Expenses and Financial Aid

All costs subject to change

Tuition Rates at Alliant

The Board of Trustees sets tuition on the basis of overall costs. Primary among its considerations are the academic and professional excellence of the programs. Realistically, students should anticipate annual increases in tuition and fees, just as they anticipate that their living expenses will increase over the period in which they are enrolled at Alliant.

In setting the annual tuition schedule, a distinction is made between students primarily engaged in coursework or practica, and students who are engaged in full-time internships or internships combined with other activities. Students who are involved in internships may pay less tuition than those who are not.

No student may register for a subsequent semester, take comprehensive exams, receive final clearance to post for defense of final dissertation, be issued a diploma, certificate or transcript, until all outstanding tuition, or fees are paid in full.

Alliant provides learning opportunities in many different formats and in many different locations, both in the United States and internationally.  The tuition, fees and related policies listed below are intended for most of our traditional programs located in the U.S. and in Mexico.  If your program is not listed, please contact the administration at your local campus or school for information specific to your location site.

The 2013-2014 tuition schedule follows: 

Undergraduate Programs

For FA13, undergraduate courses will be charged at $639 per unit.  This rate is for the academic year 2013-2014 only.  Students who began in 2012-2013 will be charged the 2012-2013 cohort rates as listed below. The rates are applicable for 2013-2014 only. Courses taken in years after the two-year fixed rate period will be charged at that year’s current catalog tuition rate. 

Undergraduate Tuition Rate

Tuition Per Semester Unit      $639

Education Credential Programs - California Locations

Master’s Degree Programs - California Locations

Doctoral Degree Programs - California Locations

Mexico City Campus

 *All prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars. Due to international currency fluctuations, Mexican Peso rates are subject to change. For current rates of exchange, visit the International Currency Converter website at www.xe.com/ucc.

All costs are subject to change.

Room and Board - San Diego Campus Only

Academic Year Contract:

(9-month term, Fall through Spring)

No room charge during Winter Intersession or Holiday/New Year’s Break when an academic year contract is signed. Meal plans for Winter Intersession and Holiday/New Year’s Break are available for an additional fee.

A $265 Room Reservation fee/Security deposit is required for all students living on campus.

Undergraduate Married Housing:

Housing is also available for single, married, and established unmarried couples in which at least one person is registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester at Alliant International University’s San Diego campus.

Graduate Student Housing:

Housing is also available for single, married, and established unmarried couples in which at least one person is registered for a minimum of 8 credit hours per semester at Alliant International University’s San Diego campus.

Academic and Administrative Fees

Student Association Fees

Full-Time Internship and Doctoral Extension students are not charged student association fees.

Application Fees and Matriculation Deposits

Wellness Center Fee - Required for all San Diego Students

Parking Fee 

Student Health Insurance

Alliant offers a Student Health Insurance Plan that is provided by Kaiser Permanente. The Kaiser Student Health Insurance Plan is a comprehensive benefits plan focused on preventive care and wellness, and our students will have access to a physician and/or nurse 7 days while enrolled.

Student Health Insurance rates and open enrollment dates will be published on the Kaiser StudentNet website and made available in advance of the beginning of the Fall semester.

All students enrolled in 12 units or more, international students, and resident students (students who live on the San Diego campus), are required to participate in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Students who can provide evidence of alternate coverage may waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. Alliant does not provide elective coverage to any student through the Student Health Insurance Plan if they do not meet any of the above listed criteria. All students who meet the eligibility criteria will be automatically assessed the insurance premium when they register for courses.

Students who are required to participate in the Student Health Insurance Plan must enroll or waive their coverage through Kaiser StudentNet, https://studentnet.kp.org/alliant. Students that do not take action through StudentNet during the published open enrollment period will still be charged for the premium and be required to pay. Required students that do not enroll through StudentNet during the published open enrollment period, who need healthcare during the coverage period, may be held responsible for the full amount of cost of the healthcare. Required students that have alternate coverage, but fail to waive through StudentNet during the published open enrollment period, will not be allowed to waive coverage after that period and will be held responsible for the cost of the premium.

Students who are required to enroll in the Fall and wish to continue coverage for the Spring WILL NOT need to re-enroll for Spring. Students who waive in the Fall and wish to continue waiving for Spring WILL need to waive again for Spring. Students who waived in the Fall and wish to add coverage for the Spring, will need to enroll in the Spring. Dependents may also be added to students with a qualified plan for an additional cost.

Students may elect to waive the Alliant coverage and be credited for the charge if they meet the following criteria:

• the student must provide proof of existing private coverage and the private policy must cover the student through the entire semester; and
• the student must waive the Kaiser coverage online during the published open enrollment period. No late waivers will be accepted.

Students MUST request to enroll and waive coverage online through Kaiser StudentNet. No requests to enroll or waive coverage will be accepted on paper.

To review the Kaiser Student Health Insurance Plan, go to https://studentnet.kp.org/alliant. The University cannot provide counseling or advice regarding the benefits of the policy. The University is only the supplier of the policy and has no authority to modify or interpret the benefits offered by the carrier. Any questions regarding benefits should be directed to https://studentnet.kp.org/alliant.

Dissertation Clearance

Dissertation clearance means not only successful defense, but completion of any required revisions or edits and submission of the dissertation in its final form to the University library. The dissertation clearance date is defined as the date the library signs off, indicating that the dissertation is complete.

