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 2015-2016 tuition schedule follows:

Room and Board - San Diego Campus Only

8-week Session Housing

On-campus housing is available for single and married students that are registered for at least two 8-week sessions. Alliant Housing facilities are adult-only residences. Campus housing will be open to new student move-in at specific points during the year, as listed below.

Undergraduate and Graduate Housing Rates

All pricing includes a 19-meal plan or equivalent provided on campus by Sodexo in McDonald Hall. Pricing also includes utilities, cable tv, Wi-Fi, and housekeeping services.

Residents are required to pay a $300 room reservation deposit to reserve their space in Housing. Upon move-in the $300 converts to a security deposit and is refunded at the time of check-out, provided that there is no damage to the housing unit, no breach of the license agreement and no balance due to the student’s account with the University.

Students who have contracted for multiple session blocks will be allowed to remain in campus housing between sessions. Additional board charges may apply over Holiday (Winter) Break.

Academic and Administrative Fees

Student Association Fee

Students only in Full-Time Internship or only in Doctoral Extension will not be charged student association fees.

Application Fees

*If your enrollment is cancelled within 7 days of the start of courses, you will be entitled to a refund of your application fee

Wellness Center Fee - Required for all San Diego Students

San Diego Facilities Fee - Required for all San Diego Students

State Tuition Recovery Fund

(a) A qualifying institution shall include the following statement on both its enrollment agreement for an educational program and its current schedule of student charges:
“You must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) if all of the following applies to you:

1. You are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition either by cash, guaranteed student loans, or personal loans, and
2. Your total charges are not paid by any third-party payer such as an employer, government program or other payer unless you have a separate agreement to repay the third party.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if either of the following applies:

1. You are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program, or
2. Your total charges are paid by a third party, such as an employer, government program or other payer, and you have no separate agreement to repay the third party.”

(b) In addition to the statement described under subdivision (a) of this section, a qualifying institution shall include the following statement on its current schedule of student charges:
“The State of California created the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic losses suffered by students in educational programs who are California residents, or are enrolled in a residency programs attending certain schools regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.
You may be eligible for STRF if you are a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The school closed before the course of instruction was completed.
2. The school’s failure to pay refunds or charges on behalf of a student to a third party for license fees or any other purpose, or to provide equipment or materials for which a charge was collected within 180 days before the closure of the school.
3. The school’s failure to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federally guaranteed student loan program as required by law or to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the school prior to closure in excess of tuition and other costs.
4. There was a material failure to comply with the Act or this Division within 30 days before the school closed or, if the material failure began earlier than 30 days prior to closure, the period determined by the Bureau.
5. An inability after diligent efforts to prosecute, prove, and collect on a judgment against the institution for a violation of the Act.”

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Student Health Insurance

Alliant offers a Student Health Insurance Plan that is provided by United Healthcare. The United Healthcare 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 any time while enrolled.

Student Health Insurance rates and open enrollment dates will be published on the portal and United Healthcare’s website in advance of the beginning of the August/September session.

All on-ground international students and resident students (students who live on the San Diego campus), are required to participate in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Domestic resident students who can provide evidence of alternate coverage may waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. International students are not eligible for insurance waivers.  All students who meet the eligibility criteria will be automatically assessed the insurance premium when they register for courses. 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. Information on elective insurance plans can be found through Covered California at CoveredCA.com.

Domestic resident students that do not take action to waive during the published waiver period will still be charged for the premium and be required to pay. Required students that do not enroll through United Healthcare 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. Domestic resident students that have alternate coverage, but fail to waive through Aetna 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.

Insurance coverage run from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016.  Domestic resident students who are required to enroll and wish to continue coverage WILL NOT need to re-enroll after initial enrollment for the coverage year. Domestic resident students who waive and wish to continue waiving WILL NOT need to waive again for the coverage year. Domestic resident students who waived and wish to add coverage for a life event will need to contact Student Business Services to enroll.

Dependents may be added to an enrolled student’s plan for an additional cost.

Domestic resident 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 period; and
• the student must waive the coverage during the published open enrollment period. No late waivers will be accepted.

To review the United Healthcare Student Insurance Plan, go to the Student Business Services myAlliant site. 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 United Healthcare.

Dissertation

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. In addition to continuous registration while the dissertation is in progress, students must be enrolled in dissertation or extension during the term in which they achieve dissertation clearance (this includes fall, spring, and summer, but not winter intersession). Students who submit their dissertation and achieve clearance between the end of one term and the start of the next term must be registered in a dissertation sequence course for the preceding term (or in dissertation extension if all standard dissertation sequence courses are already completed) and are responsible for any associated charges

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 for every eight-week session until the dissertation is complete and cleared. 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 1.5 unit course at a flat fee except as noted below. Dissertation extension courses do not count towards the total required units necessary to a complete a degree.

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. Dissertation extension courses do not count towards the total required units necessary to a complete a degree.

One point five (1.5) 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 1.5 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 with automatic payment option
• 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 session 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 session, students must pay any outstanding balances from any preceding terms.  Students who do not pay their outstanding balances will not be permitted to register. Students with balances on the last day of the session are subject to the late payment fee.

