Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

Students do not have to be admitted to BCTC in order to file the FAFSA. However, a financial offer will not be made until you have been fully admitted into a degree-seeking program. Students applying for aid for the spring and summer semester must be registered for classes in order to be awarded financial aid.

To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

1. Create an FSA ID: Create a username and password on the Federal Student Aid website to act as your electronic signature.
2. Gather Necessary Documents:
   • Social Security Number
   • Federal income tax returns (or tax records)
   • Records of assets (bank statements, investments)
3. Complete the FAFSA Form: Fill out the form at Federal Student Aid for the correct academic year.
4. Add Bluegrass Community and Technical College school code 005244.
5. Submit and Review: Navigate to the signature section and select “Provide Signature” Sign and submit online. Review your Submission Summary for accuracy.

 

You may be eligible to charge your books at the Newtown or Leestown Campus Bookstores, or at BibliU. Book charges are available for a limited time. Contact the Financial Aid for book charge periods. In order to charge books you...

• Must be registered at least half-time
• Be receiving enough Financial Aid to cover the bill plus the cost of the books
• Our office must have a Financial Aid Bookstore Release (FAB) form on file for you

 

Generally, students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours for undergraduate and graduate students) in required course work to receive most types of aid including Stafford Loans. However, a student may receive a Pell Grant for less than half-time enrollment. Summer enrollment requirements can vary.

 

Full time enrollment (12 credit hours) is required to receive the full Pell Grant award. Students with a semester course load of 1-11 credit hours may be eligible for a prorated portion of their Pell Grant.

 

The amount of aid you are eligible to receive is determined by the information reported by your family on the FAFSA. The US Department of Education use a formula to determine each student's SAI (Student Aid Index). The SAI is the amount of money the government has determined that a family can contribute to the student's educational costs. The SAI determines grant and loan eligibility.

 

After the BCTC Financial Aid Office has processed the file an email with be sent to your KCTCS email account. The e-mail will explain your rights and responsibilities, how to view, accept, or decline awards. The e-mail also includes with instructions on how to complete your Electronic Master Promissory Note (if you choose to process a loan). Award information is also available at https://students.kctcs.edu/.

 

Refunds are coordinated through the Bursar's Office and are generally sent weekly. KCTCS delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoicessso/.

 

The following information is from the Department of Education's publication 'The Student Guide'.

You must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:

• U.S. citizen
• U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
• U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, Or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

If you're not in one of these categories, you must be an eligible noncitizen and you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the following designations:

• Refugee
• Asylum Granted
• Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
• Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
• Parolee (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and intend to become a citizen or permanent resident.)
• If you have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-282 or I-464), you aren't eligible for federal student aid. If you're in the United States on certain visas, including an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, you're not eligible for federal student aid.
• Also, persons with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible. For more information about other types of visas that are not acceptable, check with your school's financial aid office.
• Citizens and eligible noncitizens may receive loans from the FFEL Program at participating foreign schools. Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau are eligible only for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, or Federal Work-Study. These applicants should check with their schools financial aid offices for more information.

 
Financial aid does not automatically transfer between institutions. To allow us to determine your financial aid eligibility, please confirm that Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) — 005244 — is listed on your FAFSA. You do not need to complete a new FAFSA.
Once your application has been submitted to the Office of Admissions, we will review your FAFSA. If additional information is required, we will notify you promptly.

To update your FAFSA, add BCTC’s school code: 005244.

 

Approximately 30 percent of the student population that applies for student aid is randomly selected for the verification process. It is the federal government's way of making sure students are correctly reporting their information on the FAFSA. Please see "Step 4: Verification" above for instructions and further information of completing the verification process.

The availability of summer aid is dependent upon how much aid a student used during the school year and the student's grade level. Contact the financial office to find out if you have summer aid eligibility.

For Students

You need to log in to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to add your missing signature.

• Log in to the Federal Student Aid website using your account username and password.
• Select “My Activity” from your account Dashboard.
• Select your processed FAFSA submission to see the “Details” page.
• Select “Provide Signature.”
  • You cannot add another person’s signature to the FAFSA form for them.

For Parent or Spouse Contributors

You must log in to Federal Student Aid website and select the FAFSA form from “My Activity” to provide your own signature. The student can’t complete your signature for you.

 

Yes. The application is free and some sources of aid (unsubsidized Direct Loan and Parent PLUS loans) are available regardless of need.

 

 

The student may contact our office to request an additional unsubsidized Direct Loan, ($4,000 per academic year for freshman/sophomores.)

 

Grant Programs: Grants are a form of "gift aid" and typically do not have to be repaid. Grants offered at BCTC are federal and state funded.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is based on financial need. Funds are limited to Kentucky residents.

Loan Programs: Loans are a form of "self help" aid and must repaid. Loan programs offered at BCTC are federally funded.

Federal Direct Loan is both need based and non need based (Subsidized and Unsubsidized). Repayment of the loan begins six months after you stop attending school at least half-time.

Maximum annual Subsidized limit:

• $3,500 Freshman
• $4,500 Sophomore

Dependent students may borrow an additional $2,000 in an unsubsidized loan. Independent students may borrow an additional $6,000 in an unsubsidized loan.

Federal PLUS Loan is a non need based loan borrowed by the parent on behalf of the student. The yearly loan limit is equal to the cost of attendance less any other financial aid. Repayment generally begins 60 days after the final disbursement for the loan period. Parents may apply for Government Student Loans.

Federal Work Study Program is based on financial need. Students work on the BCTC campus in various areas. Students receive a bi-weekly paycheck. Federal Work Student is a great source for networking and training.

