FINANCIAL AID - Frequently Asked Questions?

Applying for Financial Aid?
A student interested in receiving financial aid will first have to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Students will need a copy of their previous years income tax return in order to fill out the FAFSA. For example, if a student is applying for the 2010-2011 school year, you will need your 2009 income tax return. If the student is considered a dependent student, they will also need their parent’s income tax information for the same year. There is only one way to complete the FAFSA form. - online.

To fill out a FAFSA online, you would go to www.FAFSA.gov. You
will need to apply for a PIN number to sign the FAFSA, which you can do at www.pin.ed.gov. It usually takes 3-5 business days for the FAFSA
form to process, at which time you will receive confirmation via email. If the Financial Aid Office has not called you, please feel free to contact them to see what you qualify for.

Once the FAFSA form is completed, it usually takes 2-4 business days for the form to be processed. You will be contacted when your FAFSA form has been processed. If the Financial Aid Office has not called you, please feel free to contact them to see what you qualify for.

What types of Financial Aid are available to me?
The FAFSA form will allow the Financial Aid Office to know how much aid the student is eligible to receive. The two types of aid a student is able to receive while attending ICA are:

A Pell Grant – money that does not have to be repaid. The maximum amount of Pell a Cosmetology student can receive during an academic school year is $5,550. However, the full amount of Pell is not always awarded. The amount received is based on information supplied on the FAFSA form.

Loans – a loan will require repayment. There are different types of loans available to a student, depending on whether a student is considered a dependent or independent student. Information provided on the FAFSA form will determine a students’ dependency status.

If I am considered a dependent student, which loans are available to me?
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans – a loan in the students name. Based on information provided on the AFSA form, the loan will either be subsidized and/or unsubsidized. A subsidized loan does not accrue interest while the student is in school. An unsubsidized loan does accrue interest while a student is in school. However, the student has the option to defer payment of the interest while attending their program. The student will begin repayment on their loan approximately six months after they graduate and will continue repayment until the loan is completely paid off within a ten year timeframe. Other repayment plans are available. Please see your Financial Aid office for more info. The interest rate changes annually but is fixed and will never exceed 6.8%.

Parent Plus Loan – a loan in the student’s parent name. In order to be eligible for funds, the parent applying must have a positive credit standing. The interest rate is variable and will never exceed 9.00%.

If I am considered an independent student, which loans are available to me?
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans – a loan in the students name. Based on information provided on the FAFSA form, the loan will either be subsidized andor unsubsidized. A subsidized loan does not accrue interest while the student is in school. An unsubsidized loan does accrue interest while a student is in school. However, the student has the option to defer payment of the interest while attending their program. The student will begin repayment on their loan approximately six months after they graduate and will continue repayment until the loan is completely paid off within a ten year timeframe. Other repayment plans are available. Please see you Financial Aid office for more info. The interest rate changes annually but is fixed and will never exceed 6.8%. A cosmetology student is eligible for $9,500.00 in Stafford student loans. Manicuring students are eligible for $4,222.00 in Stafford student loans.

Please feel free to call the ICA Business Office for all your questions.

RELATED LINKS
Net Price Calculator
Financial Aid Options
Frequently Asked Questions
Enrollment Form
Textbook Information
Student Resources

IMPORTANT LINKS
Direct Loan Program
Federal Student Aid Questions
National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology
U.S. Dept. of Education O'NET Web Site

POLICY DOWNLOADS
Student Catalog
Drug & Alcohol
FERPA Appendix C
Progress Policy
Campus Security / Evac. Plan
2010 Annual Report

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