Financial Aid & Scholarships
The financial aid office is dedicated to providing access, aid and advising services to promote student success and lifelong learning. We strive to balance responsible stewardship of all financial aid funds while providing exceptional aid and support for students to achieve their educational goals.
FVCC offers financial aid in the form of grants, work-study, loans, scholarships and/or some combination of these, and each fund may have different requirements. Financial aid can seem confusing at first, but we're here to help. We are available on a walk-in basis Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm in LRC Room 117, call us at (406) 756-3849, or email us at finaidinfo@fvcc.edu with your questions.
All financial aid determinations are based on the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In order to receive any type of aid, each student must complete a FAFSA form. FVCC's school code is 006777.
Grants
Grants are a form of financial assistance that do not have to be repaid. Awards are limited to students who demonstrate financial need through the financial aid application process. Excluding the Pell Grant, an enrollment status of six or more credits is required to receive aid.
Federal Pell Grants
- Federally funded program
- Awarded to undergraduate students without a bachelor’s or professional degree
- Eligibility determined by a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated from the FAFSA and enrollment status
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federally funded program
- Awarded to exceptionally needy undergraduate students
- Reserved for students who are eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds
Loans
Loans are a form of financial assistance which requires repayment over time.
FVCC processes loans through the US Department of Education Direct Loan program. Direct loans are low-interest loans for students to help pay for the cost of education after high school. The lender is the US Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution.
All direct loans have a 6-month grace period. This means you will have six months from the time you graduate or stop attending school at least half-time (six credits) before you have to start making your student loan payment.
Work-Study
Work-study is a federal and state-subsidized program designed to promote part-time employment of students to help them avoid excessive debt while in college. As a student employee, students gain valuable work experience, develop new skills, and earn a paycheck to help meet their educational and living expenses.
- Work-study funds are awarded as part of a student’s financial aid package.
- Work-study awards are based on financial need and available funding.
- Any changes in a student’s financial aid package may result in a decrease in work-study funding.
- A work-study award does not guarantee employment.
- Students must participate in the recruitment process by applying to current student employment opportunities posted at www.fvcc.edu/jobs.
Does work-study go towards tuition?
Work-study awards are not applied towards a student’s tuition bill, nor is the amount of the award guaranteed. An award authorizes a student to participate in the program and sets a limit as to the amount of income a student can earn during the academic year.
It is the responsibility of the student to work enough hours to reach the earnings limit, and to budget wisely throughout the year to meet necessary college costs.
Who is eligible for work-study?
Eligibility for a work-study award depends on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Since funds are limited, students applying by the priority filing date of March 1st and December 1st have the best opportunity to receive a work-study award.
Applying for work-study
Work-study awards are offered on a first-come, first-served basis for those students that complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. If a student is interested in work-study, they can complete our Work-study Interest Form.
Eligibility for student employment
In order to be eligible for student employment, a student must:
- Be enrolled at FVCC as a credit-seeking student and maintain a minimum of six (6) credits per semester (audited classes are not considered degree-granted credits and do not count toward the credit hour requirement)
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress per FVCC student guidelines.
How to apply for student employment
View student job openings here, then complete and submit an application. Most posted student employment jobs require you to upload a resume to the online application system. Before you start your job search, be sure to have or create a resume.
Maximum hours students may work per week
Depending on the supervisor’s needs, the maximum hours per week a student may work is up to 19 hours.
Questions?
For more information and support regarding financial aid and work study awards, please contact the financial aid office at (406) 756-3849.
For information and support with student employment, please contact the student employment coordinator at (406) 756-3960 or dgrabowski@fvcc.edu.
Scholarships
For information about available scholarships, please see our scholarships page.