Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees

*Students from foreign countries who enter the College with a student or non-immigrant visa are classified as Out-of-State regardless of age or length of time residing in Maryland. 

**Effective the Spring 2016 Semester. After 12 credit hours of payment of tuition and fees, students will be allowed up to 6 credit hours with no additional cost in tuition and fees for both in-state and out-of-state. 

Fees

The Following Fees Are Non-Refundable

The Following Fees Are Refundable Prior to The Start of Each Semester’s Session

Other Fees

NOTE: Maryland residents age 60 and over 
Credit courses: no tuition, $20 administrative fee, and other mandatory fees per course  

Non-credit courses: $10 fee plus other mandatory fees per course 

NOTE: The College reserves the right to change tuition and fees, revise course content, cancel classes, and change instructor assignments without prior notice. 

Enrollment is not official until payment has been made. 

Student Refunds 

Non-financial aid refunds are processed at the end of the final add/drop period for each semester as dictated by the Academic Calendar. All refund checks are submitted through the State of Maryland and processed by Annapolis at this time. Refunds are based on the College’s refund policy. Students who have debts owed to the State of Maryland are subject to garnishment. The Academic Calendar is located at www.bccc.edu/academicinfo 

Financial aid refunds are processed by a 3rd party ECSI.ECSI will send an email to eligible students to choose their method of refund (i.e., direct deposit or paper check). 

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Credit Courses

Students dropping or withdrawing from a credit course may be eligible for a tuition refund. Refund information appears on students’ bills. The amount of refund is determined by the date on which the Add/Drop/ Withdrawal form is received in the Registrar’s Office, according to the following schedule for 16-week Fall and Spring regular semesters: 

No refunds are made after the third week of the semester.

The refund schedule for sessions shorter than the regular 16-week session is as follows:

No refunds are made after the fourth day.
The complete refund policy is available in the Student Accounting Office.

NOTE: The above refund policy does not apply to students who are receiving federal or state financial aid. Financial Aid recipients are subject to the Federal Return to Title IV (R2T4) refund calculation and will have different withdrawal percentages. Details are available in the Financial Aid Office. 

Non-Credit Courses

If the College cancels a non-credit Continuing Education course, 100% of the tuition and fees will be refunded. If a student formally withdraws from a non-credit course before the first-class meeting, the College will refund 100% of the tuition and fees. Refunds are not possible from the first-class meeting. 

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Procedure

Each semester the college establishes and publishes a course add, drop and withdrawal deadline date. Students can drop/withdraw from course(s) using the Panther Portal or by completeing and submitting the ADD/DROP/Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s office at registrar@bccc.edu. Failure to withdraw from course(s)  will result in F grades and a bill for the courses. Stopping payment on a check, failure to pay the semester bill, or failure to attend classes does not constitute withdrawal. 

ADD/DROP can be done during regular registration period office hours with a 100% tuition refund any time before classes begin. All fees are non-refundable, effective the first day of classes. 

Late ADD/DROP and Withdrawals

Should it be necessary to add, drop, or withdraw from a course, students must follow the published deadlines established for each term. Late drops and withdrawals are not allowed.

Maryland National Guard Tuition Waiver

Baltimore City Community College waives 50% of the tuition rate for credit courses for members of the Maryland National Guard, provided that regularly scheduled course space is available, the member of the Maryland National Guard is enrolled at the College, and the Maryland Adjutant General has certified that the member has at least 24  months remaining to serve or has agreed in writing to serve for a minimum of 24 months. 

Senior Citizen Waiver

Seniors add to the diversity of our learning community and are welcome at Baltimore City Community College. In accordance with Maryland State statute, all BCCC students aged 60 years and older are eligible for the BCCC Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver. This waiver exempts senior citizen students from the payment of tuition,only.Seniors are responsible for paying the fees associated to their course(s). Senior students are eligible to register based on the availability of seats for credit courses.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Guidelines

Seniors may utilize the waiver only if space is available in the designated course(s). Senior citizen students must follow the procedures below for registration: 

• See an advisor to approve and check availability of course(s) 
• Register during the last two days of the general registration period for a given semester/session. (Check Academic Calendar and Schedule of Classes for dates) 
• Students may not pre-register for courses for which they plan to use a Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver. 
• Senior citizen students who choose to register earlier than the last two days of general registration for a given semester/session.may do so and pay the full cost of tuition and fees by completing the Senior Citizen Payment Agreement Form located in the Registrar’s Office or Student Success Center at Liberty Campus. 

For additional information about the Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 410-462-7777. 

Student Debts to the College

Student Financial Responsibility 

• Students are responsible for payment of tuition and fees generated by registration.  
• Students are responsible for arranging to pay their bill by the due date and all charges unless they drop their classes by the end of the Add/Drop period for a given semester/session.  
• Failure to attend classes or submit registration changes in writing to the Registrar’s Office does not relieve students of financial obligations to Baltimore City Community College. 

Students should not rely on the system dropping them for Non-Payment. 

Student Accounting Holds 

Holds may be placed on student accounts with balances and do not have a guaranteed method of payment indicated in Banner. Guaranteed methods of payment are: 

• Financial Aid 
• Deferred Payment Plan 
• 3rd Party Authorization Letter 
• Tuition Remission or Tuition Waiver form  
• International Wire Payment 
• Pay their balance in full 

If a student account has a hold, the following must occur before a student can register for classes. 

• Pay their balance in full 
• Pay their balance down until the balance is below $250.00 (including collection cost. Then set up a payment plan to pay the remaining balance. If the student is at Heartland, they must set up a payment plan with Heartland. 
• The student can set up a deferred payment plan with Heartland and add the tuition and fees for the future semester to their payment plan. 
• Financial Aid students can contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if more than $200.00 of their future aid can be used to cover their past due balance

Note: Students can only use financial aid if it is approved by the Director/Assistant Director of the Financial Aid Office. This can only happen if the student has remaining funds after tuition, fees and books are covered. If not, financial aid cannot be used.  In addition, this is done on a case-by-case basis. In addition, it must be approved by the Financial Aid Office first. 

