Home » Financial Aid » Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements For Financial Aid

Federal Eligibility Requirements

For all federal need-based programs, students must:

• Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen, a national or permanent resident of the U.S. or be in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program.
• Have a valid social security number.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by Mt. Hood Community College.
• Comply with the U.S. Selective Service registration requirements, if required.
• Not be in default on any student loan previously received. This also applies to parents if applying for a Federal Parent Loan (PLUS).
• Not owe a refund or repayment on any federal grant previously awarded. Also applies to parents if applying for a Federal Parent Loan (PLUS).
• Demonstrate financial need based on the methodology written into law by the U.S. Congress by applying for such aid on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Eligibility for all financial aid (except Parent Loans, private alternate loans and many scholarships) begins with the calculation of a students Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Pell Grant award amount this converts to will be the same for equal enrollment statuses as every college in the U.S.. Other types of aid, however, could differ based on the student budgets of individual colleges. To help get an idea of your eligibility by calculating your EFC, go to the website http://www.finaid.org/calculators/faaefc.phtml. The closer your calculation comes to zero, the greater will be your eligibility to grants in general. When your calculated result goes above about 3850, you probably will be eligible only for work and loans (and possibly scholarships). If you want to see what your EFC converts to in Pell Grant dollars, go to http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/P0801Attach2008paysched2.pdf, go along the top of the chart (x-axis) to match your EFC number and then go to the bottom line of the chart. That is the actual dollar amount the college would disburse to you. Please know that there are four charts, each for different enrollment statuses, so look in the top left corner for that status.

State Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for aid from the State of Oregon is based on calculations of Federal eligibility (EFC) and parent or student adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year reported on the Federal FAFSA The Oregon Student Assistance Commission has developed the website http://www.getcollegefunds.org/SRMEstimator/OOGIntro.aspx for students and parents to calculate grant eligibility and for use to start understanding how much financial aid will be available for college attendance from the State. The federal and state grants are not the only forms of aid a student can receive and the complete eligibility, with the addition of campus-based aid, will be finished by the colleges to which the student applies.”

MHCC Eligibility Requirements

You must be meeting all the federal eligibility requirements plus MHCC has a credit hour limit for financial aid purposes. The following text explains more in depth about MHCC's credit hour limit policy.

The Credit Limit

Federal regulations require each college to establish a “maximum time frame” of aid eligibility. This limit is based on the average amount of time a student would need to complete the most extensive degree at the college. Mt. Hood Community College has determined that this limit is exceeded after students attempt a maximum of 120 credits or receive their first degree. The college believes a student should be able to complete a degree within this limit. At that time, students become ineligible for financial aid but may appeal for an extension.

Reasons For A Credit Limit

The purpose of student financial aid is to provide access to education for students who would not otherwise be able to get an education because of financial barriers. This credit limit is to ensure funding is available for the greatest number of people who have not yet had the opportunity to attend college.

We encourage students to be clear on their education goal as soon as possible. Changing or enhancing a major is a student's choice. Such decisions may result in exceeding the 120 credit limit and losing financial aid eligibility

Aid Eligibility

Our goal is to see as many people as possible complete a degree from MHCC. However,:

• Students who are not seeking a degree from MHCC will not be eligible for aid.
• Students who are attempting preparatory coursework for a program at any college may be eligible for 12 month continuous Title IV loan aid only (alternative loans, however, do not have this restriction).
• If a student has completed a degree but did not meet or pass the 120 credit limit they are not initially eligible for financial aid and will need to appeal.
• Students who have attempted at least 120 MHCC credits, including transferred credits, but have not completed a degree are not initially eligible for financial aid and will need to appeal.
• Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and have their appeal plan approved will only be eligible for loans (Federal regulation).
• MHCC supports the concept of “vertical progression” as a justification for funding.

Vertical Progression is defined as ascending through either one or more degrees or curriculums, progressively moving into a more improved position to compete in the job market.

Examples of vertical progression and horizontal movement:

Evaluation Of Credit

• The 120 credit limit for financial aid includes all transferred credits from all post-secondary institutions, whether aid was received or not. This includes remedial and prerequisite courses.
• MHCC converts semester and clock hours to quarter credit hours.
• Aid will be processed based on the student's projected enrollment for the academic year. However, aid will be placed on hold for those terms when their credits exceed the 120 credit limit.
• Additional courses taken while waiting to get into a restricted or limited-entry program are included in the count toward 120 credits and reduce the remaining credit eligibility while in these programs.
• If a student is requesting aid for a period of time that will exceed our 120 credit limit, it is our practice to initiate the appeal process as quickly as possible. This early notification often benefits the student because they may be able to access campus-based aid while it is still available. If the student is approved before they reach the 120 credit limit, they are more likely going to have an uninterrupted program of study.
• Aid is not available for college level courses withdrawn from, audited, not completed, or with grades below a “C” level that are being taken for a third (or more) time.

Notification Process

When you pass the 120 credit limit or are close to passing the limit, you will be notified by the Financial Aid Office. You will receive a notice stating either:

• The term you will exceed the limit, or
• That you have exceeded the limit and you need to file an appeal with the Financial Aid Office to extend your aid beyond the limit.

Appeal Process

When you appeal, there must be a reason for appealing.

Examples include:

• Remedial coursework was required and taken at the beginning of a degree program to such an extent that you were not able to complete your degree within the 120 credit limit.
• Retraining needs are necessary due to lack of employment opportunities in your field, such as radical changes in technology.
• Medical complications/allergic reactions developed in the course of training for the intended career choice or experienced in the first year of work in the field.
• You need more time to complete your degree.
• You changed your major.

The Steps to Appeal

• Complete the Appeal for Waiver of the 120 Credit Hour Limit form. Supporting documentation needs to be attached, which includes an education plan and DARS report. You will need to make an appointment with your designated advisor the term prior to exceeding the 120 credit limit to complete the plan. The name of your advisor of record is printed on your transcript. Adviser contact information is available on line here. If the major and/or advisor written on your transcript are no longer accurate, visit the Academic Advising and Transfer Center during normal office hours. We can update your information.
• If the appeal is approved, all available financial aid will be reinstated.
• Filing an appeal does not guarantee an extension of aid.

The Approved Education Plan

If a student's appeal is to be approved, they must be clear on their education goal. It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the education plan they created as part of their appeal process. If the student deviates from the education plan by taking course that are not listed on the plan or by changing major or degree, their financial aid may be revoked.