Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid

The four basic types of financial aid are: grants, scholarships, loans, and Federal work-study (student employment).

Financial aid is available for eligible students who are seeking a two-year degree or one-year certificate, have a high school diploma or GED, and who need assistance paying for their education. Students planning to receive financial aid need to verify that their application and verification requirements are complete with the Financial Aid Office. Students wishing to receive veteran education benefits need to provide a copy of their certificate of eligibility to Veterans Services. The certificate of eligibility is sent to the student by the Department of Veterans Affairs after the student’s application has been processed. Those who are recipients of vocational rehabilitation funds, tribal aid, or any other third-party aid will need to check with the Business Office and Financial Aid Office to be sure all paperwork relative to their aid has been received.

Qualifications

File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the web at www.fafsa.gov. Undocumented students can file a free application at www.oregonstudentaid.gov. Paper FAFSAs are available in the Financial Aid Office or by calling 1-800-4-FedAid (1-800-433-3243)

• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• Not be in default or owe a refund to any Title IV financial aid program.
• Use the money you receive to meet the costs of attending KCC.
• Be enrolled in a KCC two-year degree or one-year certificate program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress by making academic progress toward your declared degree or certificate.

Application Information

Submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 of the prior year preceding enrollment in courses.

A FAFSA can be filed throughout the year, but must be filed for each school year, July 1 through June 30. This process takes time and students must pay careful attention to each detail. To ensure adequate time to complete the financial aid requirements, KCC recommends applying at least three months before a student plans to enroll at KCC.

FAFSA applications are processed in the order they are received at the Department of Education and then sent electronically to the KCC Financial Aid Office. Please note the amount of financial aid offered depends on a student’s financial need (determined by the Department of Education from the information the student supplies) and the availability of funds. Students are advised to apply early to maximize their financial aid award.

To file an application electronically go to www.fafsa.gov and click on the link that applies to you. Applying electronically is the preferred method of filing and will cut the application processing time by as much as 50%. Corrections are also processed more quickly when done electronically. When students file a FAFSA electronically, they will sign it with a username and password. For more information go to www.fafsa.gov.

Checking Financial Aid Status

Log into your MyKCC account at mykcc.klamathcc.edu using your Klamath Community College student id number@students.klamathcc.edu (XXXXXX@students.klamathcc.edu) and password. Click “Student,” “Financial Hub” on the left-hand side and then the “here” link that applies to you. Students will see their current status including: available awards, and documents still required before financial aid can be awarded or disbursed.

Late Starting Classes

The amount of financial aid you receive depends on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled as of the published add/drop deadline and may be different from your offer amount.

• Offered amounts default to full-time (12 or more credit hours) but will be adjusted during the second week of the term based on your enrollment.
• Late starting or short-term classes in which you are enrolled are included in your enrollment for financial aid. Financial aid may not disburse until your classes begin.
• Dropping a late starting class within the first week of the term, not attending or having a class canceled may result in a reduction of financial aid.
• Increasing financial aid awards for added enrollment can be made only if you are wait-listed in a late starting class, AND add the class within the first week of the term, AND notify the Financial Aid Office after adding the class.
• Classes must be taken for credit, not audit, to count toward financial aid.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement

A post withdrawal disbursement is offered to you - or your parent in the case of a Parent PLUS loan - if, prior to withdrawing, you earned more federal financial aid than was disbursed for the payment period. The amount earned is determined as part of the required federal Return of Title IV Funds calculation. You will be notified upon withdrawal if you are eligible for “post-withdrawal disbursement” of any aid funds. You may be required to confirm that you want to accept the disbursement.

Grants

Scholarships

Considered to be “gift aid” because there is no requirement to repay the funds. The student has the responsibility to maintain satisfactory academic progress and fulfill all other requirements set forth by the individual scholarship program to maintain eligibility.

The following scholarships are available, but not necessarily each year. The amount and eligibility requirements are published at the time of application, which is usually September.

