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Financial Aid

 

**2024/2025 FAFSA and Award processing are currently in process and we hope to have award letters going out starting in early June.  Thank you for your patience as the BMCC Financial Aid office navigates the new FAFSA changes, in addition to the implementation of a new Student Information System (Focal) and Financial Aid System (PowerFAIDS).  We are excited for these changes and hope that this will elevate and streamline your experience at BMCC.**

 

The BMCC Student Financial Aid Office staff is committed to Students First.

  • Email: FinancialAid@bluecc.edu to submit documents, ask a question, or make an appointment
  • Call: 541-278-5779 to ask a question, or make an appointment
  • Fax: 541-278-5889 to submit documents
  • Drop off documents at our Service Center at any BMCC location; make sure all documents have student’s name and student ID
  • Window Hours – on Pendleton Campus – Morrow Hall: Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
The 2024-2025 FAFSA® is OPEN; and covers the academic year starting with summer 2024 and ending with spring 2025. Fill it out as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on Oregon state grants that are first-come, first-serve. If you need help with your FAFSA®, click here.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA is still open and it’s not too late to apply for this school year. 

To renew your Oregon Opportunity Grant, you must file your FAFSA by May 1st. 

To renew your Oregon Promise Grant, you must file your FAFSA by June 1st. 

Financial Aid

How it Works

Apply

Complete the FAFSA

FAFSA Help

Find answers to common Questions

By completing the FAFSA you will have access to the following types of federal financial aid: Pell, FSEOG, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Work-Study, and the option for a Professional Judgement (if needed). 

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The first step to receiving financial aid is to complete the FAFSA. Students must submit a new FAFSA each year in order to receive aid.

ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application): The ORSAA is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students, including students who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS.) Students can potentially qualify for the Oregon Promise and/or Oregon Opportunity Grant. The ORSAA application is available through OSAC here

Pell GrantAwarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Award amounts are based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment level per term. 

FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant): BMCC awards FSEOG funds based on FAFSA’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the date the student completed the financial aid application process. Priority awarding will be given to students who have a $0 EFC and those who met our summer and fall file completion date deadlines. (Awarding policy revised 04/15/2021)

Federal Stafford Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS): A loan is borrowed money that must be paid back with interest that is accrued. Federal Stafford Loans come from the federal government. Find out more about loans and how they work at BMCC here.

Federal Work-Study: BMCC offers a variety of employment opportunities through the Federal Work-Study Program. Read BMCC’s Work-Study procedure and visit the student employment page for more details.

Professional Judgment (PJ): When submitting the FAFSA, the student’s household income and asset information are used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The Financial Aid administrator may use a PJ on a case-by-case basis only to adjust a student’s cost of attendance or the data used to calculate the EFC if the student’s current situation has significantly changed (ex: loss of income, death of a spouse, divorce or separation). If your household income and financial situation has changed significantly from the previous year, you may submit a Professional Judgment to request that your current income be used to determine your eligibility.  Please complete the Income Adjustment Petition if you feel you may qualify.

ORSAA

Oregon Student Aid Information

Apply

Complete the ORSAA

The 2024-2025 ORSAA is OPEN! Fill it out as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on Oregon state grants that are first-come, first-serve.

To renew your Oregon Opportunity Grant, you must file your ORSAA by May 1st. 

To renew your Oregon Promise Grant, you must file your ORSAA by June 1st. 

State Grants and Other Funding Sources

There are many other types of aid available that may (or may not) require the FAFSA or the ORSAA, and other funding applications. Some of these are listed below.

The Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) is Oregon’s largest state-funded need-based grant program for students planning to go to college. Students must complete the FAFSA or the ORSAA to apply.

The Oregon Promise Grant (OPG) is a state grant that helps to cover most tuition costs for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. The program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Students must complete the FAFSA or the ORSAA and the Oregon Promise application at OSAC‘s website to apply. Deadlines apply.

There are thousands of scholarships from various organizations. The BMCC Foundation and Student Financial Aid office attempt to post all internal and external scholarship opportunities that they are made aware of.

BMCC offers a variety of employment opportunities through the Federal Work-Study Program and BMCC General Fund. Students can view available jobs on our website and follow the step-by-step instructions for applying for the positions.

