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The Financial Aid Office awards funds from federal and state sources in the form of grants, scholarships, and employment. Applicant eligibility and program guidelines are determined by federal and state regulations. To learn more about paying for college, see the link below.

FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING TIPS FOR STUDENTS (FACTS)

To receive financial aid, applicants must meet general requirements for receiving aid, be in good academic standing, and must have a high school diploma, GED, or successfully completed homeschooling.

Apply now by following the steps below.

1
Apply For Admission to Essex County College

Apply for Admission and complete all admission processes (such as a placement test and registration) before you apply for aid.

Apply here
2
Activate your Essex County College Student Login

Go to myportal.essex.edu to activate your access to the Essex County College Student Portal.

3
Complete the FAFSA online

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed to determine your student aid eligibility based on your personal and family situation.

Apply online at fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm.   If you are a dependent first-time student, you and a parent must both create an FSA ID with the Department of Education at studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.

You will use the FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA and other federal forms.

To simplify the financial aid application process, we recommend that you use the data retrieval tool while completing the FAFSA to transfer your financial information from the IRS directly into the FAFSA.

Note: Be sure to list Essex County College’s School Code: 007107 on your FAFSA.

Be sure to complete the questions on the FAFSA to qualify for State Aid funds (TAG and EOF) from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The state questions will appear at the end of the FAFSA, so make sure you answer those questions before you exit your FAFSA application online.

4
Submit all required Financial Aid documents and forms

Once the FAFSA®​ application has been received by Essex County College (3-5 business days), you can login to myportal.essex.edu to view your financial aid status.

You may be required to complete or submit additional documents and/or forms before your financial aid can be processed and awarded. Any required documents or forms will be listed on the Financial Aid tab of your Essex County College Student Portal.

5
Complete the Financial Aid Process

Check the Essex County College Student Portal at myportal.essex.edu for your financial aid status. If you have been awarded aid, the funds awarded and the amounts will be on your Award Letter. At that time, the financial aid process is complete and no further action is necessary.

Financial Aid Application Deadline:

The Priority Processing Deadline for all students is May 1st. Students should complete the financial aid process no later than 30 days before your intended program start date. This deadline also includes submission and approval of any additional required documents by the Financial Aid Office. Failure to complete the process or submit the required documents will result in a delay in funding and may affect having funding in place by your start date. Please review the important deadline dates at deadline