Frequently Asked Questions

1.   How do I know if I qualify for financial aid?

2.   What are the tuition and fee expenses at City College?  
(Note: New Spring 2011 tuition rates)

3.   How are living expenses determined?

4.   When do I apply for financial aid?

5.   How much financial aid can I receive?
6.   What are some of the financial aid awards I can receive?

7.   What are the academic requirements to qualify for financial aid?

8.   Am I an "independent" student?

9.   Is there a payment plan?

10.  How will scholarships effect my financial aid?

11.  How will I receive my financial aid payments?

12.  What types of aid are available for graduate students?

13.  Is there financial aid for international students?

1.  HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA) to
determine their eligibility for Federal financial aid. The FAFSA will help
determine whether you have "financial need" for grants and/or loans.

To qualify for Federal student aid a student must:

• be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen    
• be enrolled in a degree/certificate granting program
• be in good academic standing       
• not be in default of previous student loans
• not owe a repayment of any previous Federal student aid awards       

Use the CUNY Financial Aid Estimator to see what you may qualify for.

The Guide to Federal Student Aid can provide additional information. This booklet is also available in the Financial Aid Office.

2.  WHAT ARE THE TUITION AND FEE EXPENSES AT CITY COLLEGE?

TUITION & FEE SCHEDULES (per semester)

UNDERGRADUATE New York State Resident
Student Status	Tuition	Activity Fee	Technology Fee
Full-time (12-18 credits)	$2,415.00	$64.35	$100.00
Part-time (per credit)	$205.00	$48.35	$50.00

UNDERGRADUATE Out-of-state/International
Student Status	Tuition	Activity Fee	Technology Fee
Full-time (12-18 credits)	$435.00/credit	$64.35	100.00
Part-time (per credit)	$435.00/credit	$48.35	$50.00

GRADUATE New York State Resident
Student Status	Tuition	Activity Fee	Technology Fee
Full-time  (12-18 credits) (Most majors)	$3,865.00	$30.35	$100.00
Part-time (1-11 credits) (Most majors)	$325.00/credit	$30.35	$50.00
Engineering/Architecture           (Full-time - 12-18 credits)	$4,530.00	$30.35	$100.00
Engineering/Architecture      (Part-time)	$ 380.00/credit	$30.35	$50.00

GRADUATE Out-of-state/International
Student Status	Tuition	Activity Fee	Technology Fee
Engr./Arch. Majors	$670.00/credit	$30.35	$100.00
All other majors	$605.00/credit	$30.35	$50.00

3. HOW ARE EXPENSES DETERMINED?

The City University of New York (CUNY) calculates "average living expenses". Living expenses are added to tuition and fee expenses, to equal the "cost of attendance". Items included in the calculation are room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and personal expenses.

For example:

Fall/Spring 2011-2012 Expenses*	Room & Board	Transportation	Books & Supplies	Personal	Total
Student living with parent	$2,760.00	$986.00	$1,179.00	$1,733.00	$ 6,658.00
Student living away from parent**	$10,900.00	$986.00	$1,179.00	$3,837.00	$16,902.00

* Estimated amounts (actual amounts can vary).
** "The Towers" at the City College of New York is the residence hall located on The City College of New York campus. For more information go to: The Towers at CCNY

4.  WHEN DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

Students must apply for financial aid each academic year. Applications are available in early January for the upcoming Fall semester. Students should apply as early as possible using their most accurate tax filing information. For example: For Fall 2011, the 2011-2012 FAFSA applications were available as of January 2011.

For the 2011- 2012 academic year a student must use family income information for calendar year 2010.  See financial aid filing instructions: How To Apply. Financial aid priority will be given to students who file their FAFSA and complete the application process by April 1st of each year.

5.  HOW MUCH FINANCIAL AID CAN I RECEIVE?     

The amount of financial aid that a student receives is determined by the availability of funds as well as "financial need". Financial need is determined by the following formula:

Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need

• The "Cost of Attendance" is an amount that includes average living expenses, tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation..
• The "Expected Family Contribution"(EFC), is determined by the information reported on the FAFSA. It is calculated using a formula established by the U.S. Congress.
• The resulting "Financial Need" determines your eligibility for various state and federal aid programs.

6.  WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS I CAN RECEIVE?

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) - is a New York State education grant which assists full-time (12 or more credits), students with their tuition costs. You must be a legal resident of New York State. (If you are considered to be a dependent student your parents must also be New York State residents.) You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Students and/or their parent(s) must also meet certain income criteria and must not have exhausted their TAP eligibility.  This program is mainly for undergraduates but some full-time graduate students may qualify for a small TAP grant. If you receive a TAP award, the money goes directly to the college for payment of your tuition.

TAP Information

AID for PART-TIME STUDY (APTS) - is a New York State tuition grant for undergraduate students who are New York State residents pursuing a degree on a part-time basis. (If you are considered to be a dependent student your parent(s) must also be New York State residents. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Students must enroll for at least 6 but fewer than 12 credits (including a minimum of 3 degree credits). Students and/or their parent(s) must also meet certain income criteria and must not have exhausted their undergraduate TAP eligibility. Award amounts vary based on the availability of NY state funds. If you receive an APTS award, the money goes directly to the college for payment of your tuition.