BMCC assists student Veterans utilize their education benefits while pursuing their degree.

BMCC welcomes and supports Veterans who have served, service members who are currently serving, in any branch of the U.S. Military, as well as their family members. 

If you applied for financial aid, you may have read about loans. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you decide to take a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan. Student loans can come from the federal government or from private sources such as a bank or financial institution. Loans made by the federal government, called federal student loans, usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment options than loans from banks or other private sources. Learn more about the differences between federal and private student loans.

Federal Direct Loan Program

All federal Stafford student loans are through the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Federal Direct Loan (FDL) program. This means that if you borrow money toward educational expenses, you will make repayment to a federal government servicer instead of a private lender. For FDL information, visit the US Department of Education’s Student Loans website.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a FDL?

BMCC does not package loans at the time of initial award. Once a student has been issued an Award Letter or an Eligibility Notification from BMCC (via the student’s WolfWeb account), the FDL application process can be started. Enrollment of 6 or more aid-eligible credits is required.

Types of Loans – BMCC participates in the following Department of Education types of loans:

Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but in this case, the student does not have to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the loan.

Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for educational expenses not covered by other financial aid.

To check per term loan application deadlines or other important dates, visit Financial Aid Dates And Deadlines

1. How to apply for a loan at BMCC: 

BMCC can only award loans after being notified by the U.S. Department of Education that an accepted MPN is on file and the student has completed both the Loan Entrance Counseling and the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement. Check your MPN and Entrance Counseling status by logging on to your BMCC Student WolfWeb account or StudentAid.gov.

2. Loan Award: After the Financial Aid Office receives the Federal Direct Loan Request/Revision Form and confirmation of completion of MPN, Entrance Counseling and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement, the loan will be awarded within 5 business days. The Financial  Aid Office will send notification of a revised award letter to the student.

Note: Loans are transmitted to the Department of Education for approval when originated and before the disbursement date. System errors or frequent student changes may cause delays.

Loans will also be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system.

3. Loan Disbursement: The loan net disbursement (term award less origination fee) will be divided over the number of terms of the loan period (or by two for a single-term loan period) and applied to the student’s account. Funding will first be applied toward any tuition and fees, or authorized non-institutional charges, that may have accumulated on your BMCC student account. See dates and deadlines for specific loan disbursement schedule.

First-Time Borrowers: Before the first disbursement can be released, federal regulations require BMCC to confirm the student is still eligibly enrolled 30-days into the first term of the loan period. See dates and deadlines for specific loan disbursement schedule.

Single Term borrowers: Federal regulations require that your loan be disbursed in two equal payments. The first disbursement for returning borrowers is made at the same time as other financial aid stipends. The second disbursement is the mid-point of the term. If your enrollment drops below six (6) eligible credits before the second disbursement, further stipends will be cancelled for the term.

Loan Limits and Direct Loan Maximum Time Eligibility: These documents contain information on the loan limit amounts (subsidized and unsubsidized) a student may be eligible to receive each academic year and for the duration of their declared degree.

Loan Cancellation/Reduction: You can cancel or reduce your loan at any time. If you have already received your student loan, it is strongly recommended you speak with a Financial Aid Advisor before cancelling or reducing your loan. Cancelling or reducing your loan can create a balance on your BMCC account, which may impact your ability to register for classes and prevent your from completing your degree. To reduce your loan, use the Loan Request/Revision form. To cancel your loan, use the Loan Cancellation Form.

4. Exit Counseling: If you have received a subsidized, unsubsidized, or PLUS loan under the Direct Loan Program, Federal regulations require that you complete exit counseling each time you: a) Drop below half-time enrollment (less than six (6) credits), b) Graduate, or c) Leave school. BMCC will send you a reminder of this requirement if you drop below six (6) credits, leave school, or at the end of each academic year. For more information about the Exit Counseling process.

Private (Alternative) Loans

These loans are nonfederal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or a school. BMCC does not offer private loans. Students wishing to have BMCC certify a private loan must:

  1. Be enrolled in at least 6 financial aid-eligible credits; and,
  2. Be a degree/certificate seeking student

The Financial Aid Office can only certify up to the unmet need or the cost of attendance. The Financial Aid Office will contact the student before certifying a private loan to ensure understanding of possible Federal Direct Loan Eligibility.

