FINANCIAL AID DEPARTMENT

The goal of the Financial Aid Department at Specs Howard School is to assist eligible students in applying for and receiving financial assistance. All financial aid paperwork must be submitted to the Financial Aid Department prior to orientation (unless an extension is granted by the Financial Aid Department) or the student may be placed on a cash payment plan. Specs Howard School reserves the right to suspend or administratively withdraw a student who does not meet cash payment obligations.

The Financial Aid Department is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct. For details, see our Financial Aid Code of Conduct.

The Financial Aid Office at Specs Howard School may be contacted by calling 248-358-9000 or via email at aburt@specshoward.edu.

In order to apply for federal financial aid funding you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you have completed the first phase of the admissions process and you have been accepted into a Specs Howard program, you will be assigned a Financial Aid Officer to assist you in completing the form. You may also complete the form online at fafsa.ed.gov. A paper version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available upon request.

APPLICATION & PROCEDURES
All Programs

If you want to enroll with Financial Aid funding, you must have your Financial Aid Eligibility determined before class start. (NOTE: Students must reapply for financial aid each academic year. )

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also Apply Online at instead of using the paper form. A personal identification number (PIN) may be used instead of sending a signature page when applying over the internet. You will receive confirmation that your FAFSA has been processed by the Department of Education. If you included an email address on your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) notification in response by email. If you did not include an e-mail address, you will receive a paper SAR in the mail. Either form of the SAR allows you to review the information you submitted and to make corrections, if any are needed. The Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizes all the information you provided on your FAFSA. Your SAR will usually contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the number used in determining your eligibility for federal student aid. Your EFC will appear in the upper right-hand portion of a paper SAR or an electronic SAR. The SAR is required to determine eligibility for all federal programs. If you are selected for verification, you must provide additional income information to the Financial Aid Office. This may include tax forms, social security statements, TANF statements, and worksheets as necessary. Please note that all documents must be signed.
2. Contact the Financial Aid Office at Specs Howard School of Media Arts to schedule an appointment with a Financial Aid Officer (248) 358-9000.
3. Meet with a Financial Aid Officer, who will try to determine your estimated Financial Aid Eligibility. The Financial Aid Officer will discuss your eligibility for all the Federal Financial Aid Programs that Specs Howard School participates in. The following is a brief description of the Federal Financial Aid Programs:

   Federal Pell Grant
   The Federal Pell Grant program is a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Funds are awarded based on need, as determined by a standard formula, and are only available to students who do not already have a Bachelors degree. To apply for a Federal Pell Grant, the student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet with the Financial Aid Department at Specs Howard School, which will conduct a needs analysis for the student.

   Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
   The Federal SEOG program is a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid.  This grant shall be awarded to students that demonstrate financial need and have an "automatic-zero EFC" (see the Financial Aid Office for details).  The amount awarded to each student and number of students receiving the award will be determined by the Financial Aid Department.  If the funds must be returned for any reason, including but not limited to withdrawal, the award may be given to another student. If a student’s enrollment status changes prior to disbursement, his or her award may be given to another student, depending on the availability of remaining Federal SEOG funds.

   Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan (formerly Guaranteed Student Loan)
   The Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is a low-interest loan made available to students to help fund their education. The Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is need-based. In order to apply for this loan, the student must be in need of aid, as determined by a standard formula. Students who wish to apply for a Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet with the Financial Aid Department at Specs Howard School, which will conduct a needs analysis for the student. Repayment of a Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan begins six months after the last date of attendance.

   Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
   The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is a form of financial aid that is not need-based, although students who wish to apply for a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan are still required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet with the Financial Aid Department at Specs Howard School. Repayment of the principle loan amount will begin six months after the student’s last date of attendance. Payment of interest on the unsubsidized portion is the responsibility of the student during school and the six months prior to repayment of the loan amount.

   Note: All Stafford loan borrowers at Specs Howard School must complete entrance and exit loan counseling. Loan counseling can be completed online by accessing the Direct Loan website at dlenote.ed.gov. Entrance counseling is a federal government requirement that requires students to complete student loan entrance counseling session prior to obtaining a Federal Direct Stafford loan. The purpose of entrance and exit counseling is to help students understand their rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower.

   Federal Direct Plus Loans For Parents (FPLUS)
   The Federal Direct Plus Loan program is a form of financial aid that is not need-based, although students whose parents wish to apply for a Federal PLUS Loan are still required to complete the Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet with the Financial Aid Department at Specs Howard School. Repayment of the Federal Parent Loan begins while the student is enrolled, unless other arrangements have been made with the lender.

4. Receive Financial Aid estimate and decide on whether or not you would like to enroll in Specs Howard School of Media Arts.

Definition of a full-time student: A Full-Time Student is any student pursuing 12 credit hours in a payment period/one semester.

Academic Year Definition: An academic year consists of 24 credit hours earned over 32 weeks of instructional time.