HOW TO APPLY

 

The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate award year.  For the 2007-08 award year, the 2007-08 FAFSA is required.  For the 2008-09 award year, the 2008-09 FAFSA is required.  The student is also required to submit the one-page Macomb Community College Spring/Summer application if he/she plans to enroll in a spring/summer semester.

 

When a student applies for financial aid, the answers to certain questions on the FAFSA determine the student’s dependency status. The dependency status is either dependent on parents or independent and providing no parental information.

 

The reason for the classification by dependency status is based on the federal, state and institutional philosophy that the student and/or his/her family have the primary responsibility to pay for education beyond high school. If the student is unmarried and under age 24, the parents are responsible for assisting with college expenses, even if the student does not live with the parent(s). Parent’s income information is required in these circumstances.

 

Financial aid funds supplement, not replace, what the parent(s) and/or student is expected to pay for college expenses.

 

The student is considered independent and does not provide parent’s information on the FAFSA if any one of the following is true:

  • Born before January 1, 1985
  • Married
  • Has legal dependent(s) other than a spouse and supports the dependent(s) 50% or more. The dependents cannot be supported by someone other than the student.
  • Both parents are deceased or the student is (or was until age 18) a ward or dependent of the court.
  • Currently serving on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
  • A veteran of the U. S. Armed Forces 

If the student cannot answer “yes” to any one of the above questions, the student is dependent and must provide parental information on the FAFSA. If the student claims to be independent based on one of the above circumstances, he/she will be required to submit proof of the above circumstance before financial aid can be processed and awarded.