2023-24 Financial Aid

Understanding your Financial Aid Award

Applying for financial aid doesn't have to be daunting. Our team of financial aid counselors are here to answer questions and help you navigate the process. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or want to discuss the process in more detail.

The Financial Aid Award Letter

Your Financial Aid Award Letter is created based on the results of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Without the FAFSA, we're unable to create a personalized financial aid award for you. If you haven't completed your FAFSA, please start there—learn more about completing the FAFSA.

Cost of Education
The first section of the Award Letter is a breakdown of the Cost of Education. The Cost of Education is used as a basis to determine financial aid eligibility. 

The Cost of Education is broken into two components:

• Direct Costs are expenses that students are billed directly from the college—tuition, fees and room and board, if you live in campus housing, and
• Indirect Costs are expenses that you may incur over the course of the year, including things like art supplies and books, travel, and food and rent, if you do not live in campus housing.

Financial Aid Award
The next section of the Award Letter presents aid you are eligible for, based on the data submitted through your FAFSA. Aid can include federal, state, CIA- and private-funded sources of financial aid. This aid may include loans, grants, and scholarships, and Federal Work-Study.

You can read more about your financial aid award package on Net Partner, where you will review and accept your financial aid.

Review and accept your financial aid award

Net Partner is an online portal where you can review and learn more about the aid awarded to you, determine what documents are needed in order for us to complete your financial aid award, and most importantly, accept your financial aid package. Login to Net Partner at netpartner.cia.edu.

If you are logging into Net Partner for the first time:

• Enter your CIA Student ID, which is found on your Financial Aid Award Letter from CIA, into the User Name box
• Click “First Time User” in the login box
• Answer the security questions, and create your Net Partner password

Missing documents

Your Award Letter may list “Missing Documents.” You can read more about what documents we'll need from you, and where to find them, in Net Partner. It is important to submit these documents before May 1.

Verification from the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects students for verification to determine financial aid eligibility. The verification process requires that our financial aid counselors obtain and review additional documentation and, based on our review, finalize your financial aid eligibility. Read more about the Verification process here. 

As soon as the verification process has been completed, you will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid to review and accept your financial aid award online at Net Partner.

If you are selected for verification, you'll need to submit a 2023-24 Verification Worksheet (dependent student form or independent student form). We may also ask for additional information to complete the verification process. This additional information may include:

• Your 2021 IRS Tax transcript or a copy of your 2021 tax return

• Your parents' 2021 IRS Tax Transcript or a copy of their 2021 tax return

• A Low Income Verification Form (dependent student or independent student) if the income provided on the FAFSA is below the Federal poverty levels

• Students and/or their parents who did not or were not required to submit an IRS Tax Return must provide documentation from the IRS indicating that an income tax return was not filed. You can obtain the letter from the IRS by completing an IRS form 4506-T and checking box 7. You can download the IRS 4506-T form here.

   

Federal student and parent loans

If you choose to accept Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans you will need to complete a Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) (sometimes called a Loan Agreement for a Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Federal Loan) and Entrance Counseling. Your loan(s) will not be disbursed unless both documents are completed. Loans will be cancelled if both documents are not completed prior to October 1.

• The Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your federal student loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees. There is one MPN for Federal Direct Subsidized/ Unsubsidized Loans and a different MPN for Federal Direct PLUS Loans. 

• Entrance Counseling is a tool the US Department of Education offers that helps first-time loan recipients understand their rights, responsibilities, and obligations as a student loan recipient. Participating in Entrance Counseling is required prior to receiving Federal loans.

• Use your FSA ID User Name and Password to login and and complete your Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling at the Federal Student Loans website. 

  For more information regarding loans for students and parent borrowers, visit our Loans page.

Other Financing Options

We’re glad to discuss with you options for financing what you might still owe after receiving your financial aid award. Options include payment plans, private scholarships and loans, the Federal Parent PLUS program, and private education loans. Often a combination of these options work best for many families.

We're here to help