The Financial Aid Process

At Concordia University Chicago, it is important for our students to understand how to apply for financial aid. Below are steps on how to get started.

 

Complete the admission process for your degree of study.

 

The first Step to the Financial Aid Process is to complete your application and enroll in your program. The Office of Financial Aid will be notified by the Office of Graduate Admission when the process has been finalized.

 

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Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA)

 

This online application provided by the U.S. Department of Education must be completed next.  Follow these instructions.

 

• Type in CUC’s Federal School Code: 001666, enabling Concordia University to collect the product.
• To make certain federal aid eligibility every academic year, FASFA must be completed once a year.
• Additional documentation is necessary to present to the Office of Financial Aid to decide qualification. Log into Concordia Connect to observe your required documents.
• Completed FAFSA can be submitted at on the FASFA Student Aid website (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa). Applications are obtainable every year on October 1. Income information is required from a previous tax year.
  • For example, on the FAFSA, students will record their income information from 2017.
• Concordia University will obtain the final FAFSA information within three business days.

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Accept your financial aid award.

 

Those who have finished their FASFA on file will receive an email from the Office of Financial Aid consisting the student’s financial aid award letter and finance aid missing items via Concordia Connect – Student Portal.  Next, students will accept or decline the amount(s) given by their loan/award.  An email will be sent to returning students informing them about new financial aid award availability.

 

Below is information for new and returning students on how to accept or decline their offered amount(s):

• ONLINE ACCEPTANCE: every single student must accept the terms and conditions online. To do so, log into the Concordia Connect Website(https://connect.cuchicago.edu).
• On the left-hand side, click Billing/Financial Aid.
• Under View My Financial Aid Awards in the right-hand column, select Financial Aid Awards.
• Click on the Terms and Conditions
• Read and understand the information, click
• Then, select the Accept Award Offer tab, and continue to accept or decline your aid.

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Complete the required loan documents.

 Using the federal FSA username and password you use to sign the FAFSA application, complete both requirements online at studentsloans.gov.

• Master Promissory Note (MPN): This is the actual loan application.
  • Log in
  • Select Complete Master Promissory Note
  • Choose Subsidized/Unsubsidized
• Direct Loan Entrance Counseling: New borrowers to CUC are to complete Entrance Counseling to obtain a loan.
  • The session will go over your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
  • To be completed, CUC must be listed at the school.
• Avoid Delays: The Office of Financial Aid encourages students to turn in all documents necessary to guarantee the arrival of your student loans in a timely manner.
  • Financial Aid file must be fulfilled at least one week before the end of your enrolled class(-es).
  • If your file is incomplete, your aid will not post and you will have a balance due.
  • Balances that are unpaid will result in a “hold” on your account.
    • Cannot register for additional classes.
    • Cannot receive transcripts or diploma.

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Be aware of important financial aid dates.

 

OCTOBER 1: Complete and submit FASFA as early as October 1 every year.

DECEMBER 1: Priority FASFA Filing Date for Adult Degree students, to be considered for the Illinois MAP Grant program.

• Students will need to describe income information from a previous tax year.

MARCH 1: Financial aid packaging is carried out.

• Students who are accepted with a completed FASFA on file will receive a notification electronically.
• By logging onto Concordia Connect, students can view, accept or decline financial awards.

APRIL 1: Priority FASFA Filing Date for graduate students for all types of aid.

 

First bill due date: Loan requirements and all financial aid forms must be completed by the bill due date.

• IF NOT COMPLETED, student is in charge to make payment arrangements with the Student Business Services Offices.

 

Financial Aid Disbursement Dates: During each period of suitable enrollment, students financial aid will disburse to their account.

• One semester loans (fall-only or spring-only) will be posted on two separate dates: before and after midway point of the term.

 

2019-2020 Disbursement dates for graduate students

• Summer 2019: 5/20/2019 and 7/15/2019
• Fall 2019: 9/9/2019 and 11/4/2019
• Spring 2020: 1/27/2020 and 3/23/2020

 

For more information, go to Concordia University Chicago’s Financial Aid Page (https://gradschool.cuchicago.edu/financial-aid/apply-for-financial-aid/)

 

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