Graduate Financial Aid 

Chicago State University recommends that prospective graduate students begin to plan early for financing their education. To start the application process, in order to establish eligibility for various federal, state and institutional funding, students must complete the FAFSA, unless they intend to only apply for a Private (Alternative ) Education Loan. For information on completing the FAFSA process, please access our Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA) web page. If selected for Verification by the U.S. Department of Education or CSU, students are required to complete the process, except as noted below.

Graduate & Professional Classifications

The following courses of study are classified as Graduate and Professional programs at Chicago State University:

• Masters
• Masters – Admitted with Conditions
• Ed.D.
• Pharm.D.
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate
• Licensure / Endorsement Programs

While all of the above are classified as Graduate or Professional programs, eligibility for financial aid funding varies for each program as follows:

Degree Seeking (not At-Large status) Masters, Masters – Admitted with Conditions and Ed.D. Candidates

Degree seeking (not At-Large status) Masters, Masters – Admitted with Conditions, and Ed.D. candidates may be eligible for the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Eligibility: Annual eligibility: up to $20,500 ($138,500 lifetime limit including all prior Undergraduate and Graduate borrowing)

• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: Awarded on an annual basis up to the Student Budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other financial aid funds received. Note: Eligibility for this loan is based on an individual's credit history.

• Veterans/Military Educational Benefits: May be eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant, Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill. Visit our Veterans Affairs web page for more information.

• TEACH Grant: The Teacher Education for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a federal grant program. The Teach Grant provides up to $4,000 per academic year for students enrolled in an eligible major program. Please visit the Federal TEACH Grant web page for further information. 

• Graduate Assistantships: Award amount varies. Contact the Chairperson of your major department for details.

• Student Employment:  Please visit our Student Employment web page for details.

• Private (Alternative) Education Loans: Students are awarded up to the full Student Budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other funding received. Eligibility for this type of loan is based on an individual's credit history. Please visit our  Apply for Loans web page for details.

Verification Exception

Enrollment Requirements

• During the Fall or Spring semesters half-time equivalency for the various Graduate programs are as follows:   Masters - 6 hours;  Ed.D.- 6 hours;  Pharmacy - 6 hours;
• During the Summer semester half-time equivalency is as follows:  Masters - 3 hours;  Ed. D. - 3 hours;  Pharmacy - 6 hours 

Graduate Students Enrolled in Undergraduate Courses

Graduate Students enrolled in Masters, Masters-Admitted with Conditions, Ed. D. or Pharm D. programs must be enrolled at least half-time in graduate level courses that are required and can be applied to the graduate program requirements in which they are enrolled in order to be eligible for Federal Loans (Unsubsidized Stafford, Graduate PLUS and/or Federal Perkins).

Note: There are several graduate programs that require that students take specific undergraduate courses as part of fulfilling their degree requirements. In that instance those specific undergraduate courses may be substituted for the graduate level courses for determining loan eligibility. It is important for all students to recognize that this is not a license to incorporate any undergraduate course into their enrollment during any semester to achieve half-time status in order to establish eligibility for student loan funding. Only courses specified in the Graduate Catalog as requirements for the degree program in which they are enrolled, when a student was admitted to the program, may be included. 

Change of Enrolled Hours

Any course dropped during the Add/Drop Period of a term, without another course being substituted, may result in a student’s enrollment status dropping below half-time status, causing the reversal of any loans already applied to a student’s account and/or a stop to the processing of any yet to be disbursed loans. In the event that this occurs, and a student later enrolls in an additional qualifying graduate course that brings him/her back to half-time status, the student must notify the Office of Student Financial Aid, in writing, in order for the loans to be reprocessed.

Degree Seeking Pharm D. Candidates 

Degree-seeking Pharm D. Candidates may be eligible for:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Eligibility: Annual eligibility: up to $33,000  -  $37,167 for 4th year students ($224,000 lifetime limit including all prior Undergraduate and Graduate borrowing)

• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: Awarded on an annual basis up to the Student Budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other financial aid funds received. Note: Eligibility for this loan is based on an individual's credit history.

• Veterans/Military Educational Benefits: May be eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant, Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill. Visit our Veterans Affairs web page for more information.

• Graduate Assistantships: Award amount varies. Contact the Chairperson of your major department for details.

• Student Employment:  Please visit our Student Employment web page for details.

• Private (Alternative) Education Loans: Students are awarded up to the full Student Budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other funding received. Eligibility for this type of loan is based on an individual's credit history. Please visit our  Apply for Loans  web page for details. 

Verification Exception

Enrollment Requirements

Student Budgets (Cost of Attendance) are based on full-time enrollment for any semester during which a student may be enrolled. Financial Aid funding is awarded up to the full amount of a Budget. However, students need only be enrolled half-time during any semester to qualify for federal student loans. Half-time equivalency during  the Fall or Spring is 6 hours; during the Summer semester 3 credit hours. 

