Office of Financial Aid FAQ

What is financial aid?

Financial Aid at Cornish College of the Arts is comprised of federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships; federal and state work study; federal student and parent loans, and private educational loans. The individual financial aid package is based upon a student's financial need as determined by the results of filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. A student's need is equal to the Total Cost of Attendance or Budget minus the Expected Family Contribution from the FAFSA.

How and when do I apply for financial aid?

All Cornish students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to determine their maximum aid eligibility. For 2010-2011, File the FAFSA online beginning January 1, 2010 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. All students should apply as early as possible, however Cornish practices rolling admission and provides financial aid packages for all qualifying admitted students who have filed the FAFSA.

What is the 2010-2011 estimated cost of attendance at Cornish College of the Arts?

2010-2011 estimated cost of attendance or estimated financial aid budget:

Tuition/Fees	$29150 per year
Room/Board	Off Campus: $7650 On Campus: $8300 (average)
Books/Supplies	$1800
Personal Expenses	$2000
Transportation	$800
Total	$42050 on-campus or $41400 off-campus
* Computer Allowance, Design Department Only	$3000

* First-time Design students at Cornish College of the Arts have a Computer Allowance of $3000 added to their Financial Aid Budget. This increase provides room in the student budget for Design students who wish to borrow additional dollars for the purchase or lease of a computer.

What is the 2010-2011 sample funding eligibility?

Program	Per Academic Year	Award Amount
Federal Pell Grant Program	Maximum	$5550
Federal Supplemental Ed. Opportunity Grant	Maximum	$1200
Federal/State Work Study Programs	Average	$2000
Departmental Scholarship	Average	$3000
Nellie/Presidents Scholarships	Average	$2500
Federal Stafford Loan for Undergraduates
		Subsidized + Unsubsidized
	Freshman	$3500 + $2000
	Sophomore	$4500 + $2000
	Junior/Senior	$5500 + $2000
Additional Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan for independent undergraduates (or for dependent undergraduates whose PLUS loan is denied)
	Freshman/Sophomore	$4000
	Junior/Senior	$5000
State Need Grant (WA residents only)	Maximum	$7717
Plus Loans (Loans for Parents)	Up to Cost of attendance (Budget) minus Financial Aid

When will I know how much and what financial aid I will receive for next year?

If you are admitted to the college and have completed the FAFSA you will receive an Award Letter from the Office of Financial Aid by the end of March. However, if you are selected for verification by the Department of Education, the Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation to complete this process before sending you an Award Letter. Your response within three weeks of initial notification will produce an Award Letter that will be mailed within 7 to 10 days of reception of all verification documents. Applying for financial aid is a once-a-year process and meeting the priority deadline of February 15th (or March 1st for Incoming students) is crucial to obtaining the best possible financial aid package. Some funding is limited and awarded on a first-come first-serve basis. If you have completed the FAFSA using Cornish School Code 012315, your financial aid package may include a combination of institutional scholarships and grants, federal and state grants including work study eligibility, and federal and private educational loans. Your financial aid package will be determined based on the needs analysis resulting from filing the FAFSA and from funding availability.

What can I do if I have extenuating circumstances or if my family's reported income for 2009 does not reflect current income? Can I receive more financial aid?

The Department of Education assumes that the information you provide on the FAFSA is the best projection of your and your family's ability to contribute to your cost of education. If you have extenuating circumstances that are not reflected on the FAFSA, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for a Special Circumstances form. Depending on your circumstances, the Office of Financial Aid may review a documented loss of income or a documented increase in your cost of attendance which may increase your need-based aid eligibility or make more room in your budget for additional private loans. The Office of Financial Aid will inform you of the documentation needed to process your application. Request for Special Circumstances review of your Financial Aid award will be considered after June 1, 2010. Do not request a Special Circumstances form until:

You have received an official award
You have applied for your loans with your selected lender and have submitted your Acceptance of Loans to the Office of Financial Aid

Depending upon the timing of your request, some federal and/or state funds may not be available.

How and when will I receive my Financial Aid refund?

You should be prepared to pay for your initial expenses at Cornish College of the Arts. Disbursement of funds begins after the first day of classes and after verification of enrollment. It is important to provide required financial aid documents by the deadline or no later than two weeks after a request has been made to help ensure a timely disbursement of financial aid funds to the Office of Student Accounts. A credit balance on a tuition account will result in a refund check mailed to the student by the Office of Student Accounts.

