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Types of Financial Aid

Admission and Aid

The most affordable education, right in your back yard.

There are three major categories of financial aid:

  • Grants, waivers, and scholarships provide free money that can be applied to college expenses and don't have to be repaid.
  • Low-interest student loans allow you to borrow money for your education. Repayment begins after graduation, and, in many cases, the government pays the interest during your enrollment.
  • Work-study provides part-time jobs so students can earn while they learn. Paychecks can be used to cover living expenses while enrolled. The added benefit of this program is the opportunity for you to gain work experience and references.

Contact Us

Student Financial Services:
onestop@berkshirecc.edu
413-499-4660

Don't forget to check out BCC's College Central Network to set up your student profiel and search for available job openings in the area.

  • Scholarships

    BCC Foundation Scholarships

    As a BCC student, there are more than 160 scholarships totaling $300,000 available. Whether you are a new student just entering the college, returning for another year, or graduating and transferring from BCC, there are BCC Foundation scholarships for you.

    To qualify for a BCC Foundation Scholarship, you must:

    • Be enrolled or accepted into a degree or certificate program.
    • Planning to take at least 6 credits the following semester.
    • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

    Read About BCC Foundation Scholarships

    Find a Scholarship

    The resources available below are a great place to start in searching for additional financial aid funds to apply to your bill.

    Apply to as many as you need and qualify for.

  • Grants and Waivers

    Federal Pell Grant (PELL)

    Eligibility for this grant is determined by the household and financial information you provided on the FAFSA. It is generally the largest source of "free money" toward college expenses and does not have to be repaid. There's a Pell lifetime limit of 144 attempted credits. You can get other kinds of aid without being eligible for a Pell.

    Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

    This grant is awarded to Pell-eligible students with the highest need and also does not have to be repaid. BCC receives limited SEOG funding.

    Don't Wait!

    As one of the most important parts of your application process, the easiest way to apply for grants is by filling out your FAFSA.

    Apply for Federal Aid
  • Loans

    If you apply for financial aid, BCC will include Federal Direct Student Loans (FDSSL, FDUSL) as part of your financial aid package; a separate loan application process is involved.

    Federal Direct Student Loan programs provide low-interest loans to help meet college expenses. Eligibility for a subsidized or unsubsidized Direct Loan is determined by the household and financial information provided on your FAFSA. You could receive subsidized, unsubsidized, or a combination of both loans, depending on your eligibility.

    Most BCC students can qualify for a loan subsidy, which means that the government pays the interest on your loan while you're enrolled. Student loan borrowers can defer repayment until 6 months after graduation.

    Based on the most recent available data, the average total student loan debt upon leaving BCC (graduating, transferring, etc.) is $8,552.

    Wait!

    If you're going to take out a student loan, learn about the differences between federal and private education loans.
    Apply for Federal loans first

    Contact Us

    Student Financial Services:
    onestop@berkshirecc.edu
    413-499-4660

    In response to concerns at a national level about student lending practices, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, established a Code of Conduct for Student Loan Program and called on each public institution of higher education in Massachusetts to adopt the Code. Accordingly, on August 28, 2007, Berkshire Community College adopted the Code as specified and is fully complying with the Code.

    A Student Borrower Bill of Rights is a variation on this Code of Conduct that is intended to enhance student understanding of their rights under the Code.

  • Work Study

    Work-study, may be offered as part of your financial aid package and is a way for students to earn money to pay for school related expenses by working part-time on- (and sometimes off-) campus jobs. The program gives students an opportunity to gain valuable work experience while pursuing a college degree.

    • Wages range from 14.52/hr to $15.70/hr
      (dependent on qualifications)
    • Work 5-8 hours a week
      (On average, based on award amount)
    • Paychecks are issued every two weeks

    Find Jobs

    Available work-study positions are posted on Handshake. Create your Handshake profile and it will show you jobs that are a good fit for you. You can filter and search through work-study positions based on your interests, and discover new career possibilities. For assistance with your account please contact 413-236-1637 or careers@berkshirecc.edu

    Interested? Questions About Your Work-Study Allocation?

    Contact our One Stop:

    Email: onestop@berkshirecc.edu

    Phone: 413-499-4660

Explore Your Options

Visit OSFA's website for a complete listing of grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers.

  • Attending more than one school?

    The Financial Aid Office can often support financial aid recipients who take classes at other colleges to meet graduation requirements at BCC.

    By participating in Consortium Agreements:

    BCC can combine credits taken at a host institution with credits taken at BCC in the same term to determine the amount of aid the student is eligible to receive for that term. For example, with a Consortium, a financial aid recipient taking 9 credits at BCC and 3 credits at another college during the same term can be considered a full-time student for the purpose of receiving financial aid at BCC.
    In certain circumstances, BCC may also disburse financial aid to a student who is not registered for any credits at BCC in a given term but who is matriculated at BCC and will transfer credits from a host institution to meet graduation requirements at BCC.
    Consortium forms are available at the Financial Aid Office and must be completed by the student and forwarded to the financial aid office at the host school for processing. The Consortium is intended to prevent students from receiving financial aid at more than one school at a time and does so by determining which school is the student's home institution where financial aid can be awarded versus the host institution, where financial aid cannot be awarded.

    Students enrolled as full-time students (12 or more credits) at their home institution generally do not benefit from a Consortium as they are already receiving 100% of their aid.

    It is the student's responsibility to obtain pre-approval from their academic advisor to take one or more classes at another institution for transfer back to BCC.