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Financial Aid

Financing Your NECI Education

Please review our Financial Aid Fact Book thoroughly and contact us if you have questions about the financial aid process, your financial aid eligibility, or to discuss any special circumstances you may have. The Financial Planning Office can provide you with information on scholarships, private loans, and tuition payment plans. See our Net Price Calculator.

Federal Financial Aid

If you would like to be considered for federal, state and institutional need based aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically, and at no charge, at fafsa.ed.gov. If you are directed to a website that charges a fee, you have entered the web address incorrectly. The FAFSA is a FREE application. NECI’s school code is 015904. Be sure to print a copy of your FAFSA application for your records.

You and a parent (if you are a dependent student) will first need to apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) at pin.ed.gov prior to signing the FAFSA.

The FAFSA data is used to determine your eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, and state grant programs. Be aware that some state agencies require you to complete an additional state grant application as well. Check with our Financial Aid Office if you are unsure about what year FAFSA you should be completing.

You may request a paper version of the FAFSA by calling toll-free 800.433.3243. Paper FAFSA forms generally take 4 to 6 weeks to process, so you are encouraged to complete one electronically.

The FAFSA requires specific income, asset and family size information. Extenuating family circumstances not captured on the FAFSA form could include (but are not limited to) a reduction in income, high medical expenses, recent separation or divorce or dependency status.

If you or your parents have extenuating circumstances that are not captured on the FAFSA form, please contact our Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation. Call us at 802-225-3220 or 802-225-3249, or email us at financialaidREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@neci.edu. Your special circumstances could affect the type and amount of financial aid you may be eligible to receive.

Learn more about Federal Financial Aid.

Apply for a State Grant (if applicable)

Contact your state higher education authority to find out more information about your state's grant application process and portability information. In addition, many state higher education authorities list scholarship opportunities on their individual websites. Here are a few resources:

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
Finance Authority of Maine
Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority
Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority
State Higher Education Resource Directory (Directory for additional state listings and contact information)

Information for Veterans of the Armed Services

Scholarship Information

Scholarships can help finance your education, and a little research is all that is necessary to uncover the various organizations, both state and private, that make these kinds of funds available to qualified applicants. NECI also offers scholarships to students with industry experience. Our Financial Planners are here to help you navigate through this important process.

Loan Information

Due to the enactment of the Student Aid Provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, all Federal Stafford and Plus Loans will be originated through the Federal Government (Direct Lending) for all academic periods beginning after June 30,2010.

First Time NECI Students

Please go to www.studentloans.gov to complete your Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling requirement and to sign your Master Promissory Note. You will need your Federal Pin number to complete this.

Returning NECI Students

Please go to www.studentloans.gov to complete a new Master Promissory Note. You will need your Federal Pin number to complete this. Information will be provided to you by the Student Financial Services Office regarding loan consolidation options for you to consider.

Parent Plus Loan Borrowers

If you are a parent of a dependent NECI student and wish to borrow a Parent Plus Loan for your student, please go to www.studentloans.gov to authorize a credit check and to complete a Plus Master Promissory Note.

NECI Financial Aid Services Code of Conduct

New England Culinary Institute, in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act, has established this code of conduct prohibiting conflicts of interest for its financial aid personnel. All employees in the Student Financial Services Office, as well as all officers, employees and agents of the college are required to comply with this code of conduct.

The institution, the college’s individual employees and officers and all college agents, are prohibited from entering into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
Any officer, employee or agent of NECI who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, is prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. The term "gift" means any gratuity, discount, hospitality, loan, or other item having more than a minimal monetary value.
Any officer, employee or agent of NECI who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, is prohibited from engaging in any contractual arrangement with any lender or affiliate of a lender that results in any financial benefit.
NECI does not direct borrowers to a particular lender.
NECI does not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower's selection of lender.
NECI does not accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans.
NECI does not accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or Student Financial Services staffing.
Any officer, employee or agent of NECI who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, is prohibited from receiving any type of compensation, except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred.

Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

Per Federal Financial Aid Regulations 34 CFR 668.40, HEAO Sec. 488(g), amended HEA Sec. 485 (20 U.S.C. 1092), HEA Sec. 485(k):

In compliance with the above regulation, this statement serves as notice that a student who has a drug conviction for any offense, during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV HEA program funds (Federal Pell, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, SMART Grant, Federal Work- Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Grad PLUS Loans) under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs will result in the loss of eligibility for any Title IV program funds (see above listing of program funds).