Your identity is verified through the FSA ID. It is applied for once, and used as necessary, for any transactions with Federal Student Aid.

• All students filing a FAFSA must apply for an FSA ID.
• Parents of students under the age of 24 use their own FSA ID to provide federal tax data on the application, and for an electronic signature.

If this is your first time filing a FAFSA, you must create an account with Federal Student Aid, called an FSA ID.

• Be sure to answer the basic questions about yourself correctly.
• Supply an e-mail address that you will always have access to. Do not use a school-affiliated email address.
• Complete the security questions and account verification steps.

Parents of dependent students will also need their own FSA ID, for signing the FAFSA electronically. Use the FSA ID website, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Having an FSA ID also allows you to:

• View the status and results of a processed FAFSA application.
• Make corrections to your FAFSA.
• Access all your Federal Student Aid information including aggregate usage of federal grant and loans.
• Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account, calculate a repayment schedule, and get interactive counseling on Direct Loans.
• Retrieve contact information for Loan Servicers, as well as details for Direct Loans from any college or university.
• Complete Loan Entrance & Exit Counseling.
• Sign your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
• Request a duplicate copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

For assistance with an existing FSA ID, such as a password reset or resolving erroneous biographical information, contact FSA ID Customer Service.

GCC Title IV School Code is: 00216900

Students complete a FAFSA annually, for any academic year of enrollment in college.  FAFSA is required for all types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and institutional funds. The information collected on the FAFSA is based on federal income tax filings for students and their parents.

File it online.

The FAFSA is administered by Federal Student Aid, a division of the Department of Education.

• Federal Student Aid compiles and processes the data submitted on a FAFSA.
• FAFSAs are then sent electronically to GCC, and any other colleges or universities designated by you.
• The GCC School Code is 002169.

It takes approximately 4-5 business days for the FAFSA to be processed and sent to the receiving schools.

• Financial Aid is only awarded to students already admitted and matriculated into a GCC degree program.
• Expect a timeline of 4-5 weeks from the date a FAFSA filed, before an aid package is offered at GCC.
• Check your financial aid status in real time using MyGCC on-line.
• It is important to respond in a timely manner to any Financial Aid “Outstanding Requirements” listed in the MyGCC portal as aid cannot be awarded until a student file is complete.

To help facilitate FAFSA submission, the Student Financial Services staff are available during regular office hours, to assist students and families.

• No appointment is necessary.
• Periodically, Financial Aid schedules workshops to assist with this process, as well. Check the GCC College Calendar, or call our office, for more information on specific dates, times, and locations.
• The U.S. Department of Education provides toll-free telephone assistance (1-800-4-FED-AID) and has helpful online resources for completing the FAFSA.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) offers financial aid grant and loan programs for state residents meeting residency, income, academic, and/or other requirements, as established by state law and individual program rules.

• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.
• Are you a Massachusetts resident?
  • If you are not a Massachusetts Resident, you can skip down to Step 4 below.
  • If you already have a Bachelor’s Degree (4-year degree), you can skip down to Step 4 below.

Your completed FAFSA is received electronically by OSFA if you are a Massachusetts resident and you have applied to any college or university in the state.

• OSFA utilizes the May 1 “Priority Deadline” as an eligibility criterium for some funding.
• OSFA communicates directly with student and institutions regarding specific eligibility for their programs.
• Deadlines for inquiry responses are strict. Be sure to respond in a timely manner to requests for information from OSFA.

OSFA manages the available funds and student eligibility. GCC certifies accuracy of FAFSA data and student enrollment for specific terms.

• Eligible students receive and aid offer for either a semester or a year at a time, depending on program rules and details provided.
• The funds are disbursed to the college for payment of tuition, fees, and other billed education costs.
• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.