Financial Aid

Introduction

Financial aid is money that is provided to help bridge the gap between your own resources and the amount of money needed to pay the cost of attending college. The University administers all of the major federal and state grant and loan programs. In addition, Cleveland State provides University grants and scholarships. Our goal is to help reduce the difference between educational costs related to attendance and the amount that parents and students can reasonably contribute toward the student's education.

The first step in the financial aid process is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). By completing the FAFSA, you are applying for gift aid (scholarships and grants) and self-help programs (Federal Work-Study and loans). You must file a FAFSA every year in order to receive your financial aid. Continuing CSU students should complete the CSU continuing student scholarship application found on the web at www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/financialaid/forms. New students will be considered for merit scholarships based on their academic performance and standardized test scores. For a complete listing of scholarship opportunities and application deadlines, please visit the CSU website. Students must complete the FAFSA and meet all federal eligibility requirements each year in order to be eligible for financial aid. The major sources of financial aid are university scholarships and grants, federal aid programs, state-supported programs, and a number of sponsored scholarships described in this section.

If you need in-person assistance, please go to Campus411. You can also call us at 216-687-5411 or visit our Web site at www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/financialaid/.

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Financial Aid Application Process

Students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal Application for Federal Aid to determine eligibility for federal, state, and campus-based aid programs. The FAFSA is available each January online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov Applications should be completed as soon as possible after January 1 to assure timely processing.

Applicants are encouraged to file their FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. A link is provided on our Financial Aid Web site: www.csuohio.edu/enrollmentservices/financialaid/. The Cleveland State University code number is 003032.

Students planning to attend CSU should complete the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA by February 15, our priority filing date. Students filing after the priority filing date may not be considered for some resources. These include: the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the Federal Work Study Program, the University Grant, and the Residence Hall Grant.

To receive financial aid or a determination of eligibility for financial aid, students must be admitted into a degree-granting program at Cleveland State. Audited classes are not financial-aid eligible.

Students and parents may be required to submit documentation verifying information reported on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office will notify you in writing if additional information is required or if you have been selected for the verification process.

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Employment Options

Student Employment Program

All students enrolled at Cleveland State for at least six credit hours are eligible to participate in the Student Employment Program. This includes students who have received a Federal Work Study (FWS) award, as well as students who do not have this federal award. In a typical academic year, approximately 2,000 student employment opportunities exist throughout the campus. Students employed on campus can earn money to help pay for their education, develop valuable career skills, and have the added convenience of working flexible hours without additional commuting time. Student positions are conveniently posted on the student employment link of the Financial Aid Web site or by clicking "Employment" from the CSU home page.

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Cooperative Education

The Cooperative Education Program provides opportunities for paid work experiences in a field related to the student's major. Contact the Career Services Center (687-2233) for more information on how to qualify for this program.

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Internships

Internships are degree-related work experiences for which academic credit is earned. Internships typically are not compensated employment. To learn more about internship requirements and opportunities in your field, contact your academic adviser or department chair.

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Definitions of Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships/Grants: Awards that do not require either repayment or any specific service to be performed by the student.

Loans: Money offered with the requirement that it be repaid.

Employment: Money that must be earned through employment.

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University Scholarships and Grants

University Scholarships

University scholarships and grants are awarded to students in amounts ranging from $100 up to full tuition.

Students may visit the CSU website to access scholarship opportunities and information about the Honors Program as well as academic departments, athletics and the fine arts.

University Grants

University grants are funded by Cleveland State University to help students meet their tuition. University grants are available to undergraduates who are enrolled at least half-time. Eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office on the basis of need and the availability of funds. Applications received by February 15 for the upcoming award year will receive priority consideration.

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Federal Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grants

This is a federally funded grant program. Eligibility for the Pell Grant is determined from FAFSA information. Amounts vary based on the results of your FAFSA, the expected family contribution (EFC), and your semester credit hour enrollment (e.g., full-time or part-time). For the 2007-2008 year, the Pell grants ranged from $200 to $4,310.

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Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

This is a federally funded grant program established to help students with exceptional financial need meet their educational costs. Eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office on the basis of financial need and the availability of funds. Applications received by February 15 for the upcoming academic year will receive priority consideration. Amounts of this grant typically range from $100 to $4,000.

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Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG)

This is a federally-funded grant program available beginning in the 2006-2007 school year for first-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second-year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The ACG provides $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

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Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant)

A National SMART Grant provides up to $4,000 for each of the third (minimum 60 earned credit hours) and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must be registered in at least one course required for the major. The student must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major.

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Federal Perkins Loan Program

This program is a federally-funded loan program designed to help students meet the cost of their education. Eligibility is determined on the basis of financial need. Awards average from $500 to $4,000 per year. Undergraduate students may borrow up to $4,000 for each year of undergraduate study up to a maximum of $20,000. A student may borrow up to $40,000 for combined undergraduate and graduate study.

