Frequently Asked Questions

First year, first time and transfer students can qualify for a CIA Merit Scholarships. The priority deadline for first year applicants is March 1st of every year. Scholarships have historically ranged from $6,500 to full-tuition for up to four years of study at CIA. The scholarship is ... more

First year, first time and transfer students can qualify for a CIA Merit Scholarships. The priority deadline for first year applicants is March 1st of every year. Scholarships have historically ranged from $6,500 to full-tuition for up to four years of study at CIA. The scholarship is based on portfolio and academic performance. If selected for a CIA Merit Scholarship, you will be notified shortly after your acceptance to CIA. less

Students who are not selected to receive a CIA Merit Scholarship may still receive a need-based CIA Grant from the Office of Financial Aid. These grants are based on your demonstrated financial need as determined from the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ... more

Students who are not selected to receive a CIA Merit Scholarship may still receive a need-based CIA Grant from the Office of Financial Aid. These grants are based on your demonstrated financial need as determined from the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the review of your academic information and your portfolio by the Office of Admissions. Award amounts vary. CIA Grant recipients must re-apply each year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. less

As the years continue, the student will be eligible to borrow more. Colleges and Universities nationwide utilize higher lending levels for students as they continue their education, approach graduation, and increase their earning potential. Eligible students may borrow up to the maximu... more

As the years continue, the student will be eligible to borrow more. Colleges and Universities nationwide utilize higher lending levels for students as they continue their education, approach graduation, and increase their earning potential. Eligible students may borrow up to the maximum Federal Direct Loan amounts as shown in the "Annual Loan Limits for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans" chart on this page.

CIA Merit Scholarships remain the same as long as you keep the minimum cumulative GPA required for the award. CIA Grants and other need-based aid remain the same provided you continue to demonstrate financial need each academic year based on the data provided on the FAFSA. The institute annually awards departmental scholarships to students. The application processes vary and are generally handled by individual major departments.

Federal, State, and CIA need-based awards must be applied for every year. March 15 is the priority deadline. Applicants failing to meet the priority deadline will be awarded based on the funds available to late applicants. Late applicants will not be considered for Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, and other limited CIA need-based aid programs. Awards are affected by changes in family income, assets, the number of family members and the number of family members in college. less

Depending on the Scholarship or Grant amount that you receive upon entering CIA, you may be eligible to compete for more scholarships as early as the next year. For example, the Honorary Scholarship Competition is open to students who did not win the top scholarship awards offered to n... more

Depending on the Scholarship or Grant amount that you receive upon entering CIA, you may be eligible to compete for more scholarships as early as the next year. For example, the Honorary Scholarship Competition is open to students who did not win the top scholarship awards offered to new students. You must be in top twenty percent of your class at the end of fall semester in order to compete. These scholarships have historically been $2,000 and the school awards two of these per class every year.

Once you have matriculated into your major, there are department scholarships that are awarded. The scholarships are administered through individual major departments and as a result application processes vary. Contact your department's chair for application information. The Institute has historically awarded over $230,000 each year in departmental awards. Some awards, however, are awarded and replace CIA Merit and/or Need-based Aid. less

The U.S. Department of Education defines "independent" differently than the Internal Revenue Service. To be identified as "independent," the student must meet one or more of the following criteria.

• Be 24 years of age or older
• Be a gradua...

The U.S. Department of Education defines "independent" differently than the Internal Revenue Service. To be identified as "independent," the student must meet one or more of the following criteria.