Dissertation Continuous Registration

Continuous enrollment in dissertation ensures that students continue their progress toward the completion of their dissertation, provides the mechanism for evaluation and monitoring in cases where progress is insufficient, and reflects the continued mentoring by the faculty chair.

Dissertation Sequence Registration

Students are expected to complete their dissertation while enrolled in the dissertation sequence within their curriculum. Dissertation sequence courses are normally only offered in fall and spring. Students who wish to make progress on their dissertation over the summer and want dissertation supervision and support from their faculty chair during this period may enroll in a one unit summer dissertation supervision course with approval from their faculty chair and program director. This unit is optional and not applicable toward degree requirements so it does not qualify for financial aid.

Dissertation Extension Registration

Students who exhaust the regular dissertation sequence units within their curriculum but have not yet completed their dissertation are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the dissertation extension course (fall and spring semesters). Students must be enrolled in dissertation during the term in which they achieve dissertation clearance (this includes summer). If a student clears their dissertation prior to end of the add/drop period they will not have to pay dissertation extension fees for that term (fall, spring, or summer). This applies to dissertation extension students only. The dissertation extension course is a three unit course at a flat fee except as noted below.

Dissertation Extension while on Internship

Students registered in full and half time internship who have exhausted their regular dissertation sequence courses but have not yet completed their dissertation must enroll in a single unit dissertation extension course at the per unit rate during the fall and spring semesters they are enrolled in internship. Summer enrollment in dissertation extension is not required unless the student plans to defend or submit their dissertation over the summer.

Three units of dissertation extension qualifies students for federal financial aid for a maximum of four terms (including summers). International students can obtain a waiver to continue enrollment with only three units of dissertation extension. Unsatisfactory progress while in dissertation extension may reflect unsatisfactory program performance and result in the student being referred to the Student Evaluation and Review Committee (SERC).

Tuition Payment Policy

Alliant International University only offers the following payment options:

• Payment in full by tuition deadline
• Official University payment plan set up through CASH Net
• Financial Aid or other officially approved third party funding

For students receiving Financial Aid that have an unmet balance after Financial Aid has been applied, must use one of the official payment options (payment plan or pay in full) to cover this unmet balance. Alliant International University does not allow students to carry a balance from one term to the next. Tuition that is not expected to be covered by Financial Aid or other outside resources must be paid in full to the University by the tuition deadline. Enrollment constitutes a financial contract between the student and the University.  Students’ rights to university services and benefits are contingent upon making all payments as agreed upon.  If payments are not made when due, the university has the right to cancel a student’s registration, withhold grades, transcripts, diplomas, scholastic certificates and degrees, and impound final exams. Failure to maintain good financial standing with the university will result in denied participation in any deferred payment plan.  In addition, balances due the university are reported to the credit agencies which may impact students’ credit rating. 

Prior to registering for a new term, students must pay any outstanding balances from any preceding terms.  Students who do not pay their outstanding balances will not be permitted to register.

Payment Due Date

In order to complete the enrollment process, students must pay all registration charges (tuition and fees) by the payment due date for the term as published in the applicable academic calendar or have a valid payment plan on file by the payment due date for the term. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the student’s registration.  Each term’s payment due date is published in the academic calendar.

Tuition and fees for the Fall and Spring semester and Summer term are due and payable on the Friday before the first day of the Fall and Spring semester and Summer term. Students taking classes during Session 1 or Session 2 of the Fall and Spring semester fall under the same payment deadline of the Friday before the first day of the semester regardless of the start date of the class. Students wishing to register for a Session 2 course after the end of the full-session add/drop period will be required to provide the Student Business Services office with payment in full, proof of guaranteed financial aid funds or a valid payment plan that has been approved by the University Director of Student Business Services.

Students who have not received their financial aid by the posted payment deadline due to negligence on their part to complete required forms and/or provide requested documents in a timely manner will be responsible for all late tuition fees, and may be de-registered.  Reinstatement of registration will require completion of the financial aid process and approval from the University Director of Student Business Services.

Deregistration for Failure to Pay - Students who fail to pay their tuition or commit to a payment option by the posted deadline may be de-registered from the University.  In order to have their schedule reinstated, students will be required to provide the Student Business Services office with payment in full, proof of guaranteed financial aid funds or a valid payment plan.  In addition, per University policy, reinstatement will result in a $110 charge.  A Student Business Services Hold will be placed on a student account at any point if satisfactory payment arrangements have not been made or maintained.

Late Registration - Any class that is added after the add/drop deadline must be paid for in full before it can be added to a schedule and requires clearance from the Student Business Services Office.

The student account statement is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access to the account is available at https://my.alliant.edu. For assistance logging in for the first time, please contact the Alliant IT Help Desk at helpdesk@alliant.edu.

Payment Methods

The University accepts the following forms of payments:

• CASH Net online ACH payment directly from your bank account
• Credit Cards
• Check or money order
• Bank wire

An account paid by a check which is returned by the bank uncollected, or by ACH online payment using an invalid bank account or incorrect data entry by the student, is not considered paid. If your check or ACH payment for tuition is returned by the bank for any reason, you will be billed a $40 dishonored payment fee and your registration may be canceled. The University reserves the right to refuse payment by personal check from those individuals who have previously had items returned unpaid by their bank and may require that all future payments be made by cashier’s check, wire, money order or cash.

