Student Financial Aid Checklist

Applying for financial aid can sometimes be a confusing process.  This checklist will make the process easier to follow.

Apply for Admission (You cannot be awarded until you are admitted)

Apply for Financial Aid with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

1. Apply as soon after January 1, each year 
2. NJC has a priority date of March 1 to be eligible for certain grants and work study monies.
3. Parents and Students need to apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at http://www.pin.ed.gov
4. Apply for the FAFSA on the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
5. In approximately four to six weeks or less the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) sent to their email address or one mailed to their permanent address.
6. NJC will send the student a letter requesting additional information if the student is selected for verification.  This request will include documents such as student and parent federal tax returns and a verification worksheet.
7. Once the Financial Aid Office has received all the correct information needed, the student will receive an award letter sometime after April 15.  This award letter is for the student to keep as a record unless he or she is declining a portion of or the entire award.
8. Please feel free to call the Financial Aid Office is you have questions or would like to make an appointment for assistance on completing the FAFSA.

NJC Scholarships (Apply Here! )

1. Priority Deadline date for all NJC scholarship applications is March 1.
2. Colorado's Centennial Scholars Scholarship is based on high school grade point average.
3. The General scholarship application is for other available scholarships through the NJC Foundation, local community, etc and selelctions are make by the NJC Scholarship Committee.
4. The Agriculture and Technical Scholarship Application is available for scholarships in those areas and selections are made by the NJC Ag/Tech Scholarship Committee.
5. Make sure you are investigating other sources for scholarships through your high school counselor, local community and online at free sites.  Click here for various websites that offer free online scholarship searches.
6. Notifications of scholarship awards are from mid March and throughout the summer.

Important Reminders

1. The FAFSA must be completed to be eligible for Pell Grants, Federal/Colorado Grants, Federat/State Work-Study (both need based and no-need based), Student Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) and Parent PLUS Loans.
2. Keep copies of everything, including the scholarship applications and the FAFSA.
3. If you have questions, please call us.