• Federal Student Aid
  • Eligibility
  • Preparing to Apply
  • Types of Federal Aid
  • How to Apply
  • Awarding Federal Student Aid
  • Policies & Procedures
  • Current Students
  • Consumer Information
  • Academic Calendar
• Student Fees
• Payment Options
• Refund Policies
• Enrollment Options
• Academic Calendar
• Scholarships
• Student Aid Calculator

Awarding Federal Student Aid

Student Aid Report

Once a student completes the FAFSA, they will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that summarizes the data from the FAFSA and determines the student’s official Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Receiving your SAR

• The student will receive a copy of their SAR within a few days of submitting the FAFSA if an e-mail address was supplied on the FAFSA. The email will contain a secure link to access your SAR online.
• If an e-mail address was not provided on the FAFSA, the student will receive a paper copy of their SAR in the mail approximately four weeks from the date the FAFSA was submitted.
• If additional information is needed from the student, the EFC may not appear on the SAR.

Reviewing your SAR

After receiving your SAR, carefully review the information for mistakes. If you believe your information is incorrect, you may fix any mistakes by writing the correct answers on the Information Review Form located on the back of the SAR. Once the Information Review Form is complete, you can:

• Contact financialaid@columbiasouthern.edu to determine if the corrections may be submitted electronically, or
• Mail the form to the address designated on the SAR.

Cost of Attendance

The information below represents the estimated cost of attendance for CSU students.

Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to estimate the cost of attendance for students receiving federal financial aid. The direct costs associated with all of the estimates below are tuition only. Textbooks are provided at no cost through a CSU book grant.* Indirect costs are estimated for room and board and personal/miscellaneous expenses. These estimates are conservative in nature and are not intended to meet the actual individual living expenses for all students.

CSU encourages students to carefully consider the amount of student loans borrowed in excess of direct costs. Unlike scholarships and grants, student loans must be repaid with interest.

The estimates below are based on a full time enrollment status and the student’s housing plan as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). CSU is a completely online University and does not provide on campus housing.

2011-2012 Estimated Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Full-time (24 semester hours / 32 weeks of instruction)
Item	Living with Parent	Off-Campus	Military BAH*
Tuition*	$4,800	$4,800	$4,800
Room/Board	$1,400	$5,000	$1,400
Personal Expenses	$3,720	$3,720	$3,720
Total	$9,920	$13,520	$9,920
Master's Full-time (12 semester hours / 32 weeks of instruction)
Item		Off-Campus	Military BAH*
Tuition*		$3,180	$3,180
Room/Board		$5,000	$1,400
Personal Expenses		$3,720	$3,720
Total		$11,900	$8,300
Doctorate Full-time (12 semester hours / 32 weeks of instruction)
Item		Off-Campus	Military BAH*
Tuition*		$3,600	$3,600
Room/Board		$5,000	$1,400
Personal Expenses		$3,720	$3,720
Total		$12,320	$7,460

*Spouses or dependents of active duty military members receive a ten percent tuition discount.
*The tuition rate for graduate courses per semester hour is $250 for all active-duty military members.
*CSU learning partners receive a ten percent tuition discount.
*Students (and spouses) receiving a military base allowance for housing are only eligible to receive an allowance for board when determining the amount of financial aid they are eligible to receive.
*If a student drops, withdraws or fails a course, the cost of shipping the textbook will be charged to the student's account. The student may return the textbook within 30 days to have the charge removed or re-enroll in the same course and reuse the textbook.

Enrollment Status Requirements

Students must be enrolled at least half-time in order to be eligible to receive federal student aid (FSA). If a student’s enrollment status changes during the first week of classes, or a student does not begin attendance in all courses, the amount of federal student aid awarded will be recalculated. A student must meet the minimum enrollment status in order to be eligible to receive federal student aid. Please refer to the chart below for enrollment status classifications.

	Undergraduate (Associate and Bachelor Degree Programs)	Graduate (M.S and MBA Programs
Full-time	6 credits +	3 credits +
3/4 time	4 - 5 credits	N/A
Half-time	3 credits	N/A

Award Year Requirements

A student is required to complete an academic year in order to receive additional federal student loans. CSU defines our academic year as 24 semester hours over a period of 32 weeks of instructional time for undergraduate students and 12 semester hours over a period of 32 weeks of instructional time for graduate students. If a student drops or withdraws and fails to complete the academic year requirements and exhausts all of their financial aid eligibility for the award year, they may be required to take courses using an alternative method of payment in order to complete the required hours.

Military Students Applying for Financial Aid

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is an education benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. TA provides funding to students up to $250 per semester hour and up to $4,500 per fiscal year. Students using TA may also apply for FSA. FSA eligibility will be dependent upon the student’s cost of attendance and demonstrated financial need.

Students in the U.S. Army must register through the GoArmyEd portal. These students must select only CSU courses listed with start dates that match the Term Course Schedule and are labeled  “8-Week Term.” In addition, such students must make certain to enroll only in the courses offered in the Term Track (A or B) selected on their initial enrollment using FSA. Students will not be allowed to switch between Track A and B and must remain on one track throughout their program.

Veterans Education Benefits

Student using veterans’ education benefits may also apply for FSA. For FSA purposes, veterans' education benefits are treated as resources (not income) and are included as financial assistance for the unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Students receiving GI Bill/Veterans' Benefits must include those benefits received during their education on their FAFSA.  Please contact financialaid@columbiasouthern.edu for more information.