Financial Aid Information
Financial Aid
Financial aid consists of grants, scholarships, childcare, and work study that will help you and your family with educational expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies. It is available for all degree and diploma programs as well as some certificates.
Financial Aid
The FAFSA application for the 2025-2026 school year is available at studentaid.gov. It will be available until June 30, 2026.
FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid:
How to Apply
After you have applied for admission to CCC, it is time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed every year you plan to attend college. By completing the FAFSA you are applying for all federal and state grants CCC has to offer.
The application is available on October 1 for the upcoming fall and spring terms. Don’t forget to include CCC’s school code (008082), otherwise your financial aid application will not be made available to us.
What You Need When Applying
- Your social security number
- Parents’ social security numbers if you are a dependent
- Your federal income tax return and W-2s
- If you are a dependent, you will need your parents’ Federal Income Tax Return and W-2s
- Untaxed income records such as social security benefits, child support and welfare
- CCC’s school code – 008082
After you Complete the FAFSA
Once CCC receives a copy of your FAFSA from the U.S. Department of Education, an email will be sent to your CCC student email address (Student Email Set-Up Instructions) requesting documents needed to complete your file.
Once all documents are received, we will continue processing your application for financial aid. If awarded, we will notify you of your award via your CCC student email. All students should read CCC’s Things You Must Know document, which includes detailed information regarding financial aid policies.
Childcare Assistance Grant
Cleveland Community College participates in the Childcare grant assistance program through the state of North Carolina. The intent of the program is to assist student-parents with the financial responsibilities for childcare expenses so they may stay enrolled and complete their educational goals. To be eligible for these funds, students must:
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Be a NC resident
- Be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours
- Be eligible for financial aid
Scholarships
CCC offers a variety of scholarships for students based on program of study, academics, and residential status. Click the name of the scholarship to read more and apply.
The CCC Foundation was established in 1983 as a not for profit corporation to ensure quality education and financial stability for CCC. The first campaign, Make a Difference, was launched in 1998 and provided funds to support scholarships and technology.
This scholarship has been awarded for the 25-26 school year and will reopen in Fall 2026.
The Golden LEAF Foundation makes scholarships available to students from qualifying counties who demonstrate financial need to help them attend a North Carolina community college. The goal of the Golden LEAF Foundation is to support funding of scholarships for recipients to gain talent, knowledge, and the skills to help their communities thrive.
The scholarships help cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare and other components of the total cost of attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Student Eligibility Requirements for Curriculum
Eligible students must (1) be a North Carolina resident, (2) demonstrate financial need and (3) reside in a qualifying county as determined by the Golden LEAF Foundation (see Qualifying Counties 2025-2026). A scholarship recipient who resides in a qualifying county upon initial award will retain eligibility and may be eligible for a renewal award if the student’s place of residence is within the state of North Carolina. NOTE: the college will be asked to provide proof of the student’s county of residency at the time of the initial award.
Curriculum Student Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a NC resident as determined by Residency Determination Services (RDS).
- Reside in a qualifying county as determined by Golden LEAF.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a demonstration of need.
- Be enrolled at least full-time for the fall and spring semesters. Scholarships for less than full-time enrolled students may be prorated based on enrollment hours and the availability of funds.
Colleges should determine reasonable proration award amounts.
The Gilbert Foundation Scholarship is an opportunity for students who have spent time in the foster care system. These scholarships are $1,500 to $2,000 annually.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- 2.0 GPA
- Must have spent time in foster care
- Must be attending a NC college
Finish Line Grants are grants of up to $1,000 awarded to community college students who are on the cusp of completing their education or training and are faced with an unanticipated financial hardship that may prevent them from doing so.
Eligibility:
- Be enrolled in a North Carolina Community College
- Be in good academic standing as defined by the community college. Threshold may not be higher than a 2.0 GPA
- Have completed at least 50% of the degree or credential program (or be enrolled in the courses that will constitute 50% completion)
Application Requirements specific to each institution
Other Information: Individual partnerships may choose to include additional criteria, such as enrollment in programs providing training for high-demand occupations. Eligibility should include students in as many educational and training pathways as possible.
Contact Us
The office is open Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.
The office is open extended hours during peak registration periods. See the Academic Calendar for those dates and times.
Financial Aid Office
financialaid@clevelandcc.edu
704-669-4028
Jack Hunt Campus Center #2102
Fax: 704-669-4204