 

005244

 

For the need-based subsidized Direct Loan, the federal government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half-time (six semester hours). However, for the non-need based Unsubsidized Direct Loan, interest does accrue while the student is enrolled and must be paid by the student upon graduation or ceasing enrollment of half time status. Both types of Direct loans have an interest rate that is capped at 8.25%. Repayment begins six months after you graduate or you cease to be enrolled at least half-time (six semester hours).

 Each year BCTC awards numerous academic scholarships to eligible students. Scholarship funds are limited and awarded for the academic year. The BCTC Scholarship Application is available at our Scholarships Opportunities page.

 

Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES): Kentucky high school students have a great opportunity to make their education pay with the KEES program. It is administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Students who make good grades (C+ and above) in high school can earn a scholarship to a Kentucky college. Eligible students will receive official notification of the amount of their award from KHEAA.

KEES are usually received in late September for the fall and mid-February for the spring term. Until disbursement this scholarship is considered anticipated aid towards your bill.

 

The Financial Aid Office generally disburses aid once a week (usually over the weekend) to your student account. This process will begin after the Financial Aid Census date for each semester. Check your student account in PeopleSoft to see if your financial aid has posted. Disbursed financial aid that is more than your tuition/fees charges and any allowable bookstore charges is considered a refund.

Your tuition can be paid online. You may use your credit card or electronic check payments by logging into your PeopleSoft account.

Yes, your payment is expected upon enrollment or you have anticipated Financial aid that covers your charges, (please refer to the BCTC Academic Calendar for payment deadlines).

If you plan to use financial aid as your source of payment, refer to financial aid important dates.

If you are a veteran of any war since 1917 and were a Kentucky resident during your service you may qualify for additional benefits. Please contact our Veterans Affairs Office at (859) 246-6820 or you can email BL-Military@kctcs.edu.

• BCTC offers a payment plan administered by Nelnet Business Solutions.
• Payments are automatically deducted from a bank account or credit card.
• The number of payments and amount of down payment vary, depending on when the agreement is submitted.
• The cost to participate in the plan is $30.00.
• The agreement and down payment (if required) must be completed and submitted online prior to payment deadline.
• For full details, visit our Payment Plans page.

The Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning credits are subtracted from your taxes. They cover tuition and any costs you need to pay to enroll, except insurance, medical and health fees, room and board, transportation, or similar living expenses.

(855) 246-2477
bl-bursaroffice@kctcs.edu

Visit the Bursar's Office webpage.

If your tuition is paid by an employer, Voc Rehab, Veterans Rehab, Scholarships, Awards of the State, or other third party means, you must confirm this with the appropriate documentation by the published payment deadline.

Note: Authorization forms can be faxed to (859) 246-4665 or by email to bl-bursaroffice@kctcs.edu

If you have questions concerning Third Party payments more information can be found on the Third Party Sponsorships web page. 

Please review our drop/refund dates on our Academic Calendar.

Newtown Campus, The Den - D-132

• Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

All semester payment deadlines are outlined on the Student Academic Calendar.

Tuition Appeals are submitted online.

The Appeals process allows students to appeal tuition/fee charges under certain conditions. Written appeals must include the student's full name, mailing address, and PeopleSoft ID number and the semester for which they are appealing. Tuition/Fee appeals must be submitted within the same academic year of when charges are assessed.

Note: If you received a federal financial aid refund check, you are not eligible to appeal tuition charges for that term.

• Online payments using credit card or electronic check are the quickest and most convenient way to pay.
• In-person payments are accepted at our Lexington campus Bursar's Office locations and they include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card payments.
• Waivers, Financial Aid, Third Party Sponsorship, and Scholarships.
• Payments must include student ID number and daytime phone number.
• Mailed payments must be received in the Bursar's Office by published deadline and mailed to:

BCTC Bursar's Office
Newtown Campus
500 Newtown Pike
Lexington, KY 40508

Note: Mailed payments must be received in the Bursar's Office by published deadline. You may also view types of payment methods.

Refunds are coordinated through the Bursar's Office and are generally sent weekly. KCTCS delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. For more information, visit the Refund Choices page.

Newtown Campus

500 Newtown Pike
The Den - Room 132
Lexington, KY 40508-1207

Description of our additional charges:

• Security Charge - A security charge of $40.00 is assessed to all BCTC students every semester, regardless of number of hours enrolled. The charge is used to offset the costs of security in all college facilities, including security personnel, equipment, and lighting.
• Reinstatement Charges - A $75.00 reinstatement charge will be assessed to any student who requests reinstatement if removed from classes due to non-payment.
• Professional Liability Insurance - An $11.00 charge per term will be collected from those students enrolled in programs that require professional liability insurance (Human and Social Services and Early Childhood Development Programs).
• Insufficient Funds Charge - A $50.00 charge will be assessed for each returned check.
• Delinquent Accounts - are subject to a financial hold being placed on their account preventing enrollment, or the ability to graduate.
• A Mandatory Fee of $8.00 per credit hour will be assessed to all students. This fee is part of the Build Smart program to fund new facilities or renovate existing buildings.

Note: All charges are Non-refundable

Important Note

Once a student enrolls the student becomes financially obligated. If the student does not plan to attend a class, it is the student's responsibility to complete the official withdrawal process through the student records department.

• Make sure your KCTCS student email account is activated and maintained at all times.
• All college correspondence, including electronic bills, will be sent to your BCTC student email account.
• Remember to update your address information in Student Records or Online through PeopleSoft.