Payment Policy

The BCCC Cashier Office accepts cash, debit/credit cards, certified check, and money orders as forms of payment. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Deferred Payment Plan (TouchNet)

Baltimore City Community College uses TouchNet to process Deferred Payment plans. The Deferred payment plan allows students to defer their tuition, fees and textbooks for the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. The payment plan does not have any credit (course) restrictions. Students can also set up a deferred payment plan for just their textbooks if needed. Payment plan information is located here www.bccc.edu/Page/2424. The payment plan requires students to use a credit card, debit card, checking or savings account. Students can use MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express. If a student adds or drops courses, the TouchNet payment plan will automatically reflect the changes in the account balance and in the monthly payment amounts. 

Statement of Residency

It is the policy of Baltimore City Community College to permit students who have been domiciled in Maryland for at least three consecutive months prior to the start of classes to pay in-state tuition, in accordance with state and federal law. Domicile shall be considered as a “person’s permanent place of abode, where physical presence and possessions are maintained and where the student intends to remain indefinitely.” To verify residency status students may have to submit appropriate documentation.

Military and Veterans

To comply with Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) Act of 2014 - Section 702, In-State Tuition Rate for Veterans SCO Public (known as the Choice Act), and amended Public Law 114-315 Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016. Baltimore City Community College will grant in-state tuition waivers under The Choice Act for individuals who meet the following criteria: 

• A Veteran using educational assistance under chapter 30 ( Montgomery G.I. Bill - Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post 9/11 G.I. Bill) who lives in the state of Maryland (regardless of permanent state of residence) and enrolls in the school after discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.   
• Anyone using transferred Post 9/11 G. I. Bill benefits (spouse or child) who lives in the state of Maryland (regardless of his/her permanent state of residence) and enrolls in the school after the transferor’s discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more. 
• Anyone described above remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school. The person so described must have enrolled in the school following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30 or chapter 33. 
• Anyone using benefits (spouse or child) under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state of Maryland (regardless of his/her permanent state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more.   

Students will maintain in-state tuition status as long as they remain continuously enrolled at Baltimore City Community College in one or more programs. 

Maryland Dream Act

An individual qualifies for in-state tuition under the Maryland Dream Act if :

1. Provides official high school transcripts indicating attendance at a public or nonpublic high school in Maryland for at least 3 academic years 
2. Graduated from a public or nonpublic high school in Maryland or receiving the equivalent of a high school diploma from the State (official transcript indicating date of graduation is required);
3. Enrolls in the college within six years after graduating from a public or nonpublic secondary school in the State or receiving the equivalent of a high school diploma in the State;
4. Provides documentation that the individual, or the individual’s parent or legal guardian has filed a Maryland income tax return, annually for the 3-year period before the academic year in which the tuition exemption would apply (home-schooled students are subject to this requirement in the same manner);
   1. annually each year between secondary school attendance and enrolling at the college, and
   2. annually while attending a community college;
5. In the case the student is not a permanent resident,provides to the college an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days after the individual becomes eligible to do so;
6. Provides proof that the individual has registered with the selective service system. (This currently applies to all males 18 - 25. Proof of selective service registration can be obtained by filing with the Post Office and returning a receipt to the college that shows proof of registration or by providing a selective service card.).

Once you are determined to be eligible for the exemption, you will continue to receive it if you fulfill the eligibility requirements or until the college no longer offers it. The exemption permits undocumented individuals to pay the in-state tuition rate based on the location of your high school. If you have received a GED, the tuition rate would be based on where you most recently attended high school. To determine eligibility students must complete and submit the BCCC Dream Act Student Affidavit with all required documentation to the Admissions Office. Applying for the exemption does not alter your responsibility to pay by the college deadline any nonresident tuition and associated fees that may be due before your eligibility is determined. 

Non-Credit Students

In establishing the domicile of a person enrolling in a non-credit continuing education course, that person shall indicate on a signed registration document affirming whether he/she is a resident of Maryland. That student must then adhere to the same criteria for proof of residence as a credit student at Baltimore City Community College. 

Contracted Education Training

Baltimore City Community College may enter into contract with any public or private sector employer or non-profit organization that maintains facilities, operates or does business in the State to provide education or training for public or private sector employees or members for a set contractual fee in place of payment of tuition and fees under the following conditions: 

1. The employee or member is enrolled in credit or non-credit courses which will benefit the employer; 
2. The employer or non-profit organization pays the fees charged by the College; 
3. The fee reasonably reflects the usual cost borne by the students in the same or similar courses; 
4. The employees or members enrolled under this program shall be treated as any other students in accordance with the Baltimore City Community College policies and procedures and the general policies of the Board of Trustees except for payment of tuition 
5. Contractual arrangments under this section may include customized training and employer paid tuition and tuition reimbursement plans 

Foreign Nationals

A foreign national admitted to the United States on a temporary student or visitor visa may not be considered a Maryland resident. The student enrolling at the College is responsible for declaring proper residency status. Students are required to sign a statement verifying their residency. The burden of proof of domicile is upon the student who provided the documentation which substantiates his/her claim. A student discovered to have been improperly classified as a state resident will be reclassified as an out-of-state resident and required to pay the College the tuition difference.Misrepresentation of facts to evade payment of out-of-state resident tuition may be considered cause for disciplinary action. Some non-immigrant visa types may not be eligible for in state tuition depending upon their United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) visa status. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions, or refer to the BCCC website www.bccc.edu/apply. A student failing to complete the Statement of Residency on the Admissions Application and provide appropriate documentation for residency classification will automatically be classified as an out-of-state resident for tuition purposes. 

