FAQs About Paying for College

Costs & Payment

How much does it cost to attend Cecil College?

Tuition varies according to residency. Please visit the Tuition, Fees & Payment Options page to see a detailed breakdown of costs.

Does Cecil College offer more than one payment plan?

There is a fall payment plan and a spring payment plan for credit students. Certain non-credit courses also qualify.

Can I use the payment plan if I am taking a nine-week course?

Courses must be longer than 3 months and greater than $305.00 in order to use a payment plan.

What are the other costs beyond tuition and fees?

The cost beyond tuition and fees will vary depending on individual circumstances. See our easy-to-use form to help you calculate your total costs fro the semester. If you are eligible for Financial Aid, refer to the Net Price Calculator.

What is a course fee?

Course fees partially offset costs to provide various classroom materials and equipment, including instructional equipment, lab and classroom supplies, computer paper, and software.

How can my parents/grandparents pay for my courses?

After registering for classes, you can give parental consent to parents or grandparents so that they have access to make payments for you through the student portal on MyCecil. If you prefer not to give access to your student records, payments can be made on your behalf by calling the Cashier's Office at (410) 287-1020.

How do I apply for financial aid?

The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.studentaid.gov. If you would like to meet with a financial aid advisor, please call (410) 287-1003.

Financial Aid

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application that captures information about family finances in a consistent way. The information is used to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.

To be considered for financial aid each year, you must complete a FAFSA annually. Make sure you are aware of all important deadlines. Apply online at www.studentaid.gov. Cecil College's school code is 008308.

How can I apply for all kinds of financial aid?

To be sure that you are considered for all types of financial aid you need to know where the money comes from, how to apply, and the deadlines.

In addition to the FAFSA, complete the Cecil College Foundation Scholarship online application. The deadline is April 30th each year.

Maryland residents should go to www.mhec.state.md.us to review Maryland state financial aid programs. Some grants require you to print an application and mail it back to the state. The deadline for most Maryland grants is March 1 each year.

If you are a high school student, check out local scholarships through your high school guidance office. In addition, there are several scholarship search engines you might want to explore such as www.finaid.org or www.fastweb.com.

Since I have yet to file my federal income taxes, should I still complete the FAFSA?

Because the FAFSA now uses prior-prior year information, it is uncommon that students/parents have not yet filed taxes. However, if you have an extension from the IRS and cannot use your tax information, you should use your best estimates to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. You will need to submit corrections to the FAFSA once you have filed your taxes.

How will I know my FAFSA has been processed?

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education. This report is generated from the information you provided on the FAFSA. Keep the SAR for your records. It means your FAFSA has processed by the Department of Education and forwarded to the schools of your choice.

Within 3-10 days, the schools you indicated on the FAFSA will receive the same information electronically. Once the college has received and reviewed your FAFSA you will receive notification of your eligibility status by email to your campus (chawk) email account.

Do I have to wait until I am accepted by the college before submitting the FAFSA?

No. You may complete and submit the FAFSA before you get an acceptance letter from Admissions. However, we cannot process aid for you until you have been accepted to the college in an approved program of study. Make sure you put the school code on the form so the school receives the information. Cecil College’s school code is 008308.

The school will contact you if you have not applied for admissions at the time the college receives the results.

Does the Financial Aid Office have walk-in hours?

Yes. The Financial Aid Office is open to walk-in traffic on a first come, first served basis between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday and Wednesday, and 8:00 am through 4:30 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Why don’t my classes count towards my financial aid eligibility?

Only courses that count towards approved and declared program(s) of study will count towards enrolled hours for the semester. Students should meet with an academic advisor if they are uncertain if their courses count towards an approved program of study.