Change of Enrolled Hours

Any course dropped during the Add/Drop Period of a term, without another course being substituted, may result in a student’s enrollment status dropping below half-time status, causing the reversal of any loans already applied to a student’s account and/or a stop to the processing of any yet to be disbursed loans. In the event that this occurs, and a student later enrolls in an additional qualifying graduate course that brings him/her back to half-time status, the student must notify the Office of Student Financial Aid, in writing, in order for the loans to be reprocessed.

Graduate Students Enrolled in Undergraduate Courses

PharmD. students must be enrolled at least half-time in professional level courses that are required and can be applied to the PharmD. program requirements in order to be eligible for Federal Loans (Unsubsidized Stafford, Graduate PLUS and/or Federal Perkins).

Note: There may be an occasion where a PharmD. student may be required to take specific undergraduate courses as part of fulfilling their degree requirements. In those instances those specific undergraduate courses may be substituted for the graduate level courses for determining half-time enrollment for loan eligibility. It is important for all students to recognize that this is not a license to incorporate any undergraduate course into their enrollment during any semester to achieve half-time status in order to establish eligibility for student loan funding. Only courses specified in the Graduate Catalog as requirements for the degree program in which they are enrolled, when a student was admitted to the program, may be included.

Post Baccalaureate Certificate

Post Baccalaureate Certificate candidates, enrolled in approved* Post Baccalaureate Certificate programs, may be eligible for the following:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Eligibility: Annual eligibility: up to $10,500 ($57,500 lifetime limit including all prior Undergraduate borrowing)

• Veteran's/Military Educational Benefits: May be eligible for the Illinois Veteran's Grant, Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill. Visit our Veteran's Affairs web page for more information.

• Student Employment:  Please visit our Student Employment web page for details.

• Private (Alternative) Education Loans: Students are awarded up to the full Student Budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other funding received.  Eligibility for this type of loan is based on an individual's credit history. Please visit our  Apply for Loans  web page for details. 

Enrollment Requirements Student Budgets (Cost of Attendance) are based on full-time enrollment for any semester during which a student may be enrolled. Financial Aid funding is awarded up to the full amount of a Budget. However, students need only be enrolled half-time during any semester to qualify for federal student loans. Half-time equivalency during  the Fall or Spring or Summer semesters  is  6 credit hours. 

Change of Enrolled HoursAny course dropped during the Add/Drop Period of a term, without another course being substituted, may result in a student’s enrollment status dropping below half-time status, causing the reversal of any loans already applied to a student’s account and/or a stop to the processing of any yet to be disbursed loans. In the event that this occurs, and a student later enrolls in an additional qualifying graduate course that brings him/her back to half-time status, the student must notify the Office of Student Financial Aid, in writing, in order for the loans to be reprocessed.

*Approved by HLC (The Higher Learning Commission), IBHE (Illinois Board of Higher Education) and the U.S. Department of Education. Currently, the approved Post Baccalaureate Certificate programs are:

• Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counseling
• Community Development
• Geographic Information Systems
• Therapeutic Recreation

Licensure / Endorsement Programs

Licensure / Endorsement Programs are not eligible for Federal or State of Illinois funding, such as, but not limited to, Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS Loans and/or TEACH grants. However, such programs are eligible, from most lenders, for Private (Alternative) Loan funding. Eligibility for this type of loan is based on an individual's credit history. For more information, please visit our Apply for Loans web page. 

Pharmacy College Resources

The Office of Student Financial Aid is pleased to offer the following information concerning financial assistance to students of the College of Pharmacy.

To Apply For Financial Assistance . . .

you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every academic year. You are encouraged to file on-line at www.fafsa.gov (you may link to this web site through the Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA) link on the Office of Student Financial Aid page of the Chicago State University [CSU] web site). CSU’s federal school code is 001694. You will need to enter this code on your FAFSA so that CSU will receive a copy of your application. The information you provide on the FAFSA will assist us in determining your eligibility for the following financial aid programs:

Students planning to enroll for the Fall semester should have a completed FAFSA on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid no later that May 15th.

What Types of Aid are Available?

Federal Education Loans for Students- Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid, with interest. Eligibility requirements, interest rates, and repayment periods vary. Students may apply for Federal Direct Stafford Loans which will afford those who are eligible the opportunity to borrow up $33,000 per academic year. Students requiring additional funds, if they have remaining need in their Budget or do not qualify for Stafford, may apply for the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan and/or Private Education Loans (also known as Alternative Education Loans - discussed below)

Information concerning your individual eligibility for Federal Loans, as well as the process to receive said loans may be viewed on both the Your Financial Aid Award Package web page and the Apply for Loans web page.