Payments made through a bank wire must be initiated early enough to arrive by the tuition deadline. Alliant International University recommends initiating bank wire transfers at least 10 business days prior to the tuition deadline.

Tuition Deferments

Tuition deferments may occur under the following circumstances:

• Monthly Installment Payment Plan

If you have a balance and are not receiving or your balance is not covered by Financial Aid, and you do not have a past due balance from a prior term, you may be eligible for a monthly installment payment plan. Payment plans are available via your CASHNet account online. Installment payment plans consist of four (4) payments for the Fall and Spring semesters, and three (3) payments for the Summer term. There is a $40 payment plan fee for each term you enroll in a payment plan. A 1% finance charge will be assessed to unpaid balances monthly. Late payment fees are assessed on missed payments.

If you have successfully logged in and believe that you should see an “Installment Payment Plans” option, but do not have one, make sure that:

• You DO have a balance due for the current term (it may take up to 24 hours after registration for a balance to show on your account).
• You DO NOT have awarded and accepted Financial Aid that will pay your balance in full.
• You DO NOT have a prior session balance due or a hold on your student account.

You are given the option of setting up automatic payments in which your monthly payment will be debited from your checking or savings account based on the information you enter.  The other option is to make sure you remember to submit your payment by the agreed upon date.  A reminder notice is sent letting you know your payment is due.  Payments not made by the agreed upon date will be assessed a $60 Late Deferment Payment Fee.

• Third-Party Tuition Assistance

Some students are entitled to tuition assistance through their employer, a government agency, or other third party.  If you are expecting another party to pay any part of your tuition and fees, all required paperwork must be received by the Student Business Services office at least one week prior to the tuition deadline.  If for any reason payment is not received from the third-party, the student is responsible for all outstanding charges. To qualify for third-party tuition assistance, the funding must be paid directly to Alliant International University and not directly to the student.

• Scholarship Deferment

If a student is receiving non-Alliant scholarship funds that are not available by the tuition schedule due date, the student may defer payment pending receipt of the scholarship. To qualify, the student must apply for the deferment prior to the payment deadline and have documentation of the award. If the deferment is not obtained prior to the deadline, all associated late payment and deferment fees will apply. Upon receipt of the scholarship the student’s tuition must be paid in full. (Students receiving tuition reimbursements are not eligible.)

All balances are due on dates outlined above.  Failure to adhere to these dates will result in cancellation of registration.

Miscellaneous Fees and Finance Charges

Charges on a student account such as late registration or library fees are due and payable immediately. If any such charge is in dispute, a student should advise contact their Student Affairs Representative for information on the appeals process.

Financial disputes regarding fees and finance charges, or any other non-tuition related charges, can be appealed by filing a Fee Exception Request through their Student Affairs Representative. For an appeal to be reviewed, this form must be completed within thirty (30) working days of the end of the term in which the fee was charged or the charge will be considered accurate and will be payable in full.

Tuition Refund Policies

Dropping Courses or Withdrawing from the University

If a student drops a course or withdraws from Alliant International University he/she will be entitled to a credit according to the following schedule:

Students will be refunded according to the following schedule for courses at least 10 weeks in length:

• 100% refund if officially recorded during the add/drop period
   
• 80% refund if officially recorded within 7 calendar days after the add/drop period
   
• 60% refund if officially recorded within 14 calendar days after the add/drop period

For courses that are at least 6 weeks but less than 10 weeks in length:

• 100% refund if officially recorded within 7 calendar days of the start of the course
   
• 80% refund if officially recorded within 8-10 calendar days of the start of the course
   
• 60% refund if officially recorded within 11-14 calendar days of the start of the course.

For courses that are less than 6 weeks in length:

• 100% refund if officially recorded within 3 calendar days of the start of the course
   
• 80% refund if officially recorded within 4-5 calendar days of the start of the course
   
• 60% refund if officially recorded within 6-7 calendar days of the start of the course.

For a weekend only course:

• 100% refund if officially recorded before the beginning of course

For any course shorter than ten weeks, please note that the first calendar day is always the first day of instruction.

In conjunction with the tuition refund schedule outlined above, there is a $110 University withdrawal fee if all courses are dropped. This fee is waived for students on an approved leave of absence.

Any student, who withdraws from the University and is a recipient of student loans, will have his or her costs and eligible loans prorated according to Title IV guidelines

Students on financial aid who withdraw from a course(s) must contact their financial aid counselor for assistance in determining the impact this action has on their student account balance and financial aid prior to dropping classes.

After a credit balance occurs on a student account, refunds and return of funds to lenders will follow appropriate regulations. Refunds will be refunded to the student after all lenders have been paid, if applicable.

Tuition Refund Policy - Oregon Residents

Online tuition refund policy requirements for Oregon residents are:
OAR § 583-030-0035(18)(c): After classes begin for a term, a student who withdraws from a course is eligible for a partial refund through the middle week of the term. Refunds shall be based on unused instructional time and shall be prorated on a weekly basis for schools using a semester, quarter or non-traditional calendar.
 

