The purpose of financial aid is to help remove the financial barriers that stand in the way of a student’s education. The Tri-County Community College (TCCC) Financial Aid staff is committed to the philosophy that a high-quality education should be affordable and accessible to everyone in our community.
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid unless the student totally withdraws from all classes in a semester or enrollment period. Pell Grants are classified as Title IV federal aid and awarded only to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need by completing a FAFSA. Students are limited to receiving a Pell Grant for the equivalent of twelve full-time enrolled semesters. This applies to ALL Federal Pell Grant eligible students and includes ALL years of receiving Pell Grant funds. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree do not qualify for a Pell Grant. Pell Grants may be used to pay a student’s direct educational costs, such as tuition, fees, and books, as well as indirect educational costs, such as transportation expenses. Students should apply well in advance of the semester they plan to attend. The federal processor must receive a student’s FAFSA by June 30th to be considered for the current academic year. There are no exceptions to this deadline.
TCCC no longer participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, which includes Federal Stafford Loans offered to students, and Federal PLUS Loans offered to students’ parents. Loans previously provided by TCCC must be REPAID with interest. For more information regarding your past loans, please visit Student Aid.
The FSEOG is designed to supplement existing financial aid for undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional financial need. It is classified as Title IV federal aid. This grant is awarded to eligible applicants for the fall and spring semesters. While no deadline exists, students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA as soon as they file their taxes because the application date is one criterion for the award. FSEOG funds are limited and awarded on a first come, first served basis.
This program is designed to assist students who need extra income to continue their education at TCCC and provide valuable work experience. To be eligible for this program, a student must first complete a FAFSA. Work-Study position announcements will be posted on the Financial Aid page at the beginning of each academic year, or whenever there are position openings throughout the year. Deadlines for applying are posted on each advertisement. Students are required to reapply annually. Students may be eligible for the Work-Study program even if they are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. Students can only earn FWS funds in combination with other resources up to the amount of the student's financial need.
2026/2027 Postings:
Download application HERE
Have you had an immediate, unforeseen financial hardship within the last 30-45 days that may prevent you from completing your program of study? If so, TCCC may have resources to help you.
In July 2018, NC Governor Roy Cooper announced the Finish Line Grant program. This program helps eliminate the burden of unforeseen financial emergencies which may interfere with students’ studies. The Finish Line Grant program is administered through TCCC’s Financial Aid Office. This program may provide up to $1000 per semester to eligible curriculum and occupational education students.
The Finish Line Grants are available to TCCC students who meet all of the following:
The Finish Line Grant may help cover costs such as:
Students who feel they meet the criteria listed above for the Finish Line Grant are encouraged to complete a Finish Line Grant application and submit the application (along with required documentation indicated on the application) to the Financial Aid Office. Once received, a Committee will review the student’s request and the student will be notified of the outcome of the Committee’s decision. If approved, the College will collect vendor information required to process a payment to be sent to the vendor to pay towards the student’s unforeseen emergency. Payments will be made directly to the vendor, not to the student.
Download application HERE
The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with the state-funded financial aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that’s easier to understand and makes education more affordable for most North Carolinians. Students enrolling at a North Carolina Community College with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less and a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7,500 or less, as reported on the FAFSA, are guaranteed at least $3,000 from combined federal and state aid.
For more information on the Next NC Scholarship CLICK HERE
This grant was established by the NC General Assembly to assist student-parents with their financial responsibilities for childcare expenses so they may complete their educational goals. Students must apply separately for this grant at the TCCC Financial Aid office, and they must also demonstrate financial need through their current processed FAFSA.
This program is designed to assist students in specific programs of study in which enrollment is substantially less than class capacity but for which there is a high demand for employees in the service area labor force. Once these programs have been determined, all students enrolled in the identified program(s) will be notified via their TCCC student email if eligible for this available funding. The Targeted Assistance is generally awarded at the 60% point of the semester.
Grants, Need-based Scholarships, Merit Scholarships, and Loans - For more information please visit College for North Carolina (CFNC).
In an effort to improve access and reduce financial barriers to essential workforce education and training programs, Tri-County Community College is excited to offer Workforce & Student Mobility grants to assist eligible curriculum and continuing education students with resources needed for success. This last-dollar program may assist students with tuition, fees, or other educational related expenses, after all other sources of funds have been exhausted. Other funding sources include federal, state, and local aid as well as sponsorships or waivers. Students who need assistance with an education-related expense, not already being covered through other forms of assistance, are encouraged to complete the TVA Workforce & Student Mobility Supplemental aid application (linked below) and return it to the Financial Aid Office. Please note, not all programs of study qualify for this grant. Tri-County Community College will evaluate the eligibility of all applicants based upon the allowable parameters defined by the TVA Workforce & Student mobility project.
For more information, please visit College for North Carolina (CFNC).
Other sources of financial assistance are available through the following organizations to those who qualify. Interested students should contact these organizations directly to apply.
Special Note: The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407) was signed into law on December 31, 2018. As a result, beginning on August 1, 2019, Tri-County Community College will allow GI Bill® and VR&E beneficiaries (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 beneficiaries) to attend a course of education or training for up to 90 days from the date the beneficiary provides a certificate of eligibility, or valid VAF 28-1905. This 90-day time frame will allow a student to attend the course until VA provides payment to the institution.
Additionally, GI Bill® and VR&E beneficiaries (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 beneficiaries) will not be penalized, or charged extra fees, in the event the VA makes late payments for tuition and fees. However, veterans, who benefit from Chapter 33 or Chapter 31, must be aware that Section 103 requires a State Approving Agency (SAA), or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when acting in the role of the SAA, to disapprove certain courses of education. VA can grant a waiver to these requirements.
If you have questions or need assistance in applying for VA education benefits, please contact TCCC’s VA School Certifying Official at 828-837-6810 or visit the Financial Aid Office in the Harper Building on the main campus.
Estimate your net cost to attend Tri-County Community College! Using the net price calculator, you may receive an estimate of your eligibility for financial aid at Tri-County Community College and estimate your out-of-pocket expenses. We hope that the results of the net price calculator are useful to you in your planning process.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is an ESTIMATE of students’ educational expenses for a period of enrollment. The types of costs included in the COA estimate are mandated by the Department of Education and include direct costs (tuition, fees, books, course materials, supplies & equipment), and indirect costs (food, housing, and miscellaneous expenses). Therefore, students’ COA does NOT represent the amount which a student would pay to Tri-County Community College (TCCC), but an estimate of all educational and living expenses a student may encounter while enrolled at TCCC. Under federal and state regulations, a student may not receive need-based grants, need-based employment wages, and/or need-based scholarships in excess of their demonstrated financial need. Therefore, TCCC must have an established method of estimating students’ COA. The COAs provided below are based on a full-time, 9-month budget (fall & spring), and provide examples for in-state versus out-of-state students, as well as students living at home (with parent) and away from home (on their own).
