Find your path to success with a diverse range of more than 120 degree, certificate, and continuing education programs.
Recent legislative changes, as well as changes within Bergen Community College, may affect your financial aid.
To keep you aware of any new requirements, we will post any updates regularly.
These types of updates may also be sent to you through your Bergen Email or Bergen Self-Service Portal (my.bergen.edu ); so be sure to check your Bergen student accounts frequently.
Using Prior Year Tax Information on FAFSA®
There has been a significant change to income and tax information that students should be aware of when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Before you start completing the FAFSA, gather all important documentation you might need, including the Tax Information of the prior year.
Example: Prior Year Tax information
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA® application (new or renewal) will require the 2022 income and tax information.
- The 2023-2024 FAFSA® application (new or renewal) will require the 2021 income and tax information.
Remedial Coursework
For students who are required to take remedial coursework, a maximum of 30 remedial credits are allowed in addition for a total number attempted to complete their certificate or academic program. If a student takes more than 30 remedial credits, financial aid will not pay for those credits.
Repeat Coursework
Current regulations allow repeated coursework to count towards a student’s enrollment status. However, they do not allow an institution to include either more than one repetition of a previously passed course or any repetition of previously passed coursework due to a student’s failure of other coursework.
Ineligible Coursework
A student is not eligible to receive federal Title IV federal financial assistance for credit hours/course work which does not count towards the completion of your degree program requirements.
If the course is not required for degree completion, you cannot include it in your enrollment status and you cannot be awarded Title IV funds to pay for the course.
Official Withdrawals and the Return of Title IV Funds
Students who wish to withdraw from a course must officially withdraw by completing a Add/Drop Form with the Registration Office or by using Web Advisor.
All withdrawals affect a student’s academic progress and future eligibility for financial aid. Federal regulations require that the college determine whether a portion of the federal aid be repaid when a student withdraws from classes before the end of the semester.
This is accomplished by calculating a return of funds calculation for Title IV purposes. Students, who withdraw from ALL classes before 60% of the semester is completed, may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid awarded. The amount of aid that may be retained is in direct proportion to the length of time you attend classes during a semester.
Unofficial Withdrawals
Students who receive ALL“F” grades will be considered an “unofficial withdrawal” and the return of Title IV financial aid will be calculated at 50% of tuition and fees.
Keep in mind that you may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid award.
As stated on the Registration webpage under “Official Withdrawals”, failure to officially withdraw will result in a financial obligation to the college, whether or not the student attends class.
The “F” grade appeal process information can be found on the Student Policies and Procedures>Grade Change Policy Web page.
“Never Attended” Attendance Status
Definition & Census Reporting Policy
In accordance with the State of New Jersey and Federal Title IV regulations, student attendance must be documented for each course in which the student is registered. To meet the requirements for classification as being in attendance, a student must have attended the class at least once between the first day of class and the census date for the semester or term. A student is considered to be in attendance in an online course after logging in to the course and completing one academic course activity. Students designated as “Never Attended” will be administratively dropped (“X” in Colleague) on the census day, and these classes shall not appear on their transcript. Paid tuition will be refunded at 100% for students who have been designated as “Never Attended.” After the census date, the “Never Attended” designation will not be an option, and the instructor retains the ability to enter the last day of attendance. The last date of attendance is required for any student earning an “F” grade or “W” because it is necessary to administering student appeals and/or Return of Title IV (Federal financial aid) calculations.
The “STU007-001.2023 Census Reporting” policy full text is accessible at https://bergen.edu/about-us/college-policies/
Impact of “Never Attended” Attendance Status on Financial Aid Eligibility
- If your instructor reports you as “Never Attended” in the class, your financial aid award package for this class and all other “Never Attended” classes will be canceled.
- If your financial aid has already been disbursed and your eligibility changes as the result of never attending a course, you will be required to repay all of the funds for which you are no longer eligible to receive and you will still be billed for the tuition and fees.
We recommend the student to review the Class schedule bill/Registration Statement (accessible via the Bergen Self-Service Portal under Student Finance/Payments > Account Summary) for any outstanding balance and follow up accordingly.
DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)
Effective June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that all loving and committed couples who marry deserve equal legal respect and treatment.
Consistent with the decision, same-sex couples (both the student and the student’s parents) must report their marital status as ‘married’ on the FAFSA® if they were legally married in a state or other jurisdiction (foreign country), without regard to where the couple resides or where the student will be attending school.