Financial Petition Committee

Alliant International University’s Financial Petition Committee reviews requests for the reversal of tuition and fee charges. Charges will only be reversed in cases where evidence of a serious and unexpected circumstance beyond your control is presented. You must attach documentation verifying this circumstance in order for your petition to be reviewed. Any documentation submitted becomes the property of Alliant International University and will not be returned. The petition process is confidential and your petition will only be reviewed by members of the committee which includes representatives from the Provost’s Office, and the University Administrative Offices of the Registrar, Student Business Services, and Student Financial Services. Your submission of this form authorizes the committee to approach an instructor or any other member of the university to investigate or verify the claims made in the petition.

The committee will only consider your petition if the ALL of the following conditions are met. Any petition not meeting these requirements will be returned without review. Students who submit incomplete petitions will be required to supply additional information and will be held to the 30 day deadline after the last day of the course.

1. The petition is submitted within 30 calendar days of the last day of the course. The committee will not review any petitions that are submitted after that date. Your petition must be submitted in total (including formal finance petition committee form, any appropriate add/drop forms, and any supporting documentation) to finpetitioncomm@alliant.edu, or mailed to the address on the form, or faxed to 858.635.4775 within that 30 day period. Submissions should not be made to any other office or email address. If the petition is not received at the email, mailing address or fax listed on the form within the 30 calendar day period, it will not be reviewed; AND,

2. The request will only be considered if you have already dropped or withdrawn from the course; no requests for tuition/fee reversal will be considered for add/drops/withdrawals that are in progress and have not been completed at the time of petition submission; AND,

3. It is the student’s responsibility to include all pertinent documentation related to their case. Requests that do not contain any supporting documentation will be dismissed.

The decision of the committee is final and binding and will be issued within 35 business days of receiving all necessary documentation. 

Housing -

Please visit the Housing website at http://www.alliant.edu/locations/san-diego-campus/housing-dining.php for important housing information.

Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Services is committed to providing assistance to qualified students who would otherwise be unable to pursue the attainment of their educational and professional goals. Most, but not all, financial aid is based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). Some types of scholarship aid do not depend on student financial need. Need can be defined most simply as the difference between the total cost of attendance and those resources, which the student and his or her family are expected to apply toward that cost of attendance.

The Office of Student Financial Services provides efficient and effective access through personalized service and the use of technology. General questions may be answered at the Student Affairs Center at each location.  All processing of financial aid is completed by the University Administrative Office of Student Financial Services.  In partnership with University, Federal, State, and other organizations, the Administrative Office of Student Financial Services coordinates the administration of all student financial assistance to ensure equity and consistency in the delivery of funds to students.

Financing is available at Alliant in the form of scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and loans. The federal government, state government, Alliant, and private sources finance these programs. Federal and state financial aid funds are only available to students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Each applicant is expected to provide all requested information fully and accurately. Full reporting and updating of current financial circumstances are essential requirements of all financial aid programs. Failure to notify the Administrative Office of Student Financial Services of a change in circumstances from those indicated on the financial aid application may result in withdrawal of aid.

To receive financial assistance, students are required to maintain good academic standing (see Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy ). Financial aid recipients who withdraw from school during the semester will be expected to repay an appropriate amount of financial aid awarded (see Financial Aid Refund Policy section).

Because circumstances vary from year to year, an award for one year does not guarantee the same assistance in subsequent years. Thus, there may be variations in the amount of assistance offered to a student from one year to the next because of changes in the student’s resources or changes in the availability of financial aid funds.

Students are encouraged to contact their local Student Affairs Center if they have specific questions about the calculation of their cost of attendance, their expected family contribution, their financial aid award, the status of their application, or any change in family circumstances that affects the ability to pay educational costs.

Any questions that are not answered in this section should be directed to that University office at (858) 635-4700 (phone), (858) 635-4848 (fax), or e-mail finaid@alliant.edu.

Alliant participates in the following financial aid programs:

Federal Programs 

• AmeriCorps
   
• Federal Teach Grant
   
• Federal Pell Grant
   
• Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
   
• Federal Work Study Program (Service Learning/Community Service positions are available, and Alliant supports the America Reads program)
   
• Federal Perkins Loan
   
• Federal Direct Loan Subsidized and Unsubsidized
   
• Federal Parent Direct Loan for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS)
   
• Federal Direct Loan Grad Plus for Graduate Students

State Programs

• Cal Grant A for Undergraduates
   
• Cal Grant B for Undergraduates
   
• Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) for students in the Teaching Credential Program
   
• Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education (GAPLE)

Institutional Programs 

• Alliant Scholarship for Undergraduates
   
• Alliant Scholarship for Graduates
   
• Alliant Diversity Scholarship
   
• Alliant Scholarship for the Underserved
   
• Alliant Business and Industry Tuition Assistance Program (BITAP)
    
• International Student on Campus Work Opportunities (ICWO)
   
• On-Campus Student Work Opportunities
   
• Academic Merit Scholarships offered through a student’s academic department

Specific information about these programs is further described below and available from the University Administrative Office of Student Financial Services. 

The Application Process for Federal, State and Institutional Financing Programs

This section applies to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.

Most United States citizens and permanent resident graduate students may qualify for U.S. federal financial aid programs or for aid from the state of California. In order to qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which provides an in-depth analysis of the financial condition of the student and his/her family. This analysis (done on a yearly basis) determines how much the student/family is expected to contribute toward the cost of education. This figure is called the “expected family contribution,” or EFC. Parents’ income and asset information is included in the EFC calculation for dependent students. To determine if you are independent from your parents for financial aid, you will need to answer the questions on the FAFSA application.

