At Your Service
Financial Aid & Scholarships
SRC 143, Main Campus
Tel: 847-214-7360
Fax: 847-608-5460
financialaid@elgin.edu
Hours: M-Th 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.; F 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Fridays June - Aug.
Apply for Financial Aid
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or pass the Ability to Benefit (ATB) – Wonderlic test (or the CELSA test for Spanish-speaking students) in the Testing Center
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Register with Selective Service, if required
- Make satisfactory academic progress
- Maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Not be in default on a federal loan or owe an over-payment of a federal grant, contact Financial Aid and Scholarships for assistance.
Enrollment Status
Some types of financial aid are related to maintaining specific levels of enrollment. The U.S. Department of Education sets federal definitions of enrollment statuses, which supersede school-imposed definitions related to an academic term. Federal aid follows these federal enrollment guidelines in all terms, including summer:
- Full-time = 12 credit hours or more
- Three-quarter-time = 9 to 11.5 credit hours
- Half-time(*) = 6 to 8.5 credit hours
- Less than half-time = 1 to 5.5 credit hours
*Note: Students must be at least half-time (6 hours) to receive federal loans. The Illinois MAP Grant program requires 15 credit hours of enrollment to receive full eligibility. MAP funding adjusts at each credit hour level below 15: 14, 13, 12, 11, et cetera.
Please Note
ECC federal school code: 001675
FAFSA Priority Filing Deadlines
- Summer term- April 1
- Fall term- June 1
- Spring term- November 1
Need help with your FAFSA? Attend a FAFSA Workshop, where Financial Aid staff will be on hand to guide you through the process.
Download workshop dates
Applying for a Federal or State Grant
- Apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN
- Complete FAFSA online
- Complete the ECC Institutional Aid Application
- Receive and review your award letter and enclosed materials.
Applying for a Federal Stafford Student Loan
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- Apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN
- Complete FAFSA online
- Complete the ECC Institutional Aid Application (*)
- When you receive your ECC Award Letter, check “yes” to accept the loan and return the signed “Original School Copy” to Financial Aid.
- Complete the Master Promissory Note online
- First-time borrowers need to complete the Online Entrance Counseling Session
*Note: Indicate you are interested in applying for on-campus student loan.
Applying for Student Employment
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- Apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN
- Complete FAFSA online
- Complete the ECC Institutional Aid Application (*)
- Receive and review your award letter and enclosed materials to confirm whether you are eligible for federal work-study or institutional employment
- Attend a student worker orientation session
*Note: Indicate you are interested in applying for on-campus student employment.