Paying For College

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Paying for College

A college degree is an investment to improve your life, not burden you with debt. MECC’s tuition is thousands less than other local colleges and universities and we do not participate in the federal student loan program. MECC offers financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants which do not need to be repaid. With 96% of students receiving financial assistance, a higher education doesn’t have to come at a high price. Full and part-time students who are enrolled in a program of study at MECC may apply for financial aid to take credit classes.


 

Obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) . This is used as your electronic signature to sign your FAFSA.  For more information on creating your FSA ID, please view the video at Creating Your Own FSA ID.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov and use the MECC school code 009629 on the application. Once you have submitted your FAFSA it typically takes several days for the Department of Education to process and make it available to MECC. You can check the status of your financial aid file at MECC by viewing the Student Center of your MyMECC online account.

Click here for a quick video on how to access and navigate your student center.

Federal Aid — To be considered for federally funded aid a current year FAFSA must be completed, and all requested documentation must be submitted.

 

Federal Pell Grant–Must complete the FAFSA and submit any required documentation. Eligibility primarily based on information generated by the FAFSA. Federal Pell Grant is awarded to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree and have not completed 600% Lifetime Eligibility Units. If you are enrolled in less than 12 credits your Pell grant award will be adjusted for enrollment level.

 

Federal Work Study–Provides part-time jobs for undergraduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Eligible students who have been awarded other aid and wish to be considered for FWS are advised to fill out a  Work Study Interest Form.

 

Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)–For undergraduate Federal Pell Grant recipients with exceptional financial need. Must complete the FAFSA and submit any required documentation. Eligible students are awarded until funds have been exhausted. 

 

 State Funded Aid — To be considered for state funded financial aid you must be a Virginia resident, complete the FAFSA and submit any required documentation. Eligible students are awarded until funds have been exhausted.

 

COMA (Commonwealth Grant)–Students receiving COMA must be domiciled in Virginia, show financial need and be enrolled in at least 6 credits. Individual awards range from $1,000 – $1,800 and can be used for tuition, fees, and books.


G3–To receive G3 funds students must be listed as a Virginia resident and have income less than or equal to 400% of poverty level. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of six credits per semester in an approved program.


PTAP–VCCS funded grant provides tuition assistance (no fees) to students in a degree or certificate program who enroll for at least 1 but less than 8 credits. Students must show need.


VGAP–Students must have achieved a 2.5 GPA, have an exceptional financial need, and maintain full-time enrollment as a dependent student. Awards vary from $1,100-$1,900 and can be used for tuition, fees and books. Renewal student must maintain a 2.0 GPA and continuous full-time enrollment. Renewal awards vary from $1,200 -$1,900.

 

Foundation Scholarships — To be considered for a scholarship provided by Mountain Empire’s Foundation you must complete the FAFSA, submit any required documentation, and complete the scholarship application at b7c8.enjoystlucia.com/scholarship.

 

To ensure you will receive consideration for all available aid you should have your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completed by our priority date of May 1. The 2024-2025 FAFSA can be completed at http://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa and will be effective for Fall 24, Spring 25 and Summer 25 semesters. To allow time for processing the FAFSA should be completed two weeks prior to the first day of class.

Promise Program Scholarship deadlines and additional information can be found at http://b7c8.enjoystlucia.com/promise/

MECC AIMS Higher Scholarship deadlines and additional information can be found at http://b7c8.enjoystlucia.com/scholarships

 

Fall 2024

August 13, 2024- Students whose awarded aid is greater than current charges can begin to charge books to their financial aid account.

August 20, 2024- Offices closed for faculty/staff in-service activities.

August 22, 2024- First day of fall semester. TUITION DUE.

September 2, 2024- College closed for Labor Day holiday.

September 9, 2024- Last date to drop with a refund for fall semester classes. Your financial aid will be based on the number of credits enrolled in as of this date.***

September 19, 2024- Financial aid will be disbursed to the business office and applied to your account charges. If you are enrolled in late starting classes your aid will not be disbursed until after the date to drop with a refund for your latest starting class. Future disbursements are processed the third week of each month.

First week of October-First group of refunds are processed for fall semester. There are multiple categories of financial aid that will be refunded, and it may take a few days for all refunds to be completed. You can manage how your refunds are received by clicking the SIS tile of your myMECC online account. Future refunds are processed during the first week of each month.

 

*** If you are thinking of withdrawing from a class or class(es) please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the impacts it may have on your account including but not limited to a debt owed to the school.

Contact the MECC Financial Aid Office

MECC Financial Aid Office
Fox Central-Holton Hall
3441 Mountain Empire Road
Big Stone Gap VA 24219

Phone (276) 523-7470
Email: fa@enjoystlucia.com
FAX: (276) 523-9699

Financial Aid Special Circumstances
Financial aid eligibility is ordinarily determined using income information from approximately two years ago (i.e., 2021 tax information for the 2023-2024 academic year) and current assets as of the date the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is submitted. However, if the financial situation for you, your spouse (if applicable) or your parents (if parental information is provided on the FAFSA) has significantly changed from the information reported on the FAFSA, you may request a reconsideration of your aid.

Before submitting a reconsideration request you are encouraged to discuss your situation with a financial aid staff member. Guidance will be provided as to what information should be included in your written statement and the type of documentation you should provide with your request.

