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The Art Institutes is eligible for financial aid and participate in the following programs:
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are based on financial need, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. To be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, students must make application, prove U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status, be accepted for enrollment as regular students, not owe a refund on a federal grant nor be in default on a federal loan, maintain satisfactory academic progress in school, and meet certain other Federal requirements.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are for students who demonstrate exceptional financial need (with priority given to Pell Grant recipients). This is gift aid; it does not have to be repaid.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant is available to students who have graduated from high school in 2005 or later (GED students not eligible) and are in the first or second year of their program. Applicants must have completed a rigorous secondary school program as designated by the Department of Education. Students must also be Pell Grant eligible and a U.S. cirtizen. Please see a Financial Aid representative at The Art Institute of California — Sunnyvale for more details.
SMART Grant
This is a grant based on a student's major and is available the third and fourth year of enrollment. Currently, the SMART Grant is only available to students enrolled in the Web Design & Interactive Media Bachelor of Science degree program at The Art Institutes. Please contact the Financial Aid department at The Art Institute of California — Sunnyvale for further details.
Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
The Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is a variable interest loan available to students through eligible lenders. The loan is obtained directly from private banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions. To be eligible, the student must be a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States and meet other eligibility requirements. Repayment of the loan begins six months after the student's last day of attendance.
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is a variable interest loan available to students through eligible lenders. Independent students may borrow the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan without credit requirements. The Stafford Loan repayment begins six months after the student's last day in school. Dependent students who do not meet the need requirements for a subsidized Stafford Loan, or whose parents are denied a PLUS Loan, may also apply for this loan.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students is a variable interest loan available to parents through eligible lenders. The PLUS loan is a credit-based loan available to parents of dependent students. The PLUS loan repayment begins 60 days after the loan is disbursed. Download the brochure.
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Perkins Loans offer a low 5% interest rate and repayment terms as long as ten years. Because funds under this program are limited, priority is given to students with the greatest financial need. Repayment on the loan generally does not begin until nine months after a student leaves school or coursework is reduced to less than a half-time basis.
Federal Work-Study
Through the Federal Work-Study program, students have the opportunity to meet part of their expenses by working part-time on- or off-campus. A limited number of assignments are available, with priority given to students with the greatest need. Please contact the Student Financial Services Department at The Art Institute of California — Sunnyvale to obtain more details. The maximum students can earn through this program is the amount of their unmet need (the difference between expenses and all their resources). For a more complete description of federal aid programs, ask for The Art Institutes Complete Guide to Financial Aid booklet.
California State Grant (Cal Grant)
The Art Institute of California — Sunnyvale is approved by the California Student Aid Commission for students to receive Cal Grant funds under Cal Grant A, B, and C programs. Cal Grant programs require academic qualifications as derived from the Student Aid Commission Grade Point Average (GPA) Verification Form. Both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and the GPA Verification (Cal Grant application) must be completed and postmarked by March 2, 2008.