Apply for Financial Aid


Priority Deadlines: Students who submit their Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) and requested 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 Student Finance > Account Activity 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.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

finaid@eastcentral.edu / One-Stop Student Services 636-584-6588

(Federal Grants, State Grants, A+, Work-Study, Federal Loans, and Institutional Scholarships)

Please note that ALL items from EVERY step MUST BE completed before:

  • the student will be held in classes by the Financial Aid Office without a payment being made.
  • any financial aid is applied to the student’s account.
  • any bookstore waivers are issued.

Step 1: Make sure the registration office receives ALL of the following:

  • Application for Admission
  • Declaration of Academic Program form
  • Students must be pursuing a certificate or degree program to receive financial aid
  • Official High School transcript sent directly from the student’s high school OR
  • Official GED/HST transcript from the state where the test was taken
  • Notarized transcript with a completion date for any home-school program attended
  • Official college transcripts from ALL colleges previously attended sent directly from those institutions
  • Freshman assessment registration form

Step 2: Apply for an FSA ID online at www.fsaid.ed.gov:

  • One of the parents must also apply for an FSA ID if the student is a dependent *
  • The FSA ID will allow the student and parent to electronically sign the FAFSA
  • The FSA ID will be created in “real-time” and available immediately.
  • The FSA ID should not be shared with anyone and will be used each year for re-application.

Step 3: Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form Priority Date December 1st (for the following Fall) for initial scholarship consideration.  The deadline for state grant consideration is February 1st.

  • For 2023-2024, the paper FAFSA can be obtained by calling (800) 4-FEDAID (800-433-3243), but we encourage the student to submit the FAFSA application online at www.fafsa.gov.
  • ECC’s Title IV school code is 008862.
  • Remember the first F in FAFSA stands for Free! There is no cost to apply for federal student aid.
  • The student will need records of income earned from the prior tax year. You may also need records of your parent’s income information if you are a dependent student*

*Definition of a dependent student (2023-2024) – Anyone who answers NO to all of the following:

  • Were you born before January 1, 2000?
  • As of today, are you married?
  • At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, will you be working on a masters or doctorate program?
  • Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
  • Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024?
  • Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2024?
  • When you were 13 or older, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent/ward of the court?
  • As of today, were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
  • As of today, were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2022, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time, on or after July 1, 2022, did the director of an emergency shelter program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2022, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

Step 4: Return all required documents to the Financial Aid Office

In approximately 2-6 weeks the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) or student acknowledgment by mail or e-mail. This report may state that further information is required to process the application. Submit corrections to the application or documents requested to the Financial Aid Office.

If selected for verification, the student will be required to submit the following to the Financial Aid Office:

  • A copy of the students (and spouses, if married) signed federal tax returns and W-2s
  • A copy of the parent(s) signed federal tax returns and W-2s if the student is a dependent*
  • Complete the 2023-204 verification worksheet sent by the Financial Aid Office
  • Documents verifying Social Security benefits, TANF, or other non-taxable income
  • Additional information may be required

Step 5: If a change needs to be made to the FAFSA after the SAR is received or verification is complete, an electronic correction will need to be made from the Financial Aid Office. (This can take 2 weeks and may change the students’ financial aid eligibility).

Information about Specific Programs:

Work-Study

Requires an additional work-study application (in addition to the FAFSA) and employment forms filled out. Job openings are posted outside the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Student Loans

Students fill out a student loan datasheet and complete entrance counseling and MPN at studentaid.gov.  (After steps 1-5 have been completed). More information is available at studentaid.gov.

Private Student Loans

Institutional and Foundation Scholarships

  • All students must apply for ECC and Foundation scholarships by submitting their FAFSA, the online scholarship application & the application for admission by December 1st prior to the upcoming academic year.
  • In-coming freshman must submit their most recent semester high school transcript by December 1st to be considered for academic and other specific scholarships (this does not apply to those who have already graduated from high school).
  • Complete the online application at:  www.eastcentral.edu/scholarships

A+ Program

  • Upon graduation from the student’s high school, request an official transcript to be sent directly to the registration office at ECC. Make sure the transcript sent has an A+ seal.
  • You are responsible for signing and returning the Highlights of A+ form to the Financial Aid Office before the A+ funding can be applied to your account. You are only required to submit this form one time. The form can be picked up at the Financial Aid Office or online.

VA Benefits www.gibill.va.gov

  • New students must do a one-time Application for Education Benefits through the VA.
  • Veterans should notify the school VA Certifying Official each semester they enroll.
  • Report any changes in enrollment or declared major to the VA Certifying Official.
  • If eligible, a student may be held in classes under the Chapter 33, Post – 9/11 GI Bill ®.