Financial Aid Eligibility

How Eligibility is Determined

Once your FAFSA is received and is complete and correct, we will verify your admission status, academic progress, and your expected enrollment status.

Most federal financial aid is based on your financial need. To calculate this we deduct your SAI (Student Aid Index), which is listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary, from your estimated cost of attendance.  

When your financial aid eligibility is determined, an email is sent to your MyCorning email.  If you are offered Federal Work-Study and/or Federal Direct Loans, you must accept these funds and complete additional requirements in MyCorning. Instructions will be included in your email. Pay careful attention to these instructions.

Cost of Attendance

Cost of attendance (COA), sometimes referred to as "financial aid budget" or "student budget" is the amount the college calculates or estimates the student's educational expenses to be for a particular enrollment period.  The COA is used to determine financial aid and is not your tuition bill.  The COA will vary based on housing (on campus, off campus or with parents), transportation (on campus, out of state commuter or in state commuter), tuition and fees (NY resident, non-resident, full-time or part-time).

You can find your cost of attendance in MyCorning.  Select Student Resources, My Banner, Financial Aid, Offer, View your SUNY Financial Aid Plan. 

Your cost of attendance is made up of two types of costs:  direct and indirect.

  • Direct costs are items that will appear on your tuition bill, such as tuition, fees, textbooks, housing and meal plan (only if you live on campus).

  • Indirect costs will not appear on your tuition bill but are estimated costs associated with going to college.  These include items like transportation and personal expenses. 

Cost of attendance includes:

Tuition and Fees

Tuition, in the COA, is based on the number of credit hours registered for that are program/degree requirements. Fees is an estimate of required fees, based on enrollment status.

Books, Supplies, Course materials and Equipment

Books, supplies, course materials and equipment costs are an average as they vary by program, number of credit hours registered for and full-time or part-time enrollment.

Housing and Food

If living off campus or with parents, housing costs are estimated.  If living on campus, housing costs are based on the type of dorm room that you choose and will be included on the student's bill . Visit the residence life page for the different room types and costs. Food costs are estimated for three meals per day. Students living on campus are required to purchase the meal plan, which will be included on the student's bill. Meal plan options are also available for students living off campus.

Personal Expenses

This is an estimate of costs for clothing, personal items, laundry etc.. The amount actually spent on these items will vary from student to student.

Transportation

This is an estimate of the cost of traveling to and from campus.  This amount will vary for resident students living off campus, non-resident students living off campus and on campus students.

Student Loan Fees

There is an origination fee for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans. This is the average fee for students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount you borrow (if any).

Actions that May Affect Eligibility

Many actions may cause you to lose eligibility, even after the semester begins. These include but are not limited to:

  • Changes in your course registration by dropping classes
  • Program changes
  • Transferring credits from other colleges
  • Student loan defaults
  • Academic progress
  • Taking courses that are not degree/program requirements of your program of study
  • Withdrawing before financial aid eligibility is determined
  • Withdrawing or ceasing attendance in all classes prior to completing 60% of the semester

Remedial Requirements

  • Once a student has attempted 30 remedial hours, additional remedial hours can no longer be counted in the student's enrollment status. It is important to complete remedial requirements within a reasonable time frame. The College requires students to complete remedial requirements within two full-time equivalent semesters.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility, or how certain actions might affect your eligibility (e.g. dropping a class), contact the Enrollment Advisement Center at 607-962-9875 or eacenter@corning-cc.edu. Once the semester begins, you are accountable for tuition and fees according to the SUNY CCC Tuition Refund Policy even if your financial aid eligibility changes.