Student Financial Services
Investing In Your Future
A college education is one of the most important investments you make. You and your family will likely contribute many of your own resources to meet your college expenses.
Kettering College is striving to educate and share ways in which students can make college more affordable. Understanding college finances, which include scholarships and financial aid is an important part of the college decision process. We’re here to help and to answer questions to make this process as easy as possible!
Financial Aid
The purpose of financial aid is to help you meet educational expenses that cannot be met through your own resources. Financial aid can be need-based or non-need-based. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) plus the cost of attendance, will determine if you demonstrate financial need.
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and grants are a few ways to help reduce the total cost of attendance for students. A list of scholarships for first-time, full-time students at Kettering College is linked below.
Financial Literacy
Empowering students to make sound financial choices before, during, and after college for lifelong financial wellness
In an effort to provide financial literacy to our students, Kettering College has partnered with GradReady. GradReady is an online money management website that has videos and tools about subjects that include credit, student loans, and identity theft. We encourage our students to set up a profile on this site and utilize it regularly.
Paying for College – There is a smart way to pay for college and you can do it. Learn about funding options and create a savvy financing plan to help you get through school.
Money Management – Don’t graduate with a poor credit score and a mountain of debt. Create a budget and develop the skills to be in the financial driver’s seat when you graduate.
Real-World Finance – Learn how to navigate the road ahead. Manage your student loan repayment and find guidance on housing, auto, career, benefits, and more.
Best of all, GradReady is a free service provided to help students and families.
1098-T Form Information
You can access your 1098-T statement quickly and easily by visiting https://heartland.ecsi.net/. To access the information you will need the following:
- First and Last Name
- Social Security Number
- The zip code that appears on your 1098-T
If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Heartland ECSI at 1-866-428-1098 or cservice@ecsi.net
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact us! We would love to help.
Student Finance and Financial Aid Office Contact
Email: FinancialAid@kc.edu
Phone: 937-395-6022
Fax: 937-395-8338
Student Finance Office Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays
One Big Beautiful Bill Act Federal Student Aid Update:
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025, with provisions going into effect on July 1, 2026. OBBBA brings significant changes to federal Direct student loans, PLUS loans, certain FAFSA and Pell Grant rules, and Direct loan repayment options. The U.S. Department of Education is currently working to provide guidance about this. While some provisions are clear, many others require further clarification from the U.S. Department of Education. We understand that students and families have questions — and so do we.
This page reflects the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) statute and the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed rules (published January 30, 2026) as we currently understand. The Department of Education is still finalizing these rules, and some details may change when the final regulations are issued. Kettering College will update this information as additional federal guidance becomes available.
This page was last updated on March 18, 2026.
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One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) FAQs
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When do the changes take effect?
- Beginning July 1, 2026: Most borrowing limits, eligibility rules, and FAFSA changes take effect.
- 2027–28: Changes to repayment plans and deferment options are phased in.
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What areas are affected by OBBBA?
- Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans
- Creates rules for “new” and “legacy” borrower statuses
- Graduate PLUS unavailable to “new” borrowers
- Undergraduate and graduate student loans
- Creates loan limits for part-time enrollment
- Updates annual and aggregate borrowing limits
- FAFSA asset reporting
- Updates rules on reporting certain assets
- Updates how foreign income is treated when determining federal Pell Grant eligibility
- Federal Pell Grant eligibility
- Eliminates maximum federal Pell Grant eligibility for higher Student Aid Indexes
- Students receiving non-federal grants and scholarships covering their entire cost of attendance may be ineligible for the federal Pell Grant
- Federal loan repayment plans and deferment options
- Updates deferment and forbearance provisions
- Graduate PLUS and Parent PLUS loans
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Undergraduate Student FAQs
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Who is a "new borrower" for Parent PLUS loan borrowing?
A new borrower is a student who did not receive a federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement for their current program at Kettering College before July 1, 2026. New borrowers are subject to the new loan limits and repayment rules established under The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
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Who is a "legacy borrower" for Parent PLUS Loan borrowing and what is the “legacy borrower” timeframe?
Associate Degree Programs: A legacy borrower is a student who received a federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement for their associate degree program before July 1, 2026, and who remains enrolled in an associate degree program. Changing majors within an associate degree does not affect legacy status.
Legacy borrowers may continue borrowing under prior rules for up to two additional academic years or until the student’s original anticipated program completion date, whichever comes first.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs: A legacy borrower is a student who received a federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement for their bachelor’s degree program before July 1, 2026, and who remains enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program. Changing majors within a bachelor’s degree does not affect legacy status.
Legacy borrowers may continue borrowing under prior rules for up to three additional academic years or until the student’s original anticipated program completion, whichever comes first.
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Who qualifies for the Parent PLUS loan "legacy borrower" status?
A student qualifies if:
- The student received a federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement for the student’s program before July 1, 2026, and
- Associate Degree Programs: The student remains enrolled in an associate degree program at Kettering College. Changing majors within an associate degree does not affect legacy status.
- Bachelor’s Degree Programs: The student remains enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at Kettering College. Changing majors within a bachelor’s degree does not affect legacy status.
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What causes a student to lose "legacy borrower" status?
Legacy borrower status ends immediately if the student:
- Withdraws
- Takes a leave of absence or stops out
- Starts a new degree on or after July 1, 2026
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What if I borrowed federal loans at another school?
If you did not receive a federal Direct loan disbursement for your current program at Kettering College before July 1, 2026, you are considered a new borrower for that program. Prior borrowing still counts toward lifetime limits. Legacy status is program- and school-specific.
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Can a student or parent opt out of legacy status?
