Financial Aid Programs

Central Maine Community College offers financial aid, grants and waivers, scholarships, work study as a CMCC student employee, and veteran’s benefits.

Scholarships

Scholarships do not have to be repaid and are awarded from various sources using different criteria, usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor of the award.  Central Maine Community College scholarships are funded in part through the CM Education Foundation, the Maine Community College System, and the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges.  Private organizations, foundations, employers and other institutions also provide scholarships.  These are considered ‘external scholarships’ because they are not awarded by the Financial Aid Office but by the scholarship provider.

Grants

Grants do not have to be repaid and are awarded based on the student’s demonstrated financial need from completing the FAFSA.  The most common program is the Federal Pell Grant, for students who demonstrate high levels of financial need.  The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded to students who qualify for the maximum Federal Pell Grant.  Only a small number of awards are made from this program each year due to the limited amount of funding received from the federal government. The State of Maine Grant is awarded to eligible Maine students whose FAFSAs have been filed by May 1st prior to the upcoming academic year.

Waivers

These programs waive all or a portion of the student’s tuition and fees based on specific program qualifications.  The Foster Care Tuition Waiver is administered by the Finance Authority of Maine and provides free tuition to certain foster children and adopted children/wards under subsidy from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).   The Maine Bureau of Veteran’s Services administers a tuition and fee waiver program for the eligible dependents of Maine veterans who died or were permanently disabled as a result of a service-connected injury.  The Native American Tuition Waiver program provides waivers of tuition for qualified Native Americans residing in Maine who have completed a FAFSA, are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, and who can provide proof of tribal eligibility to the Financial Aid Office.

Student Employment

Students who wish to work part-time at the College while attending school full-time may apply to work in various departments on campus.  Job listings are posted on CMConnect in August for the upcoming academic year. Interested students use the job listings to apply for positions.  Students who are hired to work may be paid out of a combination of Federal Work Study, College Works for ME, and College employment funds. Students are paid every two weeks.

Federal Student Loans

Students are encouraged to explore other options, such as grants and scholarships, student employment, and payment plans before using loans to fund their education. Student may use Federal student loans to help defray their education-related expenses. The Subsidized Loan does not require any payments until six months after the student ceases to be enrolled for at least six credit hours.  Both the principal amount borrowed and the interest are deferred.  The Unsubsidized Loan is similar, but interest will accrue while the student is enrolled.  In both cases, the lender of the loan is the federal government.  Students who have been awarded eligibility and wish to borrow loans must complete several additional steps, including student loan entrance counseling and a master promissory note.

Federal Parent Loans

The PLUS program is a credit-based loan available for eligible parents to use to help defray their child’s educational expenses.