GENERACIÓN E INSTALACIÓN DEL PAR DE CLAVES CRIPTOGRÁFICAS

Financial Assistance

Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. The Institute participates in a variety of financial aid programs for the benefit of students. Students must meet the eligibility requirements of these programs in order to participate. All financial aid programs are administered in accordance with prevailing federal and state laws and its own institutional policies, where applicable. Students are responsible for providing all requested documentation in a timely manner. Failure to do so could jeopardize the student’s financial aid eligibility. In order to remain eligible for financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined in this catalog and any additional addendums. It is recommended that students apply for financial aid as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for application processing, to meet all deadlines, and to maximize aid eligibility. Financial aid must be approved, and all necessary documentation completed, before the aid can be applied to the student’s account. Financial aid is awarded on an award year basis; therefore, depending on the length of the program, it may be necessary to re-apply for aid for each award year. Students may have to apply for financial aid more than once during the calendar year, depending on their date of enrollment. Students who need additional information and guidance should contact the Financial Aid Office.

How to Apply

Students who want to apply for federal aid (and state aid, if applicable) must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This application is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applications are processed

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through the Financial Aid Office and all information is confidential. Students must be accepted for admission before financial aid applications can be processed.

Financial aid funds are typically sent directly to the school. If the financial aid awarded is not sufficient to cover a student’s educational expenses, the student must make alternative arrangements to pay the difference in full by the end of the payment period. Students who have applied for financial aid and have been awarded aid are not required to make a payment by the payment deadline provided their aid is sufficient to cover their direct charges, and all required paperwork has been completed and received.

For detailed information on all financial aid awards, processes, requirements, and deadlines, please refer to the school's current Financial Aid Guide, the Student Consumer Information of the school’s website, or contact the Student Financial Services Office directly.

Estimated Cost of Attendance Budget

The cost of attendance budget, also referred to as the cost of education, is an estimate of the total amount of money it will cost a student to attend school per academic year. Each school calculates this amount using rules established by the U.S. Department of Education. The cost of attendance budget may include tuition and fees, books and supplies, loan fees, an allowance for food, housing and transportation, as well as miscellaneous or personal expenses. In addition to helping a student project his/her total education costs, the cost of attendance budget is also used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student is allowed to receive for a particular period of enrollment. For further details or an estimated cost of attendance budget, please refer to the Student Consumer Information website pages.

Enrollment Level

The number of credits that a student is registered for can directly impact their financial aid eligibility both in the current award year and in future award years. Students attending less than full time are eligible for less financial aid than full time students. Full time enrollment and taking a full load of classes are not the same even though financial aid eligibility may be the same. Maximizing credit amounts in each term attended (full load) is more likely to advance a student to the next grade level sooner and to prolong aid availability through a students’ program.

Eligibility Requirements

General eligibility requirements for federal financial aid are as follows.

Students must:

 Be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or an eligible non-citizen  Have a valid Social Security number

 Possess a high school diploma, or a General Education Development (GED) certificate  If male, be registered with the Selective Service

 Be enrolled at least half-time per semester and maintain satisfactory academic progress in an eligible degree program

 Demonstrate financial need (except for some loan programs)

 Not owe a refund on a federal student grant and not in default on federal student loan.

 Sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that the student does not owe a refund on a federal student grant and is not in default on a federal student loan

 Not have been convicted of certain drug offenses

Non-matriculated, students-at-large, or transient students are not eligible for financial aid. Not all programs are financial aid eligible. For a list of programs eligible for financial aid, contact the Financial Services department.

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Financial Aid Programs College-Sponsored Scholarships

These funds typically do not have to be repaid.

The Art Institute High School Scholarship Competition

Graduating high school students are eligible to compete for scholarships at The Art Institute of Houston and its branch campuses. Students can compete for scholarships in each program of study offered at each campus, where a

committee of faculty from that program selects winners based on a review of the applicant’s portfolio work, projects, essays, high school achievement, and letters of recommendation. Entry requirements vary by program. The deadline for entering is in February. Contact the admissions office at the location of choice for rules and entry forms.

Other College-Sponsored Scholarships

Other college-sponsored scholarships are available at each location to new and continuing students. These may include the Imagine America Scholarship, Quarterly Academic Scholarship which is awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance in their major and may be selected for the scholarship in the principle academic departments of the school (Houston main campus only), The Art Institutes Merit Award which is awarded to new and continuing students based on a student’s academic merit and financial need, and The Education Foundation Scholarships. Specific scholarship availability depends on location and eligibility. Please contact the admissions office for more information.

