GCC offers complete financial aid services/programs at both the Locust Grove Campus and the Fredericksburg Area Campus. Staff at both campuses are available to provide information and assistance with financial aid programs.
What is Financial Aid?
Student financial aid is money received from an outside source to assist the student in paying for the costs of higher education. Financial aid is available from the state and federal governments, the Germanna Educational Foundation, and private organizations.
Financial aid is usually awarded based on financial need but can be awarded based on merit or a combination of factors. Merit-based aid is awarded based on the recognition of special skills, talents, or academic record. Need-based aid is awarded based on the applicant demonstrating financial need for the award.
Who is Eligible for Financial Aid?
Federal and State Aid: Students must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The results of the FAFSA must be released to Germanna Community College and must indicate that you have financial need. To qualify for federal or state financial aid at GCC, students must be accepted for admission as a regular student in an eligible degree program of study, must maintain satisfactory academic progress, and must not be in default on a student loan or owe a repayment to a federal grant. Students must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Students who have not graduated from high school or received a GED must demonstrate an "ability to benefit" for their academic program by satisfactory performance on an "ability to benefit" test which is scheduled by the college. State funds are only available for students domiciled in Virginia. All other federal and state requirements must be met.
How is my Financial Need Determined?
One of the first steps in the financial aid process is to determine how much a family can realistically afford to pay toward the costs of college. The family's ability to pay, called the Expected Family Contribution, is determined by completing a need analysis application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application enables a GCC student to apply for all forms of need-based student aid without paying a fee. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance at GCC and the family's ability to pay.
Cost of Attendance
The cost of attending Germanna varies according to the living arrangements of the student. The following is a sample full-time cost of attendance for an in-state student attending two semesters and living away from parents. This is an estimated cost of attendance that is normally adjusted each academic year.
| Tuition and Fees | $1780 | |
| Books and Supplies | $800 | |
| Room and Board | $5800 | |
| Transportation | $2200 | |
| Personal | $2400 | |
| Total | $12980 |
How is Financial Need Calculated?
The Expected Family Contribution is subtracted from the cost of attendance to determine financial need. Financial aid cannot exceed the student's financial need.
Cost Of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need
Additional information is available in the Cash for College publication from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.