Financial Aid and Scholarships

Note: To find the latest versions of Board Policies or Administrative Policies see the Pima Community College Policy website

Aid and Scholarships General Information

Many forms of aid can assist in funding your college education. Please refer to the Types of Aid on the PCC website or contact us to explore options for financing your college education. For additional information regarding the process, please visit our Financial Aid and Scholarships webpage.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students receiving federal student aid, such as Pell Grant and federal student loans have additional and separate policies and requirements regarding their Academic Standing. More Information is available on our Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage.

Dropping or Withdrawing and Financial Aid

If you receive financial aid and withdraw from all active Title IV (federal student aid) eligible courses at Pima, you may not have earned the financial aid you received. Any unearned funds must be returned. Please note that Pima Community College will bill you for any unearned funds that we have to return to federal programs due to the required Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation. More Information is available on our Dropping or Withdrawing and Financial Aid webpage. 

High school completion (or equivalency) as a factor of FA eligibility:

Procedures for the Validation of High School Completion:

• Students may submit official high school transcripts that contain evidence of completion
• Students also may self-certify their high school completion status on the Pima admission application or through their MyPima portal after applying for admission.  High school completion must be validated by Pima Community College if:
  • The institution has reason to believe that a high school transcript/diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education {34 C.F.R § 668.16 (p)}

  • The institution has reason to believe the high school transcript/diploma is dubious—e.g., the college knows the student bought the diploma or transcript and was required to perform little or no work

• Pima Community College will review the validity of high school completion if:

  • Conflicting information is presented between the admission application (Student Information System) and the information provided on the FAFSA. 

  • College staff has reason to believe that a high school transcript/diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education 

  • College staff has reason to believe the high school transcript/diploma is dubious—e.g., the college knows the student bought the diploma or transcript and was required to perform little or no work 

  • College staff have become aware of a school or educational provider with a judgment or adverse judicial finding based on fraudulent or insufficient accreditation 

  • External entities inquire about the acceptance of credentials from a provider by the college for admission or financial aid purposes

If the institution has reason to believe that the high school transcript/diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the following procedure will be followed:

• Pima Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) places a requirement to produce a high school diploma or official transcript validating completion.  This requirement prevents Title IV aid from being awarded to the student until the discrepancy is resolved.

• The student receives a communication notification on how to resolve the discrepancy, directing them to upload either a high school diploma or an official high school transcript to the Registrar Office.

  • If a student is found to have identified an invalid provider as the high school completion provider, the student will receive an email communication and checklist requirement in the student management system informing them that although they have been admitted they have provided conflicting information that must be resolved.

• Documentation review will be conducted by the Registrar Office.  Student record will be noted and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will satisfy the requirement if acceptable documentation has been presented.

  • High School Diploma or transcript - Review for Registrar signature, secure delivery, secure paper, etc.

  • GED - access state education database to validate completion.

  • Homeschool - Review for proper components per ARS.