Terms and Conditions

You must pursue an eligible degree or certificate program to receive financial aid. Federal financial aid may only be received from one institution for the same enrollment period. The amount of aid a student receives cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance for the student's academic program.

Important: Financial aid offers for credit hour programs are projected based on the cost of attendance and Student Aid Index (SAI) for a student enrolled in 16 weeks of instruction per term – the standard length of a GateWay Community College credit semester.

Financial aid offers for clock hour programs are based on the cost of attendance, Student Aid Index (SAI) and program hours.  

The tuition payment deadline is before your semester start date or program start date (for clock hour programs). You will be dropped from your classes if you have not secured an anticipated financial aid award or have not enrolled in the college's tuition payment plan.

If you decide to enroll in courses at GateWay and you do not have a financial aid offer, you are responsible for making payment arrangements with the college. For your convenience, GateWay Community College offers a tuition payment plan.

Note for students selected for Federal Verification: Incomplete or insufficient submissions that are not resolved may cause processing delays. You will be notified of any additional requirements in your Student Center. Check your online Student Center for updates.

Students in good academic standing with pending aid and/or scholarships sufficient to cover tuition and fees may be eligible for a Book Advance. Students are not considered in good academic standing if they are on suspension for not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Students who qualify for Book Advance have the right to opt-out. In that case, funds designated as Book Advance will be included with the student's financial aid refund. For more information about Book Advance, contact Student Business Services.

A financial aid award must be processed before a student can receive their disbursement. Typically, this process can take 4 to 8 weeks but may take longer. Note that enrolling in classes with different starting dates may delay the distribution of financial aid monies. 

Financial aid disbursements are processed by the GateWay Student Business Services Office and are made after the student's class participation has been verified. This typically happens during the second week of classes. 

For continuing students to be eligible to receive disbursement, all grades from prior terms must be posted. Students must also demonstrate that they meet the college's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

Financial aid funds are first applied to the student's outstanding college charges. Any remaining funds are processed through the Maricopa Student Refund Program. Depending on the refund method you have selected, it typically takes an additional 3- 10 business days to receive your refund.

Please monitor your account information in your Student Center and Maricopa Official Student Email.

Pell Grants

Pell Grants disbursements are calculated based on a student's level of enrollment intensity percentage.

Federal Student Loans

To be eligible for a student loan, students must enroll in and participate in at least six credit hours at GateWay Community College per semester. Loans have multiple disbursements based on the student's enrollment period. 

For first-time student loan borrowers, there is a federally required 30-day waiting period from when your classes begin until you become eligible to receive the first student loan disbursement.

Learn more about federal student loan repayment and how to avoid loan default.

Students must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before receiving their first student loan disbursement and Exit Counseling before leaving school or if their enrollment level falls below six credit hours a semester.

• Learn more about entrance counseling.
• Learn more about exit counseling.

If you receive Federal aid and do not attend classes, federal law requires you to repay the monies you have received.

To be funded for the Pell Grant, a student must be registered in all courses by the recalculation date. Registered courses also include those recognized through the completion of a consortium agreement by the recalculation date between GWCC and the participating school(s). If a student registers after this date, an additional Pell Grant cannot be awarded. Pell awards for financial aid applications received after the recalculation date will be calculated based on the student's enrollment when the application is complete.

Pell Recalculation Dates:

• Fall 2024 - August 26, 2024
• Spring 2025 - January 21, 2025
• Summer 2025 - May 29, 2025

A Consortium Agreement may allow eligible students to receive financial aid while simultaneously attending GateWay Community College (parent school) and another school (host school). Please review the Consortium Agreement guidelines if you would like to apply to determine if your Pell Grant eligibility will be impacted based on your combined enrollment within the Maricopa Community College District*. Students eligible for federal student loans only must be enrolled in six credits or more at GateWay Community College.

* Note: Students taking classes at an accredited college outside the Maricopa Community College District should contact the Financial Aid office for more information regarding the consortium agreement process.

Federal regulations regarding repeated coursework may impact your financial aid eligibility and awards. Federal regulations specify that students may receive federal financial aid funding for one repetition of a previously passed course. A passed course is one in which a grade of A, B, C, D, or P is received. If you enroll in a course in which you have previously received passing grades twice, the course will not be counted towards your enrollment level for financial aid purposes. You may repeat a failed course until it is passed. Your enrollment for financial aid purposes will be calculated accordingly.

All recipients are expected to understand their responsibility regarding the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid recipients at this institution. Failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress may result in withholding or canceling all or part of your financial aid award(s).

Additional assistance received from ANY source since filing your financial aid application must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. Additional assistance could include, but is not limited to, outside donor scholarships, tribal monies paid directly to you or on your behalf, and awards. Any changes in course load, name, state residency for tuition and fee purposes should also be reported to the Financial Aid Office.

Revisions may be made to this award due to changes in your eligibility, academic status, failure to comply with federal and state laws or regulations, and college policies. The college reserves the right to verify attendance and review, revise, or terminate your financial aid award at any time.

The Financial Aid office will take necessary action on a student's award if the instructor assigns a withdrawal grade. An unofficial withdrawal occurs when a student ceases to attend a course and fails to withdraw from the course officially. A student's enrollment level is reviewed to determine if the withdrawn and/or dropped course(s) impact the overall enrollment level. If the enrollment level is reduced and a student is no longer eligible for the awarded amount, aid will be adjusted accordingly. Students are notified of aid adjustments via the Student Center.

Under federal regulations, a student may be required to repay federal financial aid if wholly withdrawn from all classes during a period of enrollment. Any refunds and deposits are applied to institutional debts and/or federal programs as regulated by law. For additional information, please review the Federal Title IV Refund Policy and the Treatment of Title IV Aid When a Student Withdraws Policy.