No. Legacy provisions apply automatically when eligibility criteria are met and cannot be declined.
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What happens if my program takes longer than “legacy borrower” timeframe?
After the legacy period ends:
- New annual and lifetime loan limits apply
- New Parent PLUS limits apply
- Private education loans may be needed to cover the remaining costs
Advance planning is strongly recommended.
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Are Parent PLUS loans still available?
Yes, beginning July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS loans for new borrowers are capped at:
- $20,000 per year per dependent student
- $65,000 lifetime per dependent student
All parents combined borrowing cannot exceed capped limits for a student.
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What are the undergraduate Direct loan limits?
Annual limits remain unchanged:
- First year: $5,500 (additional $4,000 for independent students)
- Second year: $6,500 (additional $4,000 for independent students)
- Third year and beyond: $7,500 (additional $5,000 for independent students)
Aggregate limits:
- $31,000 total for dependent students, of which the maximum Direct Subsidized Loan is $23,000
- $57,500 total for independent students, of which the maximum Direct Subsidized Loan is $23,000
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What if I am enrolled part time?
Beginning July 1, 2026, enrollment below full time (12 credits) may reduce annual loan eligibility. Students enrolled below half time (6 credits) are ineligible for federal Direct Loans.
Beginning in 2026-27, withdrawing from a course at any time during the semester may reduce your annual loan eligibility.
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Are there changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
Yes, beginning with the 2026–27 FAFSA:
- Certain family businesses, family farms, and family commercial fishing businesses are excluded from asset reporting on the FAFSA form. This includes:
- Family businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees
- Family farms where the family lives and materially participates in the operation
- Family-owned fishing operations
Foreign earned income exclusions are added back when determining Federal Pell Grant eligibility.
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Are there changes to the Federal Pell Grant?
Yes, beginning in 2026–27:
- Students with non-federal aid covering their full cost of attendance may be ineligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
- Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) at or above twice the maximum Federal Pell Grant award are generally ineligible. For 2026-27 the maximum award is $7,395.
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Are there any changes to the FSEOG or Federal Work-Study programs?
No changes have been made for 2026-27. These programs remain subject to annual congressional funding.
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Graduate Student FAQs
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What is a "new borrower"?
A new borrower is a student who did not receive a federal Direct or PLUS loan disbursement for their current graduate program at Kettering College before July 1, 2026. New borrowers are subject to the new loan limits and repayment rules established under The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
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Who is a "legacy borrower" and what is the “legacy borrower” timeframe?
A legacy borrower received a federal loan disbursement for their current program before July 1, 2026, and remains continuously enrolled in that program.
Legacy status applies only to the specific program and lasts up to three additional academic years or until program completion, whichever comes first.
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Is the Graduate PLUS loan going away?
Yes, for new borrowers. Beginning July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS loans are no longer available to students who are new borrowers for their program.
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What causes a student to lose "legacy borrower" status?
Legacy status ends immediately if the student:
- Withdraws
- Takes a leave of absence or stops out
- Changes degree programs
- Starts a new degree on or after July 1, 2026
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What if I borrowed federal loans at another school?
Legacy status is program- and school-specific. If you did not receive a federal loan disbursement for your current program at Kettering College before July 1, 2026, you are considered a new borrower for that program. Prior borrowing still counts toward lifetime limits.
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Can a student opt out of legacy status?
No. Legacy provisions apply automatically when eligibility criteria are met and cannot be declined.
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What happens if my program takes longer than three additional years?
After the legacy period ends:
- New annual and lifetime loan limits apply
- Graduate PLUS is no longer available
- Private education loans may be needed
Advance planning is strongly recommended.
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What are the graduate loan limits?
Annual limits:
- Graduate programs: up to $20,500
Lifetime limits:
- Undergraduate: $57,500
- Graduate: $100,000
- Overall federal loan lifetime limit: $257,500 (all federal student loans borrowed in your own name — undergraduate, graduate, professional, and prior Graduate PLUS — count toward the $257,500 lifetime limit)
Program and lifetime limits apply at the same time. You must stay under both the limit for your current program type and the overall lifetime limit.
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What if I am enrolled part time?
Beginning July 1, 2026, enrollment below full-time (eight credits) may reduce annual loan eligibility. Students enrolled below half-time (four credits) are ineligible for federal Direct Loans.
Beginning in 2026-27, withdrawing from a course at any time during the semester may reduce your annual loan eligibility.
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What federal loans are available to new graduate borrowers?
Direct Unsubsidized loans only
- Subject to new annual and lifetime limits
- Graduate PLUS is not available
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What if federal loans are not enough?
Private education loans may be used to cover remaining costs. Kettering College offers access to FastChoice https://choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/703500 to help compare lenders.
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Are there any changes to the Federal Work-Study program?
No changes have been made for 2026-27. These programs remain subject to annual congressional funding.
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Loan Repayment FAQs
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What federal loan repayment plans will be available?
For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026:
- Tiered Standard Repayment Plan (fixed payments over 10–25 years)
- Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) (income-based with a $10 minimum payment)
Payments under both plans may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness when other requirements are met.
Borrowers currently in an Income-contingent Repayment (ICR) Plan , Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Repayment Plan, or Saving On a Valuable Education (SAVE) Repayment Plan must transition to a new plan by July 1, 2028.
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Is Public Service Loan Forgiveness changing?
No. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains available when all eligibility requirements are met.
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Are deferment and forbearance options changing?
Beginning July 1, 2027:
- Economic hardship and unemployment deferments are eliminated
- Forbearance remains available but is limited to nine-month increments and 24 months total
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Who do I contact with repayment questions?
You can contact your loan servicer through StudentAid.gov for repayment assistance.
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