Students who received financial aid for the previous year should receive a renewal email from the Federal Department of Education or your Department of Education PIN number sometime in January. Students are encouraged to file their renewal FAFSA applications electronically at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you do not receive a Renewal email from the Federal Department of Education or if you did not apply for Financial Aid for the previous year, but wish to apply for coming award year, you should do the following:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You may complete the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Regardless of how an applicant completes the renewal FAFSA, the March 2 priority filing deadline applies for undergraduate students to be eligible for campus based aid.  Graduate students must file by February 14 to meet the priority deadline for campus based aid including Perkins and Federal Work Study. Applicants should make sure the Institution Code for Alliant (011117) is indicated on their FAFSA or Renewal Form. 

• California Residents:
  Undergraduate California residents who have not been awarded the Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B but wish to apply, must submit the FAFSA by March 2.

Applicants for programs with later admission application deadlines should consult the Office of Student Financial Services website for the applicable financial aid application dates.

It is the student’s and/or applicant’s responsibility to obtain and file all the forms by the proper deadlines in order to be considered for aid at Alliant.  Students selected for verification will have 30 days from the date of notification to turn in all necessary documents.

Only applicants for admission who meet the priority financial aid application deadlines will be considered for institutional aid, i.e., Federal SEOG, Perkins Loan, and Federal Work Study assistance. Late applicants may apply for Direct Loans and other available loan programs.

For entering students, notification of financial aid is sent in an award letter shortly after admission. Accepted students also receive information and forms concerning application for other available loan programs.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial aid eligibility for need-based aid is determined using the following formula:

Financial need is the difference between what a family is expected to contribute toward the cost of the education and the actual cost of the education. For example, if the cost of education is $20,000 per year including both tuition and living expenses in the local area, and the family is expected to contribute $5,000, then the student’s need is $15,000.

The aid students receive from all sources of aid (including non-need based aid) may not exceed their cost of attendance.

Many students may choose only to seek aid for the cost of tuition and fees, since their housing, food, and other basic household costs are supported with ongoing family income.

Cost of Attendance and Standard Student Expense

Cost of attendance includes the following items:

• Tuition and fees
   
• Books and supplies
   
• Room and board
   
• Transportation
   
• Personal expenses
   
• Loan fees, if any.

Each year the Office of Student Financial Services develops a cost of attendance, which includes basic living expenses, plus, for entering students, an average amount of tuition for students in a similar enrollment status. Continuing students’ tuition budget is based on the Fall amount of tuition charged after registration. Spring tuition is assumed to be 15 units of enrollment, unless otherwise notified by the student of a different unit and tuition amount.

In most cases, these budgets are for a nine-month period (two semesters). In some cases, such as for students in a 12-month internship, the cost of attendance may be adjusted to reflect the increased period of enrollment.

Psychotherapy Costs

Because clinical psychology students in most doctoral programs are required to complete one year (at least 30-45 hours) of personal psychotherapy, students in the clinical psychology doctoral programs should anticipate psychotherapy expenditures during their programs. CSPP programs make every effort to encourage qualified area therapists to offer psychotherapy to students at reduced rates. Typically, students spend $1,000 to $4,000 to meet the 30-45-hour requirement. Up to $4,500 (less other medical/dental expenses) of these costs may be included in a student’s cost of education budget for financial aid purposes.

Undergraduate Student Living on Campus (for nine months)

Full-Time Commuter Undergraduate Student Living Off Campus (for nine months)

Full time Commuter Graduate Student Living Off Campus (for nine months)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Students Receiving U.S. Federal Financial Aid

The academic requirements that students who receive U.S. federal assistance must meet to maintain their eligibility have changed due to new guidelines adopted by the Federal Department of Education effective July 1, 2011. Students must now meet new standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) effective this fall term 2011.

These SAP standards may be different from, and at times, more stringent than, the satisfactory academic progress policies adopted by Alliant’s academic programs. The federal guidelines require that Alliant’s Financial Aid Office conduct reviews of student progress at the end of fall, spring, and summer terms to determine if students are making satisfactory progress towards earning their degree and therefore remain eligible for federal financial aid. (These SAP reviews should not be confused with Student Evaluation and Review Committee (SERC) reviews conducted by Alliant’s academic programs.)

What are the SAP standards?

Cumulative Minimum Grade Point Average:

Undergraduate students must achieve a 2.0 GPA by the end of their first term of enrollment and must maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA throughout their program enrollment.

Graduate students must achieve a 3.0 GPA by the end of their first term of enrollment and maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA throughout their program enrollment.

Law students must achieve a 2.0 (70%) GPA by the end of their first term of enrollment and maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 (70%) GPA throughout their program enrollment.

Average Credit Hours per Semester (Full time students only):

Full time Undergraduate students must have completed, with a passing grade, an average of 8 credits per semester using formula: number of credit hours completed/number of semesters.

Full time Graduate students must have completed, with a passing grade, an average of credits as indicated on the attached matrix per semester using formula: number of credit hours completed/number of semesters.

Law students must have completed, with a passing grade, an average of 6 credits per semester using formula: number of credit hours completed/number of semesters.

Completion Ratio (Pace of Progression):

Undergraduate students have a course completion ratio of at least 67% using the formula: number of credit hours earned/ number of credit hours attempted.

Graduate students have a course completion ration of at least as indicated on the attached matrix using the formula: number of credit hours earned/number of credit hours attempted.

