Tuition and Financial Aid at CHCP

Financial Aid is the name used for federal, state, and private resources that may help pay for college costs. Typically financial aid consists of grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment. Grants and scholarships usually do not have to be repaid. Loans must be repaid with payments, usually beginning after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time. Student employment consists of opportunities for students to earn money to pay for educational expenses. Financial Aid is available for those that qualify.

Don't assume you can't afford school. Financial Aid allows all students to attend school, regardless of their family's financial status, by making up the difference between the cost and what the family can afford.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA, is the application needed to apply for student aid. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It helps to complete the FAFSA with a PIN (electronic signature) to expedite the process. A PIN can be obtained by visiting www.pin.ed.gov. If you are a dependent student for aid purposes, both you and your parent will require a PIN to sign the application electronically.

Students are considered dependent or independent for financial aid purposes based on criteria established by Congress. For example, students who are under the age of 24 and single, have no dependents, and are not veterans are typically considered dependent for financial aid purposes. Dependent students are required to have parents provide financial information to determine eligibility for the various federal aid programs. Check with the Financial Aid office to determine your dependency status if you are unsure.

Students must reapply for federal and state aid, if applicable, each year. Typically, students should reapply for aid as soon as possible after January 1st of each year; however, check with your financial aid office to determine when you should reapply.

A grant is a financial aid given based on need or merit that does not have to be repaid. Loans must always be repaid, regardless of whether you complete the program or are satisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences that will negatively impact your ability to obtain credit and possibly employment in the future.

First time Direct Loan borrowers will need to complete both entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) through www.studentloans.gov before any loan funds will be disbursed to the College of Health Care Professions. You will be required to use your Department of Education issued PIN. A parent borrower must also request a PIN from the PIN site to use when completing a PLUS MPN.

Entrance Counseling

Except for parent Direct PLUS loan borrowers, if you haven't previously received a loan, you must complete entrance counseling. This will help you understand your rights and responsibilities. It also explains interest rates and the different types of loans available.

Master Promissory Note

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan. In most cases, once you've submitted the MPN and it has been accepted, you won't have to fill out a new MPN for future loans you receive. You can borrow additional Direct Loans on a single MPN for up to ten years. The entire MPN process generally takes thirty minutes to complete and must be completed in a single session.

Parent PLUS loans

When you apply for a Direct PLUS loan, The College of Health Professions will require the completion of a Parent PLUS Preapproval Application to check your credit history. To be eligible to receive a PLUS loan, you must not have an adverse credit history. You may still be eligible to receive a Direct PLUS Loan if you obtain an endorser or cosigner who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if you do not repay the loan. The endorser cannot be the student on whose behalf a parent is obtaining the loan.

Repayment on most loans will begin after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time. Some loans are interest-free while the student is enrolled. Interest may accrue on other loans even while the student is enrolled. Check with the Financial Aid office; they can help explain the difference in the types of loans you have. In all cases, loans must be repaid regardless of whether you complete the program or are satisfied with your educational experience. Failure to repay your loans can result in serious consequences and negatively impact your ability to obtain credit in the future.