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 session. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the student’s registration.  Each session’s payment due date is published in the academic calendar.

Tuition and fees are due and payable on the Friday before the first day of each session.

Students who do not have their financial aid step completed 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 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 $100 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 within 72 hours of being 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
• Western Union Business Solutions international funds transfer through CASH Net

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 or ACH 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 two(2) payments for each session.

Students choosing to pay by CASHNet payment plan will be require to set up an automatic payment method, which automatically charges a student’s credit card or processes an automatic ACH debit on the payment due date for the scheduled payment amount.  If a student wishes to use a different payment method other than the selected default for one or more payments, they must make the respective payment in full prior to the payment plan due date. To ensure your automatic payment method is not charged, be certain the payment is applied to the payment plan and you are not making a general account payment.  For questions on this process, please contact the Student Business Services office at sbs@alliant.edu.

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.

• 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. Please visit the Student Business Services page on the student portal for more information.

• 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

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, 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.

Cancellation Policy

Students have the right to cancel the enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later. “Enrollment” means the date the enrollment agreement is countersigned by the institution.

Cancellation may occur when the student provides a written notice of cancellation. This can be done by mail, email, or hand delivery. 

The written notice of cancellation, if sent by mail, is effective on the date of postmark. The written notice of cancellation need not take any particular form and, however expressed, it is effective if it shows that the student no longer wishes to be bound by the Enrollment Agreement.

Notice of cancellation should be provided to the University Registrar, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road M-16, San Diego CA 92131, registrar@alliant.edu

Institutional Refunds for Withdrawal

Students who have voluntarily withdrawn or have been administratively withdrawn or dismissed from the University will receive a pro rata refund of moneys not paid from federal student financial aid program funds if the student has completed 60% or less of the period of attendance for which the student was charged. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered fully earned and the student will receive no refund.

For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the student’s withdrawal date shall be deemed the last day of recorded attendance. The amount owed equals the daily charge for the program (total institutional charge, minus non-refundable fees, divided by the number of days in the program), multiplied by the number of days schedule to attend prior to withdrawal.

The refund will be less the application fee and University Withdrawal Fee not to exceed $250, and less any deduction for return of institutional grants, equipment or library materials not returned in good condition after the date of withdrawal or dismissal.

If a student’s tuition is paid by a third party organization, any refund due will be issued directly to the third party.

Institutional refunds will be processed within 45 calendar days from the date of withdrawal/dismissal.

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 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.

Schedule of Charges

The following table provides an estimated schedule of charges by degree for the total charges for a period of attendance and for an entire education program. The estimates for online programs are inclusive of tuition and non-refundable fees for all students in the program. The estimates for on-ground and hybrid online/on-ground programs are inclusive of tuition, estimated books and supplies, and non-refundable fees for all students in the program.

Alliant defines the period of attendance as the full educational program in a standard program continuous enrollment. Please refers to the schedule of tuition and fees for the specific dollar amounts used to calculate these charges.

* Total estimated charges for the complete program at current rates.  Alliant’s tuition and fees are anticipated to increase no more than 3% per year.

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).

If the student obtains a loan to pay for an educational program, the student is responsible to repay the full amount of the loan plus interest, less the amount any refund. If the student receives federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of the funds not paid from federal financial aid funds.

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. Students that are considered through the California Dream Act may apply for California Cal Grant through the California Student Aid Commission website. 

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 1st session amount of tuition charged after registration. Each session tuition will be assumed to be the same as session 1 of the loan period.

In most cases, these budgets are for a nine-month period (four sessions). 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.

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 the fall term of 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 each award year 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.

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 two 8-week sessions 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 two 8-week sessions.

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.

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.

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 award year 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 Disqualification Status for purposes of financial aid eligibility.

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 session 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 two 8-week sessionsr 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 = 6 units of required coursework for degree completion per session
• Graduate students enrolled in dissertation/project courses in the 9900 and above range, with the exclusion of 9940 are considered to be full-time
• Undergraduate students = 6 units of required coursework for degree completion per session

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:

• 3 session units for credential and undergraduate students of required coursework for degree completion per session
• 3 session units for graduate students of required coursework for degree completion per two sessions

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 6 credits per session.

Undergraduates must be attending 6 credits per session 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 for two sessions)
• CSFS Merit Scholarship (3 units)
• ASM Merit Scholarship (3 units)
• HSOE Merit Scholarship (3 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. The earliest that aid will disburse to a student statement is 15 days from the beginning of the current session.

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 15 days  of the first day of the session. . Any questions regarding delay in financial aid refund after aid has disbursed 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 session 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.

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 Loan Program
2. Subsidized Federal Direct Loan Program
3. Federal Perkins Direct Loan Program
4. Federal 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, 2015 the interest rate for a Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loan for undergraduate students is 4.29%.

The interest rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students starting July 1, 2015 is 5.84%.

Rates are subject to change each July 1.

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 each award year.

Lifetime Maximum Loan Limits

Federal GRADPLUS for Graduate Students

The Federal GRADPLUS for Graduate students is a federal loan program. The interest rate is 6.84% as of July 1, 2015. 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 6.84%, as of July 1, 2015. 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.

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.