Erie County Community College understands that an affordable education can be the difference between dreaming about an exciting future and living out that dream. We are working to connect students with grants from the Department of Education and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, along with scholarships through the EC3 Foundation.
EC3 participates in the following federal and state student aid programs:
- Federal Student Aid program
- Pell grants
- Federal Student Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal work-study
- PHEAA student grant program
- Institutional scholarships
The first step to receiving financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application is free and can open financial opportunities from a variety of institutional, community, and national sources to help you cover the expenses of attending college.
Erie County Community College’s Federal School Code: 043180
For more information on how EC3 helps to support students financially, contact an advisor or the Financial Aid Office at FinancialAid@ec3pa.org.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
EC3 has established SAP standards for students who are federal and Commonwealth financial aid applicants. This policy ensures that any student who receives or applies for financial aid is making progress toward a degree or certificate. The student’s total academic history is monitored regardless of whether they have previously received financial aid.
In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student must meet the SAP requirements listed below. Failure to meet SAP requirements may result in the loss of state and federal aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards
The College utilized three measures of compliance for SAP purposes:
Quantitative Measure
Students must complete 67% of enrolled credit hours with a grade of D or better, measured on a cumulative basis. As an example, a student enrolled in a total of 24 credit hours for the academic year must complete 16 credit hours with a grade of D or better to meet this requirement.
Qualitative Measure
The qualitative measure for SAP requires that a student maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average. During the entirety of a student’s program, the student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Pace or Maximum Timeframe (MTF)
The pace measure for SAP requires the student to achieve completion of the academic program in 150% of the published length of the program. For example, a student completing the Associate of Arts General Studies program (60 credit hours) must complete the program within 90 credit hours or risk losing student aid.
SAP Appeals
If at any time a student fails to meet the SAP standards, the student may follow the SAP appeal process to be reinstated for a minimum of one payment period (typically one semester). Students whose SAP appeals are granted will have a specific academic plan in place to help them return to good standing as quickly as possible.
For more information on Satisfactory Academic Progress, see the Financial Aid Policy and Procedures Manual or contact an advisor at advising@ec3pa.org.
Helpful Financial Aid Resources
Overview of the Financial Aid Process
How To Fill Out the FAFSA® Form - YouTube
Financial Aid Policy and Procedures Manual
Erie County Community College’s Federal School Code: 043180