• KCC Foundation Scholarships
• Betty Gray ECE Scholarship
• DeArmond Foundation Scholarship
• Rogue Valley Corvette Club Scholarship
• Bonnie Aherns Memorial
• Marie Clinton Memorial Scholarship
• Susan K. Channel Scholarship Fund
• HBLS Endowment
• Masami Foods Scholarship Fund
• Jim & Dianna Murphy Fund
• Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls Endowment Scholarship
• TBLB Scholarship

Federal Loans

Loans are considered to be “self-help” and require repayment. There are several different types of loan programs available to students and these include: Federal Stafford Subsidized Loans, Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loans and Federal PLUS loans. 2022-23 interest rates will be updated July 2022 on the KCC website.

• Federal Stafford Subsidized Loans
• Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal PLUS loans

Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan

• The Subsidized Stafford Loan is a fixed interest loan awarded based on financial need. If a student qualifies, the federal government will pay the interest on the loan while in school or during any period of authorized deferment.
• If a student is a first-time borrower, loan funds will not disburse until 30 days after the term begins.
• If a student accepts loan funds, they will be required to attend entrance counseling and submit a Master Promissory Note (MPN) prior to disbursement.
• The interest rate for 2023-24 is fixed at 4.99%.
• The origination fee for 2020-23 is fixed at 1.057%.
• New borrowers can only receive subsidy on their subsidized loans for 150% of the published length of their declared program.
• Updated award amounts for 2023-24 will be available July 2023.

(First-year undergraduate students may borrow up to $3,500 if eligible. Second-year undergraduate students may borrow up to $4,500 if eligible.)

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (Direct Loan)

• The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not based on financial need. Interest begins to accrue as soon as the loan is disbursed. The federal government does not pay the interest on this type of loan. Students may pay the interest while in school, or the interest can be capitalized and included in the repayment amount. To set up interest payments, please contact the servicer.
• If a student is a first-time borrower, loan funds will not disburse until 30 days after the term begins. If a student accepts loan funds, they will be required to attend entrance counseling and submit a master promissory note prior to disbursement.
• The interest rate for 2023-24 is fixed at 4.99%.
• The origination fee for 2020-23 is fixed at 1.057%
• Updated award amounts for 2023-24 will be available July 2023.

Available Amounts:

Students may borrow the cost of attendance minus the amount of financial aid and scholarships awarded up to the annual loan limits. An independent student’s annual loan limit is $6,000. A dependent student’s annual loan limit is $2,000 to $5,500 depending on subsidized loan eligibility. All borrowers must complete a master promissory note and in-person entrance counseling before loans can be disbursed. Students must complete an exit interview when they graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. Otherwise final, official transcripts will not be released.

Federal PLUS Loan

PLUS loans are loans taken out by parents, stepparents, or legal guardians of dependent undergraduates to assist them with educational expenses.

Eligibility Requirements:

To receive a Direct PLUS Loan, you must:

• Be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate, or be the parent (biological, adoptive, or in some cases, stepparent) of a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school;
• Not have an adverse credit history; and meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid. If you are borrowing on behalf of your child, your child must also meet these requirements.

Financial need is not a requirement to qualify for this loan. However, this loan is based on the borrower’s credit history. Each applicant is subject to a credit check.

Available Amounts:

• The Federal PLUS Loan may not exceed the annual cost of education at KCC, less any financial aid awarded to the student.
• The interest rate for 2023-24 is fixed at 7.54%.
• The origination fee for 2023-24 is 4.228%.
• Updated award amounts for 2023-24 will be available July 2023.
• The parents, stepparents, or legal guardians are responsible for the repayment of the loan including the interest that accrues on the loan during any period.

Other Information:

These loans may require repayment to begin before the student has graduated. Specific repayment information should be obtained from the lender. Interest begins to accrue as soon as the loan is disbursed.

Federal Work Study

Work-study is considered “self-help aid” in the form of part-time employment as a means of financial assistance.

Work-study provides part-time employment on campus for students who meet eligibility requirements. Students may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year to earn the amount listed on their award notification, if eligible.

