»Frequently Asked Questions

How do I notify the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office of special circumstances that I would like considered with my financial aid application?

If you have a special circumstance, please visit the Financial Aid Appeal page of our website for more information regarding eligibility and required documentation.

FAFSA has classified me as a dependent student, however, I feel I should be considered as an independent student and not be required to provide parent information. What should I do?

Your Dependency status is based on the dependency questions listed on the FAFSA. In some rare cases, students can qualify for a dependency override. Please note that a dependency override will not be approved for cases where your parents are unwilling or unable to assist you with college expenses. For more information about what kind of documentation will need to be provided for a dependency override, please contact the Undergraduate Office of Financial Aid.

I received a Cal Grant at Chapman last year. Is there anything I need to do to make sure I receive it next year?

Yes. If you are eligible for a Cal Grant, you will need to submit the FAFSA by the March 2 priority deadline to automatically renew your Cal Grant. If you have a DREAM Act Cal Grant, you will need to submit the DREAM Act Application by March 2nd. You will continue to receive your Cal Grant as long as you have not exhausted your lifetime eligibility and continue to meet financial eligibility requirements.

Do I need to resubmit my GPA to Cal Grant each year?

If you are currently offered a Cal Grant, the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office will automatically send your GPA to the Cal Grant commission.

How does receiving a Cal Grant impact need-based financial aid?

At Chapman University, need-based grants are interchangeable. If you are eligible for a Cal Grant and it is not currently on your Financial Aid Offer, the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office will reduce the Chapman Grant by the amount of your Cal Grant. If you are a DREAM Act student, please contact our office for more information regarding your Cal Grant and Chapman Grant.

I have a Cal Grant Acknowledgement hold. What does this mean and what do I do?

The state of California has a new requirement where students that receive a Cal Grant are required to acknowledge that their Cal Grant funding is limited to 4 years. If you are offered a Cal Grant, you will be required to complete the Cal Grant Acknowledgement before you can register for classes each semester. If you have a Cal Grant Acknowledgement hold on the Student Center, you will need to complete the task and your hold will automatically be lifted.

What is Federal Work-Study?

The Federal Work-Study program offers the opportunity for students with financial need to apply for on-campus jobs, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational or personal expenses. If you are offered Federal Work-Study, you will need to apply for and secure a job on-campus, and you will receive your work-study funds in the form of a paycheck every two weeks for hours worked. For open work-study positions, please visit Human Resource’s Student Employment Services.

Federal Work-Study is listed as part of my Financial Aid Offer; how do I receive that money?

The amount listed on your Financial Aid Offer is the amount that you are eligible to earn during the academic year. In order to utilize your work-study, you will need to apply, interview, and be offered a work-study position. You will earn your work-study money through paychecks received once every two weeks for hours worked.

How many hours a week can I work at my work-study job?

You may not work more than 19 hours per week. Departments have different requirements for the number of hours required for positions. Required job hours will be listed on the job application or you can reach out to the departments. You will earn your work-study money through paychecks once every two weeks for hours worked.

My parent was approved for the Parent PLUS Direct Loan, but the amount in my Financial Aid Offer does not cover my remaining Cost of Attendance. Can my parent increase their loan amount?

If a parent is approved for a Parent PLUS Direct Loan, they have the option to increase the amount of the loan up to the total Cost of Attendance less any other financial assistance the student receives. If your parent needs to make an adjustment to the amount of their loan, they can email finaid@chapman.edu, indicating the amount they would like the loan to be.

My parent was denied the Parent PLUS Direct Loan, now what?

They may still be able to borrow the loan if they obtain a credit-worthy endorser through StudentAid.gov. If they do not wish to use an endorser, they would need to contact studentaid.gov to appeal the credit decision. Should they not wish to take either of these options, the parent can request the loan be offered to the student as an additional unsubsidized loan. Please contact the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office for more information regarding the additional Unsubsidized Direct Loan.

I'm graduating or leaving Chapman and was notified to complete Federal Loan Exit Counseling. What is Federal Loan Exit Counseling and how do I complete it?

Federal Loan Exit Counseling is a short mandatory information session that will; refresh your knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as a borrower, offer insight on your repayment options, and explain when repayment begins. Our Repayment Page will provide additional insight into this process.