• Be 24 years of age or older
• Be a graduate student
• At any time since you turned age 13, both of your parents are deceased and you were in foster care or you were you a dependent or ward of the court
• Be married
• Currently serving in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
• Be a veteran
• Have children or other have other dependents who will receive more than half of their support from you
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, you are or you were an emancipated minor
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, you are or you were in legal guardianship
• At any time on or after July 1 of the calendar year prior to the academic year you are applying for financial aid, your high school or school district homeless liaison determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless
• At any time on or after July of the calendar year prior to the academic year you are applying for financial aid, 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
• At any time on or after July of the calendar year prior to the academic year you are applying for financial aid, 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 were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless

In ALL other cases the student is considered a DEPENDENT student and parental information will be needed to apply for financial aid. This is true even if the student is living, by choice, on his or her own. It should be noted that independent students do not always receive more financial aid. less

Loan funds are typically divided into two equal disbursements since most loans are for the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The first disbursement will be sent directly to the school and applied to the student's account in the fall semester and the second will be sent and app... more

Loan funds are typically divided into two equal disbursements since most loans are for the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The first disbursement will be sent directly to the school and applied to the student's account in the fall semester and the second will be sent and applied during the spring semester. Only loans made for one semester have a single disbursement. less

Federal Work-Study is a federal work program that is awarded to students who have demonstrated a specific level of financial need as determined by the data on the FAFSA. Students are awarded up to $2000. The award should be seen as a resource to help students pay for their expenses tra... more

Federal Work-Study is a federal work program that is awarded to students who have demonstrated a specific level of financial need as determined by the data on the FAFSA. Students are awarded up to $2000. The award should be seen as a resource to help students pay for their expenses transportation/travel or personal expenses. Payment is made directly to the student as they earn their pay (in other words, an hours pay for an hours work). Time sheets are due on the third of each month and students are paid on the fifteenth of each month. less

Students are responsible for securing a job through the Federal Work-Study Program. Throughout the academic year, jobs are posted on College Central, the Career Center’s on-line job board. Yo... more

Students are responsible for securing a job through the Federal Work-Study Program. Throughout the academic year, jobs are posted on College Central, the Career Center’s on-line job board. You can view jobs by accessing College Central. Most departments hire federal work-study students each year. less

Unexpected changes in income can affect your financial aid package. Some examples of unexpected changes or special circumstances include parental unemployment or loss of other income, death, or serious illness in the family, divorce or separation. In all cases, a Special Circumstance F... more

Unexpected changes in income can affect your financial aid package. Some examples of unexpected changes or special circumstances include parental unemployment or loss of other income, death, or serious illness in the family, divorce or separation. In all cases, a Special Circumstance Form available from the Forms, Publications and Links section of the Office of Financial Aid web site should be completed. If you need assistance to complete the Special Circumstance form, do not hesitate to contact the Office of Financial Aid.

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According to federal regulations, all sources of financial aid must fit within the cost of education or budget. To accomplish this, some colleges subtract the full amount of the outside aid from any need-based college financial aid. The Cleveland Institute of Art, in striving to help s... more

According to federal regulations, all sources of financial aid must fit within the cost of education or budget. To accomplish this, some colleges subtract the full amount of the outside aid from any need-based college financial aid. The Cleveland Institute of Art, in striving to help students, will first apply outside aid to any remaining unmet need. If the student's need is already met according to the calculation, outside scholarships will be subtracted from loan assistance and work-study. This will help the student long-term by lowering the amount of borrowing while the student is in school. less

The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is March 15. Applicants failing to meet the March 15 priority deadline will be awarded on a funds available basis. The Office of Financial Aid will send a reminder to financial aid recipients to apply prior to the March 15 priority deadl... more

The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is March 15. Applicants failing to meet the March 15 priority deadline will be awarded on a funds available basis. The Office of Financial Aid will send a reminder to financial aid recipients to apply prior to the March 15 priority deadline. Do not hesitate to contact staff in the Office of Financial Aid if assistance is needed to complete the application process. Late applicants will not be considered for Federal-Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, and other limited CIA need-based aid programs. less

Contact Information for the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Student Loan Ombudsman's Office is as follows:

E-mail: fsaombudsmanoffice@ed.gov
on-line assistance: http://www.omb... more

Contact Information for the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Student Loan Ombudsman's Office is as follows:

E-mail: fsaombudsmanoffice@ed.gov
on-line assistance: http://www.ombudsman.ed.gov

Telephone:
877-557-2575 (toll free)
202-377-3800
202-275-0549 (fax)
U.S. Department of Education
FSA Ombudsman
830 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C 20202-5144 less