Prospective Domestic Students

We encourage you to apply for financial aid when you apply for admission to CalArts. Please complete Steps 1 and 2 below (1-3 for California residents) for consideration for scholarships, federal grants, student loans and work-study.

Financial aid is awarded beginning in the first week of April. Your Financial Aid Offer Letter will be available online through Student Academic Services [1]. You must "accept" (or decline) each financial aid award, read and sign the Offer letter and submit it to the CalArts Financial Aid Office before we can process your financial aid.

UNDERGRADUATES

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) [2]

Be sure to list California institute of the Arts Federal School Code #001132.

• Personal Identification Number (PIN)- If this is your first time completing a FAFSA online, you (and your parent) will need to register for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to log-in, electronically sign, and submit your FAFSA online.

Step 2: Complete the CSS Profile [3] online.

• Be sure to list California Institute of the Arts, CSS Profile Code #4049.
• The CSS Profile requires a credit card to pay the registration fee. The fee for the initial application and one college or program report is $25. Additional reports are $16.

Step 3: California Residents only: File a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form

California residents should apply for a Cal Grant [4], a state grant. To apply:

• Complete the FAFSA by March 2, 2013 AND
• Submit a GPA Verification Form [5] to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) [6] by March 2, 2013.

Some high schools electronically submit Cal Grant GPA verification forms on behalf of their students. Check with your high school for more information.

AFTER you receive your financial aid notification from the CalArts Financial Aid Office, IF you wish to borrow federal student loans, follow steps 4 and 5 below:

Step 4. Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN, loan application) online:  

• Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Master Promissiory Note (MPN) [7]

Step 5. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling:

• Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling [8]  - First time borrowers must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before funds can be disbursed.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) [2]

Be sure to list California institute of the Arts Federal School Code #001132.

• Personal Identification Number (PIN)- If this is your first time completing a FAFSA online, you (and your parent) will need to register for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to log-in, electronically sign, and submit your FAFSA online.

Step 2: Complete the [9]Expenses and Resources form [9]and submit it to the CalArts Financial Aid Office.

AFTER you receive your financial aid notification from the CalArts Financial Aid Office, IF you wish to borrow a Federal Unsubsidized Student Loan, follow steps 4 and 5 below:

Step 4. Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN, loan application) online:  

• Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Master Promissiory Note (MPN) [7]

Step 5. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling:

• Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling [8]  - First time borrowers must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling before funds can be disbursed.

Additional Information:

IRS Data Retrieval - The FAFSA enables families to retrieve tax data directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make completing the FAFSA easier and more accurate. The IRS Data Retrieval tool is available several weeks after you/your parents file taxes.

Filing a Tax Return Extension? - If you/your parent(s) requests an extension from the IRS, you must provide a copy of the extension request (Form 4868 Application for Automatic Extension) by April 19, 2013 to hold your priority status.

Additional Documentation

In some cases, we may ask you to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office. If so, please submit the information to the CalArts Financial Aid Office as soon as possible so that we can complete your financial aid file and award your financial aid.