Students who will have remaining tuition due at the time of registration should make prior arrangements with the Office of Student Accounts at 206.726.5025. The Office of Student Accounts has several payment plans available to assist students and families.

Is there a source of temporary funding at Cornish College of the Arts?

Short-term loans are available through the college for students experiencing cash flow problems. Students must be currently enrolled full-time to qualify. Funds are not available during breaks or between semesters. Cornish College of the Arts reserves the right to refuse any loan to students with a poor repayment history. A separate application and a promissory note are required for both of the following loans:

Temporary Student Loan
Available through the Office of Student Accounts
Students may borrow up to $200 due in 30 days

Student Secured Loan (to assist with Books/Supplies)
Available, once the semester begins through the Office of Financial Aid
Not available during semester breaks
Restricted to students who are registered and expecting a scheduled financial aid refund
Borrow up to $1000 due in 60 days with an 8% per annum interest rate
$30 processing fee

Loan checks are prepared and disbursed by the Office of Student Accounts. All requests must be received by the Office of Student Accounts or Office of Financial Aid by noon on Monday. Checks will be disbursed Wednesday of the same week after 3:00 P.M. in the Office of Student Accounts.

How does a change in enrollment status affect my financial aid and what happens if I withdraw?

Enrollment status for an undergraduate student is as follows:

Full Time	12 or more credits
Three-quarter Time	9-11 credits
Half Time	6-8 credits

Students enrolled for less than 6 credit hours are not eligible for some types of financial aid. You may contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information if you plan to enroll for less than half-time.

Please read over the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy before dropping any courses during the semester. Financial Aid funding from both federal and state programs requires that students maintain basic standards of academic progress in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

If you drop courses or withdraw from Cornish College of the Arts, the Office of Financial Aid can recalculate your financial aid award prior to the beginning of the semester only. After this time period, all recalculations are done by the Office of Student Accounts. Please review the Registrar's course schedule each semester for the institutional refund schedule.

Refund Policy for Withdrawing Students

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Student Accounts before you change your enrollment status or withdraw from the college. Changes in enrollment status can directly impact your financial aid eligibility as well as your tuition. Lack of attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal from classes, nor does lack of attendance cancel the student's financial obligations to pay tuition charges.

Is my financial aid renewable each year?

A student must complete the FAFSA every year by the priority deadline of February 15th (March 1st for new students) to qualify for the best award package. A student's financial aid award is affected by income and tax paid, and other factors reported yearly on the FAFSA. Although the Office of Financial Aid cannot renew a financial aid package, it endeavors to give every qualifying student the best possible award according to funding availability. Department scholarships are not renewable. The student must reapply with his department every year.

I plan to study abroad, how will this affect my financial aid?

A student may receive financial aid for a Registrar-approved Study Abroad Program of studies. Please contact Molly Abbey in the Registration and Records Office if you have any questions. The student needs to file the FAFSA, complete all financial aid processes and submit all requested financial aid documents to complete his/her financial aid file for the upcoming year.

You may consider setting up a power-of-attorney to sign your disbursement checks with Jeff Wyborny, Student Account Manager, during your study abroad period. Contact him at 206.726.5024. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 206.726.5063 as soon as possible to make sure all processes are complete prior to your departure.

Is there financial aid available for summer classes?

The Pell Grant, State grants and federal Stafford loans are rarely available to students for summer attendance at Cornish College of the Arts as their yearly maximum eligibility is used to attend the prior fall and spring semesters. The typical maximum enrollment for summer is approximately 7 credit hours with some students enrolled for as few as 4 credit hours, making summer a special session during which a student may only qualify for prorated campus-based funds such as Federal SEOG and Federal Work Study, if funding is available. At the very least, with a credit-worthy co-borrower, a student can qualify for a private educational loan even when enrolled for less than 6 credit hours. Students, planning to attend summer classes, should meet with a financial aid advisor to review their personal situation and their funding availability for summer enrollment. Requests for summer financial aid will begin May 1, 2010.

What is Cornish College of the Arts' school code for filing the FAFSA?

The school code for Cornish College of the Arts is 012315

What are the eligibility requirements for federal and state financial aid?

