Frequently Asked Questions

Financial aid is money provided by various agencies (federal, state and local governments, community organizations and private corporations or individuals) to assist students in meeting the cost of attending college.  It includes gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans).

When you file the FAFSA, you are considered for all federal aid administered by the Financial Aid Office.  One or more types of aid are offered to make up the financial aid package.

No!  The amount of financial aid offered is determined, in part, by the number of clock hours in which you are enrolled.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money your family is expected to contribute toward educational expenses from resources other than financial aid and is based on ability to pay.  The EFC is calculated using the information provided on the FAFSA.  Factors used to determine a family's contributions include the previous year's adjusted gross income, assets, size of family and the number of individuals in the family attending college.

Financial need is determined by the difference in the cost of attendance (COA) and the expected family contribution (the family's ability to pay for college costs).

The Department of Education selects some FAFSA applicants for a process called verification.  If you are selected, you may be asked to complete a verification worksheet and provide a federal tax return and other documents as required to the Financial Aid Office.  Spouse or parents' information and other documents may also be requested.  Verification must be completed before aid eligibility can be confirmed. 

Not necessarily.  In order to be considered as an independent student for purposes of financial aid, you must be able to answer yes to at least one of the following questions for the 2024-2025 school year:

1. Were you born before January 1, 2021?

2. As of today, are you married?

3. Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training or are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?*

4. Do you have children or legal dependents (other than a spouse or children who live with you) who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025?*

5. At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?*

6. Are you or were you an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?*

7. At any time on or after July 1, 2023, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?*

8. At any time on or after July 1, 2023, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?*

9. At any time on or after July 1, 2023, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?*

If you cannot answer "Yes" to any of these questions but feel there are circumstances that warrant your classification as an independent student, call or email the Financial Aid Office to set up an appointment so we can review your situation.

*You may be required to provide documentation to the Financial Aid Office.

Students with bachelor's degrees may still apply for the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.  These students are not eligible for the Federal Pell grants.

Students who are divorced or separated should not include their ex-spouse's income on the FAFSA.  For more information on detailed or complicated questions, contact the financial aid office.

Yes.  You should include your spouse's information on the FAFSA if you are married at the time the application is completed.  If separate federal income tax returns were filed, combine the adjusted gross incomes from the tax returns and include them on the appropriate line of the FAFSA.  Do the same for the amount of taxes paid and other amounts.

Yes. Your parent should include your step-parent's information on the FAFSA if they are married at the time the application is completed.  If separate federal income tax returns were filed, combine the adjusted gross incomes from the tax returns and include them on the appropriate line of the FAFSA.  Do the same for the amount of taxes paid and other amounts.

The Financial Aid Office can take into account special circumstances which may affect your need.  These may include loss of income due to layoff, disability, divorce, separation or loss of untaxed benefits.  Pleas call or email the Financial Aid Office so we can review your situation.  NOTE: Not all requests for special conditions are approved.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is a federal policy that the school is required to enforce to ensure that your are making progress toward completion of your program.  Please refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy HERE.

If your address changes, you need to immediately notify the school.  You can update your address by submitting a change of personal information form available in the timeclock alcove.

Attendance and academic performance are important!  Withdrawing or ceasing attendance before the scheduled 60% point of the payment period could cause you to owe the school and/or the U.S. Department of Education money.  Also, you will jeopardize your future eligibility for financial aid.  Se the Financial Aid Office before any withdrawal so that you may be made aware of the potential impact of your decision.

Yes!  You will receive notice from the Financial Aid Office as to which academic years for which you must apply.

Federal financial aid is available for the cosmetology and esthetics programs.