Middlesex County College students impacted by the federal government shutdown may not have to worry about making tuition payments for the time being.

Officials at the college say that federal employees who aren't receiving a paycheck or their dependents can enroll in their tuition deferment program. A student who qualifies won’t have to make their first payment until two weeks after the shutdown ends and they'll be placed on a payment plan for the remaining months after.

"I can guarantee that many of our students faced with getting no paycheck would probably choose not to come this semester, which would then prolong your education,” says college president Mark McCormick. “Some courses are only offered fall or spring so that will put them behind a whole year possibly from completing their degree."

McCormick says that at last check more than a dozen students had already signed up and qualified for the program.

The spring semester starts Jan. 22.