Financial Aid Videos Text Version

Welcome to Madison Area Technical College

Welcome to Madison Area Technical College, one of the best educational values in Wisconsin. MATC’s tuition is significantly less than four-year colleges, and financial aid is available to program students enrolled at least half-time.  MATC offers federal and state financial aid, including grants, loans and student employment. The MATC Foundation also provides scholarships from private donors to assist students.  

To help you understand how to apply for financial aid and which programs you may be eligible for, please watch the short videos on the MATC Financial Aid website.  If you still have questions, please call the Enrollment Center at 608-246-6170, or use the online Ask MATC service for frequently asked questions.  

How can I pay for college?

College costs include tuition and fees, books, housing, and other living expenses. Many students believe they must work to pay for all of their college and living expenses, but that isn’t true!

There is money available through the government to help you pay for school. Many students who could be receiving FREE money to attend college miss out because they don’t fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. That is why we encourage everyone to apply at www.FAFSA.ed.gov.  

Scholarships are another source of FREE money for college. To learn more about scholarships available to MATC students, check out the MATC website.

Even if you aren’t eligible for grants, there are federal student loans available to most MATC students. Student loans have to be paid back, but look at them as an investment in your future.

Loans may enable you to work part-time while you attend college full-time. (Full-time students are most successful if they work no more than 20 hours a week!) This is important if you want to earn your degree in a shorter period of time.

To find out what types of financial aid assistance is available to you, remember to fill out the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, at www.FAFSA.ed.gov. To be eligible for financial assistance, MATC students must be enrolled in a program and taking at least six credits each semester.

What is financial aid?

Financial aid is money set aside by the government to help students pay for their college education. There are three types of financial aid:

• Grants, which is free money available to students with the greatest financial need.
• Work Study jobs that provide you with a paycheck in exchange for working up to 19 hours per week.
• Student Loans- This is money that must be paid back after you leave college. Loans are an investment in your future, but you must borrow wisely! That means only borrowing as much money as you need. It is also important that you complete your degree so that you can get a job and pay back the loan.

You can only receive financial aid by filling out the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you need help completing the financial aid application, we can help! Just contact the MATC Enrollment Center.

My parents make too much money for me to get grants. How can I pay for college?

Student loans are money you borrow to pay for your college-related expenses. You must begin paying back your student loans six months after you leave college. That six-month period is meant to give you time to start a career with the degree you have earned. That is why it is important that you have a plan in place to help ensure that you complete your education. MATC advisors are available to help you choose a career, plan your coursework, or just answer your questions.

To find out what types of financial aid assistance are available to you, remember to fill out the FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, at www.FAFSA.ed.gov.

How can I find free money that I don’t have to pay back?

Pell Grants are given to students whose families would otherwise have difficulty paying for college. Pell Grants range from $400 up to $5,000 and do not need to be paid back. Many MATC students are also eligible to receive the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant. To see what type of financial aid you qualify for, including the Pell Grant, you must fill out the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Each year, thousands of dollars in scholarship money go unclaimed because students don’t take the time to apply! Check out the MATC Foundation webpage to learn about free scholarship money that is available to our students.

I didn’t have the best grades in high school. How can I be eligible for scholarships?  

There are many scholarships available to MATC students. The MATC Foundation sponsors a New Student Scholarship that ranges from $800 to $2,500. The Foundation’s Continuing Student Scholarships pays $800 for full-time students and $400 for students enrolled less-than-full-time.

Check out the MATC Scholarship Guide, which is available on the MATC Financial Aid web page. The Scholarship Guide provides links to hundreds of scholarships available from sources outside the college.

When applying for scholarships, you usually are required to write about yourself and get one or more letters of recommendation. Make sure you are aware of the deadline for each scholarship, and give yourself plenty of time to complete the application and get those letters in!

Does it cost to apply for financial aid?

It does not cost anything to apply for financial aid. To apply, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you do not have a computer or internet access at home, you can use the computers at any MATC campus or at a local library. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or the financial aid process, Enrollment Center staff would be happy to help you, free of charge, or refer to AskMATC for frequently asked questions.

Beware of scams that charge for financial aid or scholarships. If you must pay a fee for a financial aid or scholarship application, you will probably find a similar application that is free.

How do I apply for financial aid?

To determine what types of financial aid you are eligible to receive, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, online. To begin the FAFSA, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you do not have a computer or internet access at home, you can use the computers at any MATC campus or at a local library. If you have any questions, or need assistance completing the application, just contact the Enrollment Center at 608-246-6100.