Unusual Circumstances Appeal
While most students under 24 will be required to include their parent(s)’ information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), some students have unusual situations in which it is not possible to obtain parent information. In some cases, you may appeal for an override of your unusual circumstance.
Some examples of reasons you might submit an appeal for unusual circumstances are:

1. You are estranged from your parent(s) or were placed in the custody of a non-parent because of abuse or neglect,

2. Parent(s) is/are incarcerated or institutionalized,

3. Parent(s) live(s) in a war-torn country, and you are unable to contact them in any way,

4. Other documental circumstances which demonstrate that parental information cannot or should not be obtained.

 

All unusual circumstances appeal will require documentation from an objective third party. Per federal regulations, an unusual circumstances  appeal cannot be based on any of the following:

1. Student financial self-sufficiency or not being claimed on the parent tax return,

2. Parental unwillingness to contribute to college costs,

3. Parents are unwilling to complete the FAFSA or provide documents or signatures for verification.

 

 
 

 2024 - 2025 Tuition & Fees Effective Fall 2024

CREDITS INSTATE CONTRACT * OUT OF STATE

*EXCLUDING E-RATE

OUT OF STATE

**E-RATE

1 $ 166.90 $ 252.90 $ 381.50 $ 283.40
2 $ 333.80 $ 505.80 $ 763.00 $ 566.80
3 $ 500.70 $ 758.70 $ 1,144.50 $ 850.20
4 $ 667.60 $ 1,011.60 $ 1,526.00 $ 1,133.60
5 $ 834.50 $ 1,264.50 $ 1,907.50 $ 1,417.00
6 $ 1,001.40 $ 1,517.40 $ 2,289.00 $ 1,700.40
7 $ 1,168.30 $ 1,770.30 $ 2,670.50 $ 1,983.80
8 $ 1,335.20 $ 2,023.20 $ 3,052.00 $ 2,267.20
9 $ 1,502.10 $ 2,276.10 $ 3,433.50 $2,550.60
10 $ 1,669.00 $ 2,529.00 $ 3,815.00 $ 2,834.00
11 $ 1,835.90 $ 2,781.90 $ 4,196.50 $ 3,117.40
12 $ 2,002.80 $ 3,034.80 $ 4,578.00 $ 3,400.80
13 $ 2,169.70 $ 3,287.70 $ 4,959.50 $ 3,684.20
14 $ 2,336.60 $ 3,540.60 $ 5,341.00 $ 3,967.60
15 $ 2,503.50 $ 3,793.50 $ 5,722.50 $ 4,251.00
16 $ 2,670.40 $ 4,046.40 $ 6,104.00 $ 4,534.40
17 $ 2,837.30 $ 4,299.30 $ 6,485.50 $ 4,817.80
18 $ 3,004.20 $ 4,552.20 $ 6,867.00 $ 5,101.20
19 $ 3,171.10 $ 4,805.10 $ 7,248.50 $ 5,384.60
20 $ 3,338.00 $ 5,058.00 $ 7,630.00 $ 5,668.00
21 $ 3,504.90 $ 5,310.90 $ 8,011.50 $ 5,951.40
22 $ 3,671.80 $ 5,563.80 $ 8,393.00 $ 6,234.80
23 $ 3,838.70 $ 5,816.70 $ 8,774.50 $ 6,518.20
24 $ 4,005.60 $ 6,069.60 $ 9,156.00 $ 6,801.60
25 $ 4,172.50 $ 6,322.50 $9,537.50 $ 7,085.00

 

Out of State Business Contract Rate

Out of State Business Contract Rate * and Out of State * students must pay a Capital Fee of $26.00 per credit in addition to Activity Fee ($1.00/credit) and Auxiliary Fee ($2.50/credit)

Out of State ** E-Rate classes include the Capital Fee ($26.00/credit) but do not include Activity Fee ($1.00/credit) and Auxiliary Fee($2.50/credit). 

 Note: Rates are subject to change due to State Board

 

 

2024 – 2025  STUDENT BUDGETS

A full-time student budget will be used by the Financial Aid Office to calculate the estimated need for students expected to enroll for two academic terms (typically fall and spring).  Additional budget allowances for handicap costs ($1,200) will be made for students who apply and do not have such costs covered by outside agencies. RN, LPN and Respiratory Care students will be provided with an additional allowance of $3,000 for uniforms and travel.  Out-of-state students have an increased tuition amount.

 

In State

 

Budget #1 – 9 Months

Budget #2 – 11 Months

Tuition and Fees (14 crs F/Sp; 12 crs Sum)

$4,673                   

$6,676

Books & Supplies

$1,780

 $2,670

Student’s Housing/Food

$6,030

$8,040

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

$2,430

$3,240

Transportation

$5,008

$6,677

Total

$19,921

$27,303

 

 

Out of State

 

Budget #3 – 9 Months

Budget #4 – 11 Months

Tuition and Fees (14 crs F/Sp; 12 crs Sum)

$10,682

$15,260

Books & Supplies

$1,780

$2,670

Student’s Housing/Food

$6,030

$8,040

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses

$2,430

$3,240

Transportation

$5,008

$6,677

Total $25,930 $35,887
 
 

 

LESS THAN HALF-TIME ATTENDANCE BUDGET -IN-STATE 

 

9 Months

11 Months

Tuition and Fees

$1,669

$2,503

Books & Supplies

$445

$668

Transportation

$1,252

$1,669

Total

$3,366

$4,840

 


Out of State

 

9 Months

11 Months

Tuition and Fees

$3,815

$5,723

Books & Supplies

$445

$668

Transportation

$1,252

$1,669

Total $5,512 $8,060

 

Revised 6/13/2024  Mountain Empire Community College/Financial Aid-General/23-24 Forms and Info/Cost of Attendance 24-25