Attend a free financial aid webinar Jan. 22

Attend a free Financial Aid 101 Webinar on Federal Student Aid programs and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
presented by U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22.

Get your Refund2Card today

Germanna Community College is launching its Refund2Card program on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014.
Sign up now and your financial aid disbursements and certain tuition refunds fast.
Use the card at retail stores and ATMs.
Learn more here.

Your financial aid questions answered on "Super Saturday," Feb. 4

GCC will help with your FAFSA and other financial aid questions on Super Saturday, Feb. 4. See flyer.

Michael Farris, Germanna's Financial Aid Coordinator, answers questions in a MoneyTalks Fredericksburg.com chat.

GCC to host information sessions on low-interest Federal Direct Stafford Loans Nov. 4 at Locust Grove and Nov. 11 at Massaponax

Germanna Community College will offer Federal Direct Stafford Loans beginning with the spring 2011 semester. Federal Direct Stafford Loans are offered through the Department of Education and are being offered as a responsible alternative to private borrowing.

Click here for YouTube video about White House Community College Summit.

Direct loans are intended to help students and their families offset the rising cost of college tuition. Currently, Germanna offers several types of financial aid to our students including grants, scholarships, work study programs, and private student loans. The college is now able to offer Stafford loans, as well for those students who need additional financial aid to meet their educational expenses.

Stafford Loans have lower interest rates, longer repayment terms, deferment and forbearance options as well as early loan forgiveness for graduates working in public service.

For more information, click here. Or attend one of the following Information Sessions:

• Thursday, 11/4 at the Locust Grove Campus 10 a.m.-11 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Room 202

• Monday, 11/8 at the Fredericksburg Area Campus 10 a.m.-11 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Room 212

Students missing out on Pell Grants simply because they don't apply

Too many Germanna Community College students are leaving money on the table because they're unaware they're available for Pell Grants.

In the 2007-08 academic year, 58 percent of Pell Grant-eligible students who attended community colleges either full or part-time applied for federal financial aid, compared with 77 percent of eligible students at four-year public institutions

During the two-year period from fall 2007 to fall 2009, full-time enrollment at U.S. community colleges increased by 24.1 percent

Students are reluctant to apply for aid in part due to a lack of basic understanding. Click here for the rest of the story.