How to Apply

Students outside

To apply for financial aid you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (FAFSA) It is strongly recommended that you apply at least 10 weeks before the first day of the semester for which the aid is required. ACCC's School Code is 002596.

The FAFSA application is available on line at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. Paper applications are no longer available through the Financial Aid and Veterans Services office. You can only request one by calling 1800-433-3243.  If you have any questions or need assistance you can contact our office in J building on the Mays Landing Campus, at ACCC's other locations, or calling (609) 343-5082 or (609) 463-4774, ext. 5082, or (609) 625-1111, ext. 5082. We strongly recommend that you complete the FAFSA online.

Apply Early! 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed as soon as the appropriate tax forms are completed. Complete your FAFSA online.  It's easy and processing results usually take only about two weeks, compared to the four to six weeks required for paper applications. Applying online is faster and more accurate. FAFSA online has built in edits to prevent student from missing required information.  

Before applying online make sure you apply for a PIN. 

The PIN will serve as your electronic signature and avoid the necessity to print and mail a signature page with your online FAFSA. Parents of dependent student should also apply for a PIN.  Allow three days for a response if providing an e-mail address.  Allow 10 days if the PIN number is to be mailed.  Request a PIN at: www.pin.ed.gov

If you cannot apply online because you do not have access to Internet or you are not comfortable with the process, please contact ACCC to make an appointment with one of our assistants. They will help you prepare your FAFSA and submit the application electronically.

After the FAFSA is Completed

A Student Aid Report (SAR) will be forwarded to you by e-mail or regular mail and an electronic version will be forwarded to ACCC.  You should review your SAR for accuracy. If you need assistance in correcting the SAR, call the Financial Aid Office at 609-343-5082.

The SAR contains an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) which is used to calculate your eligibility for federal financial aid. You will receive a Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA) that will list the state award and amounts you may be eligible to receive. Please note that ACCC Financial Aid Office makes the final decision on the amount of state aid you are eligible to receive. The amount of your eligibility is based on the number of credits you are enrolled in.

Missing Information/Verification

If additional documentation is needed to complete your file, ACCC will mail you a Missing Information Letter. Your application may be selected for verification by the U.S. Dept. of Education requiring our office to obtain specific documents from you. In some cases, NJHESAA will contact you separately and request that you send them additional information. Please respond immediately to prevent delays or cancellation. Failure to completed and submit your documentation to ACCC may result in not receiving a deferment for your tuition and fees and/or book check. Your FAFSA and documentation should be completed 10 weeks prior to the first day of classes.

Award Notification

Once the Financial Aid Office has received all required documents and your file has been reviewed for accuracy, you will received an Award Notification Letter detailing your eligibility for aid. Your award will be based on your eligibility for aid, your enrollment status, as well as the availability of funds. Please make sure to read all messages associated with your award letter. It is important to note that it is your responsibility to determine if your financial aid awards are enough funding to cover your tuition and fees. If not, you will be expected to pay the difference to the college by the payment deadline. Please also note that ACCC does not pre-package student loans. If you are interested in borrowing under the federal student loan program you must submit an additional application. Please contact our office at 609-343-5093 for additional information.

To Check the Status of Your Financial Aid

You may access ACCC's Web For Students for more detailed information. To access your student account, go to: https://wfs.atlantic.edu. You will need your student college ID or social security number and your PIN. If you do not have your PIN, you may request one at that site. If you have a problem accessing this page, please contact 609-343-5005.

Disbursement Procedures

Tuition & Fees:  On or about the 10th day of the semester you are enrolled, your final financial aid, based on your credits and except for Federal Work Study, will be applied towards your account for tuition and fees. If your awards are large enough to cover your costs, you will not be required to make a payment.  Please keep in mind that you are responsible for making any payments necessary by ACCC's payment date.  Financial Aid also reserves the right to correct or modify your awards at any time.

Books and Supplies: If your award is larger than your tuition and fees you may be eligible for a book check. The book check can be used in our college book store if you spend more than 70%. 

Payment of Remaining Aid: If your award is larger than your tuition and fees and books and supplies, you may be eligible for a refund. After tuition and fees, book charges and insurance charges have been posted to your account and financial aid is credited to your account, any credit balance will be disbursed to you directly. Checks are normally available a few weeks after the college withdrawal period.

Refund Procedures

Students who completely withdraw from all of their courses or unoffically withdraw from classes by receiving all grades of 'F' and are receiving student aid are subject to having all or part of their financial aid returned to the appropriate financial aid programs. For those students who withdrew prior to 60% of the enrolled period elapsing, a pro-rata schedule is used to determine how much of your funds were earned at the time of withdrawal. Student Financial Aid funds must be returned in the following order:

If more aid is received that could have been reasonable spent for non-institutional costs (excluding Federal Stafford Loan Programs), the unearned portion must be returned to Student Financial Aid Fund Programs.