Financial Aid Facts

At Argosy University, Twin Cities financial aid is available to those who qualify. We’re here to help you understand what you need to know to fund your education. If you want to speak with someone in person, please contact a financial aid representative at 1.888.844.2004.

Financial Aid Changes
Every year, many of the federal aid policies, practices, and awards are up for review and approval by the federal government. The government also maintains the right to modify all federal aid policies at any time during the year should there be budgetary or regulation issues that need to be addressed immediately. Starting with the new financial aid award year for 2012-2013 that begins officially on July 1st, 2012, the attached document highlights the pending changes in financial aid awarding and policy. The Financial Aid Office will be able to answer any specific questions regarding how these changes might or might not affect you and your financial aid award for the coming school year. Please refer to the 2012-2013 Guide to Federal Student Aid for additional information.

The following links will help you find the information you need to finance your education.

Types of Financial Aid
Financial aid information is published online and in printed materials. Visit our financial aid pages or download a PDF of our financial aid guide.

Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations
For information about eligibility requirements for federal student aid programs, please click here.

Private Education Loans and Disclosures
Private alternative education loans are offered by private lending institutions and are not subsidized by a government agency. Alternative education loans are not to be used as a substitution for federal financial aid loans. Alternative education loans are intended to provide additional funding for your education after all federal loans are sought. To find out more about these loans, click here and select our location from the drop down list.

Application for all alternative loan programs can be done on-line directly with the lender of your choice.  Should you choose a paper Self Certification Form to begin your application, please click here. The Financial Aid Office can help with any questions you might have, including information on the Cost of Attendance and what loan amount you might need when filling this form out.

Private Lender Lists
A list of private lenders for our location can be found here.

Student Lending Code of Conduct for Education Loans
To download a PDF of our student lending code of conduct for education loans, please click here.

Financial Aid Literacy
We are proud to present our new Financial Literacy resource, FATV! We strongly encourage our students to utilize our updated short video presentations customized specifically for our students by Financial Aid TV. These informational videos will provide valuable tips and lessons for understanding financial aid and for managing finances wisely. Some of the topics covered include financial aid processes and awards, paying for college; time management; credit management; preparing for life after college; and personal finance tips for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. These can be referenced at any time and will be updated as new information and resources become available.

Loan Payment Calculator
Please visit the Federal Student Aid website here, for access to valuable loan calculators to get an idea of what your monthly loan payment might look like, depending on the repayment plan you choose. When it comes time to repay your loans, we suggest a plan that allows you to pay off your loans the fastest. Remember, the longer you take to pay off your loans, the smaller your monthly payment, but the more you will pay back in total dollars. Not all loans are eligible for all repayment plans. Private loan repayment plans are at the discretion of the lender. Please contact your Student Finance Counselor if you have any questions.

Federal Direct Loan Repayment Plans
Depending on your overall federal loan amount that you need to repay along with your current financial situation, there may be different repayment options available to you. This federal resource will provide all of the information you need to be better informed of your repayment options for your federal loans. Options may include, Standard, Extended, Income Contingent and Income Based repayment plans, depending on your situation. Not all plans are available to all students. While we typically suggest choosing a plan that repays your loan the fastest, generally the Standard plan, the Income Based and Income Contingent plans might be best for you right now. If you have further questions, please contact a Student Finance Counselor at the school for assistance. Please know that the federal government has the right to change the terms of each plan at any time, including eliminating and adding plans. Students also have the right to change plans, per federal regulations, as needed.

Entrance (Initial) Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers
Before receiving a student loan, first-time borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session. This quick and easy interactive counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your loan responsibilities. This entrance counseling session can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

Exit Counseling for Student Loan Borrowers
Direct loan exit counseling will explain your rights and responsibilities as a direct loan borrower. Exit counseling information is also located on the Federal Student Aid website. You will need to have your Social Security number and your PIN number ready in order to log into this portion of the site. 

Financial Aid Cost of Attendance
The financial aid office uses an estimate of direct and indirect costs to determine how much financial aid a student may be eligible for.  Direct costs include tuition, fees, some books and supplies and institutional housing.  Indirect costs include estimates of other living expenses, transportation and personal expenses.  Examples of the cost of attendance estimates used can be found by clicking here.

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
When a borrower receives a Federal loan, the loan provider must submit that information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Information in NSLDS is accessible to schools, lenders, and guarantors that are authorized users of the data system. Students are also able to log in and access all of their federal loan information. Students will need to have their federal PIN number in order to access their information.

State Grant Assistance
Argosy University, Twin Cities participates in eligible Minnesota state grant/aid programs. See http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/ for potential programs and further information.

U.S. Military Education Benefits
If you served on Active Duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for educational and housing expenses to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program. Check your eligibility status and the amount for which you qualify with your Service prior to enrolling.

If you are the spouse or child of a service member who is serving on active duty Title 10 orders in the pay grades of E1-E5, O1-O2, or W1-W2, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Department of Defense for education, training, and/or the occupational license and credentials necessary for a portable career.

If you are the spouse or child of a service member, you may be eligible for transfer of the service member’s Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to you. For more information on these benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov.

To learn more about educational benefits for military personnel and veterans, please begin with our military pages www.argosy.edu/military.