Private loans are not federally guaranteed or governed by the U.S. Department of Education. BMCC does not make lender or loan program recommendations. Borrowers should carefully review terms and conditions, which vary by lender and loan. To be eligible, a student must often have a co-signer with qualifying income, time-on-job, debt-to-income-ratio, and other considerations. In the student’s best interest, BMCC’s Financial Aid Office generally certifies this type of loan only after the student has exhausted all FDL options. BMCC retains the right to refuse certification based on professional judgment.

Private Education Loan Applicant Self-CertificationPursuant to Section 155 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, (HEA) and to satisfy the requirements of Section 128(e)(3) of the Truth in Lending Act, a lender must obtain a self-certification signed by the applicant before disbursing a private education loan. The school is required on request to provide this form or the required information only for students admitted or enrolled at the school.


Nonfederal loans that are borrowed money from private sources such as banks, or other financial institutions, credit unions, state agencies, or schools. Borrowed money must be paid back with accrued interest. Learn the difference between federal and private loans here.

Other Important Information and Resources

Financial Aid for DACA/Undocumented Students

Financial aid for undocumented students is limited; it includes the Oregon Opportunity GrantOregon PromiseBMCC Foundation scholarships, and many private scholarships.

Fill out the ORSAA to see if you are eligible for state grants.

Applying for Financial Aid

Complete the FAFSA now! All students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each year in order to receive aid. To apply, visit www.studentaid.gov.  FAFSA® on the Web opens October 1st each year for the following school year. The FAFSA® can also be completed in paper form, but it will take much longer. 

Step One: FAFSA

Complete the FAFSA now! All students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each year in order to receive aid. To apply, visit www.studentaid.gov.  FAFSA® on the Web opens October 1st each year for the following school year. The FAFSA® can also be completed in paper form, but it will take much longer. 

Resources for helpCompleting the FAFSA®

Remember:

    • You, and your parent if you are a dependent student (under 24 years of age), will need to request a FSA ID. You will use the FSA ID to “sign” your electronic application. 
    • BMCC’s federal school code is 003186.
    • BMCC will receive your FAFSA® in about 2-3 business days after you submit your FAFSA® electronically.

Step Two: Documents to Submit to BMCC

If the Department of Education selects your FAFSA for a process called verification, BMCC (and any other school you attend) is required to collect specific information from you and verify the information you reported in your FAFSA®. We may also request additional documents in order to complete your file for awarding. The sooner you get everything turned in, the sooner you get awarded. BE AWARE OF DATES AND DEADLINES shown below and our important dates on our current Academic Calendar!

The initial review of a file can take up to 4-6 weeks (8-10 weeks during peak times such as the start of a new academic year). Please continue to monitor your WolfWeb and student email in case additional documents are required to complete your file.

When all the required items are submitted to the Financial Aid office, your file will move into the final review process. This can take an additional 2-3 weeks. The Financial Aid Office may need to make changes to your FAFSA® based on the documents you provide. If changes are made, you will be sent an email notification. 

Step Three: Award Notification

Upon final review, an email will be sent prompting you to access your WolfWeb account to review your award information. If you have questions or special circumstances, contact our office to meet with a Financial Aid Advisor.

Aside from peak processing times, the single most important factor in how quickly we can offer you a financial aid letter is how quickly you respond to our requests for information or documentation.

FAFSA Resources

Dependency Override Petition: If extenuating family circumstances prevent the student from providing parental information, and the student meets certain criteria, the student can complete a Dependency Override Petition form listed on our website here under Financial Aid.  

Dependent and Independent Student Definition 


Income Adjustment Petition: If the student, or a family member listed on the FAFSA, has experienced a reduction of income since the reporting year in the FAFSA, the student may submit an Income Adjustment Petition. To be considered for an Income Adjustment Petition, the student will need to complete the Income Adjustment Petition form, which can also be found listed on our website here under Financial Aid.   