Law students have a course completion ratio of at least 58% using the formula: number of credit hours earned/ number of credit hours attempted.

Maximum Length of Study (Maximum Time frame):

Undergraduate programs must be completed within a period no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program.

Graduate programs must be completed within a period no longer than the maximum time frame indicated on the attached matrix for your program. Aid eligibility is limited to these maximum time frames.

Law programs must be completed within a period no longer than 175% of the published length of the educational program.

Students who satisfy these requirements are in good standing with respect to financial aid and will continue to be eligible for aid.

Timing of Review Process:

The University Administrative Office of Student Financial Services will review students’ academic records each term after grades are posted to determine whether the SAP standards have been met. Students who do not meet any of the standards will receive a letter from the University Administrative Office of Student Financial Services placing them on “Warning” Status for purposes of financial aid eligibility. These students may continue to receive aid for one term, and have until the end of that term to meet the SAP eligibility standards. If after the one term of warning status these students have not met the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will be ineligible for federal financial aid for future semesters.

A student has the opportunity to appeal to the Financial Aid appeals committee (not to be confused with the SERC) and if it is found that there are extenuating circumstances in accordance with the SAP policy, the student may be reinstated to aid eligibility status. Some appeals may require that the student meet certain standards each term to remain eligible for financial aid. 

 *Please note: Students must be attending 5 units of general required coursework for the degree program or 3 units of dissertation sequence each semester to be eligible for financial aid.

Financial Aid for Study Abroad

Financial aid for study abroad is available at Alliant. Courses taken through a study abroad program must in all cases be acceptable for transfer into the student’s program of study at Alliant. Approval for study abroad must first be obtained through an Academic Advisor. Upon obtaining approval from their Academic Advisor, Alliant students must obtain a Consortium Agreement from the Academic Advisor. This form must be complete well in advance of the student’s departure. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services for further details.

Student Course Load for Student Financial Aid Programs

For all Federal and State financial aid the definition for full time is:

• Graduate students = 8 Units of required coursework for degree completion
• Graduate students enrolled in dissertation courses BUS 9950, BUS 9960, BUS 9970, BUS 9980, BUS 9981, BUS 9982 or BUS 9983 are considered to be full-time
• Undergraduate students = 12 Units of required coursework for degree completion

Federal Programs

To be eligible for the Federal Direct Loan Programs, student must be enrolled at least half time in units related to program.

Half time enrollment is defined as:

• 6 semester units for credential and undergraduate students of required coursework for degree completion
   
• 5 semester units for graduate students of required coursework for degree completion
   
• 3 semester units for dissertation sequence students (9900 and above courses)
   
• 3 semester units if last term of CFT practicum
   
• 3 semester units for summer term for San Francisco Law Students only

Students enrolled less than half time are not eligible for the Federal Direct Loan programs.

For graduate Perkins loans students must be attending at least 8 credits per term.

Undergraduates must be attending 12 credits per term for the Perkins.

State Programs

For State financial aid the following credits are considered for undergraduate aid:

Institutional Programs

The following graduate/undergraduate institutional aid programs require that students register and pay per unit cost for the equivalent of at least the number of units indicated:

• Alliant Scholarship-Undergraduate (12 units)
   
• CSPP Merit Scholarship (11 units)
   
• CSFS Merit Scholarship (5 units)
   
• ASM Merit Scholarship (9 units)
   
• CSPP-CFT Merit Scholarship (9 units)
   
• Alliant Scholarship-Graduate (8 units)
   
• HSOE Merit Scholarship (6 units)

Other federal and state aid programs may also require full-time enrollment.

Disbursal of Financial Aid Awards

Annual Financial Aid awards will be divided by the number of terms for which the student is enrolled and disbursed by term as long as the student meets the eligibility requirements for the aid.

Student Loan Fund Release Policy

If all paperwork, Stafford entrance test, verification and loan funds are received, student loan funds may post to the student’s school account within the first two weeks of the first day of the term. However, Department of Education rules allow fourteen (14) days from the first day of the term to return excess payments to students. Any questions regarding delay in financial aid refund after aid has dispersed to the student’s statement should be directed to the Student Business Services office.

Financial Aid Refunds/Return of Title IV Funds

If a recipient of Title IV student financial aid withdraws from Alliant International University or does not complete the term for which he/she has paid, he/she may be entitled to a partial refund of his/her tuition based on the Return of Title IV Funds Policy. Under this policy, the University will determine how much Title IV student financial aid a student has earned based on the period he/she was in attendance. Any unearned Title IV student financial aid will be returned to the Title IV programs. This pro rata schedule is calculated up through the 60% point in time of the enrollment period at Alliant International University for which the student was charged (measured from the first day of classes through the end of formal instruction, the end of session, or end of term, whichever is earlier).

Funds returned to any Title IV student financial aid program may not exceed those disbursed to the student (or credited to his/her account) from that program. All Title IV refunds will be made within 45 days of the date the student officially withdraws, the date the school determines that the student has unofficially withdrawn, or within 45 days of the date the student fails to return from an approved leave of absence or notifies the school that he/she will not be returning, whichever is earlier. For financial aid purposes a student is only allowed a leave of absence for a maximum of 180 days within a 12 month period. If a student is granted a leave of absence for a longer period by the academic department the student for financial aid purposes will be considered a withdrawal and a return to lender calculation will be completed.