Students applying for admission to Cornish College of the Arts or students currently enrolled in a degree program can apply for financial aid. To receive federal and/or state financial aid, a student must be a US citizen, permanent legal resident or eligible non-citizen with a valid I-551 card. The student must demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA need analysis and must not be in default on any government loan or owe a repayment on any federal/state aid program. The eligible student must be enrolled at least half-time, that is, six or more credit hours and maintain the institution's academic standards, making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion.

* International students can apply for departmental scholarships and a private educational loan with a credit-worthy co-borrower who is a US citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid I-551 card.

How do I request a Federal PIN number to sign my FAFSA electronically?

You and your parents may request a Federal Personal Identification Number or PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. This will be your federal PIN the entire time you are enrolled and/or during repayment of any federal student loans. You may change or request a duplicate PIN from the same website.

How do I complete the FAFSA if I and/or my parents have not completed our taxes yet?

You may complete your FAFSA online beginning January 1, 2010. If you have not filed your taxes yet, use your best estimates for your 2009 income and taxes paid, but remember to inform the Office of Financial Aid staff who will update this information with the Department of Education.

What are some of the common reasons for FAFSA rejection by the Department of Education?

Make sure you complete the FAFSA using your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card. If you are a dependent student, make sure your parent signs the FAFSA, electronically using a PIN or on paper. Parent signature is required on any and all subsequent corrections you may be filing. To help eliminate the problem with subsequent correction filing, we encourage you to submit any correction request to the Office of Financial Aid for filing.

Where can I find information regarding Education Benefits for filing my taxes?

The 1997 tax law introduced two new tax credits, the Hope Scholarship Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. These credits are designed to make a college education more accessible and more affordable for low and moderate income families. For up to date information regarding the Hope and the Lifetime credits, please visit the IRS page on Education Credits.

What should I do if my status changes after I have filed the FAFSA?

Some questions on the FAFSA ask you to make projections about your enrollment plans and family status, that is, family size and number in college for the upcoming year. If your answers to these questions change, wait until you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), then contact your Financial Aid Advisor before reporting these changes. The income information reported on your FAFSA is for 2009. If you estimated your tax information or if there are significant changes to your income for 2009, do not make or submit corrections to the (FAFSA) processing center without first contacting your Financial Aid Advisor. * Please note: You cannot change your family status due to getting married, once you have filed the FAFSA.

How is the Expected Family Contribution or EFC calculated and how does it affect my financial aid?

The Federal Department of Education uses a complex formula to calculate your Expected Family Contribution or EFC, based on the information submitted on your FAFSA. The following are included in your EFC calculation: parent income and assets, age of your older parent for asset protection, social security benefits, number in the family, number in college, student wages (includes Work Study). The Office of Financial Aid uses the EFC to calculate your eligibility for certain types of financial aid funds and amounts. The Office of Financial Aid calculates the total cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, estimated room and board, books and supplies, transportation, loan fees, and other educational expenses, and subtracts the EFC to obtain the estimated financial need for the academic year. Cost of Attendance minus EFC equals Estimated Financial Need. Per fund availability and student eligibility, grants, scholarships, and/or loans are offered to the student in an effort to meet demonstrated need.

What is Verification and why was I selected?

Verification is a standard process established by the Department of Education for verifying a student's financial aid eligibility. Students are notified of being selected for Verification on their Student Aid Report or SAR from the Department of Education, and by the Office of Financial Aid. To verify that the information on the FAFSA is true and accurate, the Office of Financial Aid requests certain family and student documents such as signed copies of filed Income Tax Returns with Schedules, W2's, and a completed Verification form. Students do not receive a financial aid package until the required documents are received, reviewed, and a FAFSA correction is filed with the Department of Education, if needed. All documents required to complete verification (and generate a financial aid award package) in 2010-2011 must be received within 3 weeks of initial notification. Your financial aid package will be mailed within 7-10 days of all verification documents being received in the Office of Financial Aid.

Why am I still considered a Dependent Student if my parents do not help me financially, and I file taxes independently claiming my own exemption?

The federal dependency guidelines for filing taxes, and the federal dependency guidelines for financial aid eligibility are different. Students who are less than 24 years of age are still considered dependent students for FAFSA purposes although they may an exemption on their own taxes, and/or may not receive financial assistance from their parents. Their parents' income and assets are calculated in the Expected Family Contribution or EFC on the FAFSA. Exceptions to this regulation are rarely made, but may be considered for students who have official documentation for declared emancipation from their parents, such as orphans or wards of the court, married students and/or students who have dependents of their own. Students who are 24 years of age or older are considered independent students and are not required to include parent information on the FAFSA. However, married students need to include their spouse's information when filing the FAFSA.

