Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I apply for financial aid?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. You can fill out the FAFSA online. For more details, please visit the Federal Student Aid website. You can also complete the FAFSA using the myStudentAid app (available via the Apple App Store or Google Play).

HACC's school code is: 003273

I know I don't qualify for aid. Should I still complete the FAFSA?

Yes! More people qualify for financial aid than you may think. If you don't fill out the FAFSA, you could miss out on thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships. Most students complete the FAFSA in 30 minutes or less.

When is the deadline for financial aid at HACC?

HACC’s priority deadline to submit the FAFSA is Feb. 15 to be considered for the maximum amount of aid possible. If you are a current student, you must submit your FAFSA application before May 1 to be considered for the PA State Grant Program. For more information on the PA State Grant Program deadline, please visit this website. Students who miss these deadlines may still be considered for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans or Federal Direct PLUS Loan. You must submit the FAFSA no later than June 30, or by the end of the academic year (whichever comes first). Other deadlines are in place for Direct Loans and PLUS loans. Please check with HACC’s financial aid office for clarification.

Do I have to be a full-time student to qualify for financial aid?

No. Most financial aid programs require an enrollment status of six eligible credits to be considered for federal student loans. Some students may be eligible for other types of aid if they are taking less than six eligible credits.

When can I get financial aid?

Aid is awarded in the fall and spring semesters, provided you have a FAFSA on file with HACC and all requirements have been completed. Summer aid is awarded separately after HACC’s financial aid office gets confirmation of your enrollment for the summer semester. No aid is awarded or available for the winter term; however, eligible winter credits can be included toward the amount of spring eligibility, and the award can assist with the winter term balance.

Why do I have to provide my parents' information on the FAFSA?

Unless you are considered an independent student, you may be required to provide parental information on the FAFSA. For the purposes of financial aid, the U.S. Department of Education views you and your parents as your primary financial sources for your postsecondary education. Remember, you are not automatically classified as independent if you live on your own, do not receive financial support from your parents or have not been claimed as a dependent by your parents on their federal income tax return.

If you feel you have unusual circumstances and should be considered independent, please email financialaid@hacc.edu.

Who is considered a parent?

A legal parent includes a biological parent, an adoptive parent or a person that the state has determined to be your parent (for example, when a state allows another person’s name to be listed as a parent on a birth certificate). Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, widowed stepparents and aunts and uncles aren’t considered parents unless they have legally adopted you.

Please refer to this page for details on reporting parent information on the 2024-25 FAFSA.

How do I complete the FAFSA if I can't provide parent information?

If your parents refuse to complete the FAFSA, your options are limited. Your parents need to understand that:

• They are not obligated to pay your charges at HACC.
• They are not obligated to take out loans on your behalf.
• The government requires their information on the FAFSA.
• They can only receive loans if they themselves initiate the loan application.
• The application will remain incomplete without their financial information.
• You are ineligible for federal financial aid - including most scholarships - if your FAFSA is incomplete.

The last option is to apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan by completing the Parental Non-Support form available in the financial aid office. We do not recommend this since you will only be eligible for loans, with no grants, scholarships or work-study.

If you have an extreme circumstance and cannot provide parental information, you may be eligible for a Dependency Override. Some situations that may warrant a Dependency Override include:

• An abusive family environment (removal from the home due to abuse or neglect)
• Abandonment by parents
• Termination of Parental Rights by the Courts
• Parents whereabouts unknown
• Incarceration or institutionalization of both parents

Overrides are done on a case-by-case basis and require significant documentation. Please contact the financial aid office to see if you qualify for a Dependency Override.

I earned a bachelor's degree in another country. Do I qualify for financial aid?

You may be eligible for federal student loans and work-study programs, but students with a bachelor's degree are not eligible for federal or state grants, regardless of citizenship status.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Do I qualify for financial aid?

You must have an "eligible noncitizen" status to qualify for aid. You will receive additional information and eligibility requirements.