Any recipient of Title IV federal student financial aid who withdraws or does not complete the term, must complete a clearance process, including a financial aid exit interview for students who have received educational loan assistance. The clearance and exit interview will explain students’ rights and responsibilities as they pertain to tuition refunds, financial aid refunds and return of Title IV funds and educational loans. (See Return of Title IV Funds examples below.)

New student matriculation deposits become tuition paid as of the first day of class and will be treated accordingly in any refund calculations.

Any refund calculated must be returned first to the Title IV programs. Refunds are allocated in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Direct Loan Program
    
2. Subsidized Federal Direct Direct Loan Program
    
3. Federal Perkins Direct Loan ProgramFederal
    
4. PLUS/GRADPLUS Loan Program
    
5. Federal Pell Grant Program
    
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program
    
7. Any other Title IV program
    
8. Other federal, state, private, or institutional student financial aid programs.

Repayments

A repayment is cash disbursed directly to the student for non-institutional costs that must be repaid to the Title IV programs. A student will owe a repayment if he or she received a cash disbursement in excess of what was reasonably incurred before the student ceased attendance. Federal Family Education Loan Program and Federal Work Study funds are excluded from repayment calculations.

Repayments are allocated in the following order:

1. Federal Perkins Direct Loan Program
    
2. Federal Pell Grant Program
    
3. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program
    
4. Any other non-loan Title IV program
    
5. Other state, private, or institutional student financial assistance programs.

Descriptions of Aid Offered by Alliant

Alliant is committed to helping make the cost of education affordable and sets aside funds each year for student scholarships. Alliant scholarship assistance is credited towards the recipient’s tuition account.

Institutional Aid

Alliant International University Diversity Scholarships

To promote multicultural and international competence and to support our core values of Intellectual Advancement, Diversity and Social Responsibility, Alliant International University has established the Alliant Diversity Scholarship (ADS). This scholarship is designed to enable all students to pursue their educational, scholarly and career interests in an environment that recognizes both the distinctiveness of each person’s experience and the common humanity that unites us.

The University awards the Alliant Diversity Scholarship in a manner that does not result in an advantage or disadvantage to a recipient because of his or her gender, age, race, color, religious creed, national or international origin, disability, or sexual orientation.  Awards are based on neutral criteria such as need or socioeconomic status, first in generation to go to college, single geographical limitations such as areas affected by natural disasters, and international, national or local strife (i.e. war, civil unrest).  Applicants may be international or domestic students, undergraduate or graduate, or full or half-time students (award will be pro-rated).

Donor Scholarships

In addition, Alliant has several dozen endowed and memorial scholarships that are awarded according to criteria stipulated by the respective donors. A complete list is available on Alliant’s Financial Aid Scholarship web page.

International Campus Work Study (ICW)

International Campus Work Study provides funding for international students and is awarded by Alliant to fill critical positions on campus. International students are required by federal regulation to possess a social security number to work on campus. Social security numbers may be obtained by contacting the Social Security Administration at 1 (800) 772-1213. The needs of the University, the availability of funding and a student’s qualifications impact a student’s eligibility for continued employment.

State Aid

Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B

These California State funded programs are designed to assist California residents. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) determines eligibility for new recipients. The Office of Student Financial Services determines renewal eligibility after all FAFSA information is received, need determined, and CGPA calculated.

Cal Grant A

This grant assists low and middle-income undergraduate students with tuition expenses. Grant recipients are selected on the basis of grade point average and documented financial need.

Cal Grant B

This grant provides assistance to undergraduate students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students receive assistance for tuition and a stipend for books and supplies.

Note:
Students notified by CSAC that they will receive a Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B and that this aid is not included in their financial aid packages should notify the Student Financial Services as soon as possible.

Federal Aid

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

These federal funds are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients

Federal Work Study Program (FWS)

FWS is an employment program largely funded by the federal government and supplemented by employer contributions. The goals of the program are to help students meet their educational expenses, encourage participation in community service activities, and instill a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community. FWS strives to complement and reinforce the student employees’ educational programs and career goals.

Under the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, students are employed in part-time jobs on campus or in other nonprofit agencies to help meet a portion of their cost of attendance. FWS earnings are considered taxable income and must be reported as such. Doctoral extension students are eligible to work under FWS as long as they are enrolled at least half-time (3 credits). Students may earn up to the maximum amount specified in their financial aid package. On average, FWS students work 10-20 hours per week during the academic year.

The actual amount earned depends on the student’s employability, class schedule, and the number of hours worked.

Each year, at least seven percent of an eligible institution’s FWS allocation must be used for Community Service. Alliant encourages students to investigate opportunities for on-campus community service employment.   

In general, community services include:

1. Health care, child care, literacy training, education (including tutorial services), welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention and control, recreation, rural development and community improvement
    
2. Support for students (other than for an institution’s own students) with disabilities
    
3. Activities in which a FWS student serves as a mentor for such purposes:
   
   1. Tutoring
       
   2. Supporting educational and recreational activities
       
   3. Counseling, including career counseling

Federal Perkins Loan

This Federal loan program is designed for students with exceptional financial need. The current Federal Perkins interest rate is 5%. Borrowers must sign a promissory note and pass the Perkins entrance examination before funds can be disbursed. Federal Perkins borrowers are required to attend an Exit Loan Counseling session prior to withdrawal or graduation.