Special Note to those newly admitted, or yet to be admitted:  Until which time that you have been fully admitted to the university and our student record system has been updated to reflect your enrollment status as a College of Pharmacy student, your financial aid award package, if you have completed a FAFSA, will reflect loan eligibility based on enrollment as a regular graduate student, such as a Master’s candidate, not the higher loan limits associated with the Pharm D program. Once you have received your acceptance letter please allow up to 2-3 weeks for our system to be updated to reflect your correct academic status. Once this has been accomplished the Office of Student Financial Aid will recalculate your financial aid package and notify you that you should, once again, access the Your Financial Aid Award Package web page, and ultimately CSU X-press to review and accept any offered financial aid assistance.

Private Education Loans (a/k/a Alternative Education Loans) - There may be instances where you may not qualify for Direct Loans or it may be that you are not eligible for sufficient funding of your needs under this federal program. If that is the case you might wish to pursue a Private Education Loan. In most instances lenders will notify our office if you have applied for, and been approved for, a Private Education Loan and request that we certify your enrollment status/eligibility. In some instances you may need to either notify us that you have been approved or you may need to provide us with a paper certification form. For more information concerning this process check with your lender. We will perform eligibility certification for any lender or loan product you desire. CSU does not maintain a Preferred Lender list for entities that offer Private Education Loans nor do we recommend any particular private lender or private loan product. We do, however, maintain a "Historic List of Private (Alternative) Education Loan Lenders". which will provide you with information on lenders who have funded Private Education Loans for CSU students over the past 5 years.

Student Employment - Student employment provides the opportunity to earn money to help pay for school expenses. Students work in most departments of CSU. For more information please visit out Student Employment web page.

Veterans / Military Benefits – Veterans, some survivors of veterans,  and military personnel may be eligible to receive benefits from programs administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid. These programs include, but are not limited to:

• Illinois Veterans Grant
• Montgomery GI Bill
• Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Visit our Veteran's Affairs web page for more information

Scholarships-The Office of Student Financial Aid maintains a large database of scholarship opportunities. You may access this information, as well as links to numerous sources of educational funding, through the Scholarship Information web page of the Office of Student Financial Aid web site.

Please Note: All scholarships, grants, stipends and all other form of gift aid, hereafter collectively referred to as scholarships, must be reported to the CSU Scholarship Coordinator, as the receipt of any scholarship may have an effect on a student’s eligibility for other forms of financial assistance including loans and work-study funding. If a scholarship is processed through a CSU office it is necessary for that office to notify the Scholarship Coordinator of scholarship funds awarded to, or received by, a student. If a student secures a scholarship on his/her own it is mandatory that the student notify the Scholarship Coordinator of that scholarship. In order to facilitate the notification process an Award Notification form is available on the Scholarship Information web page of the Office of Student Financial Aid web site.

After you have completed your FAFSA and we have received a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR), issued by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), we will send you an e-mail referring you to our Your Financial Aid Award Package  web page which will give you information concerning the loan process at CSU and provide you with a link to CSU X-press where you may review you award package and accept any funding that you desire. We will also send you a notice referring you to our Student Requirements and Special Notices web page if we are informed that there is information missing from your FAFSA or if you have been selected by the USDE for the Verification process. Additionally, once you have accepted an "Offered" loan, and it has been processed, you will again receive notice from us. In all these instances the notices you receive will be directing you to access a web page that will give you further information regarding your status. These web pages will link you to CSU X-press, the university's secure student records web site.

Cost of Attendance (a/k/a Cost of Education or Student Budget)Chicago State University has, for the 2022-2023 academic year, established Cost of Attendance for College of Pharmacy students as follows:

Illinois Resident:

Tuition and Fees (estimated)	$30,018
Room and Board	13,800
Books and Supplies	2,400
Transportation	945
Miscellaneous Expense	4,500
Total	$51,663
Loan fees (if applying for Stafford and/or PLUS loans)	844
TOTAL with loan fees	$52,507

 Non Resident:

Tuition and Fees (estimated)	$42,210
Room and Board	13,800
Books and Supplies	2,400
Transportation	945
Miscellaneous Expense	4,500
Total	$63,855
Loan fees (if applying for Stafford and/or PLUS loans)	844
TOTAL with loan fees	$64,699

Satisfactory Academic Progress - CSU's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy measures whether students are progressing at a reasonable rate toward the completion of their educational objective. Students must be in compliance with this policy in order to maintain continued financial aid eligibility.

E-mail- Until which time you are admitted, all Financial Aid communications will be sent to the e-mail address reflected on your FAFSA. Once you have been admitted, all Financial Aid communications will be sent to your CSU e-mail address. Check it often!

Your Financial Aid Package - Students who have yet to be admitted to the university, but have completed a FAFSA, may review their financial aid package on CSU X-press. Continuing students may access CSU X-press through Cougar Connect.

It is the responsibility of all students to keep themselves informed as to issues that may affect their financial aid eligibility by regularly accessing the Office of Student Financial Aid web site and CSU X-Press.