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How MHCC Awards Your Financial Aid

Analysis of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine how much you (and your parents) are expected to contribute toward your education. The financial aid you receive can help pay the difference between your cost of attendance and what the need analysis determines is your expected family contribution (EFC) or your ability to pay toward your education. You do not pay your EFC to anyone. It is a calculation that helps determine how much and what types of financial aid you will be eligible for.

Once MHCC receives your information electronically from the processor, you will receive an email or a letter from our office telling you to log on to MY MHCC to print a “Financial Aid Status Letter”. You should submit this completed letter and all requested documents promptly. Be sure to write your MHCC ID# on all documents you turn in to our office. Pending files* that have responded to all requirements of MHCC's "Financial Aid Status Letter" get first consideration for aid. It is best to provide copies of all documents as originals may be destroyed. You should check the progress of your aid application on a regular basis through MY MHCC. If you will not be attending Mt. Hood during the application year, please notify our office promptly.

We will complete the review process when all requested documents are submitted. Complete and accurate applications will not experience any undue delay. Corrections will increase handling time and delay notification of aid eligibility. You will be mailed an award letter indicating the aid you are eligible to receive. Initial award letters are mailed out beginning in March to applicants who applied early.

When you apply for financial assistance from Mt. Hood Community College, you do not apply for a particular type or amount of aid. Aid applicants are automatically considered for all available aid programs except scholarships. You are awarded grants first (if you have the eligibility), then work study, and then loans. One or more types of aid are usually awarded in combination to make up a student's financial aid package which is intended to meet their costs of attendance. Students who receive scholarships from outside agencies or through their departments will have these scholarships included as a part of their total student aid package. These scholarships may reduce loans and the work-study in an aid package.

Applications received after the priority date may be awarded less grant and more loan money. Loans, however, are not a required part of a financial aid package.

If your family experienced a dramatic loss of income in 2007 compared to 2006, you can come to the Financial Aid Office to pick up a Request For Change Of Award Package packet. These packets can only be picked up and turned in from January 15, 2008 to March 14, 2008. You will need to include a copy of your 2007 Federal Tax Return and W-2 Forms (along with your parents if you are a dependent student for financial aid purposes) when you turn in the completed packet.

*A Pending file includes:

A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA processed by the federal processor, a Financial Aid Status Letter, and possibly other forms for individual situations.