Visit our Apply for Admission page and fill out an application by following the steps on that page

File your taxes at least 3 weeks before completing your FAFSA application.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after it opens on October 1st. For 2025-2026 the FAFSA will not open until December 31. 25-26 FAFSA Tutorial

DCB’s school code is 002995. Please use the IRS retrieval button to download tax information into the FAFSA application for both students and parents. Priority date for completing this process is April 15.

The Federal Guide for completing the FAFSA can be found by clicking here

Additional information about the 25-26 FAFSA (FAFSA Simplification) can be found here

Within 5-7 days you will receive a Student Aid Report from the federal processor.  If your application is selected for federal verification, you will be sent an official request from the college.  You will need to complete a verification form, and provide whatever  other documents are requested. This may include a tax return transcript (Instructions for Tax Transcript) from the IRS (www.IRS.gov).   It is the student’s responsibility to complete their verification within 30 days of the request being made.  If a student does not complete the verification process, if requested, they will not be offered financial aid at Dakota College at Bottineau.

Students who have submitted a FAFSA and returned required documentation will receive an offer notification in early June.  You must accept, change, or decline your offers on your Campus Connection account.  Instructions are provided on your offer letter and there are videos linked below.

Instructional Video on Accepting Financial Aid Awards on a Computer

Instructional Video on Accepting Financial Aid Awards on a Mobile Device

If you accept a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, you will need to complete entrance loan counseling and MPN (Master Promissory Note) at https://studentaid.gov

Students should have a FAFSA submitted by August 1 to allow an offer notice to be processed before school starts.

Students who have enrolled for the upcoming semester will be allowed to charge books and supplies at the Dakota College at Bottineau Bookstore.

If the amount of financial aid offered is less than your bill there will be a balance due to the college. You may stop at the Business Office on or before the published final payment deadline to pay the balance. You may also set up a payment plan by visiting the Paying for College page  

If, after all fees are paid, there is a credit balance on your account, the Business Office will print an excess aid check.  This check can be picked up at the Business Office after the published final bill payment deadline. Direct deposit may also be set up by the student at least 10 days before the final bill payment date, any excess funds will be sent direct deposit.

DCB reports all pell grant and loan disbursments to NSLDS. Information about any of these disbursements (including the contact information for the servicer for the loans) can be found at https://studentaid.gov, after the disbursement has been posted.

If you have any conditions that cannot be documented within the FAFSA you can contact the Financial Aid office to discuss professional judgement. Professional judgement can be special or unusual circumstances.