Student Grants and Loans

Grants and loans for college are excellent resources for managing the costs of your education.  Make sure you understand all of your options as you decide the best types of financial aid for you.

 

Grants

Grants are a type of gift aid that don’t need to be repaid. Submitting the FAFSA will serve as your application for the types of grants listed here and there is no separate application. If you qualify, the Financial Aid Office will include the grants as part of your financial aid offer.

Federal Pell Grant

To qualify for a Pell Grant, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident enrolled and pursuing your first Bachelor’s Degree and must demonstrate exceptional need as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.  Be sure to submit your FAFSA so we can determine your eligibility.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

This federal grant is similar to the Pell Grant in that you must be a US citizen or permanent resident enrolled, working on your first Bachelor’s Degree.  Students must have exceptional need to qualify for this grant and it is generally awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  Submit your FAFSA early in the cycle (October – December) to be considered for this fund.

State grants

Ohio is generous with need-based grant for students who have lived in Ohio for at least five years and will remain in the state for college.  Eligibility for this fund, the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, is determined from the FAFSA and student must meet similar criteria as the FAFSA.  Other states may also have funds that can be applied if you attend CCAD.  Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New Jersey residents, in particular, will want to check with your state scholarship agency to see if you qualify.


 

Loans

This information is applicable to the 2021-2022 school year.

Loans are borrowed funds that are intended to be used to help you pay for tuition, books and living expenses.  These loans must be repaid after graduation or at any point that you stop attending college.

Federal Direct Student Loan

The Federal Direct Student Loan program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is available to degree-seeking students who are US citizens or permanent residents enrolled at least half time (six credits for undergraduates, 4.5 credits for graduate students). 

Subsidized Federal Direct Loans do not accumulate interest while you are in college and throughout the six-month grace period.  These loans are only available to undergraduate students and are need-based. CCAD always awards this type of loan whenever possible up to the annual borrowing limits.

Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans are not need based and accumulate interest as soon as the funds are sent to the school. 

Repayment of both subsidized and unsubsidized loans is not required until after a six-month grace period following graduation or withdrawal. 

You will see your maximum loan eligibility on your Financial Aid Offer Letter but then must indicate on the CCAD Finance Plan if you wish to utilize any of your loans.  Students must have completed a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling one time, prior to receiving your initial federal student loan.

If you have not yet completed it, you may complete and submit your CCAD Finance Plan for 2021-22 once you receive a link to the form in your financial aid award notification email.  Only submit this form once, after you have received your Financial Aid Offer Letter.  

 

Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loan)

Parents with an eligible credit history can borrow a PLUS loan to help pay for undergraduate education expenses for their dependent children who are enrolled at least half time at CCAD.  Parents will see the maximum loan eligibility on the Financial Aid Offer Letter but then must go to studentaid.gov to apply for this credit-based loan.  The Department of Education will make the determination of approval.

 

PLUS Loan for Graduate Students

Graduate students are also eligible to borrow under the PLUS Loan Program.  The terms and conditions applicable to the Parent PLUS Loans also apply to the Graduate/Professional PLUS Loans. You must apply for this credit-based loan by logging into studentaid.gov and requesting any amount up to the maximum listed on your Financial Aid Offer Letter.

Changes to loans

To cancel or make changes to your Federal Direct Student or PLUS loan, or to borrow additional funds for the current year:

Click here for 2022-2023

Entrance interview/counseling

Entrance counseling is mandatory for students who are borrowing federal loans for the first time at CCAD.

Exit counseling is mandatory for students who borrowed federal loans at CCAD and who are now withdrawing or graduating.

For more detailed instructions on how to complete exit counseling, click here.

Visit www.studentaid.gov to complete either entrance or exit counseling online.

Alternative student loan

Private lenders provide Alternative Loans to fill gaps between students' financial aid packages and their total educational costs. These loans can be used for more than just tuition, including expenses such as room and board, travel, study abroad, computers and art supplies. Applicants must have an established, positive credit score. A student with no credit will usually need a cosigner. 

CCAD does not have a list of preferred private lenders. FASTChoice lists all of the private loan providers that have made loans to CCAD students in the past five years.To apply for an Alternative Loan, click hereIf you have identified a private lender on your own from whom you wish to borrow, please let the Financial Aid Office know. 


 

Other options & resources in addition to grants & loans for college

On-campus employment

On-campus employment through the Federal College Work-Study Program is part of many CCAD students’ financial aid packages. Students may work up to 15 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during summer and holiday breaks. The CCAD Financial Aid Office will let you know if you qualify.

CCAD has two types of employment programs for on-campus student workers: Federal Work-Study and Student Employment. In order to be awarded Federal Work-Study, you will need to complete a FAFSA. Once you have been hired, the Financial Aid Office will determine which program you will be awarded. Your work-study job won’t affect financial aid eligibility. All employees are paid twice per month and you can either pick-up your check at the One-Stop Student Services Office each payday, or you can complete a form requesting to be paid via Direct Deposit to your checking or savings account.

 

Veterans benefits

CCAD is approved by the State Approving Agency and the Veterans Administration for educational benefits. Individuals qualifying for veterans’ benefits must submit a certificate of eligibility or letter of authorization from the Veterans Administration at the time of or prior to registration. Students should first be accepted to the college before applying for benefits at the Veterans Administration office.

For more information, visit our Veterans Benefits page.

 


 

Have any questions about a form or about a CCAD financial aid deadline? Contact us at 614.222.3295 or [email protected].