The College requires students to provide proof of residency based on, but not limited to, one or more of the following: 

• Maryland driver’s license address 

• Motor vehicle registration address 

• Address on Maryland income tax documents 

• Voter registration address 

• Uninterrupted presence at home address, including months when the College is not in session 

• Presence of possessions at the student’s residence or home rental or ownership 

• Evidence of attendance in a Maryland High School (within the academic year of admission) 

• Military documentation (DD214 or Certificate of Eligibility for Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post 9/11 G.I. Bill) 

• MD Dream Act Documentation 

• Evidence of Immigration status in the United States 

Residency Appeals

A  person is provided the opportunity to request a change in residency classification or to appeal current classification by the third week of classes or twenty percent of enrollment date for the current semester/ session. Appeals for change of residency classification must be accompanied by evidence justifying such changes and must be processed prior to the end of the third week of classes or twenty percent of enrollment date for the current semester/session of enrollment. Any changes processed after the third week of classes or twenty percent of enrollment date will be effective the following semester. Appeals shall be submitted in writing to the Admissions Office. 

Payment Options - Baltimore City Community College

After registering for courses, students can secure their seats by choosing from a variety of payment options for students, parents, and others to pay tuition and fees. 

BCCC Cashier Office accepts cash, major credit cards, certified check, and money orders.  BCCC Cashier Office does not accept personal check payments.  
 
Please note: Tuition and Fees paid by certified check or money order will require up to 7 business days to be posted to the student’s account. 
 
Mail your certified check or money order to: 

Non-Cash Payment In lieu of Cash

A student may also use a pre-paid/reloadable debit or credit card to make payments online via TouchNet.

Students should maintain their pre-paid/reloadable debit or credit card in a secure location and not destroy it after use. 

Inquiries related to student payments should be sent via email to studentaccounting@bccc.edu.

Students will be dropped from all courses if account balances are not paid in full or if the students have not established a payment plan before each session drop date. Please note that the Registration Fee is Non-Refundable.

Pay by a Deferred Payment Plan

The deferred payment plan allows for tuition, fees, textbooks, and supplies to be paid in monthly interest-free payments for a $50 enrollment fee each semester. Go to www.bccc.edu. Select Paying for College. 

Pay by Pending Financial Aid 
A student can apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov (School Code: 002061) beginning October 1 for the next academic year. To qualify for the Maryland State Scholarships Programs, the FAFSA must be submitted before March 1 for the next academic year. Allow at least four weeks for processing. A student’s courses will be held after aid becomes “pending.” If a student has applied for Financial Aid and has not been awarded the aid prior to registration, other payment arrangements must be made to ensure that courses are held. Additional information is available on the BCCC Financial Aid webpage. For questions, please visit the Financial Aid Office at the Liberty Campus Main Building Room 24 or call them at (410) 462-8500. 
 
Pay Online 
Students can pay their tuition and fees through myBCCC and TouchNet. TouchNet accepts Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express, Checking/Savings account ACH.   
 
Pay by Tuition Remission or Tuition Waiver

Students should check that the Tuition Remission Form or Tuition Waiver Form was faxed (usually by the organization’s Human Resources Office) to the Student Accounting Office, at 410-462-7477. Tuition Waivers and Tuition Remission cover tuition only - fees and textbooks are not covered. Employees and their dependents must reimburse the College if they drop a course after the refund date or receive a grade of “D” or below for a BCCC credit course. To verify the form was received, call BCCC’s Human Resources Office at 410-209-6007.
 
Pay by Third Party Payment
If a third party (often an employer) is paying for a student’s tuition and/or fees, go to www.bccc.edu. Select Paying for College then Third Party Billing for details. For additional questions please contact BCCC’s Student Accounting Office at the Liberty Campus - Main Building room 027 or call 410-462-8333.

Purchasing a MTA Bus Pass

Baltimore City Community College offers our students and staff the ability to purchase bus passes at our Cashier’s Office. The requirements to purchase MTA bus passes are listed below. Bus pass sales are final at the time of purchase.Students purchasing a bus pass must present a current class schedule and a Baltimore City Community College identification card.  

1. Monthly bus passes are $77.00. A student must be currently enrolled the month he or she receives a college bus pass. A student must have six or more credits for Fall and Spring classes. Summer classes require a            minimum of three credits. Staff and Faculty can also purchase this bus pass with a current Baltimore City Community College identification card  

2. Bus passes can be purchased with cash, credit cards, and Financial Aid. Students purchasing bus passes with Financial Aid must complete a liability statement. The cardholder must be present if the student is paying          by credit card.  

Lost or Stolen Bus Passes:  

Students or staff who have lost their CharmPass can contact MTA Customer Service by emailing MTAMobileTicketing@mta.Maryland.gov or by calling 1-833- CHARM-22 (1-833-242-7622). 

For additional information on MTA CharmPass, please visit the MTA CharmPass website at https://www.mta.maryland.gov/charmpass. 

Financial Aid

Liberty Campus
Main Building, Room 024
410-462-8500

Financial Aid makes postsecondary education accessible to current and future students by providing them with comprehensive information about financial aid programs, assistance in the application process, and efficient delivery of funds. Financial Aid shall maintain accurate records and administer Title IV programs in accordance with all applicable state and federal statutory provisions, regulatory requirements, and College policies and procedures. Through a partnership with students, parents, and numerous offices and organizations both inside and outside Baltimore City Community College, Financial Aid is committed to timely communication and quality customer service. BCCC does not participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program.  

