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This Information Guide has been developed to help explain financial aid for graduate students at Chapman University and to acquaint students with the terms and conditions of receiving financial aid. The guide contains important information. Please bookmark this guide and contact the Office of Graduate Financial Aid if you need further information or have questions about any of the information provided here.
The information contained in this guide is current as of August 2018, and is subject to revision should federal, state, or institutional policies change. This guide is updated and revised each year.
The Office of Graduate Financial Aid makes every attempt to keep students informed on new laws and regulations. Students will be informed of changes via e-mail, letters, the website, and telephone communications. Students are strongly encouraged to check their Chapman University email often for communication from the Office of Graduate Financial Aid.
The Graduate Financial Aid Student Information Guide supersedes all previous guides and the policies expressed in the guide are controlling for the 2018-2019 academic year, regardless of any policies stated in any previous guide or in any other communication, verbal or written.
Tel: (714)628-2730
Fax: (714)628-2571
Office of Graduate Financial Aid
Bhathal Hall, Suite 100
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
Main Campus (Orange) Bhathal Hall, Suite 100
Monday-Friday 9-5
Rinker Health Science Campus (Irvine) 9401 Jeronimo Road, Room 122
Monday-Thursday 9-5
During particularly busy times of the year, such as the first two weeks of the term, our hours may vary. We encourage students to call to confirm operating hours for the week.
Chapman University and the U.S. Department of Education provide many tools to assist incoming students in understanding financial aid and the financial aid process as well as statistics for the University.
When you apply for financial aid, you will be asked to provide a considerable amount of detailed information. It is extremely important that the information is accurate. Take your time when filling out the forms. Inaccurate data will cause delays. Also, be aware that most graduate students are considered Independent, thus parent information is not required on the FAFSA (Exception – Teaching Credential Students not in a Master’s program are considered 5th year Undergraduate Students and parent information may be required).
If you have any questions regarding completion of the FAFSA or any required documents or forms, please contact the Office of Graduate Financial Aid.
Financial Aid may be renewed for successive years, but you must apply for it each school year by completing a FAFSA, or renewal FAFSA.
Fellowship/Scholarship: Students receiving these awards should refer to their original offer letters for the specific criteria of renewal. Students can also check with their school or department for the criteria to renew these awards. A FAFSA is usually not required to receive or renew a merit fellowship or scholarship.
The specific amount of financial aid awarded to you may differ each year. These differences could be the result of several factors including changes in law and regulations, and/or changes in tuition charges and other expenses.
The costs associated with attending Chapman University can be divided into two categories: instructional and non-instructional. Instructional costs consist of tuition, fees, books, and supplies. These costs are the same, or nearly the same, for each individual enrolled in a program.
Non-instructional costs include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and other personal expenses.
In accordance with standards established by federal law, the Office of Graduate Financial Aid has developed estimates of non-instructional costs that are based on federal criteria. Your actual expenses may be different. The cost estimates do not include expenses for child care or excessive medical expenses or excessive transportation costs. If you have these expenses and they are not being covered by assistance from a government or private agency, you may request and increase in your federal loan eligibility by completing a Budget Increase Request on our Forms Page and submitting to the Office of Graduate Financial Aid. These costs will be reviewed and a determination of additional eligibility will be made. Please complete the form after you have received your first award letter and have determined the assistance you have been offered is insufficient to enable you to attend school.
Be sure to check out the current Cost of Attendance.
Chapman University offers a payment plan to help you spread your expenses over the semester. This payment plan works in conjunction with your financial aid. Details about this program are available from the Office of Student Business Services.
After your eligibility has been determined, Chapman University will make an offer of financial aid. The Office of Graduate Financial Aid will likely combine funds from various aid programs into a “package” of assistance.
Fellowships/scholarships may be awarded by your individual department. These may be awarded as a designated dollar amount or as a percentage of the tuition cost. Fellowships or scholarships are eligible to cover tuition only, they cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
Federal Direct Loans are awarded after any fellowship/scholarships have been considered. Graduate students can receive up to $20,500 in Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan per year. Teaching Credential students can be awarded up to $12,500 (some of which may be Subsidized). The Graduate PLUS Loan can be used to fill in any remaining gaps in cost. Please keep in mind the Graduate PLUS does require a credit worthy applicant.
Federal Work Study may be available, but is not automatically awarded to graduate students. Since many graduate programs are particularly rigorous, outside work may not be recommended. Students who are interested in work study should contact the Office of Graduate Financial Aid to find out if they are eligible. Recipients of these awards are contingent upon finding an on-campus job.
