Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

The financial aid application process gets underway when you complete, sign and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

FAFSA on the Web offers an online application that can be signed electronically with a Federal Student Aid PIN.
You may also obtain a paper copy of the FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.433.3243 or 1.319.337.5665.

Questions 48 through 55 on the FAFSA solely determine your status as a "dependent" or "independent" student. Living on your own or getting claimed by your parents on their tax return are NOT factors in the process.
If you answer "NO" to all eight questions, the U.S. Department of Education considers you "dependent," which means that you must provide your parents' income and asset information plus obtain a signature from one of your parents.
If you answer "YES" to any of the eight questions, the U.S. Department of Education considers you "independent," which means that you must provide your own income and asset information—and that of your spouse if you are married.

After you complete and submit your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) either by mail or via a secure link to the e-mail address you provided on your FAFSA.
At approximately the same time, the SAR information will be sent to the colleges you listed in Step Six of the FAFSA. If you listed Dakota County Technical College, federal school code 010402, the DCTC Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid will receive your FAFSA results.
Our office will then send you an award letter listing your grant and student loan eligibility.

Students wishing to make use of the federal and state student loan programs must first complete the FAFSA. Once DCTC receives the FAFSA results, the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid will notify you of your eligibility for participation in various loan programs. You must then complete a separate online loan application.

Additional loan programs may be available to you or your parents. Contact the DCTC Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid for more information.

As a way to add to federal and state financial aid, students should apply for DCTC and DCTC Foundation Scholarships. The college and the college foundation offer scholarships to students each year.
Students should routinely check the bulletin board outside our office in Room 2-202 for scholarship information posted by outside organizations..

Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
finaid@dctc.edu
651-423-8299
Toll Free: 877-937-3282 ext.299
Fax: 651-423-8779

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