Paying for College

The Office of Financial Aid at Mountwest Community & Technical College is designed to give you the opportunity to obtain the resources you need to enroll at Mountwest.

The cost to attend Mountwest differs for each student, depending on where you live, program of study and how many credits you take. The chart below provides estimated average full-time costs for students for the 2024-2025 academic year and is provided for planning purposes. Note that these amounts are average amounts, and you should refer to the Tuition and Fees page for exact costs.

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the average cost to attend for one academic year. This includes actual and/or estimated numbers for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Tuition and fee rates vary by a student’s residency and enrollment status. The tuition and fee component in a student’s COA is a standard amount based on full-time enrollment.

FINANCIAL AID BUDGETS FOR 2024-2025

CostsResident w/ParentResident Off CampusMetro w/ParentMetro Off CampusNon-Resident w/ParentNon-Resident Off Campus
Books and Supplies172617261726172617261726
Average Loan Fee404040404040
Misc/Personal Expenses126014821260148212601482
Room and Board572895475728954757289547
Average Tuition and Fees60306030958695861403014030
Transportation330833083308330833083308
Total180922133321648256892609230133

Complete your Financial Aid Today!

At Mountwest Community & Technical College, we know there are often many obstacles in the way of students beginning their college career. How to pay for college shouldn’t be one of them.

The Office of Financial Aid at Mountwest is designed to give you the opportunity to obtain the resources you need to enroll at Mountwest. There are grants, loans, and many tax advantages available to you because you attend a college. We’ll work hard on your benefit to get you what you need.

We ask that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon after January 1st as possible. We suggest you file electronically https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa at  The students and at least one parent (for dependent students) will need to create an FSA ID to fully complete their FAFSA as well as access other U.S. Department of Education websites.

The recommended completion date for the FAFSA is March 1st. Tax information is needed to complete the FAFSA. Taxes do not need to be filed prior to submitting the FAFSA as the option of estimating income information is available; however, any estimated information should be updated with actual information as soon as possible.

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) at the email address you provided on your FAFSA application. Be sure to review your SAR for errors and make corrections as needed.

Student Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to students on the basis of financial need and do not have to be repaid. These grants are considered the foundation of Federal Financial Aid, to which aid from other federal and non-federal sources might be added. Pell Grants are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. The Pell award is based on enrollment status and Pell eligibility as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Pell eligibility is limited to 600% usage.

Determine your Pell usage.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)

Students who do not have a Pell eligible EFC may qualify if they have a parent or guradian who was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001. The student must have been under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part time at the time of the parent or guardian’s death. The award is equal to the amount of the maximum Federal Pell Grant adjusted by a percentage based on the Budget Control Act of 2011. Visit IASG for more information

Federal SEOG

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is given to undergraduate students who demonstrate extreme financial need as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Generally students with an EFC of zero are awarded first. If funds remain after awarding the zero EFC students then students with higher EFC’s will be considered. This fund is limited and students are encouraged to file the FAFSA prior to March 1 in order to receive priority consideration. This limited fund is generally awarded at $300 per semester to qualifying students.

Federal Work Study

This fund is available to those students who demonstrate financial need. You must come to the Financial Office to request work study. If this award is granted, you must complete employment paperwork and get a work assignment. Students are generally limited to no more than twenty hours per week at an hourly rate specified in the employment paperwork. Students may be employed on campus or may be able to request work at one of our community service work sites.

Federal Loans

There are three types of low interest Federal Loans available:

• Subsidized Student Loan- a subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. Students will not be charged any interest before entering repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. Deferment is a period during which a borrower who meets certain criteria may suspend making loan payments. The federal government “subsidizes” the interest during these periods. Attending school at least half time (six semester hours) is considered a period of deferment. Students must be enrolled and attending at least half time in order to qualify for a subsidized loan. For more information please visit the subsidized loan usage page.

• Unsubsidized Student Loan- An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. Students accrue interest charges from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Disbursement is the release of loan funds to the school for delivery to the borrower. Payments on unsubsidized loans may also be deferred but, interest will continue to accrue until the loan is repaid in full. Students must be enrolled and attending at least half time in order to qualify for an unsubsidized loan.

• Parent PLUS Loan- Direct PLUS loans are provided to parents to assist with the costs of undergraduate school expenses. Plus loans are unsubsidized and will accumulate interest until paid in full. The qualifying student must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours, be a financial dependent of the parent and the parent must agree to a credit check. (parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance for a dependent student).

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