, you must:

• Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be a legal resident of New York State
• Have graduated from a high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma by passing a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
• Be enrolled as a part-time student (3-11 credits)
• Be matriculated in an approved program of study
• Be in good academic standing
• Not have exhausted Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility
• Not be in default on any Federal or State student loan or on any repayment of state awards
• Meet income eligibility limitations
• Must be enrolled in at least one 15-week course to be eligible

To apply for APTS obtain an application from the Financial Aid Office located in Room 101. Since funds are limited, you are encouraged to complete the application and return it to the college by the end of the first week of classes for processing.

New York State Native American Aid

New York State Native American Aid is available to enrolled members of a New York State tribe and their children who are New York State residents and attend ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Cortland.

You are eligible to receive grant awards up to $2,000 per year for up to four years of full-time study (five years for specific programs requiring five years to complete degree requirements). If you are registered for less than 12 credit hours per semester will be considered part-time and will be funded on a prorated basis.

If funding is available, you may receive aid for summer course work. Any aid you receive for summer school study is deducted from your maximum entitlement for four years of full-time college study.

Applications must be postmarked by July 15 for the fall semester, by December 31 for the spring semester, and by May 20 for the summer session. There are no fees for submitting an application. You must apply for each semester (not annually). Specific eligibility criteria, information and applications can be found at the . 

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New York State World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship

The NYS World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of innocent victims who died or were severely and permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America and the resulting rescue and recovery efforts.

Requirements

• Be children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased or severely and permanently disabled victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States or the subsequent rescue and recovery operations. This includes victims at the World Trade Center site, at the Pentagon, or on flights 11, 77, 93, or 175.
  Be survivors of the terrorist attacks who are severely and permanently disabled as a result of injuries sustained in the attacks or the subsequent rescue and recovery operations.
• Additionally you must:
  • Study at an approved postsecondary institution in New York State
  • Have graduated from high school in the United States, earned a GED, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department
  • Be enrolled as a full-time student taking 12 or more credits per semester
  • Be matriculated in an approved program of study
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Not be in default on a State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards.
• World Trade Center Memorial Scholarships provide funds to help meet the cost of attending college. The award covers up to four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program) and includes the following components:
  • Tuition: The actual amount of your tuition at ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Cortland Community College.
  • Non-tuition Costs: These include room, board and allowances for books, supplies and transportation up to the average cost at SUNY colleges. The Commissioner of Education sets the non-tuition cost allowances each year.
  • Residence: If you live on campus you will receive a higher room and board allowance than a commuter student. 
• Receipt of other grants and scholarships may reduce the WTC award. The total of all aid received cannot exceed your Title IV cost of attendance.

Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) Funding

Education Law §6456 defines the population of students eligible to receive funding under the FYCSI. There are four important matters to be aware of:

• FYCSI funding is available to all students who meet the definition of Ed Law §6456 and are enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY college or university OR at a private college or university that hosts a HEOP project. 
• A student attending a private college or university is not required to be enrolled in its HEOP program to be eligible of FYCSI funding.
• An eligible student includes any student – including undocumented youth – who is currently a resident of New York state and who is an orphan or spent time in foster care at any time after their 13th birthday.
• Institutions of higher education (IHEs) must award FYCSI funds to eligible students based on their need, as determined by the IHE. FYCSI funds can be used for costs necessary for eligible students to attend college, as listed in Ed. Law §6456 and 8 CRR-NY 153-3.4(c), including but not limited to:
  • tuition and fees
  • books
  • transportation
  • meals and housing, including recess/intersession/winter break/summer break supplemental housing
  • summer college preparation programs
  • advisement, tutoring, and academic support
  • medical expenses including vision, dental, behavioral and primary health care which is not otherwise covered by an eligible student's health plan

For questions contact the Financial Aid Office.