Education Foundation Scholarships

The Education Foundation was established in 2000 to offer scholarship support to students interested in continuing their education in one of the postsecondary, career-focused schools in the EDMC system. The number and amount of the awards can vary depending on the funds available. Scholarship applications are considered every quarter. Awards are made based on academic performance and potential, as well as financial need.

The Art Institutes National Scholarships

These funds do not have to be repaid.

Students at The Art Institute of Houston and its branch campuses are eligible for scholarships awarded by several national

education associations. Some of these are listed below. The admissions or student financial services offices can provide more information on these competitions, as well as where to research additional scholarship opportunities. The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Scholarship Competition

Prospective students who are interested in entering a design or media arts program at any Art Institute may compete in The Art

Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Scholarship Competition for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to approximately

$88,000 (full tuition). The competition has two categories, one for graduating high school students and one for high school graduates.

One local winner in each category from each Art Institutes location advances to the national competition. The deadline for entering is in

January. Contact the admissions office for rules and entry forms.

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Prospective students who are interested in entering any Culinary program at any Art Institutes location offering Culinary are eligible to compete for scholarships up to $4,000. The competition has two categories, one for graduating high school students and one for high

school graduates. To enter the competition, entrants submit a written entry that includes original recipes and an essay and submission of transcript. The deadline for entering is in January. Contact the admissions office for rules and entry forms.

The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Scholarship Competition

Graduating high school students interested in either Fashion Design or Fashion & Retail Management are eligible to compete for scholarships ranging from $4,000 to approximately $44,000 (half tuition). Depending on the category, entrants must submit a garment design, vision board, as well as an essay. One local winner from each Art Institutes location offering fashion programs advances to the national competition. The deadline for entries is in February. Contact the admissions office for rules and entry forms.

Evelyn Keedy Memorial Scholarship

High school seniors who show dedication to their education and a desire for a creative career may apply for the Evelyn Keedy Memorial Scholarship through The Art Institutes. One full-tuition, two-year scholarship is awarded each year. Deadline to apply is in the beginning of May. Details and applications may be obtained by contacting the

admissions office.

National Art Honor Society Scholarship

High school seniors who belong to the National Art Honor Society may apply for an Art Institutes National Art Honor Society

Scholarship. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $20,000. Details may be obtained by calling the admissions office. SkillsUSA Championship

Students who are members of SkillsUSA may compete in local, state, and national championships. The winners of the national championships are awarded the following scholarships. Winners of the Advertising Design, Culinary, and Photography championships

will be awarded a $20,000 tuition scholarship. Winners of the 3D Visualization and Animation, Web Design, and Television Production championships will be awarded a $10,000 tuition scholarship. Each Art Institute has a limited number of scholarships. Winners are permitted to choose The Art Institute location of their choice and scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. National championships are held in June. For details, visit the SkillsUSA Web site: www.skillsusa.org or call 703.777.8810. Winners of the SkillsUSA competition may contact Julie Walsh at The Art Institutes at 1.800.275.2440 for scholarship details.

Scholastic Arts & Writing Competition

Four $10,000 scholarships will be awarded by The Art Institutes to the Scholastic National Award Recipients on a first-come-first- served basis. For information, visit the Scholastic Web site at www.scholastic.com/artandwriting or call 212.343.6100. National Award Recipients must contact Julie Walsh at The Art Institutes at 1.800.275.2440 as soon as they are notified of the award.

C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Education Arts Program)

C-Cap students may compete for one full-tuition, two-year scholarship to be applied at The Art Institute location of their choice. Only students enrolled in a C-Cap program are eligible for this scholarship. For more information, visit

www.starchefs.com/features/c- cap/html.

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Upon enrolling in The Art Institute of Houston or any of its branch campuses and before starting classes, students can begin an Early Payment Plan that allows them to begin making payments months before their classes begin. By spreading tuition payments out over a longer period of time, monthly payments are lower.

Other Aid Programs

Federal College Work Study

These funds are earned.

The Federal Work-Study program provides students the opportunity to meet part of their education expenses by working part-time on- or off-campus. Students can earn up to the amount of their unmet need (the difference between expenses and all resources). A limited number of assignments are available and students must apply and qualify for each position. Not all qualifying students can be provided with a Federal Work-Study position. Priority is given to students with the greatest financial need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA.

