Financial Aid & Scholarships

Student Loan Repayments Resume

Student loan payments have restarted and regular interest rates have resumed. You will get your billing statement or other notice at least 21 days before your payment is due. If you don’t get a billing statement at least 21 days before, contact your Loan Servicer.

Because of legislation passed by Congress, student loan payments have restarted. Borrowers can lower their payments, even to $0, by enrolling in the new SAVE Plan.

Qualifying for financial aid

GRCC students receive an education that rivals top Michigan universities for a fraction of the cost. We are committed to ensuring your education is financially possible by working with you to identify grant, scholarship and loan options unique to your needs and academic goals.

Your first step to qualify for most financial aid programs is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you are one of the millions of students that qualify each year. To begin you will need an FSA ID & Password.

If you need help filling out the FAFSA or determining which financial aid options are best for you, schedule an appointment with one of our financial aid specialists or walk in during Enrollment Center business hours.

• Taking classes during the Fall 2023, Winter 2024 and Summer 2024 semesters? Fill out the 2023/2024 FAFSA based on your 2021 income information. 
• The 2024/2025 FAFSA for the Fall 2024, Winter 2025 and Summer 2025 will not be available until later in December 2023.  It will be based on your 2022 income. 
• State aid recipients please note: You must complete a FAFSA to be considered for any form of state aid.

Winter 2024 financial aid calendar

Financial aid disbursements by date

• Pell Grants and winter portion of fall/winter Direct Loans: Feb. 9, 2024
• 2nd half of Winter ONLY Direct Loans: March 15, 2024

Students with all late starting classes will receive their refund within a week of their classes starting.

For additional dates and information, visit our Important Dates page.

Have you had a change in your family or financial situation?

Grand Rapids Community College recognizes that households face circumstances which result in a change in your family or financial situation. The information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by students and families may not reflect the current economic situation.

Special Circumstances could include, but are not limited to: unemployment or change in employment resulting in a significant decrease in annual income, divorce or separation, death of a parent or spouse, etc. If you have faced a special circumstance, you can request to complete the form and submit the requested documentation on your Student Forms Account. Please log into your Student Forms Account and click the “Manage Request” button for a “Professional Judgment: Special Circumstance - EFC Calculation Appeal” form.

GRCC will review and process these requests as soon as your documentation is submitted. The Financial Aid Office will send an email to the student’s GRCC email address with any additional documentation requirements. After the documentation has been reviewed, the Financial Aid Office will send an email detailing the outcome of the request. If there is a change to the student’s financial aid awards, this information can be found on the student’s GRCC Online Center under the financial aid tile.

Dependency status

The FAFSA requires that dependent students include parent information. However, Grand Rapids Community College understands there may be family situations in which providing parent information is not possible. Certain circumstances may warrant a dependency appeal. These circumstances include: abandonment by parents, an abusive family environment that threatens the student’s health or safety, or the student being unable to locate their parents.

If there is an extenuating circumstance proving that you cannot provide your parent's information, you can submit request for review and submit the requested documentation on your Student Forms Account. Please log into your Student Forms Account and click the “Manage Request” button for a “Professional Judgment: Unusual Circumstance Appeal” Form.

However, none of the conditions listed below, singly or in combination, qualify as unusual circumstances meriting a dependency appeal:

1. Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
2. Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
3. Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
4. Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

GRCC will review and process these requests as soon as your documentation is submitted. The Financial Aid Office will send an email to the student’s GRCC email address with any additional documentation requirements. After the documentation has been reviewed, the Financial Aid Office will send an email detailing the outcome of the request. If there is a change to the student’s financial aid awards, this information can be found on the student’s GRCC Online Center under the financial aid tile.

Get help paying for internet service

Federal Pell Grant recipients may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices.

Check out our YouTube channel!

You can now access some great information on the Financial aid Channel on GRCCtv on YouTube.

Secure file upload for financial aid forms

Students can now upload their financial aid forms via their Online Center:

1. Sign into your MyGRCC account.
2. Select Online Center.
3. Select the Financial Aid tile.
4. Select "Submit Files to Financial Aid” and upload your file.