Financial Aid

We would like to extend to you a warm welcome as you begin applying for college and investing in your future by attending Onondaga Community College.  At Onondaga, we believe you should have every opportunity to pursue a college education and we encourage you to apply for student financial aid as early as possible to find out the grants, scholarships, student loans and/or work-study jobs for which you qualify.

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General Eligibility

Eligibility for most federal, state, and institutional aid programs is based on financial need and/or academic achievement, and several other factors:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number (SSN).
  • Be matriculated (complete the admissions application for official acceptance into a degree or certificate program).
  • Be enrolled at least half-time. “Half-time” means taking at least 6 equivalent credit hours per semester.
  • Make satisfactory academic progress toward your degree/certificate. See Financial Aid and Academic Standing.
  • Be aware that some aid programs, NY State TAP for example, may require full-time enrollment (12 or more equivalent credit hours per semester).
  • Note that some students may be eligible for Federal Pell Grants while being enrolled for at least 3 credits.
  • Cannot be in default on a federal student loan.

  • Students in a study abroad program approved for credit by Onondaga Community College may be considered enrolled for the purpose of applying for federal student financial aid. 

How to Apply for Financial Aid

  • If you meet the general eligibility requirements above and provide any and all requested documents to the Financial Aid Office you can be considered for Financial Aid.
  • Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov for consideration for federal financial aid programs.
  • Students should also complete the New York State Tuition Assistance Program application at www.tapweb.org.
  • Students who are unable to provide parental information on the FAFSA application due to extenuating circumstances should contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.Students and parents who have experienced a significant reduction in their income from what was reported on the FAFSA application, should contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. 

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Types of Financial Aid

  • Grants and scholarships which may be awarded based on academic standings and need.
  • Loans which must be repaid by the student with interest. 
  • Student employment programs which provide income and work experience while the student pursues a degree or certificate.

How Financial Aid Awards are Determined

  • The traditional academic year includes a fall and spring semester, which together includes a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time; 15 in the Fall, and 15 in the Spring. Financial Aid is awarded on a semester basis which is considered one payment period. 
  • Federal Pell grant awards are determined by the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as calculated on the FAFSA along with the student's enrollment status. 
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a need-based federal award program funded at a specific dollar amount each year for each institution depending upon the availability of federal government funding. Priority for awarding is given to students who file their FAFSA prior to March 1st. Once funds in this program have been exhausted, no further awards can be made.  
  • Federal Work Study (FWS) is a need-based federal award program funded at a specific dollar amount each year for each institution depending upon the availability of federal government funding. Priority for awarding is given to students who file their FAFSA prior to March 1st. Once funds in this program have been exhausted, no further awards can be made. 
  • Federal Direct Student and Parent Loans are loans you or your parent borrow directly from the federal government. Direct Loans are based on a combination of factors, including a student's grade level, financial need and dependency status.

Sources of Financial Aid

  • United States Federal Government
  • New York State
  • Private sources

Detailed explanations of each of the programs are available in the Financial Aid Office.

Onondaga establishes a financial aid student expense budget that includes tuition, fees, books, room, board, transportation and personal expenses. Only tuition and fees will appear on your billing statement but the other expenses are calculated for the purpose of establishing need and awarding aid. 

You can get an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid by going to www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov 

Onondaga's FAFSA School Code: 002875 

New York State TAP School Code : 2185 

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