Federal Pell Grant

Grants are financial awards that do not need to be repaid. The Federal Pell Grant is based on financial need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA, for undergraduate students who do not already have a bachelor or professional degree. Students must file the FAFSA in order to apply and are encouraged to file online at

www.fafsa.gov. Eligibility is determined by a standard U.S. Department of Education formula, which calculates family size, income and other resources of the student and of the parents, if the student is considered a dependent student for federal aid purposes. The actual amount of the award is based upon the cost of attendance, enrollment status, and the amount of money appropriated by Congress to fund the program. Congress reserves the right to amend this and all federal aid programs at any time. Students are limited to 12 semesters or 18 quarters of lifetime eligibility. Students are encouraged to know their current total pell amount received and can check their status at www.nslds.ed.gov.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG is a federal grant program administered by the school for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, with priority given to students with current Federal Pell Grant eligibility. There is a limited amount of funds and the school will determine to whom and how much it will award based on federal guidelines. The school cannot guarantee that every eligible student will receive a grant.

Federal Direct Loan Program

Loans are sources of financial aid that must be repaid. Federal Direct Loans are fixed rate low-interest loans that are made to the student by the federal government. Application for the Direct Loan is through the FAFSA and is not based on credit or income. Subsidized loans are need based for those students who demonstrate sufficient financial need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA. Students will not be charged interest on a subsidized loan while they are enrolled in a degree program at least half time or during periods of deferment. Unsubsidized loans are not need based and interest will accrue beginning at disbursement until the loan is paid in full. Students can choose to pay the interest as it is charged or they can choose to have it capitalized on their loan amount, increasing the overall amount due at time of repayment. Repayment of subsidized and unsubsidized loans begins six months after the student graduates, withdraws from school, or falls below half-time enrollment status. Students must also complete a federal Master Promissory Note (MPN) along with an Entrance Interview in order for the loan to be certified by the school and funds to be sent to the school on behalf of the student. Please check with the Student Financial Services office for subsidized and unsubsidized interest rates.

Students are eligible for yearly loan amounts based on the their academic level in school, also in consideration of any previous borrowing at this or any other institution within the academic year. Students are eligible for a fixed amount of Federal Direct Loan money for their complete educational career, called their aggregate maximum. Students are

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encouraged to know their current federal loan yearly and aggregate amount that they have borrowed at all times. Students can find their current loan information at www.nslds.ed.gov.

Yearly Loan Limits

Dependent Independent

Freshmen $5,500 $9,500

Sophomores $6,500 $10,500 Third and Fourth Year $7,500 $12,500 Graduate Students $20,500 Aggregate Loan Limits

• $31,000 as a dependent undergraduate (up to $23,000 may be subsidized).

• $57,500 as an independent undergraduate (only $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans).

 $138,500 as a graduate student (only $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans). The graduate debt limit includes any Stafford loans received for undergraduate study.

• $224,000 as a graduate student who also qualifies for the additional unsubsidized loan for health professions. (only 65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans). This limit includes all other undergraduate and graduate Stafford loans.

Federal Perkins Loan

The Perkins loan is a federal subsidized need based loan administered by the school. Application is done through the FAFSA and financial need is determined through the results of the FAFSA. The Perkins loan has a fixed interest rate of 5%. Interest does not accrue while the student is enrolled at least half time and for a period of 9 months after

dropping below half time status. Funds are extremely limited and therefore not always available.

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students - PLUS

The PLUS loan, is available to parents of dependent undergraduate students only. PLUS loans are fixed interest rate loans that are not based on need. The PLUS loan amount cannot exceed the student’s cost of education minus all other financial aid resources the student is receiving. The student must complete the FAFSA. A credit check is required of the parent borrower and either or both parents may borrow through this program. If a parent is denied the PLUS loan the student is automatically eligible for the independent Direct Loan amount for that year. This additional amount is unsubsidized only. Repayment begins within 60 days of final disbursement of the loan within a loan period and deferment options may be available.

Federal Work Study (FWS)

FWS is a federal financial aid program designed to assist students in meeting the cost of their education by working part-time while attending school. Positions may either be on-campus, off-campus, or in a community service position. A candidate must demonstrate financial need, as determined by the results of the FAFSA, to be awarded FWS.

Students earn at least the federal minimum wage. The number of positions and the award amount available may be limited depending upon the institution’s annual funding allocation from the federal government.

Private Loans

Students may choose to borrow additional funds through various lending institutions to help cover the gap between the cost of education and the total amount of their financial aid. These loans are credit based and a co-signer may be required to meet the program’s credit criteria or to lower the interest rate. Interest rates can be variable or fixed and are typically based on the prime rate or the Treasury Bill. It is suggested to exhaust all other forms of financial aid, including federal loans, before applying for a private loan. Please see the Student Financial Services office for lender options, disclosures, and the Student Lending Code of Conduct. Students are free to choose any lender of choice.

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