Please submit all completed financial aid forms to the Office of Financial Aid located on the second floor of the Student/Conference Center one of the following ways:
Mail forms to:
Highland Community College
Financial Aid Office
2998 W. Pearl City Rd.
Freeport, IL 61032
Drop off forms on campus – At Building H, place forms in the white Library Book Return box (front of box states Please Return Books Here) by the doors under the overhang. If choosing to submit documentation this way, please place the documentation in a sealed manila envelope addressed to the Office of Financial Aid.
Scan and e-mail forms to – financialaid@highland.edu
Fax forms to – 815-235-6130 Attn: Financial Aid
Forms for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
Due to accessibility concerns, the College encourages people with disabilities or screen reader users to request more information by calling 815-235-6121 or sending an email to financialaid@highland.edu.
HCC Financial Aid Data Form [PDF, 88.85 KB] Required
Required from all financial aid students. Students must provide personal and academic information and verify the number of household members
HCC Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy [PDF, 99.14 KB] Required
Mandatory for all financial aid students. This form explains the academic standards that all financial aid recipients must maintain in order to receive financial aid.
Financial Aid Authorization/Return of Title IV Funds [PDF, 58.06 KB] Required
Required from all financial aid students. This form authorizes the Financial Aid Office to release a student’s financial aid award(s) to cover any college charges. It also provides information to the student regarding how the Return of Title IV Funds policy can affect a student’s financial aid award(s).
Social Security Number Disclosure
Required from all financial aid students. Students must provide personal and academic information and verify the number of household members.
The financial aid office requires your social security number for the purpose of completing the application for federal and state financial aid. Failure to provide your social security number may result in the denial of financial aid eligibility. Highland Community College will not disclose social security numbers without the consent of the individual to anyone outside the college except as required by law.
Read the Return of Title IV Funds Policy Here
Federal Verification Worksheet – Dependent
This form is required if a student is selected for the federal verification process. A student is considered dependent if they are required to provide parent tax information on the FAFSA form.
Federal Verification Worksheet – Independent
This form is required if a student is selected for the federal verification process. A student is considered independent if they are not required to provide parent tax information on the FAFSA form.
Legal Dependent Verification Worksheet
This form must be completed if a student does not meet income guidelines and the only factor qualifying the student as independent is answering yes on the FAFSA to providing more than fifty percent of support for a dependent.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
If a student experienced extenuating circumstances that resulted in the loss of financial aid eligibility due to failure to meet satisfactory academic progress standards, this form may be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office along with any required supporting documentation for reconsideration.
Acceptable Documentation for Proof of Illinois Residency
This form provides a list of documents approved by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to verify Illinois residency.
Federal Verification Worksheet – Dependent [PDF, 67.86 KB]
Required if a student is selected for the verification process. Student is considered a dependent if required to provide parents’ tax information on the FAFSA form.
Federal Verification Worksheet – Independent
[PDF, 66.50 KB]Required if a student is selected for the verification process. Student is considered an independent if not required to provide parents’ tax information on the FAFSA form.
Legal Dependent Verification Worksheet
[PDF, 78.17 KB]Form must be completed if a student does not meet income guidelines, and the only factor making the student independent is by answering yes on FAFSA to providing over 50 percent of support for a dependent.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form
[PDF, 60.83 KB]If a student experienced extenuating circumstances which led to their financial aid eligibility being terminated as a result of failing to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress policy, this form can be completed and submitted (along with other required documentation) to the Financial Aid Office for reconsideration.
Acceptable Documentation for Proof of Illinois Residency
Verification of Illinois Residency Requirement
This information provides a list of documents approved by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to verify Illinois residency.
The following are examples of documents that may be collected to verify Illinois residency. Only one document is required to be submitted.
For an independent student, documentation must show that the student resided in Illinois for the previous twelve continuous full months prior to the beginning of the College’s academic year.
For a dependent student, parent documentation must show that the parent resided in Illinois on or before the FAFSA application date.
Acceptable documentation includes a valid Illinois income tax return or federal tax transcript for the calendar year preceding the award year, submitted in the name of the parent or the student if independent.
Acceptable documentation may also include an Illinois high school transcript or an Illinois college transcript.
A valid Illinois driver’s license may be submitted, provided it has not expired.
Utility bills or rent bills in the name of the parent or independent student are acceptable.
An Illinois automobile registration card may be used as documentation.
Wage and tax statements, including IRS Form W-2, are acceptable.
A statement of benefits history from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services may be submitted.
A residential lease in the name of the parent or independent student is acceptable.
A statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security may be submitted.
A State of Illinois Identification Card issued by the Secretary of State is acceptable documentation.
A statement of benefits from the Social Security Administration may be used.
An Illinois voter registration card is acceptable.
A property tax bill may be submitted.
IRS Form 1099 Miscellaneous Income statements may also be used as acceptable documentation.