Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov .
Apply for a federal personal identification number (PIN) to serve as your
electronic signature for your application at
www.pin.ed.gov . (Parents of dependent students should also apply for a
PIN as an electronic signature is also required by parents.)
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Complete and submit a current year Data Sheet to the
Student Financial Services office. Download the form from the "Financial Aid
Forms" section of the Financial Aid webpage on Cascadia's website.
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Additional documentation may be requested by the Student
Financial Services office in order to complete your file. You will be
notified either by phone or mail if additional items are needed.
What is Cascadia's federal school code?
034835
When is the deadline to apply?
Cascadia's priority consideration deadline is April
15th each year.
Priority consideration is given to students who apply before
this deadline. You may still apply after this deadline, but financial aid is
limited and some funds may not be available. After all students with priority
status have been awarded we will award remaining funds to those who applied
after the deadline.
After April 15th a student must have a completed financial aid
file by the quarterly tuition deadline date established by the college. To have
a completed file a valid FAFSA, a Student Data Sheet and any additional documents
requested must be in our office by the tuition deadline in order to allow time
for processing.
Who should apply for financial aid? How can I tell if
I and/or my family make too much money to qualify?
If you need help paying for college you should apply by
completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will often
find FAFSAs at local high schools, colleges, libraries, or you can apply
electronically using FAFSA on the web at
www.fafsa.ed.gov . The calculation which determines eligibility for aid is
complicated. There is no easy straight forward "income cut-off" or other method
to help you anticipate whether you will be eligible -- the only way to find out
for sure is to apply.
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What kind of financial aid is available?
There are four basic kinds of aid: scholarships, grants,
loans and work study programs. Most students naturally prefer scholarship and
grant programs because they do not have to be repaid, but there is not enough of
this "gift" aid to meet the need of all students eligible for aid. Usually gift
aid is offered with loans and/or work study funds which are commonly termed
"self-help" aid. To qualify for grants, loans or work study a student must have
a completed financial aid file including a FAFSA.
Do income tax returns need to be completed before
completing the FAFSA?
It is a good idea to have completed the federal tax return
before completing the FAFSA since exact tax information can make processing
faster and simpler. If this cannot be done in time for you to meet the priority
filing date at the school(s) in which you are interested use estimated figures
when completing the application. If at a later date the estimated figures differ
from the actual figures make corrections on your Student Aid Report (SAR) or
contact Student Financial Services to find out how you should correct the
information.
Keep a file with copies of all application materials for each
year including a U.S. income tax return and W-2s in the event you need to
provide a copy to Student Financial Services.
How is my financial need determined?
A standard analysis is used to determine financial need. The
amount your family is expected to contribute (the Expected Family Contribution,
or EFC) is calculated based upon the information reported on your FAFSA. The EFC
is then subtracted from the cost of education at Cascadia. The difference
between the two is your need for financial assistance.
"I do not live with my parents."
"My parents do not support me."
"I am not yet 24 years old, but I support myself."
Do my parents still have to fill out the FAFSA?
Yes. Students under 24 years of age are considered dependent
on their parents by federal law no matter where they live. If your parents do
not provide their information on your application you will not be able to
complete your FAFSA to be considered for aid. If you have extraordinary
circumstances (i.e., both parents are deceased, orphan or ward of the court,
foster care), which make it impossible for your parent(s) to complete the FAFSA,
contact Student Financial Services and make an appointment to meet with an
advisor to discuss your circumstances.
My parents are separated or divorced. Whose
information should be given on my FAFSA?
Information should be given for the parent you lived with the
most in the last 12 months. If you don't live with either parent or lived with
both parents for an equal number of days information should be given for the
parent who provided the greater amount of support to you during the last
calendar year. The FAFSA instructions have information that will be helpful if
you have questions about providing information from separated or divorced
parents.
What if my family has unusual circumstances or my
situation changes after we apply for aid?
Contact the Student Financial Services office to set up an
appointment to discuss your circumstances. We can determine if the change will
affect your eligibility for assistance as well as any additional documentation
that may be necessary.
What kinds of documents may the school request to
verify the information on my application?
You may be asked to provide documents to verify any item on
the application. Make sure you and your parents keep a photocopy of your
completed federal tax returns and W-2s used to complete the application.
What happens after I complete my FAFSA?
After you complete your FAFSA you will receive your Student
Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education. This document may give you
some guidance about your expected contribution toward your college cost, but it
is not the final word.
A copy of this report will also be sent to Cascadia if you
listed our school code on your application. As long as you have a completed
financial aid file (FAFSA & Data Sheet) we will review your application. If
additional documentation is needed we will notify you either by phone or letter.
The sooner you respond with the necessary items the sooner we can finish
processing your file.
**File processing can take around 3-5 weeks from
the date you turn in all required documents.**
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How do I know if I qualify?
What is the status of my file?
Once all requested documentation has been submitted please
allow 3-5 weeks for the processing and awarding of your file. Once you have been
awarded an award letter will be mailed to your home address. Your award letter
will break down the type of award, the amount of the award and the quarter(s)
for which the award can be used.
If it has been longer than 3-5 weeks and you have not heard
from our office please verify that you have completed all items needed to
complete your file. You may contact our office for further clarification about
your file status.
When will my funds be available?
Once you have received your award letter you will know how
much you can receive per quarter. Once you register for classes your tuition can
be paid through your financial aid award(s). Any additional funds will be
available for students to pick up the first day of the quarter at the Kodiak
Corner main counter.
Checks are available the first day of the quarter for those
students who are registered full-time (or who have notified our office of
enrollment that is less than 12 credits), have received their award letter and
who have no outstanding debts owing to the college.
Can I apply for a loan in addition to receiving
financial aid?
Yes. A loan is still considered financial aid and your
eligibility is established using the information from your FAFSA. An additional
application process is required. For more information or to request a loan
contact the Student Financial Services office.
How can I find out about scholarships?
There are a number of national scholarship search services
available. The majority of these services are provided for free. If you choose
to pay for these services be cautious and confirm that the organizations are
legitimate before paying.
Visit our website for more information on available
scholarships:
http://www.cascadia.edu/StudentFinancialServices/scholarships.asp
Scholarships usually represent only a small portion of the
total funds available for financial aid so even if you don't quality for a
scholarship you may be offered other aid. If you expect to receive a scholarship
from an outside source it is important to inform the financial aid office.
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