Interest does not accrue while the borrower is enrolled in school at least halftime, during the grace period, or during authorized deferments.

Federal funding allocations for the Perkins Loan Program have fluctuated over the past several years. As a result, Alliant cannot guarantee average awards for subsequent years.

Federal William D Ford Direct Loan

The following information pertains to the Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan. Starting July 1, 2010, all student borrowers will be using Direct Loan as their lender which includes the following programs:

• Federal William D. Ford Subsidized Direct Loan (for Undergraduate students only)
• Federal William D. Ford Unsubsidized Direct Loan
• Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
• Federal William D. Ford Grad Plus for Graduate Student Direct Loan
• Federal William D. Ford Unsubsidized HEAL Direct Loan

Federal Subsidized Direct Loan and Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan Programs

These are long-term, low-interest loans borrowed directly from Direct Loan as the lender.

There are two types of Direct Loans-subsidized and unsubsidized. Eligibility for subsidized Direct Loans is based on financial need (demonstrated via the FAFSA or Renewal Form) and they are only available to undergraduate students. Students who do not demonstrate (sufficient) need may borrow unsubsidized Direct Loans. Maximum loan eligibility is indicated on each student’s financial aid award letter. When students are eligible for a subsidized Direct Loan, the government pays the interest that accrues on the loan while in school. Students receiving an unsubsidized Direct Loan are charged the interest on the loan while in school, in grace period and in deferment.

 Starting July 1, 2013 the interest rate for a Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loan for undergraduate students is 3.86%.

The interest rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students starting July 1, 2013 is 5.41%  

Annual Loan Limits Additional Unsubsidized

(Subsidized and Limits for Independent* Unsubsidized) Student Borrowers

If you are eligible for a Federal Direct Loan you must complete a copy of your current Financial Aid Award indicating how much you wish to borrow. Moreover, if you are a first time borrower, you must complete and submit a Master Promissory Note electronically through www.studentloans.gov.  All students are required to complete the Financial Awareness Counseling at www.studentloans.gov.

Federal GRADPLUS for Graduate Students

The Federal GRADPLUS for Graduate students is a federal loan program.  The interest rate is 6.41%. Interest is charged on the loan once disbursement is made to the school as it is with the unsubsidized Direct. Students must be preapproved for the loan as it is dependent on the credit of the borrower.  A separate Master Promissory Note must be filled out for this loan through the lender.

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

The Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a federal loan program available for parents of undergraduate students. Interest rates are a fixed rate of 6.41% for those that use Direct Loan as their lender. The Federal Direct PLUS may be used to replace the expected Parent and/or Student Contribution to supplement the total financial aid package up to the amount of the budget. 

Unsubsidized Federal Direct-HEAL Replacement

Under this program, students who are enrolled in APA accredited Clinical PsyD and PhD Programs at CSPP/Alliant are eligible to apply for the unsubsidized loan formerly known as Health Education Assistance Loan Program (HEAL). Eligible borrowers may borrow an additional $12,500 per academic year.   

Other Aid Sources

Applicants and students with access to the Internet are encouraged to take advantage of a number of recently developed and improved sites that provide useful financial aid information. One of the best sites is The Financial Aid Information Page (http://www.finaid.org/). Among the many services offered free of charge are:

• Information about funding for graduate school
   
• Access to several online searchable databases containing over 200,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans
   
• EFC Estimator, an online calculator that computes an estimate of the student’s expected family contribution and financial need using the Federal Need Analysis Methodology
   
• A loan repayment calculator that calculates manageable debt levels based upon anticipated income
   
• An annotated bibliography of financial aid resource materials

Assistantships

Positions as teaching assistants, research assistants, library assistants and administrative assistants are available on a limited basis at Alliant locations. At some locations, these positions are paid exclusively through Federal Work Study (FWS) and, consequently, are available only to FWS eligible students. A limited number of these positions, however, are paid with institutional funds and are open to all qualified students.

All student employees are expected to maintain confidentiality; student employees must sign a confidentiality form each year prior to beginning work at the University.

Paid Field Placements

Some Alliant programs require field placement requirements. Some field placement agencies offer training stipends to the students placed with them. Depending on the area of study, stipends can range from $200 to over $20,000 per year; the upper end is generally for full-time APA or APPIC internships. On average, approximately one quarter of Alliant’s students who are in programs with field placement components receive agency-sponsored stipends. (Stipends are considered taxable income and must be reported accordingly.)

Veterans Benefits

Please refer to the Military and Veterans  section for information regarding benefits.

APA Minority Fellowship Program

Under this program, the American Psychological Association provides fellowships of up to $10,000 in stipends and negotiated amounts to the recipient (through Alliant); Alliant has agreed to provide scholarship assistance up to half the student’s tuition for the Fall and Spring semesters, regardless of financial need. The combination of resources is designed to cover the student’s tuition and some ancillary expenses. Awards are made for one year, but are renewable for two additional years. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, file the FAFSA or Renewal Form and the Alliant International University Application for Financial Aid, and be enrolled full-time in either the Clinical PsyD or PhD programs at Alliant. Applications are accepted September 1 to January 15, prior to the academic year for which the applicant is seeking the fellowship. Applications are available from the American Psychological Association, APA Minority Fellowship Program, 750 1st Street N.E., Washington, DC 20002, (202) 336- 6027, e-mail mfp@apa.org. Information is also available at www.apa.org/mfp.