How do I apply for Scholarships?

Institutional scholarships
The Nellie and President Scholarships are awarded by the Office of Financial Aid. Meeting the priority FAFSA filing deadline of February 15th (March 1st for new students) is a prerequisite to qualify. These institutional scholarships may have a need-based and a merit-based component. The Nellie Scholarship is awarded to new and transfer students only on the basis of their audition or portfolio review. The President Scholarship is awarded to current students only based on their cumulative GPA. Institutional Scholarships are not renewable. Students must re-apply each year and meet the priority deadline to be considered for institutional scholarships. Scholarships are awarded at an expected full-time enrollment per semester. If you are awarded and registered for less than 12 credit hours per semester, your scholarship funding from the institution will be pro-rated. These need and merit-based awards range from 10% to 30% of tuition.

Departmental scholarships
If you are a New or Transfer student to Cornish College of the Arts, you may be awarded a department scholarship from your prospective department based on your audition or portfolio review. This scholarship award will be included in your Award letter. If you are a current student, you will need to contact your academic department for information on how to apply for department scholarships, meet the department guidelines and be awarded a department scholarship. Department scholarships are merit-based for demonstrated artistic and/or academic excellence and the recipients may need to meet additional donor-specific criteria for eligibility. These scholarship awards will be included in your Award Letter. Department scholarships are not renewable. Students must re-apply each year and meet the priority deadline to be considered for department scholarships. These merit awards range from 10% to 35% of tuition.

Outside scholarships
All outside scholarships are considered an additional financial resource and are coordinated with other types of financial aid. Please notify the Office of Financial Aid of any outside scholarships or grants you may be receiving that do not appear on your award letter. All AmeriCorps, Chapter 30 V.A. benefit recipients, and national Guard recipients must notify the Office of Financial Aid each semester of their benefits eligibility. Your Financial Aid Award Letter may refer to these as outside scholarship. If you have more than one outside scholarship, their combined total will appear on the same line in your award letter. If your donor needs a statement of your account to disburse funds to the college on your behalf, please notify the Office of Student Accounts in writing. Be sure to include your donor's billing address. *Approximately once a month, a Financial Aid Newsletter called “hereforyou” is transmitted electronically to student email accounts. It contains among other tips and tools, relevant outside scholarship application information with hyperlink access. If you have not been receiving the Newsletter, please provide your email information to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to be added to our mailing list. Outside scholarship information is also updated periodically on our Main Campus Center (MCC) bulletin board in the Office of Financial Aid lobby. You may also contact Cheryl Coatney in the Office of Student Affairs at ccoatney@cornish.edu for help learning how to do your own outside scholarship research with private organizations.

Please note that Qualified Tuition Programs such as 529 plans or Washington State's Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) are no longer reported as a resource in the Student Award Letter. Plans in either the parent or dependent student’s names are reported on the FAFSA as parent assets. All plans owned by the family of a dependent student must be reported as parent asset. Married students must report their spouse’s and their own plan as asset on the FAFSA.

What is the Washington State Need Grant and am I eligible for it?

The State Need Grant is gift funding from the State of Washington to qualifying legal state residents who are matriculating students attending Cornish College of the Arts at least half-time. Funding is affected by total income and enrollment status. Students who think they may qualify can apply with the Office of Financial Aid. The Office of Financial Aid reviews student records at the beginning of each semester to determine applicant eligibility, based on various criteria defined by the state and the institution. Additional forms and documents may be required if it is determined that an applicant is eligible to participate. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come first-serve basis to qualifying applicants. State Need Grant funds are disbursed to the school in the form of checks made payable to specific students. An SNG check can be endorsed and submitted to the school as tuition payment.

What is State EOG and am I eligible for it?

The State Educational Opportunity Grant is gift funding from the State of Washington. Transfer students who have an Associate Degree from a prior institution or who transfer in with a minimum junior level status may qualify to apply for EOG funding. A separate application for EOG funding is available in the Office of Financial Aid or can be obtained from your Admission Counselor. The state determines a student's eligibility based on application materials submitted. EOG funds are disbursed to the school in the form of checks made payable to specific students. An EOG check can be endorsed and submitted to the school as tuition payment.

