Financial Aid for Online & Distance Learning Degree Studies
Financial aid eligibility
The College offers federal financial aid for students who are enrolled at least half-time in degree programs in the Graduate & Professional Studies division. Federal aid covers the cost of tuition and books.
- For undergraduate students, aid is available through both the Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Pell Grant.
- For graduate students, only the Federal Stafford Loan is available.
- Students receiving employee or other reimbursement for tuition and books are not eligible for financial aid.
General eligibility requirements for financial aid include:
- Admission to a degree program (students enrolled in our certificate programs are not eligible for aid)
- U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen status
- No default on a federal student loan or refund required to a federal grant program
- Registration with Selective Service (if required)
- Valid Social Security number
- High school diploma or GED
- Satisfactory academic progress toward degree, i.e., you must complete 75% of the credits you attempt (including all transfer credits) and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Half-time enrollment. Please carefully review the enrollment requirements to be eligible for financial aid.
(These requirements are also used for deferring prior student loans.)
Applying for financial aid
The following forms are needed in order to apply for a Federal Stafford Loan and/or a Federal Pell Grant.
| Forms | 2009-2010 (for courses with start dates between 6/1/09 to 5/31/10) |
| 1. Federal Application | 2009-2010 Free Application For Federal Student Aid  |
| 2. SJC Application | 2009-2010 Verification Worksheet  OR For "3 plus ONE" students, 2009-2010 Application & Consortium Agreement |
| 3. Income Documentation | Signed Copy of your (and your spouse's, if applicable) 2008 Federal Tax Return OR 2008 Non-Tax Filer Statement (if you and/or your spouse were not required to file a tax return)
|
Opportunity Maine
A new Maine tax credit has been authorized to reimburse payments to a school-certified educational loan for any Maine resident who earns an associate's or bachelor's degree in Maine, and then lives, works and pays taxes in Maine following degree completion.
To participate a student must submit a contract to the Office of Financial Aid. For currently enrolled students, this contract should be submitted to our office as soon as possible following the start of the spring 2008 semester.
The
Opportunity Maine contract 
Want more information?
Opportunity Maine rules 
Opportunity Maine FAQ