Eligibility Requirements: Students must demonstrate financial need.

Available Amount: The awarded amount will vary each year depending on available funds. Work study starting pay is equal to the local minimum wage. This is subject to change each year (wages are announced July 1st each year).

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

To receive federal financial aid at Klamath Community College, a student must meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress. Failure to meet any of the standard requirements will result in warning or disqualification from receiving federal financial aid, or warning, probation, or academic suspension from attending KCC.

KCC, in compliance with Federal Regulation 668.34, requires students maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue eligibility to enroll in classes and receive Federal Financial Aid (grants and loans). Satisfactory academic progress means maintaining a minimum term GPA of 2.00 AND a 66.67% or higher completion rate. The completion rate is based on the number of credits that the student is enrolled in as of the published add/drop deadline. A grade of “W,” I or “F” does not count as successful completion of a class. KCC will apply the satisfactory academic progress standards at the completion of the term after grades are posted. Listed below are the completion requirements:

The US Department of Education and KCC have defined the following terms associated with satisfactory academic progress:

Academic and Financial Aid Warning:

The status assigned to a student the first term the student fails to make satisfactory academic progress. The student is eligible to enroll in classes and receive federal financial aid unless the student received a zero GPA where a financial aid appeal will be required. Student must complete a student success plan with their Academic Advisor or Student Services. The student must meet the satisfactory academic standards for the currently enrolled term to continue financial aid eligibility.  

Financial Aid Disqualification:

The status assigned to a student who has failed to make the standards of satisfactory academic progress more than one term. The student is not eligible to receive federal financial aid unless an appeal is filed according to the school’s guidelines and the appeal is granted. If the appeal is granted, the student’s status changes to financial aid probation

Academic and Financial Aid Appeal:

The process a student completes who has not met satisfactory academic progress standards by petitioning for reconsideration of eligibility of federal financial aid and/or eligibility to enroll in classes. The appeal must include why the student failed to meet the standards, the resolution of the issue, and the student’s plan for success. If a student wishes to appeal for a late drop they must do so within the first three weeks of the term or the appeal will not be considered.

Academic and Financial Aid Probation:

The status assigned by the school to a student who failed to meet satisfactory academic progress for a second term and has had eligibility for financial aid reinstated through the appeal process. Klamath Community College can enforce enrollment restrictions (i.e. half-time enrollment, submission of an academic plan, etc.) if it appears these restrictions will aid in the student’s success. A student on probation may receive aid and must meet the satisfactory academic standards to continue to be eligible for enrollment in classes and receive federal financial aid.

Academic Suspension:

The status assigned by the school to a student who fails to meet SAP for a third term. The student is not eligible to enroll in classes unless an appeal is filed according to the school’s guidelines and the appeal is granted. The student is not eligible to receive federal financial aid. Degree and certificate seeking students will be placed on suspension after completing 36 credits if their cumulative GPA is below 1.75.

Financial Aid Eligibility

• Federal financial aid eligibility is limited to 150% of a program’s credit length (135 credits for a 90-credit two-year degree and 68 credits for a 45-credit one-year certificate). Credits transferred from other colleges that are accepted at Klamath Community College toward your program of study and credits attempted using your own resources are included in the calculation of the maximum credit length. When it becomes apparent that a student cannot graduate within this period, the student becomes ineligible for federal financial aid. If this occurs, the Financial Aid Office will notify the student in writing.
• Enrollment for financial aid purposes will be set based on enrollment as of 5 pm on the last day to add or drop classes for a term. For a course to be counted toward financial aid enrollment it must count toward the two-year degree or one-year certificate the student is pursuing. Elective credits above what is required to receive the two-year degree or one-year certificate will not be eligible to be included for financial aid enrollment.
• Developmental courses (courses below the 100 level) are eligible for federal financial aid up to 45 attempted credits. No additional developmental courses will be funded after 45 credits have been attempted.
• Only developmental courses and courses that apply to a degree or certificate are eligible for federal financial aid. Courses that are not eligible for federal financial aid include adult basic education, GED, high school completion, extended studies courses, challenge courses, one-credit workshops, and special topic courses that exceed the degree requirements per the KCC catalog. Students cannot receive federal financial aid while enrolled in high school or a GED program.
• A student may receive financial aid for a repeated class under these conditions:
  • Until student receives a passing grade (“D” or better);
  • Once for a previously passed class.
    • However, all attempts will be counted as attempted credits toward the program credit limit.
• Programs with fewer than 45 credits or one academic year (i.e., Career Pathways) are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Klamath Community College is not responsible for any actions taken by a student in anticipation of receiving federal financial aid. Students are advised to verify their financial aid status and eligibility each term.

