I am not interested in loans. Should I apply for federal aid anyway?

  • Yes. Many students who are not interested in loans do not submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) and, therefore, are not considered for Federal Work Study, Federal TEACH Grant or need-based fellowships. It is important that all domestic students file a FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Please note that you must submit a FAFSA each year.

May I request additional Fellowship?

  • Yes, you may contact your department representative, or the Assistant Director of Admissions, to discuss the level of your fellowship and submit any necessary appeal. Know that your current level of fellowship is honored throughout your coursework as long as Satisfactory Academic Progress is maintained.

If I do not enroll full-time, am I entitled to my fellowship award?

  • All fellowship awards are based on the exact number of units that you enroll in. All fellowships are reviewed and adjusted after the add/drop period each semester. You may use the Fellowship Calculator to estimate what amount of fellowship you will receive in a given term.

What is the minimum number of units I need to enroll in to be eligible for Federal Aid (Direct Loan, Grad PLUS, Work Study, etc.)?

  • Students must be enrolled in a minimum of four degree-seeking units or Doctoral Studies/Continuous Registration.

What is the “Cost of Attendance?”

  • The student’s cost of attendance includes not only tuition and fees, but also living expenses, supplies and more while attending CGU. We adhere to guidelines established by federal government to determine the Cost of Attendance figures. Please note that the figures listed are not your actual costs and you are encouraged to seek assistance in establishing a student budget.

What are the Federal Loan limits for graduate students?

  • Eligible U.S. Citizens and permanent residents may qualify for up to $20,500 each year in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans or up to $138,500 in their academic career. Additionally, students may qualify for a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan to cover expenses up to the Cost of Attendance.

What if my loan is not enough to cover all of my expenses?

  • You may apply for
    • Off campus scholarships through various online search engines or schedule an appointment to use CGU’s Advancement Office’s searchable database
    • External Fellowship Support using our Fellowship Support list
      • Contact us for more details
    • Seek on/near campus employment on Handshake
    • Seek Research of Teaching Assistantships with your academic department or another Claremont College campus
    • You may apply for a PLUS Loan on Studentloans.gov.

What is verification?

  • A student’s financial aid application may be selected for review by the Federal Processor. If selected, the applicant must submit all requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office for review. This involves cross-checking information from all documentation (including the application) related to earned income, untaxed income, expenses, assets, liabilities and household size. This process is called Verification.

When do disbursements occur?

  • Loan disbursements begin one week prior to classes beginning and are applied directly towards any tuition charges. If a credit exists, then a refund may be generated by the Student Accounts Office within 72 business hours. All fellowship disbursements occur after the add/drop date each semester and if a credit exists, then a refund will be generated within 72 business hours. To determine if you will have a credit, please refer to your Invoice on your MyCGU Student Portal under My Bill. Please be sure to account for any fellowship adjustments based on your exact unit enrollment.

For more questions, contact us: