Campus

How to get money for tuition

Phillip Snyder, associate vice president of college advancement, leads the Foundation. Sara Faraj | Washtenaw Voice

By Kristy King
Staff Writer

Need money for college? If so, you’re in good company—28.8% of WCC students received some form of financial aid in the 2018-19 school year.

There are plenty of sources to check for scholarship and grant opportunities. The first place to start is by filling out the FAFSA application online. Grants are a good choice for funding because they do not need to be repaid, unlike student loans. Students who complete the application are automatically considered for certain grants, including the Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG).

The FSEOG is given to students based on individual financial need. Award amounts can range anywhere from $100-4,000.

The Pell Grant is automatically awarded based on financial need; amount awarded depends on the number of credit hours the student is enrolled in. In the 2019-2020 academic year, the maximum federal Pell Grant was $6,195 for two full-time semesters.

Next, try the WCC Foundation Scholarship, which is awarded to students based on a combination of financial need and merit. Scholarships are awarded every semester (including spring/summer) in amounts ranging from $250-1,000, based on number of credit hours the student is enrolled in. The application requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 and a personal statement. A letter of recommendation is recommended. The deadline to apply for the winter semester is Feb. 10.

Another option is the Federal Carl Perkins Grant, which help pays for tuition, textbooks and child care costs for students. Students must fill out an application, have an eligible occupational major and fall under one of the six categories: Single parent (including pregnant women), displaced homemaker, students who are enrolled in occupational programs that are considered non-traditional for their gender, economically disadvantaged, person with a disability, or person with limited English proficiency. Students interested in applying should contact the Student Resource Center.

Still looking for more free money? Head to michigan.gov/mistudentaid or www.wccnet.edu/financial-aid/Scholarships for additional scholarships and tips for applying.

Besides WCC and federal aid, another option is the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation scholarship. The AAACF scholarship is intended to award money to students from low-income families, students of color and first-generation college students. They program provides “multi-year scholarships for students from these three populations because research shows that the later years of college are the hardest to find support.” Go to aaacf.org to apply for grants and scholarships.

“I receive the Presidential Scholarship which is how I afforded my freshman year,” said Natalie Hoang, a Freshman majoring in General Education and transferring to either Eastern or Grand Valley.

The Presidential Scholarship is a full tuition Scholarship with an additional three hundred dollars given to the student for books. It is awarded to six select senior high school students from each Washtenaw County public high school who have maintained a 3.2 or above GPA. Students may renew the Scholarship for a second year if the student has completed 24 credit hours and has a 3.0 GPA.

“WCC extended my Scholarship when I ran out of money and still needed one more book for school,” Hoang said.

The Procassini Honor Scholarship is also given to high school seniors and is based on academic achievement. Like the Presidential Scholarship, it may be renewed for a second term.

Also available to High School Seniors is the Excellence Scholarship, which is awarded to 1,500 graduates per semester from any high school. Unlike the other two scholarships that are based on academics, this one is based on what makes the student unique. It could be sports, overcoming an obstacle or volunteer work.

The deadline for these scholarships is March 30.

“I found my scholarship from my High School counselor so I think everyone should see the advisors and financial aid at WCC to make sure they are not missing out on any opportunities,” said Elise LaPointe, Excellence Scholarship winner.