Admission & Financial Aid

STEP 1. Complete the admission process for your degree of study.

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What program are you applying to?

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Institute of Professional Studies / Accelerated Degree Completion Program		Graduate School
To be eligible for financial assistance, students must be admitted in the degree-seeking Organizational Management Program. The Adult Degree Program Office will advise the Office of Student Financial Planning when you have completed this process. Students who have not been admitted into the University are considered guest students. Guest students are not eligible to receive Federal or State financial aid. Please be sure to contact Student Business Services to make other payment arrangements for any registered course(s).		To be eligible for financial aid, students need to be admitted and enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate educational program or approved certificate program. The Office of Graduate Admission will advise the Office of Student Financial Planning when you have completed this process. Students who have not been admitted into the University are considered guest students. Guest students are not eligible to receive Federal or State financial aid. Please be sure to contact Student Business Services to make other payment arrangements for any registered course(s).

 

STEP 2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA).

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This is an online application submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.

• In order for Concordia-Chicago to receive the results, you must enter CUC’s Federal School Code: 001666.
• The FAFSA must be completed annually to ensure federal aid eligibility for each academic year.
• If you are selected for verification, you may be required to submit additional documentation to the Office of Student Financial Planning in order to determine financial aid eligibility. View your required documents by logging into Concordia Connect.
•  If you estimated your income information on your FAFSA, please be sure to update the information once your income tax return is completed. Leaving the income information as estimated will hold your financial aid processing.
• It may take at least three business days for CUC to receive your completed FAFSA information from the government.

STEP 3. Accept your financial aid award.

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Admitted students with a completed FAFSA on file will receive a financial aid award from the Office of Student Financial Planning. You must confirm your award by accepting or declining the offered amount(s).

New students have two options in accepting or declining their award(s):

• Online Acceptance: You may log in to Concordia Connect and click on the “My Info” tab. This will allow you to see the financial aid box. Click on “Accept My Awards”. Be sure to select the correct academic year.
• Award Letter: You may accept or decline your financial aid by appropriately marking your choice on the hard copy award letter. Please be sure to sign, date and return the award letter to the Office of Student Financial Planning via fax: (708) 488-4102 or by mail: 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, IL 60305.

Returning students will only be sent an email to their Concordia University Chicago email address notifying them when a new financial aid award is available for online review.

STEP 4. Complete the required loan documents.

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Both of these requirements can be completed online at studentloans.gov, using the federal PIN you used to sign the FAFSA application.

• Master Promissory Note (MPN): This is the actual loan application. After logging in, select “Complete Master Promissory Note,” then choose “Subsidized/Unsubsidized.”
• Direct Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling: New CUC borrowers are required to complete Entrance Counseling in order to obtain a Stafford loan. This counseling session goes over your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
•  Avoid Delays: In order to assure that your student loans will arrive in a timely manner, the Office of Student Financial Planning strongly encourages students to submit all required documents as soon as possible each academic year.

STEP 5. Be aware of important financial aid dates.

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January 1: The FAFSA application becomes available online.

March 1: Financial aid packaging is underway. Accepted students with a completed FAFSA on file will receive a written or electronic Financial Aid Award. Students can view, accept and/or decline their financial awards by logging onto Concordia Connect.

April 1: Priority FAFSA Filing Date for maximum consideration for all types of aid

First bill due date: All Financial Aid documents, including loan requirements, must be complete by the bill due date, or the student is responsible to make payment arrangements with the Student Business Services Office.

Financial Aid Disbursement Dates: Your financial aid will disburse to your student account during each period of eligible enrollment. If you have a loan awarded for only one semester (fall-only or spring-only), it will post on two separate dates: one half of the awarded amount will post in the beginning of the term, and the remaining half will post after the midway point.

Expected disbursement dates for adult degree students

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• Spring 2012: 1/30/2012* and 3/12/2012*
• Summer 2012: 5/29/2012*
• Fall 2012: 9/4/2012* and 10/22/2012*
• Spring 2013: 1/28/ 2013* and 3/11/2013* 

* Note: Students must meet all financial aid requirements and be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program to have funds disbursed.

Expected disbursement dates for graduate students

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• Spring 2012: 1/27/2012* and 3/12/2012*
• Summer 2012: 5/14/2012*
• Fall 2012: 9/14/2012* and 10/29/2012*
• Spring 2013: 1/25/2013* and 3/18/2013*

* Note: Students must meet all financial aid requirements and be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program to have funds disbursed.