Financial Aid

To be eligible for financial aid at KCC, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.*
• Be a high school graduate or GED graduate. Official transcripts must be on file in KCC’s Office of Admissions and Registration.
• Have selected and be admitted to an eligible curriculum. An eligible curriculum is one that leads to an associate degree or to an advanced certificate and requires at least 16 semester hours to complete. However, there are some exceptions. Verify eligibility of programs for Title IV aid with the Office of Financial Aid.
• Have financial need (except for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans).
• Enroll for courses by the Financial Aid Eligibility Date
• Be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of six credit hours) for most aid.
• Attend all classes to be considered enrolled.
• Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal educational loan.

Conviction of drug distribution or possession may make you ineligible.

*Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act​

Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility

To maintain your eligibility to receive financial aid once you are enrolled at KCC, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements:

• Maintain the grade point average specified in the academic regulations in KCC’s college catalog. The required GPA is based on the number of credit hours you have attempted.
• Maintain a completion rate of 67% for all hours attempted.
• Complete the program you started before attempting more than 150% of the hours required.

This 150% is determined through the calculation of “attempted hours”:

• All courses taken at KCC and all transfer courses credited at KCC.
• Courses in which you remain enrolled at the end of the tuition refund period each semester, even if you later withdraw from these courses.
• Courses which are of a remedial or prerequisite nature.
• If you change your program of study at KCC, you still will be evaluated under the 150% time frame established for your original program unless a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal is approved. Consult a KCC advisor.

For further information, please refer to your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status and the KCC SAP Policy (PDF, 184KB) (open in new tab/window).

Three types of financial assistance make up the majority of aid provided by the federal government and the state of Illinois: grant assistance, loan assistance and work-study assistance.

Grants

Grants are forms of financial assistance that do not have to be repaid. They are provided for students from limited-income families.

Pell Grant

This is a federally funded program that provides assistance for any educational expenses based on need, academic load, length of enrollment and cost of education. Awards range from $740 to $7,395 per year.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

This is a federally funded program for students who demonstrate exceptional need and are Pell-eligible. Awards range from $150 to $900 per year and can be used for any educational expense.

MAP Grant

This is a state-funded program that provides assistance toward the cost of tuition and service fees. Awards range from $300 to $8,400 per year and fluctuate as funding runs out. It is extremely important to apply as early as possible for this award since funds are limited.

Loans

Loans are federally funded sources of assistance that must be repaid with interest. Please refer to the Department of Education’s publication Federal Student Loans for further information regarding Federal Student Loans.

Federal Stafford Student Loan

Students may qualify for a “subsidized” Federal Stafford Loan based on financial need. Students may qualify for an “unsubsidized” Federal Stafford Loan regardless of other criteria.

Dependent students may borrow up to $5,500 as freshmen for full-time enrollment and sophomores up to $6,500 for full-time enrollment. Independent students may borrow up to $9,500 as freshmen and sophomores up to $10,500 (again for full-time enrollment). Loans are prorated for 3/4 time and half-time enrollment each term. These loans are repaid starting six months after you graduate from college, leave school or drop below half-time student status.

Students who are enrolled half-time, meet standards of satisfactory progress and meet need requirements may be eligible for these loans. The interest rate for Federal Direct Loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, will increase from 5.50 percent to 6.53 percent for undergraduate Direct Loans. KCC’s Loan Policy is available in the Financial Aid Forms section of this website. Click on the “Financial Aid Forms” tab to get more information under the Stafford/PLUS loans section.

For more information on federal student loan interest rates and repayment, please visit the Federal Student Aid webpage by clicking here.

Federal PLUS Loan

These loans provide for parents who want to borrow to help pay for their child’s education. The interest rate for plus loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, will increase from 8.05 percent to 9.08 percent. A Parent PLUS Loan Application is available by contacting the KCC Office of Financial Aid. Parents must also request a PLUS Loan at www.studentloans.gov for an updated credit report to be considered.

Successful Repayment

Work Study

Federal Work-Study (FWS)

Provides jobs for students who have applied for financial aid and are eligible to work as part of their financial aid award package. Participating students work on or off campus; money earned is paid to the student. FWS students must be enrolled at least half-time. Please view the Student Employment tab for details.

Regular Student Employment

View the Student Employment tab for details.

Other Types of Assistance

• KCC Foundation Scholarships
• Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
• ISAC Illinois and Federal Financial Aid Programs
• Federal & State Veteran Education Benefits