Perkins Loan borrowers are required to complete an online Perkins Master Promissory Note that outlines the borrower's rights and responsibilities. Students must complete a master promissory note before their loan funds can be disbursed.

Repayment of student loans begins nine months after the student graduates, leaves school, or enrollment drops below six credit hours. Students have a maximum repayment period of 10 years.

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Federal Work-Study Program

This is a federally-funded employment program. Eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office on the basis of financial need and the availability of funds. Applications received by February 15 for the upcoming academic year will receive priority consideration.

This award gives students with financial need the opportunity to work on-campus or in a community-service position.

Students are limited to 20 hours of work per week when classes are in session. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours to participate in this program. Hourly pay rates vary based on the position.

Federal work-study funds are usually awarded in combination with grant and/or loan funds. The university promotes the idea that a part-time job should complement the student's program of study whenever possible.

Student positions are conveniently posted on the student employment link of the Financial Aid Web site or by clicking "Employment" from the CSU home page.

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Community Service Learning

Community Service Learning is an off-campus Student Employment Program. Eligible Cleveland State students must have a Federal Work Study award to participate in this program. Students participating in the Community Service Learning Program may be placed in positions at non-profit agencies throughout Greater Cleveland. Positions are limited, so you must check with the Student Employment staff for more information by calling 216-687-5577.

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Subsidized Federal Stafford Student Loan

The Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan program is a need-based program in which the federal government defers the principal and subsidizes the interest while the student is enrolled for at least six credit hours. Students must complete a FAFSA and a master promissory note.

The Financial Aid Office certifies a student's eligibility for the loan based on the student's maintaining satisfactory academic progress and the student's willingness to repay the loan. The amount a student may borrow is determined by the student's grade level and the cost of education, minus the expected family contribution and estimated aid.

The loan limits are $3,500 for freshman borrowers (0-29 earned credit hours), $4,500 for sophomore borrowers (30-59 earned credit hours), and $5,500 for junior and senior borrowers (60+ earned credit hours), with an undergraduate cumulative maximum of $23,000. All first-time borrowers at Cleveland State University must complete debt management counseling prior to the release of loan funds.

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Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Student Loan

This loan program is available to students who may not qualify for the maximum amount of the Subsidized Federal Stafford loan for their grade level.

Interest is charged from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Students may pay the interest while enrolled in school or allow it to accumulate and be added to the principal amount of the loan.

Independent undergraduate students (based on Federal Financial Aid definition) may borrow up to $4,000 their freshman and sophomore years, and a maximum of $5,000 a year after having earned 60 or more credit hours.

The loan amounts listed are the maximum loan limits under the Federal Family Loan Program. However, students cannot borrow in excess of the cost of education at Cleveland State University minus any eligible financial aid.

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Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students)

This loan program is for parents of undergraduate students. The current interest rate is variable, not to exceed 9%. Eligible parents may borrow up to the cost of education, minus estimated financial aid.

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Loan Disbursements

Federal subsidized, unsubsidized, Federal PLUS loan and private loan proceeds are forwarded directly to the Cleveland State University's Office of Treasury Services.

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State Supported Programs

Ohio Instructional Grants (OIG)

OIG is a state-funded grant program for Ohio residents only. Students must be enrolled full-time, 12 credit hours, to receive this grant. The program is designed to aid students from low- and middle-income families. Ohio residents attending public institutions who qualify on the basis of financial need will receive between $78 and $2,190 per academic year. Students who are eligible for OIG will not be considered for the OCOG program.

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Ohio College Opportunity Grants (OCOG)

The OCOG is a new state-funded grant program for students who began college for the first time after the 2005 - 2006 academic year. Grant amounts are determined based on the federal expected family contribution and credit hour enrollment. Grants range from $37 to $2496. Students who are eligible for OCOG will not be considered for the Ohio Instructional Grant.

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Ohio Academic Scholarship Program

This is a state-funded scholarship program to assist undergraduate students who exhibit exceptional academic ability. High school seniors who are residents of Ohio and who plan to attend an approved Ohio institution of higher learning on a full-time basis may apply.

Recipients are chosen by the Ohio Board of Regents on the basis of grade-point average and performance on a competitive examination. The scholarship is awarded in the amount of $2,205 per academic year for up to four years.

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Ohio War Orphans Scholarships

This undergraduate tuition scholarship is awarded on a renewable basis to children of members or former members of the U.S. Armed Services who incurred a disability or died while in service. This program is sponsored through the Ohio Board of Regents.

Each recipient must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0 by the end of the freshman year and must maintain no less than a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average for each subsequent academic term. The student must also be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours to receive this scholarship.

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National Guard Scholarship Program

The state of Ohio funds this program to assist persons who enlist in the Ohio National Guard for at least six years. Awards cover the cost of instructional and general fees.

Eligible guardsmen should contact the Adjutant General's Office to apply for this program.

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This page last modified Tuesday, 08-Jul-08 22:10:55