What is the Pell Grant and am I eligible for it?

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant that does not usually need to be repaid. It is available for students who have minimal resources and is calculated based on the need analysis resulting from filing the FAFSA. A student who has obtained a prior BA Degree does not qualify for the Pell Grant.

What is Federal SEOG and am I eligible for it?

FSEOG is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant awarded first to needy Pell recipients. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come first-serve basis.

What loans are available and how do I apply for them?

Fixed-interest Stafford loans are available to students and will appear in their financial aid packages. The Stafford Subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of need and has no interest accruing on it while the student is enrolled at least half-time working toward a degree, or during the six-month grace period following graduation or last date of attendance. The Stafford Unsubsidized loan is awarded to independent students only or to dependent students whose parent PLUS loan has been denied for credit reasons. The Stafford Unsubsidized loan has interest accruing on it while the student is in school and in grace. Payment on either of these two loans is not required while a student is enrolled at least half-time, and during the six-month grace period.

A fixed-interest Parent PLUS loan is available for the biological parent(s) and/or the step-parent whose income information appears on the FAFSA of an enrolled dependent student. The parent(s)/stepparent(s) combined PLUS loan eligibility is equal to the remaining cost of attendance after other financial aid. PLUS loan repayment begins 60 days after after the lender makes the second disbursement to the student’s tuition account (generally, end of February of the academic year). Payment deferment on the PLUS loan may be obtained by contacting the lender directly to initiate the process. For further information, please contact your Financial Aid Loan Officer Jay Davis at 206.315.5797 or at jdavis@cornish.edu.

Private Educational Loans are also available to students for up to the remaining cost of attendance after other financial aid. Students can apply online with a private educational loan lender, usually a bank or credit union. The school is required by the lender to certify that the student is enrolled and qualifies for the requested loan amount. Lenders typically require a co-borrower or co-signer for undergraduate students with limited credit history or less-than-perfect credit. Interest rates for private educational loans vary quarterly and are higher than Stafford Loan interest rates but offer a viable funding resource for some students. Private Educational loans have interest accruing on them at all times until the loan is repaid in full. There is typically a six-month grace period after graduation or last date of attendance before repayment begins. Private loan funding for a student is added to the student award and will appear on a Revised Award Letter from the Office of Financial Aid. You may apply for all your loans with your selected lender or at http://www.cornish.edu/financial_aid/apply/

I am a transfer student, and would like to know if the loan process is different at Cornish College of the Arts?

Cornish currently participates in the two Federal Loan Programs: the Federal Family Educational Loan Program for students and parents of current students who want to continue borrowing through their selected lender and, the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program for the Incoming Class of 2010 and their parents. The Federal Government is the direct lender of the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Private lending agencies such as banks and credit unions authorized by the federal government to participate in the Federal Loan Program are the Federal Family Educational Loan Program lenders. Schools elect to participate in one or the other program, or both as Cornish currently does. If you are a current student with existing Stafford loans at Cornish College of the Arts, it is not required that you reapply. Simply complete the mandatory Acceptance of Loans forms accepting, decreasing or declining the loans offered in your 2010-2011 Award Letter. All new, transfer and current students who are first-time Stafford Loan borrowers at Cornish College of the Arts must complete a new Master Promissory Note at http://www.cornish.edu/financial_aid/apply/

What is an Entrance Counseling Interview?

An Entrance Counseling Interview is an informative session regarding your rights and responsibilities as a Stafford loan borrower. According to federal regulations, all first-time Stafford loan borrowers at Cornish College of the Arts and all students returning after a leave of absence from Cornish College of the Arts, who wish to borrow a Stafford loan, must complete the session before receiving Stafford loan proceeds into their tuition accounts. Complete your Entrance Counseling Interview session during Orientation if you are a new student at Cornish College of the Arts. If you are a current student contact your FA loan officer at 206.315.5797 to schedule an in-person session.

What is the Work-Study Program and how does it work?

The Federal Work Study program, and the State Work Study program for WA residents only, provide financial assistance to eligible students through part-time employment opportunities on and off campus. Students receive valuable experience and employers provide some scheduling flexibility to enable students to work while pursuing their course of study. It is the student's responsibility to find work after being awarded. Job boards, providing information about job opportunities on and off campus, are located in the Financial Aid lobby of the Main Campus Center at 1000 Lenora Street and in the Financial Aid section of the Cornish website. Federal and State Work Study are need-based aid programs.