What happens if I decide to change my housing status (ie. On-campus, off-campus, with parents)?

If you decide to move off-campus, you must notify our office of your housing status change through a Request for Revision Form. If you were offered an On-Campus Housing Grant, please note that a change in housing status will result in a change or loss of the Housing Grant (up to $3,000 for the year). If you are going to be living in a Chapman University Apartment, you may qualify for an Off-Campus Apartment Grant ($1,500 per year). Other financial aid could possibly be affected including grants. Please visit the Residence Life website for housing policies.

Are there any legacy Chapman awards? My parent and/or sibling graduated from Chapman.

The Panther Alumni Award (formally called Child of Chapman Award) is a $2,000 award provided to the children or siblings of a Chapman alumni. The recipient must retain full-time enrollment status to continue receiving this award. The Panther Alumni Award application must be completed and returned to the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office to be considered for this award.

Are there any other types of financial aid that I can apply for?

All financial aid, excluding merit scholarships, talent scholarships, and the Panther Alumni Award are offered based on the FAFSA/CSS Profile and all eligible financial aid is offered up front. We highly encourage applying for outside scholarships.

Why is my financial aid not reflected on my bill?

1. Did you complete a FAFSA for this academic year?
2. Have you accepted all loans you intend to use in the Student Center?
3. Did you complete all your To Do List items listed in the Student Center?
4. Are you meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)? You cannot receive financial aid if you are not meeting SAP. You can submit an SAP Appeal, and if approved, you will receive a financial aid offer.

How does an outside scholarship affect my Financial Aid Offer?

You are required to notify our office if you are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans from a source outside the University. These outside funds may affect your current financial aid offer. Our office will make every attempt to reduce loans and work-study before decreasing grants or scholarships.

Why do I have an endowment added to my Financial Aid Offer? How does this award affect my financial aid?

Endowments are awarded to students who meet specific requirements and show outstanding academic achievement while at Chapman University. Endowment awards are a replacement of a Chapman Grant, therefore, the total amount of your grants will not change. You may be contacted by the endowment coordinator for further recognition.

Why are you requesting I complete a Verification Worksheet?

Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was selected for review in a process called verification. Your financial aid counselor will compare the information and any supporting documents that you provide, with the information you submitted on your FAFSA. Any differences must be corrected on your FAFSA. This can result in a change of your Financial Aid Offer. To learn more, please contact the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office.

I’m planning on studying abroad, will I continue to receive Financial Aid?

When planning your study abroad trip, make sure to review what financial aid applies under your specific program. Programs listed as "all aid Programs" can utilize all of your current offered financial aid.

What financial aid is available for summer courses?

If you received a Federal Pell Grant during the fall and/or spring semesters, you may be eligible to receive a summer Federal Pell Grant. Please visit Summer Financial Aid page for additional information.

I’m thinking of dropping below 12 credits (full-time). How will this affect my financial aid package?

If you enroll part-time (below 12 credits), you will lose your institutional grants and scholarships (there is an exception for graduating seniors. Please contact the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office for more information). Federal and State grants will be reduced, or canceled, and Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work-Study will still be available if you are enrolled in at least 6 credits at the add-drop deadline. If you are enrolled in less than 6 credits, you will immediately go into the grace period for repayment of your federal loans, or repayment, if the grace period has been exhausted.

I am withdrawing from Chapman during the semester, what happens to my financial aid?

Contact the University Registrar for the official policy and procedure for the withdrawal process. Your federal eligibility for financial aid may be affected by a withdrawal and you may be required to return funds you have received for the term even if it is past the tuition refund period. For detailed information regarding withdrawal from the University, please visit our Undergraduate Financial Aid Information Guide.

If you have utilized a Federal Direct Loan while at Chapman, you will need to complete Exit Counseling and review your repayment options. Please visit our Repayment page for next steps.

I am taking a semester off or a leave of absence, what happens to my financial aid?

You will have two years to return to Chapman and maintain your merit scholarship, if you currently have one. Check in with the Registrar’s Office and Student Business Services, as you will need to make sure you are leaving in good standing with the university. It is also your responsibility to make sure to complete the FAFSA for the academic year in which you plan to return to Chapman. If you have utilized a Federal Direct Loan while at Chapman, you will need to complete Exit Counseling and review your repayment options. Please visit our Repayment page for next steps.