Financial Aid Dates & Deadlines

This is where you’ll find information about:

  • Financial Aid File Completion Deadline
  • Award Level Adjustment
  • Appeal Deadlines – Academic Progress & Credit Extension Appeal
  • Loans – Application Deadline, First-Time Borrowers & Single-Term Borrowers Refund Schedule

If you have any questions, please email FinancialAid@bluecc.edu or call 541-278-5779.

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

Winter 2024

Spring 2024

Apr. 28, 2023

Jul. 13, 2023

Dec. 1, 2023

Feb. 23, 2024

Please complete your file by the deadlines above so the funds can be available (if eligible) by the deadline to pay for classes. Completed files consist of:

  • completed FAFSA (signed and submitted),
  • completed Summer Aid Request (only if attending Summer term), and
  • other documentation needed for verification or requested by the Financial Aid office in your Student WolfWeb.

Applications/documents will still be accepted after the deadlines but a Financial Aid Offer may not be ready until after the deadline to pay for classes.

  • If eligible, funds will be applied to all prior terms attended when awarded.
  • If deadline is missed, you must find other ways to obtain books and supplies.
  • If deadline is missed, you can set up an installment plan for the tuition and fees according to college tuition deadlines.  

If paying for these expenses is not reasonable at this time, please consider waiting to enroll until you have been awarded by the Financial Aid Office.

Your financial aid award must match your enrollment level. The Financial Aid Office will check and adjust your award/enrollment level before disbursement through the Full Refund Deadline. Visit the Academic Calendar page and click on the current year calendar to find the Full Refund Deadline for each term. Information to consider:

  • The awards will not be adjusted after the Full Refund Deadline even if a class is added late.
  • Awards will be cancelled due to lack of enrollment during a term and all subsequent terms.
  • Awards can be reinstated by the student by emailing the Financial Aid office at FinancialAid@bluecc.edu

Academic Progress (AP) Appeal and Credit Extension Appeal (CEA)

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

Winter 2024

Spring 2024

Jun. 15, 2023

Sep. 14, 2023

Dec. 22, 2023

Mar. 22, 2024

If you have been asked to complete an appeal, it is very important that you meet the established deadlines. Appeals received after the deadline will only be considered for reinstatement for future terms and NOT the current term. Students choosing to remain enrolled will be responsible for payment of tuition/fees and purchasing books/materials.

For detailed information about the SAP policy, visit BMCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.

 

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

Winter 2024

Spring 2024

Last day to request loans

Aug. 17, 2023

Dec. 1, 2023

Mar. 15, 2024

Jun. 7, 2024

Loans – first disbursement / stipend

Jul. 6, 2023

Oct. 5, 2023

Jan. 18, 2024

Apr. 11, 2024

Loans – First-time Borrower

contact Financial Aid

contact Financial AidFeb. 20, 2024May 14, 2024

Loan – Single-term Borrower – 2nd Disbursement

contact Financial Aid

contact Financial AidJan. 25, 2024Apr 18, 2024

For more information about student loans, please visit our Loan page

Disbursement of Funds (Stipends/Refunds)

Student aid (grants, scholarships, loans) will be posted to student accounts by the second week of the term, after the Add/Drop period closes. Tuition and fees will be deducted and any credit balance remaining will be wired to BMTX, Inc. as indicated on the academic calendar.

BMCC delivers your stipend/refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/. When it comes to deciding how to get your money, you deserve choices. Go to BankMobile Disbursements to make your refund/stipend choice if you have received your green envelope or an email from BankMobile Disbursements. 

STIPEND (REFUND) DATES

For Stipend/Refund dates, check out the academic calendar.

List of authorized AllPoint ATM locations 

Cohort Default Rate (CDR)

Blue Mountain Community College

2411 NW Carden, Pendleton OR  97801

OPE ID:  00318600      

Type: Associate Degree 

Control: Public   

Programs:  Federal Direct Loans

Year FY2020 FY2019 FY2018
Default Rate 0% 3.50% 7.30%
Number in Default Rate 0 6 17
Number in Repayment 175 171 231

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school’s borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.  Please refer to the Department of Education’s Cohort Default Rate Guide for a more in-depth description of cohort default rates and how the rates are calculated.

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