Using a Federal Student Aid PIN number and filing the FAFSA online with the Department of Education is the quickest and most accurate method.  Your FSA PIN number is applied for once, and used throughout your student career, as an electronic signature during the financial aid process.

If this is your first time filing a FAFSA, you must apply for a FSA PIN.

• Be sure to answer the basic questions about yourself correctly.
• Supply an e-mail address for your FSA PIN Number to be sent to you.
• It takes from a few minutes up to 24 hours for a PIN to be received via e-mail.

Parents of dependent students will also need their own PIN, for signing the FAFSA electronically.  Use the PIN website, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Having an FSA PIN also allows you to:

• View the status and results of a processed FAFSA application on the FAFSA on the Web site.
• Make corrections to your FAFSA on the Web.
• Access all your Federal Student Aid information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Web site.
• Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account, calculate a repayment schedule, and get interactive counseling on deferment or forbearance for any Direct Loans on the Direct Loan Servicing Web site.
• Complete Loan Entrance & Exit Counseling.
• Sign your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note.
• Request a duplicate copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

For assistance with the Federal Student Aid PIN application process, contact PIN Customer Service

GCC Title IV School Code is: 00216900

Students complete a FAFSA annually, for every year of enrollment in college.  Submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for all types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and institutional funds.  The information collected on the FAFSA is based on federal income tax filings for students and their parents.

GCC encourages applicants to file the FAFSA online, using FAFSA on The Web.

• FAFSA on The Web is the fastest, most efficient, and most accurate application method.
• We recommend first completing the FAFSA on The Web Worksheet, prior to filing their FAFSA on The Web. This Worksheet is available for download from the Forms area of this web site.

The FAFSA is administered by the federal Department of Education.

• The Department of Education compiles and processes the data you submit on your FAFSA.
• Your FAFSA is then sent electronically to GCC, and any other colleges or universities designated by you.
• The GCC School Code is 00216900.

From the date you use your PIN to sign and submit the completed FAFSA, it takes approximately 7-10 days for GCC to receive it.

• Financial Aid is only awarded to students already admitted and matriculated into a GCC degree program.
• Expect a timeline of 6-8 weeks from the date of FAFSA submission, until financial aid money is actually awarded at GCC.
• Check your financial aid status at GCC regularly using MyGCC on-line.  Easy step-by-step instructions available through the Publications area of this website.

To help facilitate electronic filing of the FAFSA, GCC Financial Aid office staff are available during regular office hours, to assist students and families with FAFSA questions and submission.

• Appointments for one-on-one assistance may also be scheduled.  Call Financial Aid to schedule an appointment.
• Periodically, Financial Aid schedules workshops to assist with this process, as well.  Check the GCC College Calendar, or call or office, for more information on specific dates, times, and locations.
• The U.S. Department of Education provides toll-free telephone assistance (1-800-4-FED-AID) and publishes a helpful guide for completing the FAFSA.  Visit the Federal Student Aid web site to download, or request a hard copy of this guide be mailed to you.
• Applicants may also file paper FAFSA, available in person at the GCC Financial Aid Office.  Using the paper FAFSA application may increase processing time by as much as 4 weeks.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) offers financial aid grant and loan programs for state residents meeting residency, income, academic, and/or other requirements, as established by state law and individual program rules.

• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.
• Are you a Massachusetts resident?
  • If you are not a Massachusetts Resident, you can skip down to Step 4 below.
  • If you already have a Bachelor’s Degree (4-year degree), you can skip down to Step 4 below.

Your completed FAFSA is received electronically by OSFA if you are a Massachusetts resident and you have applied to any college or university in the state.

• Only students submitting a FAFSA by May 1 (for the future Fall/Spring academic year) are eligible for state funding.
• OSFA will communicate with you directly regarding your specific eligibility for the grant and loan programs offered.  It is important to respond in a timely manner to any requests or inquiries from OSFA, as all programs have strict deadlines.

OSFA manages the available funds and student eligibility and GCC confirms that you are enrolled and your FAFSA information is correct.

• Eligible students receive and aid award for a semester or a year at a time.
• The funds are disbursed to the college for payment of tuition, fees, and other billed education costs.
• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.

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