FAQs

Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on Questions below for Answers:

Entrance Loan Counseling is a review of post-graduation payment options for student loans. It is also a federal requirement, so that students can properly understand their legal obligations. To do this, please log on at http://studentloans.gov using the same PIN you used for the FAFSA, and follow the link saying Complete Entrance Counseling. This is a task that you will do when you begin a new program. You need not do it every semester.
Exit loan counseling is required before you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time attendance. Accomplishing it will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. It consists of useful tips and information to help you manage your loans. Log on www.nslds.ed.gov to go through this process.
The Promissory Note is the actual contractual agreement between you and the lender (Department of Education OR a private lender for loans borrowed prior to Fall 2010) concerning the terms and conditions of your loan(s). Please note that separate MPNs are required for Stafford Loans and for any PLUS loans you may have. To do a Promissory Note, please log on at http://studentloans.gov using the same PIN you used for the FAFSA, and follow the link saying Complete Master Promissory Note. If you need a student loan, you have to complete a Promissory Note. MPNs are good for 10 years. It need not be done every semester.
Once your awards are ready to be accepted/declined online, you will receive an email from our office with the following instructions:
  1. Go to the "Accept Awards Online" tab
  2. Click on the "Click Here" link to learn of the Terms and Conditions of your award
  3. Change the "Status" field to "Accept" or "Decline" for each award. You may also select "Accept All" if you wish to accept or decline all of your awards at once
  4. Click the "Submit" button once you are done
  5. Check the "Awards Tab" to see how much you are eligible for per semester
  6. Budget how much you need for college. Check your fees and tuition charges per semester to see if you have enough to cover them. If you wish to reduce the amount of your loans, please contact our office by email (finaid@ciis.edu) and request it in writing.
  • Go to www.studentloans.gov and click on "Sign In" under "Manage My Direct Loan". Follow the given steps.
  • You will need a PIN to apply. If you do not have one, go to http://www.pin.ed.gov.
  •  You will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Graduate Plus Loan (please note that this is separate from the Subsidized/Unsubsidized Master Promissory Note). The Graduate Plus Application is valid for 90 days. After 90 days, you will need to reapply and go through another credit check.
If you have submitted all required documents by the priority deadline and accepted your awards, then you will receive your funds on the school's disbursement date for the semester. Note that for first-time undergraduate loan borrowers, there will be a 30-day delay for disbursement of loans.
 
In order to be considered complete status, the following should be met:
For NEW STUDENTS
  • Full Admission Acceptance status (Provisional Acceptance doesn't qualify for aid)
  • Registered for coursework eligible for aid
  • Enrollment/coursework registration successfully submitted
  • Entrance loan counseling
  •  Master Promissory Note (MPN) for subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans

For CONTINUING STUDENTS

  • Meeting satisfactory academic progress
  • Registered for coursework eligible for aid
  • Enrollment/coursework registration successfully submitted
  • Entrance loan counseling
  • Master Promissory Note (MPN) for subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans

If, however, you have not received a financial aid award beyond the disbursement date, check with Business Office if you will incur a late payment fee. We process financial aid awards in the order we receive FAFSA applications and other required documents from students, so we highly suggest submitting the FAFSA application online as soon as possible (please refrain from paper submissions when it comes to financial aid for timely processing).

From the date that the above mentioned are successfully completed, there is an approximately 3-week turnaround prior to disbursement of funds.
* Note that there may be delays during disbursement period.

Step 1: Calculate your total cost at CIIS
Tuition + Registration fee + Other charges (e.g., book voucher) = Total Cost
(http://www.ciis.edu/Admissions_and_Financial_Aid/Tuition_and_Fees.html)

Step 2: Calculate your total aid
Total financial aid (loans & scholarship, excluding federal work study funds) = Total Aid
* Note:There are origination fees on your loans, which are 1% for Stafford and 4% for Plus loan.

Step 3: Calculate refund or balance due
Total Aid - Total Cost = Total Refund
* Note: If your "Total Refund" is a negative figure, you owe a balance and need to pay to the business office.

If you're provisionally admitted, the Financial Aid Office would not be able to process any funds from the Department of Education or private education lenders. In addition, your scholarship disbursement will also be placed on hold. Provisionally admitted students should contact their Admissions counselor as soon as possible to determine what other documents (e.g.: transcripts, letters of recommendations, degree conferrals, etc.) are needed to transition to full acceptance status.

Academic probation occurs if a student has exceeded time limits or enrollment limits for coursework, thesis or dissertation proposal, or thesis or dissertation seminar. Probation also occurs when students fail to maintain grade requirements.

Incomplete grades (I or IN) are classified as unsatisfactory grades; similarly with "NP" (not pass) and any letter grades below a "B." If you have 1 NP and 1 I/IN grades, you will continue to receive financial aid. However, if you have 2 B- grades (2 C grades for undergraduate/BAC students) and an I/IN, you will be placed on probation by the Registrar and continue to receive financial aid for the duration of that probationary status.
 
However, if you fail to rehabilitate your academic progress after your probationary status, you will no longer continue receiving financial aid until you have resolved your unsatisfactory grades or have successfully advanced to the next step in your dissertation work. When satisfactory academic progress has been met, your financial aid will be reinstated.

Federal Pell Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG):
* Note: These grants only apply to first-time undergraduate students.

  1. You must be admitted to and enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts Completion program.
  2. Complete the appropriate Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and demonstrate "financial need"*

Cal Grant (B) and Stipend:

  1.  You must be admitted to and enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts Completion program.
  2.  Be enrolled at least half time (six units minimum per semester, fall or spring).
  3. Complete the appropriate Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than March 2nd and demonstrate financial need*
  4.  State Funding must be available

Our school will be notified of students who are eligible for both grants.

*Financial need is determined by the U.S. Department of Education using a standard formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).