Financial Aid

Image of instructor helping student.

Explore financial aid opportunities at ECC

The staff accepts financial aid forms and documents via email, fax at 847-608-5460, and mail, or they can be dropped off during office hours. If you are not eligible for a grant and need a student loan, please email financialaid@elgin.edu. We can answer questions about your financial aid, and we will contact you directly.

If you are awarded a Foundation or Board of Trustees Academic scholarship, you will receive an email confirming which scholarship(s) you receive and the amount(s). Applications are still being accepted, and you can visit the scholarship page to apply.

Scholarships

Both full-time and part-time students may qualify to receive financial aid.

Important Information

Submit Your FAFSA®

​Starting October 1, 2022, the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available for you to complete at studentaid.gov.

This will determine what financial aid grants, student loans, and federal work-study jobs you may be eligible to receive.

If you are applying for financial aid for the current 2022-2023 year, please complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA at studentaid.gov.

If you need help completing your FAFSA, stop by the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office in Building B, Room B156, and we will be happy to assist you. Remote assistance is also available. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call us at 847-214-7360 or email financialaid@elgin.edu. 

We encourage you to stop by one hour before the office closes to provide enough time to complete your FAFSA.

The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is accessible for the 2023-2024 academic year through the following links: English and Spanish. Undocumented students meeting the criteria of the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity (RISE) Act may file this application. Further details are provided on the RISE Act page, available in English and Spanish.

Additional Relief Funds Available

Please consider applying to our Student Success Fund if you have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once a student has applied, an evaluator will reach out to them and work with them to help get relief funding.

Elgin Community College has received additional funding to help students reach their educational goals during the pandemic. To help us determine your eligibility, all students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA for the upcoming school year. The Alternative Application for state aid is available for qualifying undocumented students. For assistance, call 847-214-7360.

Income & Tax Information

Students will report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. You (and your parents, if applicable) will need to use the 2021 income tax information to fill out the new 2023-2024 FAFSA. If you or your family's financial situation has changed significantly from what was reflected on your 2021 tax returns (for example, if you've lost a job or otherwise experienced a reduction in income), please notify the financial aid office at financialaid@elgin.edu to see if you may be eligible for a financial aid adjustment.

Here’s a summary of key dates for submitting the FAFSA depending on when you plan to go to school:

Summary of key dates for submitting the FAFSA®.
If you plan to attend ECC during: You will submit this FAFSA: You can submit the FAFSA beginning: Using Income & Tax info from:
Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024 2023-2024 October 1, 2022 2021
Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023 2022-2023 October 1, 2021 2020

How to Apply For Financial Aid

ECC connects approximately 5,000 students to over $16 million in financial aid each year. Learn more about how you can apply for financial aid today.

Additional information

Types of Financial Aid

Starting January 1, 2023, student workers will be paid $13 per hour. Review the policies and procedures to receive financial aid.