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Financial Aid
Attention: Changes are coming to FAFSA for the 2024–2025 academic year. Please see our Changes to FAFSA 2024–2025 page for full details.

You’ve made a smart educational and financial decision by choosing East Central College! We offer a high-quality education at an affordable cost. Even though the cost to attend East Central is one of the lowest in the state, you may still need help in paying for tuition, fees, and books.

Financial assistance is provided in many forms. Through a process of careful planning and preparation, higher education can be an obtainable goal. Each student must take the responsibility to review his or her goals, evaluate their family’s financial situation, and determine a course of action.

Fortunately, students do not have to do this entire process alone. The Office of Financial Aid is here to help you!

Before explaining how financial aid is determined and what sources of financial assistance are available it would be helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the terms you will encounter. Please read the Glossary of Terms so that you will better understand the information provided.

How is Financial Aid Determined?

Financial aid is determined by the amount of “financial need”. Financial need is determined by a formula using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) subtracted from the Cost of Attendance(COA).

Financial Need = COA – EFC

The “financial need” or “unmet need” is the maximum amount a student can receive in state and federal financial aid funds. While many students will show some unmet need, most grant aid is awarded to students with the greatest unmet need. Students who show unmet need, but do not qualify for grant aid, may qualify for loans, work-study, scholarships, and tax credits.

What will be my cost of attendance?

A student’s annual cost of attendance will vary based upon the following criteria:

  1. Residency Status (in-district/out-of-district/out-of-state)
  2. Housing Status (with parents/without parents)
  3. Dependency Status

The cost of attendance includes standard allowances for tuition and fees, books and supplies, living (housing and food), transportation, technology, and miscellaneous expenses. Students are provided with their annual calculated cost of attendance upon request.

How can I pay for my Education?

Students can meet the Cost of Attendance (COA) through:

Family Contributions – Your EFC is based on income, assets, expenses, size of family, age of parents, number of working parents, number of students in college, and extraordinary circumstances.

Financial Aid Package – A combination of the following aid programs may be available to make up your financial aid package:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal SEOG
  • State Aid
  • Federal Work-Study
  • East Central College Scholarships
  • Private Scholarships
  • Federal Direct Student Loans
  • Private Student Loans

What is a Satisfactory Academic Progress?

All students are required to meet the minimum standards of academic progress, as defined by the College, in order to receive federal and state financial aid. The policy of East Central College, in accordance with Title IV federal regulations, requires minimal academic progress based on the following cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) and percentage completion of attempted coursework:

  • Completion of at least 12 semester credit hours of coursework (1.8 CGPA)
  • Completion of at least 24 semester credit hours of coursework (2.0 CGPA)
  • Complete 67% of all coursework attempted.
  • Complete your specified program of study within 150% of the time allowed to earn a degree.

A full description of the East Central College minimum standards of academic progress policy and federal overpayment (Return of Title IV Funds) policy can be opened and printed below.

Minimum Standards of Academic Progress (PDF)

Return of Title IV Funds Policy(PDF)

Lack of attendance and/or reporting of deficient grades within the semester can cause reduction or cancellation of your financial aid

Where can I find student worker openings?

To be a student worker you must be currently enrolled in classes and have completed the FAFSA prior to applying for a student worker position. For more information regarding FAFSA, student worker requirements, and enrollment guidelines, please visit the Financial Aid Office in Buescher Hall or call (636) 584-6588.

Minimum hourly pay $12.00; Flexible hours not to exceed 19.75 hours per week.

Current Openings: (Click here to apply>>)

  • Admissions
  •  America Read’s Tutors
  •  Computer Lab Assistants
  •  English/Journalism Assistant
  •  Office Clerk – ECC Rolla
  •  Public Relations
  •  Science Lab Assistant – ECC Rolla
  • Student Services
  •  Math Tutor – ECC Sullivan Learning Center – Fall
  • A&P Tutor – ECC Rolla – Fall
  • Learning Center Tutors (Math, English, Science) – Fall

Priority Deadlines: Students who submit their Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) and request documentation on or before the following priority deadlines, and are eligible to receive benefits, will be held in classes. All documents must be received by the financial aid office no later than:

  • Fall: July 1
  • Spring: December 1
  • Summer: May 1

After Priority Deadlines: Students who submit their Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) after the above priority deadlines should set up a payment plan by logging into your MYECC account and selecting Payment Plan to ensure that their classes will not be canceled on the day fees are due. Students should allow 4-6 weeks for
the processing of financial aid applications.


ALL Financial Aid Recipients should READ the following:

All items are available in the East Central College Financial Aid Office or noted below.