The Office of Graduate Financial Aid will notify students when they have been awarded financial aid. New students will receive an award letter in the mail. Returning students will be notified via their Chapman University email address that the award can be viewed through their Student Portal.
All fellowships and scholarships will be automatically accepted.
Students may accept or decline the loans online using the Student Portal.
For most financial aid programs, assistance will be posted to the student’s account during the first week of classes each term provided they are registered in the expected number of units. For students who receive award letters or accept aid after the start of classes, disbursement will take place as soon as possible after all requirements are met.
For students receiving a fellowship or scholarship based on a percentage of tuition in a program with tuition charged per unit, initial awards will be based on an estimated unit load. The fellowship or scholarship will be revised at the beginning of the term and again after add/drop to ensure that the fellowship is awarded correctly. Please be aware that if students drop classes after the fellowship has disbursed they may be responsible for returning some funds to the university.
First time loan borrowers at Chapman University must participate in online loan counseling and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) prior to receiving funds. (See “Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling”).
For most students, loan funds are disbursed during the first week of the term provided the aforementioned requirements are met and the student is enrolled at least half-time.
If disbursement of financial aid results in a credit balance on the student’s account, the Office of Student Business Services can issue a refund in the amount of the credit balance. Please contact the Office of Student Business Services for more information.
Financial Aid funds cannot be disbursed before classes begin. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Students must notify the Office of Graduate Financial Aid immediately if they are receiving an award not listed on their initial award letter or Student Portal or if their enrollment status or housing status should change as these changes may impact their current award.
This includes any Federal, State, Institutional, or private awards students are receiving.
The Federal Government requires that students who receive loan funds for the first time at Chapman University must complete Federal Loan Counseling and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each loan they are requesting. No funds can be released until these requirements have been met. Step-by-step instructions for online loan counseling and completion of the MPN can be found on the Loans page.
Loan Entrance Counseling can be completed online at studentloans.gov. Please do not email any PDFs, as we require the electronic documents sent directly from the Department of Education.
For students who receive a credit decision of “denied” on the Graduate PLUS Loan, additional loan counseling is required, even if the credit decision is appealed or if an endorser is added. The additional counseling is called “PLUS Counseling” and can be completed online at studenloans.gov.
The Federal Government requires that all students leaving the University for any reason (even temporarily) complete Loan Exit counseling. This requirement applies even if the student intends to return to Chapman University after a leave of absence.
Students will need their FSA ID, the name, address, and telephone number of their next of kin, two references, and employer after graduation (if they have one). At the end of the loan counseling students will be given an exam, to test their understanding of the material. The results of the completed loan counseling will be sent to the Office of Graduate Financial Aid electronically.
By law, all financial aid recipients are obligated to notify the Office of Graduate Financial Aid if receiving scholarships, grants, or loans from a source outside of the university. Federal regulations require that the combination of a student’s total awards cannot exceeded the student’s Cost of Attendance. If a student’s eligibility has not been met, a change to their award may not be necessary. In some cases, outside awards may cause an adjustment to a student’s current eligibility. In all cases, the Office of Graduate Financial Aid will attempt to reduce loans and work study before touching fellowships and scholarships.
In order to receive financial aid, federal law requires that students be admitted to the university without any restrictions. This includes the number of units they may take or the number of semesters in which they can enroll. Most students are admitted without any limitations, but enrollment restrictions are placed on some graduate students who are admitted conditionally or provisionally. As a result, financial aid is unavailable until appropriate documents are submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission, and the student’s status is changed to regular admission.
For most federal and state financial aid programs, students must enroll at least part-time (4.5 units for most graduate students, 6 units for JD students). All classes must be applicable to the student’s degree.
Classes offered as “extended education” are not eligible for financial funding and cannot be used to determine part-time or full-time status.
Federal rules permit students to receive financial aid from only one school at a time. If you are attending another college, university, vocational, or another school, you must decide if you would like to apply for assistance from Chapman University or from the other school. Classes counted toward enrollment specified on your award letter must be taken only at Chapman University.
For the purpose of determining financial aid eligibility, interterm enrollment is combined with spring semester enrollment. For instance, a graduate student would be considered full-time if enrolled in three units during interterm and six units during spring semester (for a total of nine). Federal regulations require students to enroll at least part-time to be eligible for assistance from most aid programs.
Graduate students may be charged tuition for interterm classes. Financial aid may be available to assist these students with tuition charges only. If so, the all assistance can only be disbursed after the start of spring semester. Interterm enrollment usually consists of no more than three units, which is less-than-half-time. Only when students start attending spring semester can they achieve a part-time attendance status.
The academic year for students in the Graduate School of Health Sciences is automatically assumed to be the full calendar year, split in three trimesters (including summer). Students in other graduate or law programs are given an initial aid offer that covers the standard fall/spring academic year (9 months). For students who take at least a half-time course load in the summer semester who have exhausted their academic year aid eligibility and need additional assistance to cover summer, will need to complete a Summer Application. It is recommended that the student fill out the form once they have registered for summer courses so that the Office of Graduate Financial Aid can increase the student’s budget and award financial aid accurately.
Federal Law requires that financial aid recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their educational objectives. The law encourages students to maintain specific minimum grade point averages, satisfactory complete a specific number of units each term or year, and finish their educational objectives within a specific period of time. The law further requires that all terms of attendance be considered, including terms in which financial aid was not received.
For programs more than one year in length, academic records will be evaluated at the end of each academic year to determine if satisfactory academic progress standards are achieved. Programs that are one academic year in length academic records are evaluated at the end of each term. To continue receiving federal aid the following minimum academic standards must be met:
Graduate students must maintain grade point averages sufficient to allow their continued enrollment as stated in the university catalog. This requirement is monitored by the Registrar and each graduate school.
Graduate students may not have a current or cumulative GPA less than 2.000.
Grades
The only grades that meet satisfactory academic progress standards are A, B, C, D, and P. Withdrawal (W), incomplete (I), not passing (NP) and “F” grades are not passing grades. Challenge exams, audited courses, and non-credit enrichment courses are not considered.
Grades are required when evaluating satisfactory academic progress. Students who have not been graded (i.e. have grades missing from their official transcripts) for a prior period of enrollment cannot be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress and are there for suspended from financial aid. Eligibility will be restored when the missing grades are reported, and the student meets all applicable satisfactory academic progress standards.
Graduate students must complete at least two-thirds of all the units recorded on their official graduate transcripts from the time of first attendance in a graduate program at Chapman. Thus, a first semester student who enrolls in 9 units, withdraws from three units, and successfully completes the remaining six units, would be meeting the quantitative measure requirement since the student passed at least two-thirds (6 out of 9) of the units in which he or she enrolled.
This policy applies to cumulative units only. Thus, a student who successfully completes 21 units without withdrawing from any classes and then enrolls in six units but withdraws from them would still be making satisfactory progress because the student would have completed 21 out of 27 total units, which is greater than two-thirds.
Students must complete their educational objectives within a reasonable period of time. To accommodate all graduate students and their schedules, this “reasonable period” is not measured chronologically, but by the number of semester hours that are recorded on the student’s graduate transcript. The time limit is based on the number of units required for graduation multiplied by 150 percent. For instance, students who are required to earn 30 semester hours for graduation can apply for financial aid for the first 45 hours in which they enroll (30 units times 150 percent).
This policy refers to all semester hours in which a student enrolls. Thus, a student who enrolls in nine units but withdraws from three would be considered to have utilized nine units of the maximum number allowed.
Students must complete their educational objectives within a reasonable period of time. To accommodate all graduate students and their schedules, this “reasonable period” is not measured chronologically, but by the number of semester hours that are recorded on the student’s graduate transcript. The time limit is based on the number of units required for graduation multiplied by 150 percent. For instance, students who are required to earn 30 semester hours for graduation can apply for financial aid for the first 45 hours in which they enroll (30 units times 150 percent).
This policy refers to all semester hours in which a student enrolls. Thus, a student who enrolls in nine units but withdraws from three would be considered to have utilized nine units of the maximum number allowed.
Graduate students who did not successfully complete at least two thirds of their units during an evaluation period will have their aid reinstated when they achieve completion of at least two-thirds.
There is no reinstatement for students who exceed the time limit except by petition.
Students may appeal for reinstatement from suspension if they, a spouse, or dependent children, have experienced, illness that prevented class attendance for an extended period of time; they have experienced a death in the immediate family (parents, siblings, spouse, or dependent children); or they have experienced some extraordinary situation that prevented them from meeting the minimum standards.
In cases of illness or disability, a letter of explanation is needed from a health care provider.
