Financial Aid

 

Grants

Pell Grant

What is a Pell Grant?

The Pell grant is considered gift aid and therefore does not need to be repaid. It is intended to assist students who have not yet earned or met the requirements for a first bachelor's degree and who are attending school at least part-time.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

Your eligibility for a Pell Grant is determined by using a formula developed and approved by the U.S. Congress. The information you provide on your FAFSA is used in this calculation. If you receive full-time Pell Grant during both fall and spring semesters, you will NOT have Pell eligibility for summer session.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

  1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the following financial aid programs:

    Grants
    Pell, SEOG, LEAP, SLEAP, ACG

    Loans
    Stafford Subsidized
    Stafford Unsubsidized
    Parent Loan for Undergraduate

    Federal Work-Study
    On and Off campus Jobs
  2. FAFSA Follow-up: If you provided your email address on the FAFSA, you'll receive an email link to your processed FAFSA information on the web. Otherwise, your Student Aid Report will arrive in the mail in 2-4 weeks. Corrections may be made using your PIN at www.fafsa.ed.gov
  3. Respond Promptly to any additional request for information from the CSI Office of Financial Aid.
  4. Review Your Award Notification that will be sent to you by e-mail. The award notification will direct you to review your awards online through your NetPartner account.  On NetPartner you will be able to review, modify, accept and decline the types and amounts of aid you are eligible to receive.

What you will need to complete the FAFSA...

CSI School Code: 001619

  • Your Social Security card and driver's license
  • If dependent, Social Security numbers and dates of birth for parent(s) providing income information on your FAFSA
  • W-2 Forms and records of money earned in the previous year
  • Previous year’s U.S. income tax return (IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ or 1040 Telefile for you, your spouse (if married), and parents (if you are a dependent student)
  • Records of other untaxed income received in the previous year such as welfare, Social Security, TANF, TAFI, Child Support, or Veteran's Benefits
  • Current bank statements
  • Business and farm records
  • Records of stocks, bonds, CD's, and other investments
  • Your Alien Registration card, if you are not a U.S. Citizen
  • You/your parent's U.S. Dept. of Ed. PIN if filing online

You're considered independent if

  • You are 24 years of age or older OR
  • You are married when you apply OR
  • At the beginning of the upcoming school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program OR
  • You have children that receive more than half of their support from you OR
  • You have dependents other than your children or spouse that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through the end of the upcoming school year
  • Both parents are deceased or if you are/were (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court OR
  • You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces OR
  • At any time since you turned age 13, both of your parents became deceased, you were in foster care or you were a dependent or ward of the court OR
  • You are an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence OR
  • You are in a legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence OR
  • At any time on or after 7/1/2008 your high school or district homeless liaison determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless OR
  • At any time on or after 7/1/2008 the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless OR
  • At any time on or after 7/1/2008 the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or are at risk of being homeless

Obtaining your PIN

All students and parents of dependent students should request a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN remains the same from year to year, so keep it in a safe place and never give it to anyone. With your PIN, you and your parent can electronically sign your online FAFSA, making the application process simpler and faster.