TYPES OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID  

FEDERAL STUDENT AID 

• Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students with financial need. It is considered gift aid that does not need to be repaid. The Pell Grant is based on enrollment (registered credits or billable hours) and the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated after the FAFSA is submitted. 
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded to eligible undergraduate students with exceptional financial need and with the lowest SAI. Students receiving Federal Pell Grant receive priority for FSEOG awards. FSEOG is campus-based funding that is administered by the Financial Aid Office. 
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is awarded to enrolled students for employment in a variety of jobs throughout the college and the surrounding community. Students must be enrolled in at least six credits/billable hours and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to participate in the Federal Work Study Program.  Jobs are generally limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week. 

MARYLAND STATE FINANCIAL AID 

• Need-based grants and scholarships 
• Legislative scholarships 
• Career/Occupation-based grants and scholarships 
• Unique populations 
• Tuition waivers 

Undocumented students can complete the MHEC One App for Undocumented Students.For more information visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) or call 410-767-3300.  

Financial Aid Application Process  

Prospective students who have been accepted for admission in a degree or certificate program, or continuing students who are currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program that plan to utilize Title IV funds to finance their education, may register for classes as soon as the following steps have been completed:  

1. Complete the FAFSA online or on your mobile device at (www.studentaid.gov). Students,who are residents of Maryland, are encouraged to complete the FAFSA annually by March 1st to qualify for various state scholarship programs.   
2. Once a valid ISIR is received by the College for review and processing, the scheduling of financial aid awards is completed if the electronic financial aid application is correct. If additional information is needed or if the ISIR is rejected, chosen for verification, or has “C” flags, the student will be notified by letter or e-mail advising them what is needed to complete the process.    
3. Once all required documents are submitted and eligibility is finalized, the students financial aid award package is calculated. Notification of the student’s award offer is generated indicating the types of aid, amount of aid, and terms for which funds will be disbursed. If there are questions regarding the disbursement of funds, students should contact the Student Accounting office. 

Student Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible to receive Federal assistance, a student must meet the following requirements:  

• Be enrolled in an eligible program of study.  

• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Diploma (GED). 

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident or reside in the United States for other than a temporary purpose (supportive documentation may be required to verify residency or citizenship status).  

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in their course of study.  

• Not be in default of any loan or owe a repayment on a Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, or State Grant.  

• Demonstrate financial need.    

Forms and Documents 

Information on how to apply for financial aid is available on the BCCC webpage.  Additional documents may be requested to complete processing of the aid request. Notification of these additional required documents is sent to students through a missing document notification. Students are encouraged to submit any forms and documents timely to ensure their financial aid awards are applied.  

Verification and Resolution of Conflicting Information 

Verification is the process of confirming the accuracy of student-reported data on the financial aid application (FAFSA). Only a portion of the student population is selected for verification.  

Selection of Applicants to be Verified  

Baltimore City Community College verifies those applicants selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). Typically, the Department selects thirty percent of applicants each award year for verification. In addition, aid administrators may select a student for verification if there is a discrepancy or a condition which is unusual and warrants investigation.  

When the FAFSA is imported into the Financial Aid Management System which indicates that a student has been selected by CPS for verification, the system will automatically create the document requirements for the student to complete and/or submit.

Student Notification   

Students are notified of selection for verification by the U.S. Department of Education through their Student Aid Report (SAR).  Additionally, if the College has received information identifying the student as being selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education’s CPS, a letter/email is sent to the student requesting the appropriate verification documents (e.g., verification form, student and parent tax returns).A communication is sent to the student with these requirements, and they are also displayed in the student portal. 

Document Collection Process  

Once the required documentation is identified, the verification communication is sent to the student.  When the student submits the requested documentation, the staff will review the data and action the document requirement in the financial aid management system. When all required documents are actioned as satisfied or waived, the student is considered complete and ready to be packaged. These files are routed to the appropriate staff for verification and packaging.  

Documentation submitted to the College must be legible, appropriate, and include the student’s college issued ID number for identification purposes.  If the student submits a document that is illegible (i.e., a copy of a tax return in which the income numbers are not identifiable), not appropriate (a tax return is requested and the student submits a W-2), or identifiable (student submits a copy of the step-parents tax return and the last name does not match the student’s and there is no student social security number) the documents will be returned to the student along with a request for additional documentation. The return of documentation to the student must be recorded in the financial aid management system by status using the document requirement as incomplete.  

Verification Time Frame    

Selected applicants must submit required verification documents once notified of the selection. A Pell Grant applicant selected for verification must complete the process by the deadline published in the Federal Register or 120 calendar days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier. Campus-based program applicants must adhere to the same deadlines when data is requested for the verification process.  All document requirements in a needed, received, or incomplete status will be changed to unsatisfied or expired after the deadline has been reached. 

Failure to Comply  

If the student fails to provide the required documentation, the student will not be able to complete the financial aid awarding process.

Determination of Financial Need  

Cost of Attendance 

Baltimore City Community College’s Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for the period of enrollment.  COA includes costs such as tuition and fees, allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.  A schedule of the tuition, fees and other institutional charges is published in the Baltimore City Community College Catalog and webpage.  Baltimore City Community College’s COA reflects its average student educational costs at a modest, but adequate standard of living.  

In assigning amounts to each of the expense items used in establishing cost of attendance, the Office of Financial Aid attempts to strike a balance between general consistency and fairness among all students, and attention to the unusual but legitimate expenses that an individual student or family might incur. Tuition, fees, and an allowance for book and supply costs for full-time programs are based upon full-time enrollment. Living cost estimates are based upon apartment or commuter plans. Further information about these student expense budgets, and the method of their derivation is available on request.  

The student’s expense budget only reflects the costs associated with the student and does not include those of his or her dependent family members. The formula for determining student contribution takes into consideration the expense required to support the entire family in the process of determining the amount the student has available for his or her Baltimore City Community College expenses. 

