Financial Aid

Frederick Community College makes getting a college education affordable. The Financial Aid Office is here to help you navigate paying for school, completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and applying for local, state, and federal aid opportunities including scholarships, grants, loans, and work study.

Complete the Financial Aid Checklist

Financial Aid Processing Deadlines

---

To ensure your financial aid is processed and awarded before the first drop for non-payment, submit all required documents by the following dates:

Priority Summer: April 15
Priority Fall: July 1
Priority Spring: November 1

Professional judgment documents (Special/Unusual Circumstance Requests) must be submitted by April 15. All other documents for the 2025-2026 academic year must be submitted by September 19, 2026, or within 120 days after the last day of your final semester of enrollment, whichever comes first.

Financial Aid Checklist for Credit Students

---

1. Complete the admissions process at Frederick Community College (FCC).

   • The FCC Admissions Process needs to be completed first as you must be an admitted student enrolled in an eligible credit degree or certificate program in order to qualify for most types of federal and state financial aid.
   • When applying to FCC, be sure to provide your Social Security number, the exact spelling of your name as it appears on your Social Security card, and your correct date of birth. This allows us to link your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to your account at FCC.

   Complete the FCC Admissions Process

2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every academic year. If you do not qualify for the FAFSA due to your immigration status, skip to step 3.

   • To complete the FAFSA, start by creating a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Both the student and at least one parent or legal guardian (if the student is dependent) must create their own FSA ID.
   • Once you have your FSA ID, sign in to complete the FAFSA.
   • When completing the FAFSA, be sure to include the FCC school code (002071) so FCC receives your FAFSA (typically within 7-10 days).
   • Accurate tax information is required to determine your financial aid eligibility. When completing your FAFSA online, you will be prompted to use the Future Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX), a secure feature built directly into the application that transfers your tax data from the IRS automatically. This ensures your information is accurate and reduces the risk of errors that could delay your aid.
   • Federal regulations require some FAFSAs to go through a verification process to confirm the accuracy of the information submitted. If your FAFSA is selected, you will be notified through your PeopleSoft To-Do List and asked to submit additional documentation. Verification can take up to two weeks after documents are received, so submit yours as soon as possible to avoid delays in your aid.
   • After submitting your FAFSA, monitor your myFCC email, PeopleSoft To-Do List, and StudentForms account for updates.

   Create A Federal Student Aid ID   Complete The FAFSA Application

   Maryland Residents: One additional step is required as part of the FAFSA process. Create a student login for the MDCAPS portal by visiting mhec.state.md.us. You will need access to this portal in order to accept offered awards from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).

   • If you are a US Citizen or eligible non-citizen, you must submit your FAFSA by March 1 in order to be considered for most types of aid from the state of Maryland. The March 1 deadline does not apply to the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship.
   • If you do not qualify for the FAFSA due to your immigration status, you may still be eligible for aid from the state. You will need to complete the MHEC One App on MDCAPS.
     
     

3. Apply for FCC Foundation Scholarships.

   • FCC Foundation Scholarships are available to currently enrolled and incoming FCC students.
   • Apply early for the best consideration.
   • The fall application opens February 1 and closes August 15, with a priority deadline of June 15.
   • The spring application opens October 1 and closes January 15, with a priority deadline of December 31. 

   Apply for FCC Foundation Scholarships

4. Frederick County Residents: Apply for Community Foundation of Frederick County Scholarships.

   • The General Scholarships application is available March 1-31 of each year at frederickcountygives.org/apply/scholarships to all students regardless of citizenship status.

   Apply for Community Foundation Scholarships

5. Review your estimated awards in PeopleSoft by selecting the "Financial Aid" tile.

   • Financial aid awards are initially based off full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester) enrollment. If you are not full-time, your awards may be prorated.
   • FSA eligibility is only based on courses required for your declared degree or certificate at FCC.
   • If your award is more than your tuition and fee charges, you may be able to charge your textbooks at the FCC Bookstore for a limited time.

   Sign In To Your PeopleSoft Account

6. Disbursements & Refunds

   • Financial aid will be disbursed after attendance is verified in courses, which typically happens three to five weeks after the start of the semester. If you are only enrolled in late start courses your disbursement will be delayed until attendance is verified.
   • Once funds are disbursed to the FCC student account, please allow up to 14 days to receive a refund.