FAFSA- financial aid disbursment @ a community college?

When i went to a university here to get info on tuition etc- they told me their financial aid is capped at 17,000 for a student- so when you signed up for classes- fafsa would send them a check for 17,000 and they would take out your tuition and housing etc and then you get whats left in a check from the school to you for living expenses (ie apartment rent if not living on campus, car payment etc). Is it the same for a community college? Or are they different- or does it just depend on the school? When i called here the girl was a b***h who answered the phone and just said, "whatever is left goes to the bookstore so you can get your books, that's all i know" Does anyone know?????

they usually send you what is left over , unfourunatly this usually happens after the semester starts

you have to accept the amount of aid you would like to use. financial aid is capped by grade level and either dependent or independent status. it's close to $3000 for freshman year (if i remember correctly) so if you chose to take the entire amount your tuition bill would be paid and then any left over money would go to you in the form of a check. you could use it for books, living expenses, really whatever you want. remember, though, you have to pay back those loans after graduation. so don't take out too much more than your tuition if you don't have to. federal aid is the same regardless of the school you attend. talk with another financial aid officer at your school. they can let you know more specifically for your situation. you are eligible for more aid if you are full-time status vs part time (have to take 12+ hours per semester to be full-time).
hope that helps. good luck!