How to Apply For Aid

General Information and How to Apply Online

WELCOME! Please Read Carefully...
The purpose of this instructional web site is to provide you with the necessary information you need to successfully complete the financial aid application process. We want to be sure that you receive all the financial aid for which you are eligible. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions. We are here to assist you! You may contact us at:
mx-finaidhelp@mxcc.commnet.edu

Priority Timetable

While MxCC accepts applications all year, in order to ensure priority consideration, your application should be completed by:

Academic Year (Fall and Spring Semesters) or Fall Semester Only - June 1
Spring Semester: December 1

Student's Responsibility

Middlesex Community College expects you, the student, to initiate the application process in a timely manner, and considers it your responsibility to complete the application on time. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Students and their families should be aware that they are completing applications for federal, state, and college funds. Students are also expected to be familiar with the general provisions of financial aid. Information on financial aid programs, regulations, and procedures are found in the College catalog. Deliberately misreporting can result in criminal and civil liabilities. Late applicants will be awarded on a funds available basis. Application materials cannot be accepted after a student's last date of attendance.

How to Apply

Important

To apply for aid, you'll first need an email address and access to the Internet. (You do not have to own a personal computer to file your FAFSA on the web.) You can use computers to get on the Internet at many public libraries (including the MxCC library), high schools, adult education centers, community centers, as well as the MxCC computer lab.

Middlesex cannot process your financial aid application until you are accepted in a degree or eligible certificate program. If you're a new student, apply for admission immediately at Middlesex Community College or call 860-343-5719.

There are 5 steps:

1. Getting an email address
2. Applying for a PIN (Personal Identification Number)
3. FAFSA on the Web 
4. Using Banner Online 
5. Your Financial Aid Award

1: Getting an email address: If you don't have an email account, you can get one for free at http://www.hotmail.com/,  http://www.yahoo.com/, http://www.google.com and other internet providers. You will need to provide your email address to both the U.S. Department of Education and Middlesex Community College. Each will communicate with you about your financial aid process by sending information to your email address.

2. Applying for a PIN (Personal Identification Number): The PIN allows you to sign your federal student aid application online, saving you significant processing time. If you have to include parents' information when you complete your federal aid application, your parents will also need to have a federal student aid PIN. Your PIN serves as your password to access private information on U.S. Department of Education's websites.

3. FAFSA on the Web Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and complete the federal student aid application online. This site has a useful "pre-application worksheet" you may want to print out first. You will need the Middlesex school code, 008038.

What will you need to fill out the FAFSA?
You will need records for income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parents' income information (dependent students only).
You will need to refer to:
Your social security number
Your driver's license (if any)
Your W-2 forms and other records of earnings
Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040Telefile, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia
Your parents' Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
Your parents' social security number(s)
Your untaxed income records -
Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds and other investments
Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

4. Using Banner Online
Now that you've applied for financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education and Middlesex Community College, you can track your financial aid application and award information on the Internet by using the Online student information system (http://my.commnet.edu).

To use this system, you need to have your NetID number and your 8 digit password (this PIN is different from your U.S. Department of Education PIN mentioned earlier). When you applied for admission to Middlesex Community College, you were given these numbers. Your NetID is the your 8-digit student number followed by @student.commnet.edu (for example: 12345678@student.commnet.edu). Your initial PIN is: 1st 3 characters of month of birth (with first letter capitalized), Ampersand character (&) and Last 4 digits of Social Security Number (for example: Oct&1234). You will be asked to change your PIN when you first login.

In addition to being able to track your financial aid application online, you will be able to download any documents you may need to complete your application requirements. You can then print out these documents and either mail or drop them off at the Financial Aid Office. To inform you of your application status, we will periodically email you and direct you to visit the Banner Online system to check your status. You should make sure you log into the Banner Online student information system weekly to stay current with your financial aid information and news.

5. Your Financial Aid Award
When we complete our review of your financial aid application, we will notify you at your email address and direct you to the Banner Online student information system. You will be able to view your Financial Aid Award over the Internet.

Your use of the myCommNet student information system allows you 24 hours/day, 7 days/week access to the MxCC Office of Financial Aid Services.