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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form 

The FAFSA form is a standard document used to determine your eligibility for Federal and some state aid, including:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Stafford Loan
• Federal Work-Study
• State Grants

Tips for filling out the FAFSA

Follow the instructions carefully. Give yourself time and quiet. Find a place and time to complete the form without interruption. Get organized. Gather your personal and family financial records. Here's a checklist of records you may need:

• Last year's federal tax returns forms 1040/1040A/1040EZ and W2 forms
• If you haven't filed a return yet, try to do that before you apply for financial aid.
• If you can't find last year's return, call the Financial Aid Department at The Art Institute of Philadelphia and we'll help you get a copy from the IRS. It is important to keep a copy of your tax return because you may be asked to provide it to the Financial Aid Office later.
• Checkbook records
• Savings account and investment statements
• Installment and mortgage loan payment books
• Information relating to income including wages, dividends, Social Security benefits, welfare payments, alimony or child support, Veterans Administration benefits, and disability benefits.

All information provided to the school will, of course, be kept confidential. The Art Institute of Philadelphia is in compliance with the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This law regulates the release of any personal information. Involve other family members who must provide information. Your parent(s) will need to complete the parent section of the form if you are classified as a "dependent" student for federal financial aid purposes. Remember to sign the form; if you apply through FAFSA on the Web, you will need to print, sign, and mail the signature page. (If you do not have a printer, the signature page will be mailed to you.) A parent must also sign if they contributed information to the form.

If you need assistance with the form, feel free to call our Financial Aid Office at 1.800.275.2474.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid on-line

Be sure to use school code 008350.

Download a pre-application worksheet (for use with online FAFSA)

Apply for a PIN - required for completion of online FAFSA application 

2008-2009 Verification Worksheets:
Verification Worksheet - Dependent Student
Verification Worksheet - Independent Student 

If your Financial Aid application information is selected for verification by the US Department of Education and/or by the school, you will need to complete the verification worksheet that applies to your dependency status. Use one of the above links to download and print the appropriate form.

State Grant application - when a student completes a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) the information is sent to the state of residency so that the student can be considered for state grant eligibility, if applicable.

Pennsylvania residents can click here to find out more information about PHEAA State Grants 

Federal Loan Applications - Student

To apply for a Federal Stafford Loan (student loan), you may apply online, or use the form provided by the Financial Aid Office. Read the Promissory Note before you sign it. It is a legal document requiring you to pay back the money you borrow. Be sure to answer all of the questions on the application carefully, and accurately, and completely. These are the maximum amounts that you can receive each academic year, based on your grade level.

Before you receive a loan, you will need to participate in a loan counseling "Entrance Interview." Before you leave school, you will need to participate in a loan counseling "Exit Interview."

For required loan counseling and loan program information: click here.

Click here to apply online for a Stafford Student Loan.

Lender Selection List (student)  - this form lists the school's preferred lenders. The lenders on this list participate with the school in electronic processes that provide efficiencies in receiving your loan funds. (This form is required of all Stafford Loan borrowers; if you choose to make monthly payments to the school instead of paying in full at the beginning of each term, you are required to select one of these lenders.)

Borrower Benefits: Stafford Loan Comparison Academic Year 2007-2008

To view a history of your Federal loans and their current status, click here.

Federal Loan Applications - Parent

An eligible parent qualifies for Federal PLUS (parent loan for undergraduate students) Loans while their dependent son or daughter attends school. To apply for a PLUS Loan, one of your parents must complete the application and pass a credit check. The parent borrower may either apply online (see below) or can use the application provided by the school. We suggest that your parent wait to apply for this loan until you receive your student financial plan, which will show the recommended amount to be borrowed. The maximum amount that a parent can borrow is the cost of education minus any aid that the student is receiving.

Your Parent can click here to apply online for a PLUS Loan.

Lender Selection List (parent)   - this form lists the school's preferred lenders. The lenders on this list participate with the school in electronic processes that provide efficiencies in receiving your loan funds. (This form is required of all PLUS Loan borrowers; if you choose to make monthly payments to the school instead of paying in full at the beginning of each term, your parent is required to select one of these lenders.)

Borrower Benefits: PLUS Loan Comparison Academic Year 2007-2008 

Additional Loan Forms 

Supplemental Data Form  - this form collects additional information and references. It is required of students who will be borrowing student loans (Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, State Loans, and/or alternative loans)

Authorization form for the student  - this form gives the school permission to hold Federal Aid funds received for one term to pay for charges that you will incur in a future term, and to use Federal Aid funds to pay for charges other than tuition, fees and housing. (This form is required if you choose to make monthly payments to the school instead of paying in full at the beginning of each term.) 

Authorization form for the parent  - this form gives the school permission to hold Federal PLUS Loan funds received for one term to pay for charges that you will incur in a future term, and to use Federal PLUS Loan funds to pay for charges other than tuition, fees and housing. It is to be completed by the parent who applies for the PLUS Loan. (This form is required if your parent is borrowing a PLUS Loan, and you choose to make monthly payments to the school instead of paying in full at the beginning of each term.)

When to apply for financial aid

As soon as you enroll at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, you should apply for financial aid. Appropriate application forms are available in the school’s enrollment packet – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applications for the Federal Stafford Student Loan and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) with a list of preferred lenders, and The Art Institutes Merit Award application. If you are enrolled before the forms are available for the year in which you will be starting school, and you need to know as soon as possible what your financial aid amounts might be, we can provide you with an "Estimator" form. These forms are available from the Financial Aid Office, or can be downloaded here. Continuing students should apply as soon as possible after the new year's FAFSA is distributed. Deadline dates will be provided each year.