Failure to meet eligibility standards will at least result in the following action:

Zero GPA definition: When a student receives all F’s, all W’s, or a combination of both for the term, the Financial Aid office will recalculate the amount of aid a student qualifies for.  A portion of financial aid may be required to be repaid.

If you are required to file an appeal, Federal Regulation requires that you include the following:

Appeal Results

Students will be notified by email and letter of the decision of the appeals committee.

• If the appeal is granted, the emailed/written notification will include required conditions of continued financial aid and/or enrollment eligibility. Failure to comply with these required conditions will result in actions by the College up to and including administrative drop from classes or suspending receipt of financial aid until the required conditions have been met.
• If the appeal is denied, the appeals committee will identify to the student the actions necessary to regain eligibility for financial aid and/or enrollment. If a student feels that their appeal included all required elements (what occurred, resolution, plan for success and documentation) and the appeals committee did not apply the federal regulations appropriately, the student can request a review of the outcome of the appeal by the vice president of Student Affairs.

NOTE: Students who have a 0.00 GPA due to all F’s, all W’s, or a combination of both for the term may be required to return a portion of the federal financial aid funds they received. Students with an outstanding debt to the College will not be allowed to register for subsequent terms, remain enrolled in classes, or receive official transcripts until the debt has been paid in full.

Refund/Repayment Policy

If you withdraw or stop attending classes, you may be subject to repayment of financial aid funds per the following policy:

• If a student withdraws from all classes or earns a 0.00 GPA for the term, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate the account to determine if the student must repay a portion of the financial aid received. If repayment is required, the student will receive notification from the Business Office.  Because the student has failed to meet the standards of SAP (satisfactory academic progress), the student will either be placed on warning or disqualified from receiving additional financial aid. If the student is disqualified a completed financial aid eligibility appeal form must be submitted for the appeals committee to consider.
• The student’s account will be charged with any portion of unearned aid that the school is responsible for returning to the Department of Education. This charge will result in both a financial hold and transcript hold being placed on the student’s account.
• If the student has received a Stafford Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan, the student is responsible for paying back any unearned amount of the loan funds that they received under the terms of the loan.
• Students will have up to 45 calendar days to make acceptable financial arrangements for repaying the over award or the account will be sent to collections.
• In accordance with Board Policy 720.0110, a student must meet all financial obligations to the College in order to qualify for continued enrollment.

 Veterans Benefits

​Veterans Services provides information about education benefits for veterans and eligible dependents, and certifies enrollment with the Veterans Administration (VA). To apply for veterans’ benefits, go to www.gibill.va.gov. Recipients of VA benefits must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their educational goals.

Veterans must follow VA regulations for notification of any change in academic program/major, course registration, withdrawal, and transfer credits from other institutions. Failure to notify the VA may result in a loss of benefits. For information on benefits or payment problems, call the Portland regional office at 800-827-1000 or contact the Klamath Community College Veterans Services at 541-880-2214.

All veterans receive in-state tuition in accordance with the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act.

Title 38 United States Code Section 3679(e) School Compliance Policy

A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Klamath Community College permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website - eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Klamath Community College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

The Covered Individual must:

1. Submit a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance no later than the first day of a course of education.
2. Provide additional information necessary to the proper certification of enrollment by the educational institution.
3. Make and comply with payment arrangements for the amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement.