Federal Aid Programs

To help our students pay for college, Mt San Antonio College participates in various federal financial aid programs. The information below will provide an overview of the various federal financial aid programs. For further information, visit the Federal Student Aid website as a resource to better understand eligibility requirements. To learn how to apply for federal financial aid programs, visit the Applying for Aid page.

• • Pell Grant

    The Pell Grant Program is for undergraduate students who have not yet completed a baccalaureate or professional degree. In order to qualify for the Pell Grant program, students must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria
    • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

    
    For the 2022-2023 school year, the maximum Pell Grant award amount is $6,895. The amount of Pell Grant a student receives each semester will depend on factors such as the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), Cost of Attendance, enrollment status, and remaining eligibility according to the student’s Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) percentage. 

    The  Mt. SAC Financial Aid Department will determine a student’s eligibility for Pell Grant once a student has completed and submitted the FAFSA, and once all pending financial aid requirements are completed (if applicable). 

    Your Pell Grant offer is based on full-time enrollment (e.g. 12+ units).  If you plan to be enrolled part-time, your award offer will not be revised but your payment will be adjusted.  Your enrollment will be reviewed and "Frozen" (locked) at census. Your payment will be adjusted to reflect your "Frozen" enrollment. No adjustments are made to payments once enrollment has been frozen.

    If you take 9 to 11.9 units, you will receive 75% of the full-time grant amount; if you take 6 to 8.9 units, 50%; and if you take fewer than 6 units, check with the financial aid office for eligibility. Dropping classes before the census date may require that you repay a portion or all of the grant payment that you received. 

    Please note that Pell Grant payments received after the term has already ended will be based on completed units ONLY.  Incomplete grades of W, EW, IA, IB, IC, IF, NP or IP will not be counted for Pell Grant payments for that term.

    What is a Pell Grant?

     

  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

    FSEOG is a campus-based financial aid program. This means that each college participating in the program receives a set amount of money from the federal government to distribute to its students. The regulations governing FSEOG require that funds be awarded first to students with the most need. In order to qualify for the FSEOG program, students must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Demonstrate exceptional need 
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

    
    The  Mt. SAC Financial Aid Department will determine a student’s eligibility for FSEOG once a student has completed and submitted the FAFSA, and once all pending financial aid requirements are completed (if applicable). FSEOG award amounts for students is dependent upon the school’s funding availability. 

    What is an FSEOG?

     

  • Direct Loan Program

    The William D. Ford Direct Loan Program is a set of loans made available for students and parents from the United States Department of Education. Mt. SAC participates in all three types of loans offered through this program: Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Parent PLUS. If you are interested in borrowing federal loans, please contact our office for more information. 

    The subsidized loan is based on financial need, and the federal government pays the interest on the loan as long as the student is enrolled at least half-time. Your loan amount may be subject to proration when your remaining period of study is shorter than an academic year. 

    The interest on an unsubsidized loan is the student's responsibility and continues to build from disbursement of loan through repayment of the loan. This means that your principal balance (the original amount of the loan) will increase (you will owe more than what you originally borrowed) unless you choose to make interest payments while you are in school and during your grace period. 

    The Parent PLUS loan is for a parent to borrow to help the student with college costs. The parent's credit will be a determining factor in the approval of a loan and/or its amount.

    Student/Parent loans must be repaid. We encourage families to consider student/parent loans only as a last resort and only after they have applied for other forms of financial aid, such as grants and scholarships. To apply for scholarships, visit the Mt. SAC Scholarship Program Office website.

    The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office provides financial planning and financial wellness information through the I Can Afford College website. We encourage students and families to take advantage of this online resource. 

    In order to qualify for federal direct loans, students/parents must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria (student loans)
    • Meet general eligibility criteria (parent loans)
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Be enrolled in at least 6 units
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

    
    Should you decide to apply for a Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, please call the Financial Aid Office at (909) 274-4450 to speak to a Financial Aid Administrative Specialist.

    To download the Parent PLUS loan application, visit the Financial Aid Forms website, and download the current aid year's Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Application via DocuSign. Note: The Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan applications can only be obtained by calling our Financial Aid Office at (909) 274-4450. Visit the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loan Information website for additional information. Please note our Office Hours as they may change without notice.

     Visit Mt. San Antonio College’s Code of Conduct for Education Loans to learn about our code of conduct for education loans.

    What is a Loan?

     

  • Federal Work Study

    The Federal Work Study program gives students the opportunity to earn financial aid through student employment. Funding from the Federal Work Study program is received by the student in the form of a paycheck. Students awarded Federal Work Study must contact Career Services to attend an orientation and to learn about the potential work sites on campus and how to apply/interview for the desired position. In order to qualify for the Federal Work Study program, students must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
    • Obtain a qualifying Federal Work Study position through Career Services

    
    The amount of Federal Work Study offered to students reflects the amount of money that a student might receive as wages. Actual job placement depends on a student’s skills, work availability, and the availability of jobs. The  Mt. SAC Financial Aid Department will determine a student’s eligibility for Federal Work Study once a student has completed and submitted the FAFSA, and once all pending financial aid requirements are completed (if applicable).

    What is Federal Work Study?

     

  • Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

    The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is a federal grant offered to students whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and died as a result of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11th, 2001. In order to qualify for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, students must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA
    • Have been under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of parent’s or guardian’s death
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

    
    For the 2021-2022 school year, the maximum Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant award amount is $6,495. The  Mt. SAC Financial Aid Department will determine a student’s eligibility for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant once a student has completed and submitted the FAFSA, and once all pending financial aid requirements are completed (if applicable).

  • Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

    The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship is a federal scholarship offered to Pell-eligible students whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer. In order to qualify for the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, students must:

    • Complete the FAFSA
    • Meet basic student eligibility criteria
    • Complete all pending financial aid requirements (if applicable)
    • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA
    • Have been under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of parent’s or guardian’s death
    • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

    
    For the 2022-2023 school year, the maximum Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship award amount is $6,895. Students who believe that they are eligible for this scholarship should contact the Financial Aid Department.