Need Analysis 

Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance at Baltimore City Community College, and the resources which the family might reasonably be expected to contribute towards those costs. If the family contribution does not equal or exceed the cost of attendance, BCCC attempts to fill this difference, or need, with a financial aid award. 

Title IV need-based financial aid programs are awarded based on the Federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI). The general rule in awarding Federal funds is that the student’s total financial aid and other Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) must not exceed the student’s financial need (Need = COA minus the Federal EFC or SAI).  

Institutional need-based financial aid programs are awarded based on the institutional Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or SAI. The general rule in awarding institutional funds is that the student’s total financial aid and other Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) must not exceed the student’s financial need (Need = COA minus the institutional EFC or SAI).    

The Financial Aid Management System calculates the Federal need and the Institutional need and then applies the need values in calculation of eligibility for funds in the packaging process.  

Packaging of Funds 

The first step of the packaging process is to determine the student’s COA using the Baltimore City Community College application and the ISIRs. The second step of the award process is to determine the student’s need for financial assistance by subtracting the SAI from the student’s COA. After the need has been established, the financial aid management system packages funds from various financial programs based upon the student’s eligibility to be offered funds through those programs.  

Baltimore City Community College awards financial aid on a first-come, first-serve basis to all eligible students who qualify under Federal, State and College requirements.    Title IV need-based financial aid programs are awarded based on the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is the amount that a family can be expected to contribute toward a student’s college costs. The general rule in offering funds is that the student’s total financial aid offer plus other Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) must not exceed the student’s financial need (Need = COA minus the SAI).    

Packaging Philosophy 

All aid is awarded and processed using a scheduled academic year (SAY) which includes two terms of enrollment.  Pell Grants are the first source of aid to the student, and packaging Title IV funds begins with Pell eligibility.  All expected financial assistance will be included as EFA when making campus-based awards such as FSEOG and FWS.   Student eligibility for Title IV programs is determined by the Financial Aid Management system and students’ financial aid is packaged by the system in accordance with federal requirements.  

Federal Funds 

Baltimore City Community College participates in the Federal Pell Grant, Federal IASG, FWS, and FSEOG programs. 

Federal Pell Grant 

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides grants to undergraduate students who have financial need (as determined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)) and meet the other requirements for Student Financial Assistance (refer to Department of Education Student Financial Aid Handbook: Student Eligibility section). Unlike other programs such as the campus-based programs, schools do not have to make decisions about who receives Pell funds or how much they receive; the Department of Education pays Pell funds to all eligible students and establishes formulas to determine how much each student receives.  

Aid Administrators can use Professional Judgment to adjust need and request a Pell Grant. The adjustment must be based on a student’s individual circumstances and must be documented in the student’s file. 

Federal Pell Grant Recalculation 

There will be occasions where students drop to less than full-time enrollment levels. If a student’s enrollment changes before the Pell Recalculation Date (PRD), then the amount of the award must be recalculated based on enrollment as of the PRD. If an ISIR is initially received after the PRD, then the student’s enrollment at the time the Pell Grant is awarded will establish the PRD enrollment for the student. 

Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Grant 

This program provides grants to students whose parent or guardian died because of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001. The student must be Pell ineligible and was under 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time in college at the time of their parent’s or guardian’s death.  For students that meet the above criteria but have a Pell eligible EFC, BCCC will package the student with an SAI of up to 0.  

Federal Children of Fallen Heroes Grant 

This program provides grants to undergraduate students who are Pell Grant eligible and whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer. The student must be Pell ineligible and was under 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time in college at the time of their parent’s or guardian’s death.  For students that meet the above criteria but have a Pell eligible SAI, BCCC will package the student with an SAI of up to 0.   

Federal Supplemental Grant (FSEOG) 

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) will be considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid.  Priority is given to students already receiving a Pell Grant.   

Baltimore City Community College receives a limited amount of Federal Supplemental Grant funds. The College awards funding (regardless of campus) until the allocation is exhausted for that term. The specific amount is set by the College based upon: 

• The student’s financial need 
• The funds available at the College 
• The amount of aid the student is already receiving. 
• The award amount and term allocation are reviewed semesterly and adjusted as necessary. 

Federal Work Study (FWS) 

Financial Aid supports the College’s recruitment effort to maximize student quality, student diversity and to minimize gift aid expenditures by offering Federal Work-Study (FWS) jobs to eligible students. 

The financial aid office complies with federal policy regarding awarding, assignment, payment and job development. See detailed regulations listed under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-675 

REVISIONS Initiated by Financial Aid 

The College will consider a revision in a student’s aid package when the following occurs:  

• There is conflicting information in the file.  
• There are changes resulting from verification.  
• There is a change in availability of funds.  
• There is a change to enrollment status. 
• There is an administrative error.  

The information provided along with the award letter acknowledges the right of Baltimore City Community College to make a change to any award.  Students are sent a revised award letter as soon as possible. In the case of an office error, it is customary to contact the student personally or send a personalized letter from the Financial Aid team.  

Revisions Initiated by Request from Student  

Students may decline any portion of their award in writing.  If a student wants to add an award, the request should be directed first to the Student Accounting office and they will coordinate with Financial Aid to review.  The student is responsible for notifying Baltimore City Community College of any changes to their financial resources. If the student reveals a change in circumstances, which may affect the student’s family contribution, the student must document the situation in writing including supportive documentation. If a change to the award is allowable, Financial Aid will make an adjustment and send a revised award letter to the student.  

Over awards 

An over award occurs any time a student’s disbursed financial aid (federal, college, and outside aid) and other resources exceeds a students need for the award period by more than an allowable tolerance. 

