The Chicago School for Piano Technolgy

Financial Aid Information

School Code 041860

• General Information
• Completing the FAFSA and PIN
• Types of Available Financial Aid
  • Grants: Pell
  • Loans: Direct Stafford and MPN
    • PLUS Loans
    • Veterans Benefits
• CSPT Policy
• Title IV Policy--Refunds and Returns

 

Completing the FAFSA and PIN

(Don't forget to go to the Virtual Financial Aid Office!)

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

• To apply for financial assistance you and your family must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The online application is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You may also go to a pre-qualification site to get an estimated financial aid award before filling in the FAFSA Go to https://fafsa.ed.gov/. Then click on the "Thinking About College" link.

Completing the FAFSA

 

Step 1: Obtain PIN Number. Be sure you have your PIN number (and that your parents have their number(s) if your parents are required to sign). The PIN number is a 4 digit number used to sign FAFSA. If you do not remember your PIN or if you do not have a PIN:

 

• Go to http://www.pin.ed.gov.             
• Click either “Request a Duplicate PIN” or “Apply for a PIN”
• Make sure your information is correct. Enter your information. Then choose one of the three delivery methods. “Display Now” or “e-mail” are strongly encouraged methods. “Postal Mail” can take up to 14 days to arrive.
• Enter your information. It is recommended that you enter an e-mail address to ensure the fastest processing.
• If your parent does not remember his/her PIN, he/she can request a duplicate by following the same steps. As well, if your parent needs a PIN, he/she can apply by following the same steps.

 

Step 2: Gather Required Information

 

• Your Social Security Number and your parent’s Social Security Numbers if you are providing parent information.
• Your driver’s license number if you have one.
• Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a US citizen and your parent’s Alien Registration Numbers if you are providing parent information.
• Federal tax information or tax returns, and/or W2s for the most recent tax year for yourself, for your spouse if you are married, and for your parents if you are providing parent information.
• Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and veterans benefits, for yourself (and for your parents if you are providing parent information); and information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself (and for your parents if you are providing parent information).

 

Step 3: Complete the FAFSA

 

• Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Click “Fill Out Your FAFSA”
• Choose the correct school year by following the date range.
• You will want to select "Undergraduate" as the program type, and "1st year" whether it is for the Basic or Advanced curriculum.
• Answer the questions.

 

Step 4: Sign the FAFSA with Your PIN

 

• Enter your PIN number at the end of your application to submit your FAFSA. You should see a confirmation screen when you are finished that tells you your FAFSA was successfully submitted.
• If your parents are required to sign, they can go to www.fafsa.ed.gov after you receive your confirmation and click “Sign Electronically with your PIN”.

 

Step 5: Follow Up on Your FAFSA

 

• Your application will be processed and you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) by e-mail or by mail. You should review your SAR for any necessary corrections or updates.
• Financial Aid will electronically receive your application and review your award package.
• If you do not receive a SAR or have not been contacted by CSPT, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and select “Check the Status of a Submitted FAFSA”, call 1-800-4-FED-AID, or call CSPT’s office.

 

Step 6: Verification and Award

 

• If there are corrections to be made, the student will be notified, and CSPT will assist the student in making them. No funds will be disbursed until verification is complete. Until the required paperwork is complete and received by CSPT, the student is responsible for any payments due for costs of attendance (COA).
• Using all of the information available from FAFSA, CSPT’s financial aid information, and verification, CSPT will then make a determination of the amount of the award available to the student, and send the student an award letter to that effect. This letter will list and summarize the federal financial aid that the student is eligible to receive. As noted in the introduction, the formula is: Award=COA-EFC-other available funds. COA estimates the total of tuition, fees, books, supplies and tools, computer, loan fees, child care, as well as allowances for food, housing and transportation for one academic year at CSPT. COA does not include incidental expenses such as phone and car payments. If there is an excess of financial assistance after a student’s tuition, books, tools and supplies, and any other school charges, it may be applied to other components of COA as noted above. If the award is not sufficient to cover tuition, fees, books, tools and supplies, and any other school charges, then the student is responsible for the difference and must arrange to pay that difference to CSPT.
• The student will be responsible for the return of his or her proportionate amount of the award if the student withdraws or is dismissed. Please see the section entitled “Return of Title IV Funds.” in the policy pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chicago School for Piano Technology admits students of any age, race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender or gender-preference or orientation, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender or gender-preference or orientation, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.