Financial Aid

Prepare for the FAFSA

The 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available! Discover how to get ready for the FAFSA.

Understanding Enrollment Status and Financial Aid Eligibility

Your enrollment status, or the number of units you take, significantly determines your eligibility for financial aid. Starting in the 2024-2025 award year, the calculation of Pell Grant eligibility is changing. Instead of using enrollment level categories like "full-time," "three-quarter time," "half-time," and "less-than-half-time," your Pell Grant award will now be determined based on your enrollment intensity, which refers to the percentage of units you are taking.

2025 - 2026 Cost Of Attendance

Each year the Mesa Community College Financial Aid Office establishes standard student budgets based on institutional costs and estimated costs of living, referred to as a student’s Cost of Attendance.

Scholarships are gift aid that help cover educational costs while attending college. They are awarded to students who meet specific criteria set by a donor or organization providing the funds. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.

What is Course Applicability?

Course Applicability means that a course must be required for a student's program/degree plan in order for federal financial aid to pay for it.

For more information on Course Applicability please see the Maricopa Community Colleges Course Applicability web page.

Entrance Counseling

Federal Direct Student Loan Counseling

Why was I selected for Verification?

If you’ve been offered a pell grant, the Pell Recalculation Date is the last day to adjust your class schedule.

If you add a class after the Pell Recalculation date, your pell grant amount will not increase. Make sure to add any classes or adjust your schedule by this date.

To view the Pell Recalculation Date go to our Important Dates page

After you've submitted your FAFSA, your Student Center is where you will check the status of your financial aid.