Eliminating an Over award  

Before reducing a student’s aid package due to an over award, the aid administrator should always attempt to alleviate the situation by reducing or eliminating the over award. Some awards may be reduced or canceled to alleviate an over award.  

Causes of an Over award and/ or Overpayment 

There are several potential causes of an over award:  

• Change in the enrollment status - the student withdraws or drops below the projected enrollment status. 
• Reduction in cost of attendance - the student changes COA categories 
• Additional resources - the student has resources greater than those used to calculate the award.  
• Administrative error - the aid administrator inadvertently makes an error.  
• Fraud - the student intentionally deceives or misrepresents information to obtain funds.  

Overpayments 

A student who receives an overpayment of a Title IV program loan, or a Title IV program grant may reestablish eligibility for Title IV pro­gram assistance by repaying the excess amount, or by making arrange­ments satisfactory to the holder of the overpayment debt to pay the excess amount.  Baltimore City Community College may decide to pay a student’s obligation by returning to the appropriate Title IV program account the amount overpaid to the student. Once the College makes the appropriate return, the student will no longer be considered in overpayment and the student’s eligibility for Title IV funds is restored as long as the student meets other Title IV eligibility criteria. 

Census Date  

The College recalculates enrollment for Title IV programs at each census date within the term.   The first census date for a term is the last date of the drop/add period for the term. If the initial ISIR is received after the drop/add period, or if the student is verified after the drop/add period, the first census date (for the student) is the date the ISIR was received.   

If a student drops, withdraws from, or adds a class before the census date, the College recalculates eligibility based on any change in enrollment status through that census date. 

Confirmation of Attendance 

BCCC is an attendance taking institution. Attendance in all classes is verified by the instructor for the class. The Census Date or Pell Recalculation Date is set at the point where 20% of the enrollment period is complete. The number of credit hours for which a student is paid financial aid, State and Federal, will be based on the number of credit hours that he or she is enrolled at the time of the College’s census date.  If confirmation of attendance is not received by the Census date, the student is to be administratively withdrawn from the class as a no show by the faculty. 

The Registrar posts course withdrawal dates. The Financial Aid management system checks for these dates when determining the student’s eligibility for disbursement.  If a student’s attendance in class is not verified, regardless of the reason, the student’s financial aid will either be withdrawn or adjusted to pay for only those classes that student’s attendance has been verified.  If the student is reported for never having attended a class at the end of the semester, the student’s financial aid will be adjusted retroactively and the student may incur a financial obligation owed to the College. 

Professional Judgment and Dependency Status Overrides 

Pursuant to federal regulations, Baltimore City Community College may make professional judgment decisions for special or unusual family or student circumstances. Circumstances requiring professional judgment decisions must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis and must be documented in the student’s file.  

Please Note: The school does not have the authority to make direct adjustments to the EFC or to the formula used to calculate the EFC, just data elements on the FAFSA which may change the EFC. 

State Funds 

The Maryland Departments of Higher Education and Workforce Development administers a number of state grants and scholarships. To be eligible for most Maryland student financial aid, initial and renewal students should have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file by March 1.  The designated Student Financial Aid specialist, with the assistance of the Information Technology (IT) administrator, will transfer Maryland’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) awards electronically from the Office of Student Financial Assistance into the College’s Financial Aid Management System. This process starts in June, prior to the academic year, and continues until April of the academic year. BCCC’s Office of Student Financial Aid sends the scholarship recipients award notifications.

Bookstore Charges  

The Office of Student Financial Aid will open the book charge account three weeks before the beginning of each semester. Financial aid recipients who have funds remaining after tuition and fees are deducted from their awards will have a book charge put into the College’s Bookstore to purchase books and supplies for the semester.The Computer and Information Technology Office will run a program that automatically puts students’ book charges on their accounts 45 minutes after they have registered or adjusted their class schedules. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (CFR 34 668.16e) 

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended in 1983, requires Institutions of higher education that participate in the Federal Title IV financial aid programs to establish guidelines or Standards of Academic Progress, to monitor a student’s progression toward an associate degree or non-degree program (certificate). Baltimore City Community College’s Standards of Academic Progress Policy applies to all students enrolled in either an associate degree or a certificate program.  The Standards of Academic Progress Policy will take into consideration the student’s cumulative (all) attempted hours (not earned), transfer credits and cumulative grade point average, regardless of whether the student paid for some or all his or her courses and regardless of when the student took the courses. 

EVALUATION OF STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS 

Degree Programs 

Standards of Academic Progress will be evaluated at the end of each academic year for degree seeking students. The spring semester is considered the end of the academic year for Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). 

Certificate Programs 

Standards of Academic Progress will be evaluated at the end of each semester for students enrolled in certificate programs. 

Minimum Grade Point Average 

To continue to be eligible to receive Federal financial aid, a student must maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) based on the number of attempted credit hours. Per Federal regulation, attempted credit hours include all hours in which a student was enrolled after the drop-add period ends plus any transfer credit hours. Baltimore City Community College’s Standards of Academic Progress policy requires students to have earned the minimum Grade Point Average as required by the College’s Academic Standing Policy. The Academic Standing Policy can be found in the College catalog or on the college’s website at: www.bccc.edu.   

Per Federal regulations, students are required to have a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) after their second year of enrollment or after attempting 41 credit hours at BCCC.  Each student must complete a certain percentage of all credit hours attempted, including transfer hours. Attempted credit hours include grades of A, B, C, D, F, I, W, IP, U and repeats. Transfer hours are included in the cumulative attempted and cumulative pass rate. The grade of “FX” will not be counted as an attempted credit hour or in the maximum timeframe.  

Note: The following tables list the number of credit hours a student is required to successfully complete and the required G.P.A. to maintain their financial aid eligibility. 

