About Federal Aid
Financial Aid > About Federal Aid

Eligibility
To receive federal aid, you must meet the following eligibility requirements. If you have any questions about these requirements or you think you may not meet one of them, please contact the school's Student Financial Services Office at 877-303-3771.

• Not be in default on a prior federal education loan or owe a repayment on a prior federal grant
• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
• Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a valid Social Security Number
• Make satisfactory academic progress (continuing students)
• Be registered with Selective Service, if required
• Not have been convicted of certain drug offenses
• Sign a statement of educational purpose and a certification statement on overpayment and default (both found on the FAFSA)

Determining dependency status
If you can answer "Yes" to any of the questions below you will be considered "independent" for federal financial aid purposes, and your parents will not need to answer the parent questions on the FAFSA. If you answer "No" to all of these questions, you are considered to be "dependent" for federal financial aid purposes.

• Will you be over 24 years old before Dec 31 of the award year in which you will begin school?
• Are you married?
• Are you supporting legal dependents other then a spouse?
• Are you an orphan?
• Are you a ward of the court?
• Were you a ward of the court until age 18?
• Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?

How federal aid is awarded
When you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and indicate The Art Institute of Washington as one of your school choices, we will be able to receive an ISIR (Institutional Student Information Report) electronically. The ISIR will contain an EFC -- Expected Family Contribution. The EFC is determined by a set federal formula, and relates to the amount that you (and your parents, if you are a dependent student) might be expected to pay for direct and indirect costs for one academic year. The EFC, in relation to your costs, is used by the school to determine your eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal SEOG, and the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan. These aid types are referred to as "need based" aid.