Types of Student Aid

Currently Active Scholarships
- Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships♦
- Glen Oaks Community College Faculty Scholarship✴
- Career Technical Education Scholarship♦
✴For returning GOCC students only
♦For current year High School graduates only
For a complete listing of all available Foundation scholarships, please visit our Foundation Scholarships page.
For a complete listing of available Foundation Nursing scholarships, please visit our Foundation Scholarships Health Sciences section.
Foundation scholarship applications are now submitted online through our Etrieve portal. Login to access the applications using your Glen Oaks Viking ID (used to sign in to WebAdvisor & Canvas). If you do not have a Viking ID you can use a Google email account.
All Scholarships
- Career Technical Education Scholarship♦
- Senior Citizens Tuition Benefit
- Glen Oaks Community College Student Ambassador Scholarship
- Glen Oaks Community College Faculty Scholarship✴
- Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships♦
- Athletic Scholarship
- Follett Bookstore Scholarship
✴For returning GOCC students only
♦For current year High School graduates only

- Altrusa International of Branch County
- Follett Bookstore Scholarship
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation
- Kalamazoo Promise
- MassMutual Scholars
- Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel Scholarship
- National Farmworker Jobs Program
- OMNI Community Credit Union @Work Scholarship Program
- Sturgis Area Community Foundation Scholarships
- Sturgis Exchange Club Swihart Scholarship
- Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary Medical Scholarship Guild
- The First National Bank Scholarship/Three Rivers American Legion Student Nurses Scholarship Fund
- The Forty & Eight of St. Joe County Scholarship
- Three Rivers Area Community Foundation Scholarships
Students interested in transferring to a four-year college or university should check the website of the institution they wish to transfer to for more information on transfer scholarships.
Please contact the Glen Oaks Financial Aid Office at 269-294-4260 with any questions.


Student loans are one of four types of financial aid. Student loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Before considering a student loan, you should exhaust all other financial aid types, such as grants, scholarships and work-study. To determine eligibility for these programs you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be completed online at the FAFSA website.
Glen Oaks Community College participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program. Funds are provided by the federal government. These loans help students finance their educational expenses. You must meet all federal eligibility requirements including be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credits) and be pursuing a certificate or degree program. We urge you to borrow conservatively. Don’t borrow more than you need!
The Direct Loan Program offers the following types of loans:
- Subsidized
- For students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by federal regulations. No interest is charged while a student is in school at least half-time, during the grace period, and during deferment periods. Note: federal regulations were amended to temporarily eliminate the interest subsidy provided on Direct Subsidized Loans during the six month grace period provided to students when they are no longer enrolled on at least a half-time basis. This change will be effective for new Direct Stafford Loans for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2012, and before July 1, 2014.
- Unsubsidized
- Not based on financial need; interest is charged during all periods, even during the time a student is in school and during grace and deferment periods. If the student allows the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized. This means interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and additional interest will be based on the higher amount. This will increase the total repayment amount of the loan. The student who chooses to pay the interest as it accumulates will repay less on the loan.
- PLUS
- Unsubsidized loans for the parents of dependent students and for graduate/professional students. PLUS loans help pay for education expenses up to the cost of attendance minus all other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods. PLUS loan borrowers cannot have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done).
For more information about Parent PLUS loans and to apply for a Parent PLUS loan, go to the Student Loans website and click on “Parent Borrowers”.

If you’ve filled out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’ve automatically applied for the major federal grant programs. To receive a grant, you must have financial need as defined by the federal government. You also must meet the eligibility requirements for financial aid.
Other things you should know about federal Pell Grants:
- Any other financial aid you might receive does not affect the amount of your Pell Grant.
- You can enroll in as little as half a credit hour and still receive a Pell Grant. You can only receive a Pell Grant for the equivalent of two full-time semesters each academic year.
- Grants are not available to students who have already received a bachelor’s degree.
Federal Pell Grants
The Pell Grant program is the foundation of federal student financial aid. You’re eligible for a grant if you have financial need as determined from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
How much money you receive in a Pell Grant is based on three factors:
- Your Expected Family Contribution, as determined from your FAFSA
- Whether you attend school full time or part time
- Whether you attend school for a full academic year or less
If you qualify for a Pell Grant, GOCC Financial Aid office will send an award letter to your mailing address available through the Registration Office. The letter will list the grant amount for full-time enrollment.
Effective on July 1, 2012, you can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters or the equivalent (roughly six years). You’ll receive a notice if you’re getting close to your limit. If you have any questions, contact the GOCC Financial Aid Office.

America Reads Tutoring Program
Like its name implies, federal work-study pays you to work part time at GOCC or off campus while you attend school. It pays minimum wage, and you can work up to 20 hours per week. The amount of your actual work-study award depends on your financial need and the available funding.
To be considered for work-study, you must:
- Have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file, along with any required follow-up paperwork
- Have financial need
- Be enrolled in at least six credit hours
- Meet GOCC Satisfactory Academic Progress standard
- Meet all federal financial aid eligibility requirements
If you are interested in work-study contact the GOCC Financial Aid Office at 269-294-4260 or via their Contact Form.
The Financial Aid office will let you know if you qualify for federal work-study and if funds are available. The next step will be to learn what jobs are available by looking below and by reading the posted positions on the GOCC Concourse.
If you are hired following an interview with the supervisor, you will be required to complete necessary paperwork before starting your work study position. You will receive a paycheck every two weeks.
If you’re awarded federal work-study, you can earn up to the awarded amount. Once you do, you’re no longer eligible to work.