Receiving Financial Aid

CGCC's Financial Aid

Award Letter

The Award Letter is an offer of the amount of funding you are eligible to receive, and is based on federal eligibility requirements, fund availability, and for some types of aid your enrollment level and class standing.

Information about your loan eligibility, if not indicated at the time of initial award, will be sent to you separately on a Pre-Award Loan Estimate. This is an estimate of the amount of Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans you're eligible to borrow.

Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) may adjust your award if:

  • Your enrollment level changed
  • You received an outside scholarship of other external funding
  • There was a change in your Cost of Attendance
  • You have not maintained Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)PDF
  • You received or are receiving aid at another school
  • There are regulatory changes in the aid programs

For the requirements of each type of aid, see types of financial aid.

Disbursement

Generally, financial aid awards are placed on your CGCC student account during the week before the term begins, which allows you to charge books and supplies at the CGCC Bookstore. Refund checks (if a balance remains after all charges are applied to your aid) are mailed to students beginning the second Friday of each term.

Additional criteria to receive a refund check:

  • First-time borrowers of Federal Direct Loans cannot receive loan funds until at least 30 days into the term.
  • The actual date that your funds are available will depend on when your application was processed by CGCC.
  • Refund checks are available at the Business Office or by mail.  Contact the Business Office for more information.

If your enrollment level (number of credits) for any term does not match your current award level, your funds may be delayed. Providing an Enrollment Change form to the financial aid office prior to the second week of each term can help you avoid delay.

If your award is not enough to cover all term charges, you must pay the difference immediately.

How are refunds processed?

Bookstore Charges

CGCC financial aid students who have sufficient funds to cover tuition, fees, and books, are enrolled at least half-time and who are maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) may be eligible to charge books and supplies at The Dalles Campus and books at the Hood River - Indian Creek Campus.

Specific dates for bookstore charges are posted for each term and are generally one week before the term begins and during the first week of the term. Any student eligible to charge books must submit all required documentation, have signed the Financial Aid Information Request (FAIR) form authorization allowing CGCC to deduct the cost of the charges from financial aid and an Award Letter in place.

Direct Loan (only) recipients must have submitted all loan request materials and completed a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling.

Potential Impacts to Your Financial Aid Award

Adding Summer Term

CGCC award year begins with summer term. Adding summer term awards may adjust your funding since it is spread over four terms instead of the standard fall-winter-spring academic year. This adjustment usually decreases the amount of aid you receive spring term. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions.

Total Withdrawal

Has something happened that you feel may prevent you from finishing your classes?  Are you struggling with your classes and worried you are not going to pass them?  Talk to the Financial Aid Office before you withdraw.

Possible repercussions of withdrawing prior to the 60% point in the term

The 60% point in the term occurs one week prior to the withdrawal date in week eight. See the Financial Aid calendar for the 60% point or contact the Financial Aid Office and ask about your options.  The Financial Aid Office has 45 days to return any unearned funds.   Click herePDF for information about our Return to Title IV Funds policy. 

If you withdraw from all of your classes: 

  • You may have to repay all or part of your financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education regulations state that you have earned 100% of your financial aid if you have attended through 60% of the term.
  • If the CGCC Financial Aid staff find that you owe part or all of your financial aid back to the U.S. Department of Education, in many cases, the money is returned to the U.S. Department of Education by CGCC which results in you owing CGCC.
  • CGCC rules state that you must have any debt owed to the college paid before you can register for the next term or receive transcripts. You will need to file a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal to get your financial aid reinstated.

Alternatives to Withdrawing

Before you completely withdraw and end up owing money to CGCC or the U.S. Department of Education, think about whether you might be able to salvage just one or two of your classes.

Talk with an Academic Advisor to help you with options, such as taking an incomplete for the term or working with the Tutoring Center to get additional help.