The awarded student who finds one or more Work Study positions must complete all new hire paperwork as soon as the job is secured and before starting to work. This includes the federal form I9 which requires submission of a passport or social security card and picture ID (Xeroxed copies are not acceptable). The student's supervisor is responsible for completing a Work Authorization form and submitting it to the Cornish Work Study Coordinator before the student begins employment. The student is eligible to work up to his award eligibility at the maximum rate of 19 hours per week during enrollment periods and 40 hours during a semester break prior to continued attendance.

Work study earnings are not directly applicable to the student's account balance; the student receives a paycheck from his employer according to his employer's pay schedule. The employer is reimbursed a percentage of the student's wages when the student's time sheet is submitted with a supervisory signature to the Cornish Work Study Coordinator. Funding is limited and awarded equitably among qualifying needy students by the Office of Financial Aid. It is advisable for a student to apply early and to meet the FAFSA priority deadline of February 15th every year to qualify.

In addition to jobs relating to the six major courses of study at Cornish, the school provides Community Service opportunities through a Math and Literacy partnership with Spruce Street School. This program, which employs college students to tutor preschool through elementary age children, offers valuable real-life teaching experience and the opportunity to make an impact in the community.

If a student does not qualify for a work-study position but would like to work while attending Cornish College of the Arts, there is a job board in Student Affairs for non-Work-Study employment opportunities.

Work Study Residency Classification Information

For a student to be classified as a "resident" for work study purposes, he or she must:

Have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington primarily for purposes other than educational for the period of one year immediately prior to commencement of the first day of the semester for which he or she has registered at any institution, and
Be considered financially independent (not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA), or
Be a dependent student, whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) has maintained a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for at least one year immediately prior to the commencement of the semester for which the student has registered at any institution.

What are the typical rate of pay and benefits paid to a Work-Study student by an employer?

Students must be paid on an hourly basis and the rate of pay must be equal to the entry level rate for non Work-Study employees performing similar duties within the organization; in no event may the student be paid less that the state’s minimum wage of $8.55 per hour. Additionally, the employer is required to pay all the costs of employer benefits: federal withholding, workers' compensation insurance, federal social security, and any other benefits required by law. The employer is reimbursed, for up to 75% of the gross wages paid, by the State or Federal Government in recognition of costs the employer bears for supervision, training, and employee benefits.

If I am a qualifying veteran, will my education benefits affect my financial aid award?

Good news! A federal regulations amendment recently updated the definition of veterans' educational benefits and revised the effective date for the exclusion of benefits from estimated financial assistance to July 1, 2010. The applicable VA benefits under title 10 of the USC are chapters 103, 106A, 1606, 1607; applicable benefits under title 38 of the USC that are also excluded from EFA are Chapters, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35. Along with these exclusions, the Financial Aid Administrator no longer considers Section 903 benefits under the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1981, Section 156(b) of the Joint Resolution making further continuing appropriations for the Entitlement Program for Survivors known as the “Quayle Benefits”. Also excluded is Chapter 3 of title 37 related to subsistence allowances for members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). These exclusions apply whether the benefits are received by veterans, their spouses or their dependents. If you indicated on your FAFSA that you will be receiving Veteran's Education Benefits, please contact the Office of Registration and Records at 206.726.5022 to complete the necessary documents to receive your benefits at Cornish College of the Arts.

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?

Students enrolled full-time or at least 12 credit hours per semester must complete their degree program within six years according to Cornish College of the Arts' Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Students' academic progress is reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students not achieving the institution's minimum academic requirements are placed on institutional warning, probation, continued probation, or suspension. The Academic Standards Committee convenes at the end of each semester to review academic records of students not making satisfactory academic progress. The Office of Financial Aid adheres to decisions made by the Academic Standards Committee, when administering financial aid, and may place a student on financial aid warning, probation, continued probation and suspension. A letter to that intent is addressed from the Office of Financial Aid to the student at the end of each semester. At the end of a final probationary semester, students not raising their GPA to the minimum standard or successfully completing the minimum required number of credits to complete their degree within the maximum time frame of six years will have their financial aid terminated. See Academic Progress Policy