FINANCIAL AID
The Process
Financing a college education begins with the student and family working together with a financial aid counselor, in order to ensure that educational costs can be met.
The New England School of Communications expects students and parents to assume responsibility for all costs, to the extent of their ability. If all educational costs cannot be covered based on individual student needs, Financial Aid can be awarded through a variety of programs. No student should be discouraged from applying for financial aid, and should make every effort to apply for federal, state, and local grants and scholarships for which they may be eligible or entitled.

Each student who participates in Title IV funding, must maintain a standard of SATISFACTORY PROGRESS to continue receiving financial aid. At the end of a semester, a student must achieve at least a 1.8 GPA, and 2.0 the first semester are put on probationary status, so that they are made aware that improvement is necessary in order to complete the program and graduate.

If students do not meet the required standards of satisfactory academic progress, they are ineligible for all types of financial aid until the standards have been achieved. Students may not receive retroactive financial aid for the period of ineligibility.

NESCom participates in the Federal PELL Grant program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, Maine Student Incentive Scholarship Program, Massachusetts State Grant, and Vermont Student Assistance programs. For information on how to quickly and easily apply for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or (FAFSA) go to "The Five Minute FAFSA"

Special circumstances, such as changes in your (or another family member's) employment, loss of a benefit or other type of income, or even unusual costs can affect a family's ability to pay for school. Such circumstances should be brought to our attention throughout the academic year to review your circumstances. Address your concerns in writing to the Financial Aid Office.

The Opportunity Maine Program Opportunity Maine is a new program that will offer tax credits for college graduates that live in Maine after graduation. Beginning in January 2008,any loans that a student borrows may make him/her eligible to claim a tax credit after graduation. Businesses are also eligible for the tax credit if they agree to pay a students' loan. To be eligible, graduates must work and pay taxes in Maine after they finish school. Loans taken before 2008 are not eligible for the tax credit.

For more info go to www.opportunitymaine.org. You will need to print a contract, sign, date and return to the NESCom office in order to be eligible. Signing this contract does not mean that you HAVE to stay in Maine. It just will make you eligible for the tax credit IF you stay in Maine after graduation. NESCom will hold the contract for you in your file and will submit it for you when you graduate.