Financial Aid Guidelines

Important notices for students needing financial aid:

• It is the student's responsibility to ensure that processing of the financial aid package is complete before clearance for registration. Clearance is the initial step in the process leading to registration for classes. Any student seeking to register for classes must go to the FIDM Student Financial Services Office to be "financially cleared" (i.e., by meeting the tuition payments as specified on the "Tuition Schedule").
• To be considered for financial aid, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and return it to the college.
• If additional information or documentation is requested by the FIDM Student Financial Services Office, it is the student's responsibility to comply with the request. Students participating in one or more government aid programs as a means of meeting tuition/fee expenses must supply all information/documentation requested by their FIDM Student Financial Services Counselor. The documentation requested is to ensure that students with financial need are the recipients of government assistance.
• Applicants should check the status of their application to insure proper processing.
• Federal aid programs are awarded on a fiscal year basis, beginning July 1 and ending June 30. Thus, an applicant may need to apply for aid more than once during an academic or calendar year. Important: Federal Aid applications for State Grant programs are available in January of each year. The filing deadline is March 2.
• Students receiving any type of aid must make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of a specific educational program. Failure to do so may result in the termination or reduction of financial aid.
• Proof of attendance, on a quarterly basis, is required before any aid may be disbursed. Student eligibility for a maximum award requires full-time (12 units per quarter) attendance at the college.
• Aid is given on a first- come, first-served basis.
• All financial aid must be awarded before the student may register for classes.
• The college, as a trustee of federal and state funds, must administer assistance programs in such a manner as to ensure strict compliance with regulations governing financial aid.