Columbus School of Law

Financial Aid >FAQ

- Frequently Asked Questions -

What is the FAFSA?

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is your application for Federal Student Loans. Go to  www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA online and begin the financial aid process.

What is CUA Law School's federal school code?

E00131

What is an EFC?

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) are all considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year.

The information you report on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to calculate your EFC. Schools use the EFC to determine your federal student aid eligibility and financial aid award.

_{Note: Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.}

What is a PIN?

A PIN is a 4-digit number  used in combination with your Social Security Number, name, and date of birth to identify you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on Federal Student Aid Web sites, such as FAFSA on the Web.Your PIN is used to electronically sign the FAFSA. Go to www.pin.ed.gov to apply for, or retrieve a PIN.

What options are available to finance my education?

You can finance your legal education using any or all of the following: University Scholarships, Federal Student loans, private/commercial loans, and/or outside scholarships.

Should I apply for financial assistance?

Can you and your family finance a law school education without help? If you answer no, then you are like the majority of students currently attending CUA - Columbus School of Law. Submitting a Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) will help our office assist you in securing loans from the government's Stafford loan program, which can help you with the costs, associated with your legal education.

This is my first time obtaining a Federal Direct Stafford loan. What documents do I need to fill out?

You must submit a Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA), complete online Entrance Counseling, and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).

What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN)?

The Master Promissory Note (MPN) essentially opens a line of credit for your education expenses during your academic career. When you sign an MPN, you are promising to repay your student loans. The MPN also includes important language about your rights and responsibilities as a borrower.

How long will I keep my MPN?

An MPN is good for 10 years from the date you sign the document. You can use the MPN for any loan period that begins within the 10-year time frame, providing you receive your first loan disbursement within 12 months of the date you sign your MPN.

What is an entrance interview used for?

The entrance interview is a tool that is used to ensure that all new federal Stafford borrowers understand their rights and responsibilities as a federal Stafford loan borrower. Completion of the entrance interview is a federal requirement.

How do I report the financial aid I received last year as part of my income?

Monies you received from loans, grants, and scholarships should not be listed as income on your FAFSA, unless the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxed you on them. If you reported any financial aid money to the IRS, then you must include that total amount as part of your adjusted gross income (AGI) and in the appropriate section in Worksheet C on the FAFSA.

Do I have to pay interest on my student loans?

Depending on your answers on the FAFSA, the federal government will pay the interest on any Subsidized Stafford loans that may be awarded to you while you are in school (at least half-time), in grace period, or during an authorized period of deferment. You are responsible for paying all of the interest that accrues on any Unsubsidized Stafford loans, regardless of the borrower's enrollment/repayment status. You are also responsible for the interest accrued on private loans.

How can I stay informed about Financial Aid: deadlines, policies, and workshops and outside funding opportunities? Please read the financial aid section of Head Notes - this is a weekly CUA - Columbus School of Law publication that's printed every Friday during the academic year (August - May). Read and save a copy of the financial aid packet that our office will be sending to you in the summer with your financial aid notice. Periodically you should take a look at the financial aid bulletin board, which is located outside of our office in Room 314 -- our office regularly posts important information and reminders about key upcoming deadlines and events. Also, we are striving to keep our website updated and useful so that you can go there and get what you need fast and efficiently.

What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from CUA? Students are responsible for following the university's withdrawal procedures. The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act requires the financial aid office to calculate a return of Title IV funds on all federal financial aid students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60-percent attendance point in the term. Note: The Financial Aid's return calculations are independent from the University's Tuition Refund Policy. For more information, please review our Withdrawal Policy & Procedures.

What happens to my financial aid if I don't maintain a satisfactory cumulative GPA? Eligibility for federal student aid requires a student to maintain satisfactory progress in his or her course of study according to the school's published standards of satisfactory progress. The academic rules at the Columbus School of Law define satisfactory progress as "good standing" to be a minimum of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.15 or better as determined at the end of each academic year and a minimum 1.82 GPA in any single semester. For more information, please review our SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) Policy.

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