Financial Aid

Regulatory

Basic Eligibility

Eligibility for Federal Student Aid is determined by the household size, income, assets and other information reported in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA process calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is a measure of a student's ability to pay for college. Other eligibility criteria include U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen, completion of a high school diploma, or GED, or state authorized high school equivalent certificate, admitted to OCCC to pursue an eligible program of study, enrollment status, and academic progress.

Eligible programs at Oklahoma City Community College include associate degrees and one-year certificate programs (30 credit hours). Certificate programs of at least 16 credit hours may also be eligible if all courses apply to the same OCCC associate degree program.

An official College Study Abroad Program is eligible for Federal Student Aid, if the courses are also part of the OCCC degree plan for which the student is pursuing. Students seeking financial aid for a Study Abroad semester should contact a Financial Aid Advisor in advance to determine eligibility.

Students applying for and receiving financial aid must be making satisfactory academic progress based on federal student aid regulations. All academic history at Oklahoma City Community College and other post-secondary programs will be evaluated in determining satisfactory academic progress. Students must submit to OCCC Records Office official academic transcripts from all schools attended.

Verification

Federal Student Aid selects a percentage of FAFSAs for Verification. The Financial Aid Office notifies all selected students by email, requesting the required documents. Students should submit missing documents as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing their financial aid. Required documents are listed on the student’s OCCC student portal.

Documents that may be required:

  • Federal Tax Return *Transcript or signed Federal Tax Return with applicable Schedules 1, 2, and 3.
  • Non-Tax Filers - *IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter
  • Non-Tax Filers *IRS Wage & Income Transcript
  • *Tax Transcripts and Letters can be ordered online at https://:irs.gov
  • Verification Forms (Dependent or Independent)
  • Proof of High school completion or the equivalent
  • Proof of Identity- You must appear in-person to the Financial Aid Office and present a valid government issued photo ID, such as a driver license, state issued photo ID or passport.
  • Certifying Statement of Educational Purpose indicating that the 2020-2021 Federal Student Financial Aid received will only be used to pay the cost of attending OCCC. Students who are unable to appear in-person must provide a copy of a valid government issued ID with a notarized statement of educational purpose.
  • If a student or parent has been granted an IRS filing extension, submit copies of IRS form 4868, W-2 and/or 1099 forms and a signed statement of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

Verification Exclusions

FAFSA applicants who are selected for verification may be exempt from this requirement if certain documented circumstances exist, such as:

  • Applicant only eligible for unsubsidized loans
  • Parents unavailable or deceased
  • Spouse unavailable or deceased
  • Selected after student is no longer enrolled and all funds are disbursed

Students who meet one of these criteria must contact the Financial Aid Office and document their circumstance. Due to the availability and use of electronic processes, the Financial Aid Office seldom considers cases of parent or spouse unavailability.

What happens next?

Award notifications are sent to students' OCCC email. Students review their financial aid awards on MyOCCC Portal Self-Service for Students: http://www.occc.edu/links/index.html

The Financial Aid Office does not award or disburse Federal or State Student Aid funds until Verification is complete.