Financial Aid & Scholarships

A college education can be costly, but it is an important investment in the future. Financial aid may come in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, or a combination thereof.

It Is the Student’s Responsibility

Students who attend TOCC are responsible for tuition and fees and other college expenses. While the student is ultimately responsible for meeting educational costs, most TOCC students receive some source of student financial aid, and we’re here to help you make it work.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

We use Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as a benchmark to evaluate our students’ steady progress towards completing their degree. SAP directly impacts financial aid eligibility. A student who fails to maintain SAP risks losing federal, state, and institutional funding.

Federal guidelines require that we monitor the academic progress of all students who receive federal financial aid to confirm eligibility. Please learn more about SAP Satisfactory Academic Progress.

How Much Aid Will Student’s Receive?

A student’s financial need is determined by an analysis of his/her income (if dependent on a parent, then his/her parent’s income), and other financial resources considered as income (which may not be reported on the income tax form).

The number and amount of financial aid awards is subject to the availability of institutional, federal, and tribal funds. The type of aid and the amount awarded is also determined by the status of the student, established financial need, and the aid they are eligible to receive. TOCC complies with grant, tribal, and federal policies and guidelines in reference to the type of awards and grants received and also by the regulations of the Department of Education in reference to Title IV funds.

Completing Your FAFSA Application

  1. Create a FAFSA account to begin the process.
  2. Collect the necessary documents to complete the FAFSA process (i.e., tax forms).
  3. Apply for a FSA ID—a username and password
    • Students must have an FSA ID to electronically sign their FAFSA.
    • Parents must have an FSA ID if their information is being provided to complete the FAFSA.
  4. Complete your FAFSA
    • TOCC School Code: 037844
    • Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to update your FAFSA with IRS tax return information.
    • If you have already submitted a FAFSA and would like to use the IRS DRT, click “Login” to start a correction. Once in the FAFSA, navigate to the “Finances” section, where the option to use the IRS DRT displays for eligible students and parents. You must indicate that you have completed a federal tax return to be eligible to use the IRS DRT.
  5. Student Aid Report (SAR)
    • Students receive the SAR through email or regular mail, depending on which one was selected. The school receives an electronic copy in about five to seven days.
  6. Award Determination and Award letter
    • The application packet is reviewed, an award determination is performed, and an award letter is sent. (If the student is selected for a process called “verification” by the Department of Education, the requirements must be met before an award can be determined.)

Gewkdag Scholarship

The Gewkdag Scholarship is awarded to recent high school/GED graduates. It covers the cost of tuition and fees plus $250 toward the cost of books. Eligible students are those who have recently graduated with a high school diploma or GED certificate from a school that is located on or near the Tohono O’odham Nation in the year.

Requirements

  • First-time students must apply for funding within one year of their high school/GED graduation date (see application).
  • Register full time (for 12 or more semester hours of credit) at Tohono O’odham Community College in fall 2022 or spring 2023.
  • Maintain a 2.0 semester GPA for 12 or more credits to be eligible for funding in the following semester.