In cases of death, the student must provide a copy of the death certificate, funeral program, or obituary notice from a reputable newspaper.
In cases of mitigating circumstance, the student must provide a written explanation of the cause of the problem and how it has been resolved. The student should provide as much appropriate supporting documentation as possible.
Exceptions to federal policy can be made only for mitigating circumstances that are exceptional and non-recurring in nature.
The appeal for reinstatement from suspension must be in writing and must explain the cause of the academic difficulty and how the situation has been resolved. If the reason for the non-satisfactory academic progress is that the time limit has been exceeded, the student also must provide a copy of his or her degree audit indicating the classes that have been taken and those still needed for graduation.
Students may appeal for reinstatement and be put on SAP Probation a maximum of two times during their attendance at Chapman.
Federal Work Study allows students to earn funds to assist in paying for anything included in the Cost of Attendance. Graduate students are not automatically awarded work study. I a student would like to receive works study, typically they will pursue employment with the Office of Student Employment first, and then visit the Office of Graduate Financial aid to assess eligibility and add work study to the awards. Graduate students must be enrolled at least half time in order to utilize Federal Work Study. A Federal Work Study award does not automatically qualify a student for a job. As with any job, students will need to meet the qualifications specified by the employing department. A listing of job openings is kept in the Office of Student Employment. Student employees are paid bi-weekly. Payroll checks are available from the Cashier’s Office.
A student may work up to 19 hours per week.
Pay rates are the same or comparable to non-Work-Study jobs. No job pays less than the current state set minimum wage.
Work-Study is a need-based financial aid award.
If you are awarded a Federal Direct Loan, information about the application procedures will be included with your award letter. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. A subsidized loan is one in which the Federal Government pays the interest during deferment periods. Subsidized are not available to graduate students (with the exception of students enrolled in the teaching credential program who are considered 5th year undergraduates). Students are always responsible for paying the interest on unsubsidized loans. Your annual borrowing limit may be affected by the cumulative amount you have already borrowed. Aggregate loan limits are explained in the loan application, Chapman University's financial aid webpage, and publications from the U.S. Department of Education. First-time borrowers must participate in loan counseling, which will further acquaint them with all terms and conditions of the loan and of their obligations as a borrower. The information includes interest rates, deferments, forbearance, loan consolidation, consequences of default, borrowing limits, how to estimate monthly payments, etc. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in order to receive a Federal Direct Loan. Loan exit counseling is required whenever you leave school, or any time you are enrolled less-than-half-time.
Students with qualifying credit can borrow a Direct Grad PLUS Loan to help meet their educational expenses.
There are many consequences of defaulting on a student loan, such as:
Graduate fellowships and scholarships are awarded by the individual schools or departments. Each school establishes the requirements to be considered for these awards. Students should contact the department coordinators to obtain more information.
These scholarships are awarded through the Office of Church Relations. Funds are provided by Chapman University and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ in recognition of participation in church activities.
Funds to provide these awards have been donated by generous individuals or companies to benefit Chapman University students. An opportunity to meet the donor and write a letter of appreciation may be an expectation of the recipient.
Graduate financial aid awards begin disbursing up to 10 days prior to the first day of the semester or trimester with the exception of the spring trimester for the Rinker campus and the Law school (due to the timing of the campus winter break). Disbursement of funds may be delayed if there are pending checklist items.
Once funds have disbursed to students accounts, any credit balance can be requested to be used for books and supplies, living expenses, transportation, etc. Students should contact the Business Office directly to facilitate a timely refund.
The Office of Graduate Financial Aid encourages all students to conduct a continuous search for outside scholarships to help reduce their overall bill. Some useful resources include:
Scholly: Scholly is a simple, comprehensive and accurate scholarship search platform designed for your smartphone. Scholly was featured on Shark Tank.
Fastweb: A free, targeted website designed to help students search for scholarships.
As a reminder, federal regulations require all students to report scholarship and grant funds, no matter the amount or disbursement method, to the Office of Graduate Financial Aid.
Create a Federal Student Aid Login and Password
California Student Aid Commission
Selective Service Administration
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
Department of Education's Comprehensive Guide to Student Aid
To request a duplicate Student Aid Report (SAR): (800) 433-3243
To find out who your student loan lender is: (800) 433-3243
Federal Student Aid Information Center (800) 433-3243
Federal Student Loan Ombudsman (877) 557-2575
Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040
Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213
Selective Service (847) 688-6888
California Student Aid Commission (916) 445-0880