Financial Aid
At Triton College, we take pride in offering an affordable education. While Triton's tuition costs are less than those of most major colleges and universities, individuals and families on a tight budget may still have difficulty meeting their yearly expenses. The purpose of financial aid is to help students and their families bridge the gap between their own resources and the cost of attending Triton College.
Financial assistance may be available to students who are enrolled at Triton for as little as one credit hour. This assistance may be in the form of grants, loans, work on campus or various scholarships. Most of our financial aid programs are based on each student's financial need. Whatever your financial status, we can assist you in affording college.
| In-Person Hours | ||||
| Financial Aid Office Student Center Building, Room B-160 (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3155 finaid@triton.edu Fax: (708) 583-3180 |
Fall/Spring Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8AM-7PM Friday: 8AM-4PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed |
Summer Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8AM-7PM Friday: Closed Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed |
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| Virtual Financial Aid Advising Drop-In Hours | ||||
| Monday - Thursday: 10AM-4PM Friday: 10AM-1PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed Click HERE for Virtual Drop-In Link |
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In an effort to better serve you, Triton has implemented a virtual line management program to help decrease wait times for campus services.
Get in line now
Contact Financial Aid Specialist
Financial Aid specialists are assigned based on the first letter of each student's last name.
| Last Name begins with | Specialist | Phone Number | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A - E |
Angelica Anderson |
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3043 | angelicaanderson@triton.edu |
| F - L | Rina Garcia | (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3741 | rinagarcia@triton.edu |
| M - Q (Veterans A-L) | Sneha Shah | (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3651 | snehashah@triton.edu |
| R-U (Veterans M-Z) | Feryal Khan | (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3217 | feryalkhan@triton.edu |
| V - Z | Nicole LaCognata | (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3737 | nicolelacognata@triton.edu |
Financial Aid Documents
Verification Documents 2021-2022
General Financial Aid Forms
Financial Aid Basics
Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college. This financial assistance covers educational expenses including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. There are several types of financial aid, including grants and scholarships, work study and loans. Financial aid awards may include a combination of the various types of aid.
There are two basic types of financial aid: Gift aid and Self-help aid.
- Gift aid includes federal grants, state grants, scholarships and other benefits (such as veteran's benefits). This type of aid is free and does not need to be repaid.
- Self-help aid includes student loans or work-study. This type of aid must be repaid or earned.
To be eligible for financial aid (gift aid) you will need to meet these requirements:
- U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship
- Illinois residency for state grants only (If you are a dependent, the parent whose information is used must be an Illinois resident)
- Demonstration of financial need
- Maintenance of satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
- No default status on any student loan, no refund owed on any state or federal grant
- No bachelor's degree (you may still apply for a federal loan)
- Compliance with Federal Selective Service registration requirements
- Not currently incarcerated
- High school graduate or GED recipient
- Degree-seeking undergraduate student
The following videos will explain the Financial Aid process in greater detail
Overview of the Financial Aid Process
How to Fill Out the FAFSA
After the FAFSA: What Happens Next
How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for Financial Aid you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov.
Based on the financial information you enter on the FAFSA, the government uses a formula to decide how much you can pay for college out of pocket. That number is your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. Triton will subtract your EFC from the school's annual cost of attendance (which includes tuition, living expenses, books, supplies and transportation) to determine your financial need.
If you qualify for need-based financial aid, you will be offered grants to cover some or all of your financial need.
If you do not receive enough gift aid to cover your cost of attendance, or if you did not qualify for any aid at all, you will be given the opportunity to apply for a student loan and/or Triton's work study program.
Financial Aid Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions
I would like to apply for financial aid at Triton College, where do I start?
Do I have to be a full-time student to receive financial aid?
I need help filling out my forms. Who can I talk to?
Who is my Financial Aid advisor?
What is “verification,” and why was I selected?
How long will it take to complete my file and receive my award letter?
Can I start classes before my financial aid is complete?
I want to drop a class. Will this affect my financial aid?
My financial situation has changed since applying for Financial Aid. Is there a way for reconsideration of my financial aid eligibility?
I appealed my disqualification of financial aid, but I was denied. What else can I do?
When can I get my books?
What happens to any leftover grant money not used for my tuition and fees?
How do I get my Pell Grant refund check?
Updates
Textbooks
Financial Aid can now be used online at the Triton College Bookstore. At the time of checkout, please select the Financial Aid option and enter in your 7-digit Colleague ID number, which can be found on your schedule. Any purchases are dependent on funds available. Restrictions may apply.
Scholarships
Scholarships can now be used online at the Triton College Bookstore. Please contact the Financial Aid office first for approval of funds and a voucher. At the time of checkout, please select the Scholarship Voucher option and enter in your 7-digit Colleague ID number, which can be found on your schedule.
It’s time to file or renew your FAFSA for the 2022-2023 academic year!
The 2022-2023 FAFSA application is now open. Students are encouraged to complete their applications as soon as possible. Applying before December 1 will improve a student’s chances of receiving a MAP Grant from the state of Illinois.
The FAFSA application is located at http://fafsa.gov and students should be sure to enter Triton College’s school code (001773) when asked which colleges they would like their FAFSA information to be sent to.
In order to better serve our students, the Financial Aid Office has three computers in a semi-private space for students to complete and submit the FAFSA. If you are interested in utilizing the computers, please bring appropriate year's taxes 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ and W-2 forms and other necessary documents, and the Financial Aid Office staff will assist with any questions you may have as you process your application. Students are encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool when completing the FAFSA. The retrieval tool will save you time and increase the accuracy of your FAFSA information.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Financial Aid Office at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3155 or at finaid@triton.edu.
The Federal Pell Grant may be available to you this summer even if you used the full amount during the fall and spring semesters.
Students may earn a third semester of Pell in an academic year as long as they are enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours and are meeting the Standards of Academic Progress.
If you have any questions about summer Pell and how it may help you pay for summer classes, please stop inside the Financial Aid Office, Room B-160.