A limited amount of financial aid is available for qualified low-to-moderate income Howard County residents who are taking career-related classes.  An application must be completed at least three weeks before the start date of the course.

Application Form (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

Criteria for Eligibility

• Demonstrated financial need/proof of income.

  In order to be considered for noncredit financial aid, your TOTAL FAMILY INCOME must fall within the guidelines listed below:

What counts as income?  All wages, investment income, Social Security payments, disability payments, child support, retirement income, income from parents or other relatives, food stamps, alimony, AFDC, Temporary Cash Assistance, and any payment received for housing foster children.  If you are claimed as a dependent on another person's income tax OR if you file a joint income tax form with another person, you must include his or her income as part of the total family income.

• Proof of residency in Howard County for at least three months (proof of residency may be required).
• Sixteen years of age or older.
• Coursework that is job related or career related.
• Financial assistance not available from other organizations or employer.
• Basic literacy (see "Expectations" below).

Expectations of Students Receiving Financial Assistance

• Demonstrate the ability to benefit by passing a literacy test (reading, writing, math, speaking, and listening). For those courses that require this, the test will be given at the first class.
• Once approved and you have received the voucher, register and pay any portion of the tuition/fees not covered by the financial aid you receive.  Immediately after registering, proceed to the cashier's office and present the voucher along with your portion of payment.  If you do not present your voucher within 24 hours, you will be dropped from the class.
• Attend all scheduled classes.  Students who do not complete and/or pass courses are not eligible for future noncredit financial aid.
• Complete all course assignments.
• Provide follow-up information on employment and/or career changes as a result of the noncredit course.
• Students taking the CNA course must undergo a background check and pass the Literacy test at the first class.  Failure to pass will result in automatic revocation of the financial award and withdrawal from the class.

Regulations

• A student must be in good standing with the HCC business office to receive noncredit financial aid.
• Financial assistance is limited to course tuition, registration, and lab fees only.  No aid is available for books or test fees.
• The maximum award for noncredit financial aid is 80 percent of total cost of tuition and fees. 
• Noncredit financial aid can only be used for the specific course and section approved by the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.  It is not transferable.

Download a Financial Aid Application Form.
Note: You need Acrobat software to download the form. 

For more information about financial aid for noncredit continuing education courses, email  tgraham@howardcc.edu or call 410-772-4653.