Principles of Excellence and Funding Your Education

On April 27, 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13607; Establishing the Principles of Excellence for educational institutions service members, veterans, spouses, and other family members. Additionally, The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 requires educational institutions to make certain disclosures to students using federal military and/or VA educational benefits. You can find this and other financial information at the NCES College Navigator website.

As an educational institution proudly serving our veteran and military-connected students, Middlesex Community College has voluntarily agreed to participate in the Principles of Excellence program and agreed to the following. guidelines:

  • Personalized Information Regarding Total Cost of an Education Program
    • Middlesex Community College provides students with tools to determine the total cost of their educational program*. (MCC’s Net Price Calculator, NCES College Navigator). The student may use the results of the Net Price Calculator or NCES College Navigator and multiply by years in the program.
  • Notice of Financial Aid Eligibility
    • All students who are eligible to receive federal military and education benefits may qualify for other sources of financial aid including federal Pell Grants, federal supplemental grants, federal student loans, private scholarships, institutional scholarships and grants (Financial Aid, Scholarships)
    • Upon the completion of a student’s FASFA, federal eligibility criteria is used to evaluate and determine a student’s financial aid award. Please visit MCC’s Financial Aid Office website for more information.
  • Educational Plans for All Military and Veteran Federal Education Beneficiaries
    • All veteran and military-affiliated students using federal military and veteran educational benefits will be provided access to their educational plan and are supported through academic advising.
    • Educational plans are located in each academic department website as well as through Academic Advising’s Academic Maps website.
  • Institutional and Program Integrity
    • Middlesex Community College is in compliance with the 2011 Program Integrity Rules established by the U.S.Department of Education.
      • Employee Recruiting Practice: Misrepresentation: MCC is in compliance with guidelines against institutional or program misrepresentation as set forth by the U.S. Department of Education.
      • Fraudulent and Aggressive Student Recruiting: Middlesex Community College complies with Public Law 116-315, Section 1020 and does not engage in aggressive or deceptive marketing to veterans, veteran dependents or Active Duty Service Members. Middlesex Community College, as part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, prohibits employees from receiving incentive compensation related to any admissions or recruitment activities.
  • Accommodation of Service Requirements
    • Active Military Service Members, Reservists and National Guard students who are called to active duty that provide a copy of their orders, will be permitted to withdraw from courses without academic or financial penalty as long as the course(s) have not been completed.
    • When a student returns to the college after completion of the tour of duty, the student will notify the college and connect with an Academic Counselor/School Certifying Official to complete the registration and, if need be, the certification process.
  • Accreditation and New Course and Program Offerings
    • Middlesex Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The College ensures accreditation of all new programs/courses prior to enrolling students. For more information, visit MCC’s Withdrawal/Refund Policy website.
  • Institutional Refund Policy
    • MCC aligns institutional refund policies with those under Title IV, which governs the administration of federal student financial aid programs.

*Estimates of future costs and aid eligibility are subject to change based on factors that cannot be reliably predicted.  Unforeseeable variables could result in a student’s actual costs and aid eligibility being higher or lower than program-length estimates provided. 

Determining Cost:

Step 1: MCC’s Net Price Calculator
Step 2: College Credit for Military Service
Step 3: Select Benefits to be Used

Veteran
Spouse/Dependents
National Guard/Reserves
Active Duty Military
Veterans Not Using VA Educational Benefits

Additional Legislative Compliance Information

Middlesex Community College complies with Public Law 117-68 (regarding in-state tuition) for public Institutions of Higher Learning. MCC complies with Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act (“Choice Act”) with regard to offering in-state tuition at all public institutions of higher learning (IHLs). Under S2248 PL 115-407 Section 103, Middlesex Community College will not impose a late fee, denial of access to facilities, or other penalty against a veteran using Chapter 31 or 33 educational benefits who has provided the College with a certificate of eligibility and have been certified by the College. The veteran will not be restricted in any way for the first 90 days of the semester if the reason for the delay in making payments for the certified semester is due to a delay in receipt of benefits from the VA. After the 90 days, the College will treat each veteran on a case by case basis. Any portion of the student bill not covered by VA benefits is still expected to be settled by the due date.

In adherence to the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (codified at 38 U.S.C. 3679) - Section 1005 of Public Law 116-315, requires that for all courses, semesters, or terms beginning after August 1, 2021, public institutions of higher education must charge qualifying veterans, dependents and eligible individuals tuition and fees at the rate for in-state residents. The following individuals be charged the in-state resident rate:

• A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty Program), Chapter 31 (Veterans Readiness and Employment), Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G Bill®) or Chapter 35 (Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program [DEA])of 38 U.S.C., United States Code, who live in Massachusetts while attending a school located in Massachusetts (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school with a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

• Any student using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in Massachusetts while attending a school located in Massachusetts (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).

• Any student described above while they remain continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person must be using educational benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 33 or Chapter 35 of 38 U.S.C.

• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in Massachusetts while attending a school located in Massachusetts (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).

In summary, individuals are no longer required to enroll within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service or the transferor’s discharge or release from active duty service in order to receive the in-state resident tuition rate.

Last Modified: 10/7/24