Applying for Financial Aid at Essex County College is an eight step process that must be followed diligently.

Step 1 - The Admissions Process
Apply for admission to Essex County College as a degree seeking student and take the College placement test and the Ability to Benefit Test (ATB), if you are not a high school graduate.

Step 2 - File your Tax Return Early
Students seeking financial aid are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. This application is use to determine eligibility for all federal and New Jersey state financial aid programs. Essex County College’s federal school code “007107” must be included on the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available at any secondary school guidance office and at the Essex County College Financial Aid Office. Students may also apply on-line. It is the fastest and most accurate way to file. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file online.

After filing the FAFSA, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Processor. Students should carefully read the information on the SAR and follow all instructions therein. If the student is selected for verification, the student must contact the ECC Financial Aid Office immediately. A Financial Aid Officer from ECC will review the information you submitted on your SAR for accuracy and completeness and will request additional documents necessary to complete your application.

The FAFSA should be completed only after you and/or your parents have completed the Federal Income Tax Returns. The figures from the tax returns are needed to answer questions on the FAFSA.
Start a file folder to keep copies of all your financial aid paperwork. Make photocopies of each form or document you submit or mail out and your parents’ tax returns. If you or your parents were not employed, keep copies of all papers which document your/parents’ income and make photocopies of each document, which must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office, if requested.

Also, additional information such as copies of your birth certificate, Social Security card, or INS documents may be requested. Be sure to locate these items and keep them readily available.

Note: For subsequent years of study at ECC, a Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is designed for students who applied for aid the previous year. You may use this online application to complete and submit the Renewal FAFSA on the Web.

Step 3 - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
File the FAFSA early. We recommend that you submit it on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to put our school code on your application. The code number for ECC is 007107. We recommend that you file your FAFSA 60 days prior to the semester/term you plan to attend. Review the financial aid deadline dates for priority processing. Filing the FAFSA early will also assure you of an award notification in time for the Fall billing.

The 2005-2006 FAFSA will be available after January 1

Step 4 - Document Requests
Submit all requested documents to the Financial Aid Office promptly and notify the Enrollment Services Express Office if you move or change your telephone number.

Step 5 - Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Apply for Federal Work-Study if you need a part-time job on campus. Placement is made on a first come first served basis, based on the availability of funds and jobs. Students must complete a separate application for the FWS Program in the Financial Aid Office.

Step 6 - Correcting your Application
Contact the Financial Aid Office immediately if your application requires corrections. The office will assist you or correct and transmit the errors electronically for you, if required.

Step 7 - Register for Classes
Students must register for classes to be considered for aid. Be sure to register full-time for those programs which require full-time enrollment, 12 or more credits (Regular TAG and EOF). Take advantage of early registration and register on the ECC Web Site and avoid the long lines.

Step 8 - Verification
Verification is a requirement of the financial aid programs and is governed by federal and state regulations. Approximately 30 percent of the applicants are selected for verification. The federal processor will notify you if you have been selected for verification by placing an asterisks (*) after the EFC on your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you are selected for this process, you will be required to provide copies of the tax returns for individuals whose income was included on the application. Essex County College’s Financial Aid Office will notify the selected students of additional documents required.

An applicant selected for verification must submit all required documentation within 14 days after notification. Failure to comply with this request will result in the denial of aid. No federal or state financial aid funds will be disbursed to a student who has been selected for verification until such process has been completed.