Completion Rate for Degree Programs 

Completion Rate for Certificate and Non Degree Program 

Maximum Time Frame 

The Federal regulations that govern the Federal financial aid programs require that colleges place a limit on the number of credit hours a student may receive financial aid based on their major or program of study. At Baltimore City Community College, a student may receive financial aid for attempting no more than 150% of a program’s length.    

Maximum Time Frame for Associate Degree Programs 

Students enrolled in Associate Degree programs may receive financial aid for attempting up to 150% of the total credits required for their major. 

Example: An Associate Degree in Nursing requires 70 credit hours. Students accepted and enrolled in this program of study may receive financial aid for attempting 105 credit hours 

(150% x70 = 105 credits).   

Maximum Time Frame for Certificate Programs 

Students enrolled in Certificate programs may receive financial aid for attempting up to 150% of the total credits required for their major. 

Example: A Certificate program in Practical Nursing requires 45 credit hours to complete the program. Students accepted and enrolled in this program of study may receive financial aid for attempting 67 credit hours (150% x45 =67 credits).   

Transfer Credits 

All credits hours transferred to BCCC from other colleges will be counted in the cumulative attempted credit hours, cumulative pass rate and maximum timeframe.

Repeating Courses  

Students can take the same course twice if they receive a failing grade and financial aid. Financial Aid will not pay a student to attempt a class for the third time. Students may not receive federal grants for courses that they have previously completed with a passing grade. Each repeated course is counted as an attempted credit hour. 

Change of Major 

Academic Renewal 

The Financial Aid Office must count all credit hours attempted, even if the student is granted academic renewal by the College, regardless of how long ago the credit hours were attempted, and if the student repeated courses.

Developmental Courses (CFR 668.20) 

Students who are required to enroll in developmental studies or remedial coursework as part of their program of study may receive financial aid to attempt up to 28 credits in developmental coursework. A student cannot appeal to have financial aid pay for more than 28 hours in developmental courses. Developmental studies coursework will not be counted in the maximum time frame for the student’s major. However, the developmental studies courses will be counted toward the cumulative attempted and required pass rate.  Students who fail to pass all of the required Developmental Studie’s courses with a grade of “C” or better will have their financial aid eligibility suspended. 

Example: Lisa is pursuing an Associate Degree in General Studies. The total credits needed to complete the program is 70 credits. The maximum number of credit hours that Lisa can be paid in the General Studies program is 105 credit hours(150%x70=105). Lisa has attempted a total of 90 credits. However, 28 of the credit hours that she has attempted are developmental studies courses.  Lisa can receive financial aid to attempt 43 more credit hours (90-28 developmental courses = 62 attempted credits); (105-62 credits = 43 additional credits for which Lisa can receive financial aid). 

Audits or Non-Credit Courses 

With the exception of Developmental Studies Courses, Financial Aid will not pay for non-credit courses or courses that are audited. 

Financial Aid Suspension 

Students who failed to meet all of the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress Policy will be placed on financial aid suspension. However, Federal guidelines authorizes the Financial Aid Office to extend a student’s financial aid eligibility, if the student can demonstrate that there were extenuating circumstances that caused the student to fall below the minimum standards, while in attendance at BCCC. Students may file an appeal to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated. 

Financial Aid Appeal Process

Students whose financial aid eligibility was suspended may appeal to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated or the maximum time frame extended. Students must complete a Financial Aid Appeal Form and submit documentation to support any extenuating circumstances that caused the student not to meet the requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress Policy. Appeals without extenuating circumstances and appropriate documentation will be reviewed. However, lack of documentation to support extenuating circumstances may cause the appeal to be denied. 

Special Note: The Financial Aid Appeal Process is not the same as an appeal to be reinstated into the college after academic dismissal. Students allowed to return to BCCC after an academic dismissal must submit a separate appeal to the Financial Aid Office to have their financial aid eligibility reinstated. 

Reinstatement of Financial Aid 

Students who successfully appeal their financial aid suspension will have their financial aid eligibility reinstated for one semester. At the end of that semester, the Financial Aid Office will review the students’ overall academic performance to determine if the student can still complete their degree objective within a specified timeframe. If approved students must adhere to an educational plan. If a student fails to follow the Educational Plan, their financial aid eligibility will be suspended. 

If a student fails to meet the Standards of Academic Progress Policy after receiving an appeal, their financial aid eligibility will be suspended until they comply with the policy. 

Pell Grant Limit 

The LEU (Lifetime Eligibility Used) is the sum of the percentages of the student’s Federal Pell Grant scheduled awards that he or she received for each award year. The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds a student may receive over his or her lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. 

If the LEU (Lifetime Eligibility Used) equals or exceeds 600%, a student may no longer receive Pell Grant funding. Similarly, if LEU is greater than 500% but less than 600%, while a student will be eligible for a Pell Grant for the next award year, he or she will not be able to receive a full scheduled award.  

Withdrawal from Courses & Return to Title IV 

The Financial Aid office is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for a student who withdraws from all courses before completing the semester.  Once a student’s withdrawal date is determined, the school calculates the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed. The percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment completed represents the percentage of aid earned by the student.  

Return of Title IV funds   

This policy addresses situations in which a student begins attendance in an academic term and then withdraws from all of their courses and thus withdraws from the College.  This policy does not apply to a student who never began attendance in any classes, or the College cannot document at least one day of attendance by the student.  This policy is also not applicable to a student who withdraws only from a single course while continuing enrollment in one or more courses.  If a student completes at least one class within an academic term, but drops all other classes, he or she will be treated as having changed enrollment status only.  When a recipient of Title IV funds withdraws from the College after beginning attendance for an academic term, the College may have an obligation to return some or all of those funds to the Title IV programs.  Accordingly, the College must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student “earned” as of the withdrawal date and return to the Title IV (R2T4) programs the difference between the earned amount and the amount disbursed to the student.  After the 60% point in the term of enrollment, the student is deemed to have earned 100% of the Title IV funds he or she was awarded for the term, and no return of funds is required. 

