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.
Social Security Number Disclosure Form [PDF, 8.65 KB]
Explains the need for social security numbers on financial aid forms.
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).
Read the Return of Title IV Funds Policy Here:
13.1 Return of Title IV Funds
Title IV funds are awarded to students under the assumption that the student will attend
school for the entire payment period or period of enrollment for which the assistance was
awarded. When a student fails to complete the payment period or period of enrollment,
he or she may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds the student was
scheduled to receive. It is the policy of Highland Community College to determine the
amount of earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid as of the date the student ceases
attendance in accordance with federal regulations and the Return of Title IV funds as
dictated in Volume 5 of the Student Aid Handbook.
In general a student ‘earns’ federal financial aid in direct proportion to the percentage of
the payment period or period of enrollment they complete. For example if the student
completes 25% of the payment period or period of enrollment, the student earns 25% of
the federal financial aid scheduled to be received. Students completing 60% of the
payment period or period of enrollment are considered to have earned 100% of the
federal financial aid he or she was scheduled to receive.
R2T4 Withdrawal Exemptions
Students are not considered withdrawn if student successfully completes (effective January
19, 2021):
All requirements for graduation from his or her program before completing the
days or hours in the period that the student was scheduled to complete
Coursework equal to or greater than the coursework required for the institution’s
definition of a half-time student (6 credits)
One module that includes 49% or more of the number of days in the payment
period
A combination of modules that when combined contain 49% or more of the
number of days in the payment period; or
Students who have received more aid than what has been earned are notified in writing
the amount of unearned aid he or she must repay. In the event the student has received
less aid than the amount he or she has earned, the student is eligible to receive those
funds. Students are notified in writing of any action needed to accept the funds
All requirements for graduation from his or her program before completing the
days or hours in the period that the student was scheduled to complete
One module that includes 49% or more of the number of days in the payment
period
A combination of modules that when combined contain 49% or more of the
number of days in the payment period; or
Title IV Funds to be returned
In accordance with federal regulations, unearned Title IV financial aid is returned by
Highland Community College in the following order: Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans,
Direct Subsidized Stafford loans, PLUS, Pell grants, FSEOG, Iraq and Afghanistan Service
Grants and other Title IV assistance.
Withdrawal Date
The last date of attendance as reported by the instructor is the withdrawal date used in the
Return of Title IV funds calculation.
Timeframe for Return of Title IV Aid
The College must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible, as soon as
possible but not later than 30 days after the date of the College’s determination that the
student withdrew. The College must determine the withdrawal date for a student who
withdraws without providing notification to the College no later than 30 days after the end
of the payment period.
R2T4 Freeze
HCC does not use a R2T4 Freeze date.
This policy is a Department of Education Title IV financial aid policy, and does not replace
the official Tuition Refund policy of Highland Community College
All requirements for graduation from his or her program before completing the
days or hours in the period that the student was scheduled to complete
One module that includes 49% or more of the number of days in the payment
period
A combination of modules that when combined contain 49% or more of the
number of days in the payment period; or
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
[PDF, 44.65 KB]This form provides a list of documents approved by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to verify Illinois residency.