APTS Information

FEDERAL PELL GRANT - is a federal grant that can be used to pay your tuition and fees. If your tuition and fees are paid by other means your Pell award can be used to purchase books and supplies, and for other school expenses. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. You must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and meet income criteria to qualify.

PELL Information

FEDERAL ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANTS (ACG) - Starting with the 2006-07 academic year, this is a new federal grant for Freshman (1st year) and Sophomore (2nd year) students. Students must be eligible for a federal Pell grant to qualify.
Note: This program will end after the summer 2011 semester.

ACG Information

FEDERAL NATIONAL SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS ACCESS TO RETAIN TALENT (SMART)
GRANTS - Starting with the 2006-07 academic year, this is a new federal grant for Junior (3rd year) and Senior (fourth year) students.
Note: This grant program will end after the summer 2011 semester.

SMART Grant Information

SEARCH for EDUCATION, ELEVATION and KNOWLEDGE (SEEK) - along with tutoring and other support services this New York State program may award a grant for books and fees along with a small stipend. A student can only be accepted into the SEEK program as incoming freshman.

SEEK Information

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY- is a program that provides part-time jobs to students who have financial need. Awards amounts are determined by the college. Jobs are available both on and off-campus. You must indicate on your FAFSA that you are interested in receiving a work-study award.

Federal Work-Study at CCNY

FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN - is a low interest loan awarded by the college to students who demonstrate financial need. It can be used for tuition or other educationally related expenses. You must indicate on your FAFSA that you are interested in receiving a student loan. Students must begin to repay this loan to the college nine (9) months after they: 1) graduate, 2) drop below half-time or
3) are no longer enrolled for classes. (Not available to freshmen.)

Campus-based programs (Federal Perkins loan, Work-study and SEOG)

WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM - provides federally insured, low interest, long term loans to students or parents to help cover the costs of attending college. The federal government is the lender (not a bank or other financial institution). The federal loan funds are disbursed directly to the student or the parent through the college. Student loan repayment begins six (6) months after: 1) a student graduates, 2) a student is no longer enrolled or 3) a student has been less than half-time. 

Direct Loan Information

7.  WHAT ARE THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

There are academic requirements that must be met in order to qualify for and to remain eligible for federal and New York State financial aid.  Students must maintain the required GPA, (Grade point Average), and complete the required number of credits per semester. Please review the charts below:

8. AM I AN "INDEPENDENT" STUDENT?

For 2011 -2012 federal financial aid a student is considered independent if he or she can answer "Yes" to any one of the thirteen independence questions: (Students may be required to provide supportive documentation.)

The first eight questions are:

1.  Were you born before January 1, 1988?

2.  As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated, but not
divorced.)

3.  At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, will you be working on a
master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, Ph.D., Ed.D.,
graduate certificate, etc.)?

4.  Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed forces for purposes
other than training?

5.  Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

6.  Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you
between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?

7.  Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with
you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and
through June 30, 2012?

8.  At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were
you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

(Five additional independence questions are on the FAFSA.)

If you answer "No" to all thirteen questions you are not considered to be an independent student for purposes of receiving federal financial aid.  You are required to provide parental information.

Dependent students with unusual family circumstances may request to be declared independent. An "Independence Appeal" request form is available in the Financial Aid office. (Note: The federal government does not consider a student who is "self-supporting" and not living with parents to be an unusual circumstance in and of itself.)

9.  IS THERE A PAYMENT PLAN?

Yes.  As a convenience, City College offers the option of making tuition payments on a monthly basis through the "TuitionPay Plan" which is administered by Sallie Mae. The TuitionPay Plan is an interest-free alternative to lump-sum payments at bill time.

To enroll in the plan or to obtain more information go to: TuitionPay Plan/CUNY

10. HOW WILL A SCHOLARSHIP EFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID? 

Students who are receiving federal financial aid cannot exceed their "cost of attendance".  All of a student's scholarships must be considered in their eligibility calculation.  When a scholarship causes an "overaward" the Financial Aid office may have to reduce certain types of federal aid.  Federal ACG/SMART grants, work-study, loans, and/or SEOG grants may have to be reduced or returned, if the funds have already been disbursed. (In some instances, when federal aid must be returned, a student will then owe the college for unpaid tuition and/or fees.)  A federal Pell grant, however, will never be reduced.                                                                                                   

11. HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY FINANCIAL AID  PAYMENTS?

A student can receive their financial aid funds in one of three ways:

1.  A check is mailed to the student's home address as listed on their
Financial Aid records.

2.  A student can make arrangements for direct deposit with the Bursar.

3.  A student can sign up for the CUNY Scholar Support debit card, issued by
Citibank.

12. WHAT TYPES OF AID ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS? 

Please see: Graduate Student Financial Aid

Note: For Education majors, City College will be a participant in the federal Teach Grant program starting with the Spring 2011 semester.

13. IS THERE FINANCIAL AID FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

The only service the financial aid office is able to provide for international students is to certify private student loan applications.  Most international students will be required to provide a co-signer. They must find a lender on their own.  A search on the internet for "Alternative Student loans" should provide helpful lender information.

CCNY International Student Information

Federal Department of Education Information for International Students

Updated 8/3/11