Federal and State financial aid program are available to assist you with your program costs if you choose to student abroad. You must meet the general eligibility requirement, including being degree seeking at MACC and the courses must be required for your declared degree. Please read on to learn more about the process.
The first step in the application process is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA applications are available online here. You will need to have copies of your most recent Federal Tax Form available to answer some of the questions – OR – you may utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information directly into your FAFSA. We strongly recommend submitting the FAFSA if you have not done so already. The information you submit on your FAFSA will determine the amount and types of Federal and State financial aid you might be eligible to receive. Student loans, scholarships, and A+ require additional applications which are available in the Financial Aid Office and online at Financial Aid Forms
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships and loans. Eligibility for each program can be based on differing criteria. Check with the Financial Aid Office if you have specific questions regarding eligibility criteria.
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Direct Student Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized & PLUS)
Access Missouri Grant
Bright Flight (Missouri)
A+ Program
MACC Institutional Scholarships
Other Private Scholarships/Resources/Loans
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of your educational expenses for the period of enrollment. The COA for the Semester Abroad Program will include the costs to the visiting college/university, MACC tuition and fees and reasonably estimated costs for airfare, passport fees, meals and personal and miscellaneous expenses. A copy of the COA is available on the Financial Aid Forms page, under the Semester Abroad section, for your review. The total financial aid you may receive cannot exceed the COA.
Please note: The amount of funds available through federal, state and institutional resource may not be sufficient to cover the entire COA and the COA may not cover your actual expenses.
Federal Direct Student Loans are available to students participating in the Semester Abroad Program. If you have never borrowed a student loan while attending MACC, you must first complete student loan entrance counseling. Loan counseling will explain, in detail, your rights and responsibilities and the terms and conditions of the Federal Student Loan Program. Loan counseling must be complete prior to processing a loan application. The loan applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. The amount you can borrow will depend on your COA, your college grade level, your dependency status and the amount of other aid you are expected to receive during the period of enrollment. Below are examples of maximum loan amounts you may be eligible to receive. The amounts listed are annual loan limits.
If you choose to borrow the maximum amounts for the fall semester, you will not have any remaining loan eligibility for your spring semester.
Grade Level | Dependent* | Independent** |
| Freshman (0-29 hours) | $3,500 + $2,000 | $3,500 + $6,000 |
| Sophomore (30 or more hours) | $4,500 + $2,000 | $4,500 + $6,000 |
Parents of dependent students may also apply for a PLUS loan to pay the expenses. The amount of the PLUS loan can be equal to the entire COA, minus any other financial aid received. PLUS loans require a credit check from the bank; if a parent is denied a PLUS loan, the dependent student may be eligible to borrow from the additional Unsubsidized Loan. For more information about this option, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Once your financial aid offer is complete, you will be sent an aid offer letter to inform you of the types and amounts of aid you are eligible to receive. If you commit to the Semester Abroad program and apply for student loans to help pay your expenses, your loan disbursement should occur shortly after the semester begins, at which time the Business Office will issue you the credit balance (within 14 days after they receive the disbursement) if one occurs on your student account. We will make every attempt to have the disbursement of student loans released prior to your departure. Refund checks due to you after you depart for England will mailed to an address specified by you on a check routing form, available in the Financial Aid Office. You must complete this form prior to departure.
Important Note:
Financial Aid WILL NOT be available to you at the time the program’s costs are due and airfare is purchased. However, we will make every attempt to work with you if you have applied/secured financial aid from resources that are administered by the MACC. Upon disbursement of your financial aid, all charges made to the college must be satisfied first (before a refund is issued to you). If your financial aid is not processed, we suggest looking into other resources such as borrowing the money from a relative, friend, or lending institution and repaying the source from which you originally received the money when your financial aid is processed and fully disbursed.
Also, financial aid can only be awarded for courses required for your declared academic program at MACC. Your academic progress and the courses in which you enroll and/or drop will impact your financial aid eligibility.
Should you have any questions about financial aid, you may contact the Financial Aid Office at
(660) 263-4100 extension 11237.