Financial Aid

 

Grants

Pell Grant

What is a Pell Grant?

The Pell grant is considered gift aid and therefore does not need to be repaid. It is intended to assist students who have not yet earned or met the requirements for a first bachelor's degree and who are attending school at least part time.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

Your eligibility for a Pell Grant is determined by using a formula developed and approved by the U.S. Congress. The information you provide on your FAFSA is used in this calculation. If you receive full time Pell Grant during both fall and spring semesters, you will NOT have Pell eligibility for summer session.

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid

  1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the following financial aid programs:

    Grants
    Pell, SEOG, LEAP

    Loans
    Federal Direct Loans-Subsidized and Unsubsidized
    Federal Perkins Loan
    Parent Loan for Undergraduate

    Federal Work Study
    On and Off campus Jobs

    Renewal Process : If you attended CSI last year and applied for federal aid, you should have received a U.S. Department of Education PIN number in the mail. Using your PIN, file a Renewal FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you have not received a PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov and apply for a new PIN.
  2. FAFSA Follow-up: If you provide your email address on the FAFSA, you'll receive an email link to your processed FAFSA information on the web. Otherwise, your Student Aid Report will arrive in the mail in 2-4 weeks. Corrections may be made using your PIN at www.fafsa.ed.gov
  3. Respond Promptly to any additional request for information from the CSI Office of Financial Aid.
  4. Review Your Award Letter that will be sent to you by postal mail. It will indicate the types and amounts of aid you are eligible to receive. If you are a first time borrower at CSI, you will need to complete the Entrance Counseling at www.csi.edu/financialaid

What you will need to complete the 2007/2008 FAFSA...

  • CSI School Code: 001619
  • Your Social Security card and driver's license
  • If dependent, Social Security numbers and dates of birth for parent(s) providing income information on your FAFSA
  • W-2 Forms and records of money earned in 2006
  • 2006 U.S. income tax return (IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ or 1040 Telefile for you, your spouse (if married), and parents (if you are a dependent student)
  • Records of other untaxed income received in 2006 such as welfare, Social Security, TANF, TAFI, Child Support, or Veteran's Benefits
  • Current bank statements
  • Business and farm records
  • Records of stocks, bonds, CD's, and other investments
  • Your Alien Registration card, if you are not a U.S. Citizen
  • You/your parent's U.S. Dept. of Ed. PIN if filing online

You're considered independent if

  • You are 24 years of age or older OR
  • You are married when you apply OR
  • At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program OR
  • You have children that receive more than half of their support from you OR
  • You have dependents other than your children or spouse that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2008 OR
  • Both parents are deceased or if you are/were (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court OR
  • You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

Obtaining your PIN

All students and parents of dependent students should request a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. Your PIN remains the same from year to year, so keep it in a safe place and never give it to anyone. With your PIN, you and your parent can electronically sign your online FAFSA, making the application process simpler and faster.