Determination of Withdrawal Date 

A student may withdraw from the College either Officially (by giving notice) or Unofficially (without notice).  The College’s date of determination of when a student has withdrawn, which triggers important timing requirements for processing the return of funds under federal regulations, differs between these two types of withdrawal.   

In all cases regarding the Return of Title IV funds, Financial Aid shall determine a student’s withdrawal date and the College’s date of determination that the student has withdrawn. 

Official Withdrawal  

Any student who wishes to withdraw from the College may complete a College Withdrawal Form and provide it to a representative in the Registrar’s office.  

Unofficial Withdrawal 

An Unofficial Withdrawal occurs when the College has not received notice from a student that the student has ceased or will cease attending all classes.  Unofficial Withdrawals include administrative withdrawals, where a student is absent from four consecutive classes in all his or her courses for an academic term.  In such cases, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the College, regardless of whether the student has submitted an official College Withdrawal Form. 

In addition, if a student who began attendance and has not Officially Withdrawn and fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course offered over an academic term, the College will assume, for purposes of this Policy that the student has Unofficially Withdrawn, unless the College can document that the student completed the academic term. 

In all cases, the withdrawal date for Unofficial Withdrawals will be determined no later than 30 days after the end of the academic term. 

Withdrawal Date 

For both Official and Unofficial Withdrawals, the College determines the withdrawal date by using the student’s last date of attendance at the College, as determined by using Baltimore City Community College’s student information system.   

Date of Determination 

The Date of Determination that a student has withdrawn is related to, but not the same as the Withdrawal Date.  The Date of Determination is used to determine the 45-day period in which the College must return unearned Title IV funds to the Department of Education and other timing requirements.  For Official Withdrawals, the Date of Determination is the student’s withdrawal date, or the date of notification, whichever is later.  For Unofficial Withdrawals, it is the date that Baltimore City Community College became aware that the student had ceased attendance. 

R2T4 Calculation 

Per 34 CFR 668.22, when a recipient of a Title IV grant or loan assistance program withdraws from an institution during a term in which they began attendance, the institution is required to determine the amount of Title IV grant and/or loan assistance that the student earned as of their withdrawal date.  Up through the 60% point in each term, a pro-rated schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned. Beyond the 60% point, a student is determined to have earned 100% of funds scheduled for the term.  If the student withdraws beyond the 60% point, the R2T4 calculation must be still be performed, and the results documented. 

While Federal Work Study is a Title IV aid program, students who are only earning Federal Work Study funds in a term in which they withdraw are not subject to Return to Title IV regulations.  Students who are awarded Title IV aid, but do not actually begin attendance in the term are also not subject to the return regulations.  However, all funds offered to these students must be canceled and all funds disbursed to these student must be recouped. 

Rights and Responsibilities of Students Receiving Financial Aid  

Student Rights: 

• Student applicants for financial aid have the right to know the:  
• Financial aid programs available at Baltimore City Community College.  
• Application process which must be followed to be considered for aid.  
• Criteria used to select recipients and calculate need.  
• College refund and repayment policy.  
• College policies regarding satisfactory academic progress.  
• Special facilities and services available for the handicapped.  

Student Responsibilities: 

Receiving financial aid is a long-term process which begins with the application and does not end until loan repayment is completed (if applicable). As part of their participation in the financial aid program at Baltimore City Community College, students are responsible for: 

• Reading all financial aid documents thoroughly, especially those which require a signature. 
• Completing all required documents accurately and promptly. 
• Applying early. Some funding is limited; therefore, awarding is based on a first come, first-served basis. 
• Notifying the Student Accounting office of any financial assistance from other sources, i.e., scholarships, grants, loans, employer sponsorship, or tuition reimbursement. 
• Notifying the Registrar Office of name and address changes as well as changes in enrollment status. 

Fraud Prevention 

Baltimore City Community College will immediately refer the following matters to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General for investigation any credible information indicating that a Title IV aid applicant may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with a financial aid application.  The type of information that the College must refer is that which is relevant to the eligibility of the applicant for Title IV assistance or the amount of assistance, such as: 

• False claims of independent student status 
• Use of false identities 
• Forgery of signatures or certifications 
• False statements of income   

Consortium Agreements 

A Consortium Agreement is a written agreement between two or more Title IV eligible postsecondary institutions that allows a student to continue to receive Federal student aid funds while studying at more than one postsecondary institution. 

Study Abroad 

BCCC does not offer any study abroad programs. 

Institutional Refund Policy

Baltimore City Community College’s non-federal refund policy may be found in the General Policies section of the college catalog or course schedule. 

Special Note: 

If Baltimore City Community College must return a portion of the student’s federal and state financial aid due to an official, or unofficial withdrawal (stop attending), those funds will be deducted from the student’s account and the student will owe the college for whatever amount that had to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. 

Granville T. Woods Scholarship

Students must be high-achieving graduates of public, parochial or private high schools in Maryland with a minimum 3.0 GPA and  recommendations for consideration for the Woods scholarship. Students must be Maryland resident. Candidates are required to submit an application, recommendation letter, a-essay. Accuplacer Placement Test assessments and interview scores are also given consideration. College credit is also granted for qualifying scores from the College Board Advanced Placement Program. Applicants must enroll as full-time students at BCCC, with a commitment to transfer to a four-year college. The scholarship package includes exceptional benefits: tuition, fees, textbooks, a laptop computer, seminars, cultural events, study abroad, and prestigious internship opportunities. Articulation arrangements are in place to transition to honors programs at universities. For more information, call 410-462-8433. Applications must be submitted by the established deadline.