Great Falls College MSU

Estimated total cost of course attendance includes tuition & fees, books, supplies, and other additional costs. This information can be found on the GFC MSU website under Paying for College – Estimated Cost of Attendance.

Individuals can also find additional information about GFC MSU tuition and fees on the GFC MSU website under Paying for College – Tuition and Fees.

Great Falls College does not offer on-campus housing. The semester Room & Board costs included in the Estimated Cost of Attendance reflect an average of costs that students would expect to pay for food and housing in the Great Falls area. Actual food and housing costs will vary, depending on a student’s living arrangements and lifestyle.

To view the most up-to-date estimated monthly amount you will receive from your VA Education Benefit for a given semester use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool. On the Comparison Tool page you’ll be asked to indicate

• military status (veteran, active-duty, guard/reserves, child, spouse)
• the Education Benefit you are using
• the school you are attending (Great Falls College Montana State University)

On the Estimate your Benefits page under the School Costs and Calendar section you’ll need to select your expected enrollment status for the upcoming semester.

VA Educational Benefits are limited to payment of mandatory tuition and fees to the College and/or a monthly stipend depending on the benefit you are using. Benefits only pay stipends for the reported time period of the term and these payments are pro-rated for partial months.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

Other types of Federal Financial Aid available refers to types of federal financial aid not administered by VA. The federal aid programs listed below are available at Great Falls College Montana State University. Eligibility is determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information on these programs is also available to students in the GFC Course Catalog.

Students may use the Federal Student Aid Estimator provided by U.S. Department of Education to get an estimate of Federal Student Aid they may be eligible for. The Federal Student Aid Estimator does not replace completing a FAFSA to access Federal Student Aid programs. Students can complete a FAFSA on the studentaid.gov website.

Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant is a form of gift aid for students enrolled in an eligible program of study who do not already have a bachelor’s degree. The amount of the Federal Pell Grant is determined by the Expected Family Contribution on the federal Student Aid Report and the number of credits in which the student is enrolled. Federal Pell Grant disbursements are made after the drop/add period for each term. A student’s enrollment status for Federal Pell Grant eligibility is based on credits carried at the end of the drop/add period for the term.

Students are limited to the equivalent of 12 full time semesters of Pell Grant eligibility for undergraduate work for their lifetime.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans/Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans/Federal Direct Parent Plus Loans

Federal student loans are a form of self-help aid for students enrolled in an eligible program of study. Student eligibility is determined by the FAFSA, which determines whether loan funds are need-based or non-need-based. Students must be enrolled at least ½ time (6 credits or more) to qualify for funding and must be otherwise eligible for federal student aid. Student loan disbursements are made after the drop/add period for each term. A student’s enrollment status for loan eligibility is based on credits carried at the end of the drop/add period for the term. Student loans are aid that must be repaid once a student ceases enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are a form of gift aid. Student eligibility is determined by completing the FAFSA. Preference for the FSEOG is given to students who have Federal Pell Grant eligibility and who are early applicants. Funding is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program offers part-time employment for eligible students. Students seeking eligibility under this program must complete the FAFSA. A student’s earnings are limited to the amount awarded through the Financial Aid Office. Federal Work-Study students are paid every other week according to the campus payroll schedule. Federal Work-Study jobs may be on campus or in an off-campus community service organization. Funding is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Estimated Student Loan Debt information for Great Falls College can be found on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for Great Falls College MSU webpage under the Financial Aid & Debt heading.

Graduation rate information can be found on the Great Falls College MSU website under About GFC MSU, Student Consumer Information – Student Outcomes: Graduation Rates

Graduation rates can also be found on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website at College Navigator – Great Falls College Montana State University

Job placement rate information can be found on the Great Falls College MSU website under About GFC MSU, Student Consumer Information – Student Outcomes: Job Placement for Graduates.

Great Falls College MSU will only accept courses as transfer credit from regionally accredited post-secondary institutions, in accordance with Policy 306.5.

Credits may be accepted as they apply to the established course requirements of Great Falls College Montana State University under the following guidelines:

The transferring student must initiate the request for evaluation of credit during the admission procedure by furnishing an official transcript from the transferring institution(s) and the necessary materials, including copies of the appropriate catalog descriptions or course syllabi to the Registrar's Office. In order to be evaluated for credit, transcripts must be issued directly from the regionally-accredited college or university, must be official, sealed documents, and must be sent directly to the following address:

Office of the Registrar
Great Falls College Montana State University
2100 16th Ave S
Great Falls, MT 59405

Grades less than a C- for previous coursework will not be considered for transfer credit. Coursework taken more than 5 years prior to transfer request may not be accepted. If transfer credit cannot be granted, the student has the option of challenging a course or courses through the Prior Learning policy.

Transfer credit will be accepted only as it applies to the student’s declared program of study.

Students will be awarded a certificate/degree upon satisfactory completion of all program requirements, provided 25% of the credits required in the degree-related program has been completed at Great Falls College MSU.

Transfer credit will be posted on the transcript for accepted transferred course work.

Transfer grades are not figured in the grade point average (GPA).

Students who wish to appeal a decision regarding acceptance of transfer credit should contact the Registrar's Office to receive information on the appeal process. Students may be asked to provide course descriptions and/or syllabi for an appeal.

Transfer credit information can be found in the Great Falls College Course Catalog here: http://catalog.gfcmsu.edu/student-services/admissions/transfer-from-other-institutions/

Great Falls College MSU recognizes that learning occurs outside of the college setting. The outcome of this learning is often the acquisition of skills and/or knowledge which may be equivalent to learning at GFC MSU and other institutions of Higher Education. GFC MSU may award credit for this learning through its Prior Learning Assessment Policy (PLA). Military training and educational programs can be evaluated using PLA. Additional information about Prior Learning Assessment is available in the GFC Course Catalog.

Information about additional requirements including training, experience, or examinations that are required to obtain a license, certification or approval for which the course of education prepares the individual can be found in the Program Information provided in the GFC Course Catalog: http://catalog.gfcmsu.edu/academic-programs/

This information can also be discussed between student and GFC Advising staff. Individuals can contact the GFC Advising & Career Center at 406.771.5100 or advising@gfcmsu.edu

Great Falls College Montana State University’s integrated student information system (Ellucian Banner) uses the US Department of Education’s College Financing Plan template to provide financial disclosure to students. Students can access the College Financing Plan by logging in to their BannerWeb/MyInfo student portal, clicking on the Financial Aid tab, and selecting College Financing Plan.

Great Falls College Montana State University if a part of the Montana University System. The Montana University System provides tuition and fee data for all of its schools along with a comparison of average Tuition and Fee Costs by State: https://mus.edu/data/dashboards/tuitionandfees.html