ADMISSIONS
Financial Aid Information
GETTING THE MONEY YOU NEED FOR FILM SCHOOL
The Los Angeles Film School’s Financial Aid Department is here to assist you. Approximately 75% of our students receive some form of Financial Aid during their stay at the Los Angeles Film School. Each financial aid package is unique to the student's personal situation, and we would like to help you in determining your specific needs.
For students who qualify, the school offers assistance with Federal loans, Federal grants and Alternative loans. Please check out the sections below to learn more about the specific programs, or to contact our Financial Aid Department to obtain additional details.
NOTE: If you are planning to start in the July 2008 class or later, please contact your Financial Aid Officer for further information.
1. FAFSA Application
2. Federal Loans
3. Federal Grants
4. Alternative Loans
5. External Grant/Scholarship Resources
6. Other Special Programs
7. Exit Loan Counseling
8. Contact Us
1. FAFSA APPLICATION
Students must fill out a “Federal Application for Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA) to begin the process of applying for Financial Aid. You can get information about the FAFSA, obtain a PIN, and apply online by visiting their website: www.fafsa.ed.gov. The school code to apply with The Los Angeles Film School is 040373.
2. FEDERAL LOANS
Students are free to use any lender of their choosing when applying for Federal loans. In order to assist in the research of selecting a lender, we have listed recommendations under each category of loans below. To obtain more information or to apply for these Stafford or PLUS loans, please click on one of the recommended lenders listed in each category or contact an outside lender of your choice for further information.
a. Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan:
This is a Federal loan in which the government pays for all interest while the student is attending school. The student begins repayment on the principal and interest on the loan six months after graduation. Dependent and independent students may borrow up to $3,500.00 in their first academic year. Student must meet all eligibility requirements per government regulations.
b. Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan:
This is a Federal loan in which the borrower accrues interest while attending school. The student begins repayment on the principal and interest on the loan six months after graduation. 1st year dependent and independent students may borrow up to $2,000.00 in their first academic year. All independent students (as defined by the Department of Education) and any dependent students whose parents do not qualify for the PLUS loan may borrow an additional $4,000.00 in their first academic year. Student must meet all eligibility requirements per government regulations.
Any students borrowing a Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Loan are required to complete entrance counseling prior to any funds being disbursed to our school. Please click the link below to complete the entrance counseling and submit your Stafford loan application(s). Upon successful completion of the counseling you will be given lender options for your Stafford loans.
STAFFORD LOAN ENTRANCE COUNSELING AND APPLICATION
c. Parent PLUS Loan:
This is a Federal loan in which the parent is the borrower on the loan. The student must be dependent (as defined by the Department of Education) in order for the parent to apply for this loan. The borrower must be the biological parent or a stepparent that is the spouse of a biological parent. The parent’s credit must be approved in order to obtain this loan, but there are no minimum or maximum levels of borrowing. However, when combining this loan with the student’s other financial aid awards, the parent cannot borrow an amount that would cause the student to exceed their cost of education. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates or leaves their educational program.
1. Discover
2. Nelnet
3. Sallie Mae Education Trust
4. Wachovia
For more information and a detailed comparison chart on the above lenders, please click here.
3. FEDERAL GRANTS
Pell Grant
This is a grant awarded to students with exceptional need and is money that does not need to be repaid. The exact amount students are awarded is based on the information provided on the FAFSA, with the maximum amount not to exceed $5,350. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet the eligibility requirements for this grant.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This is a need-based federal grant program for any student with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that is below a certain level. The annual award amount is determined by the institution (based on budget and annual funds allocated).
4. ALTERNATIVE STUDENT LOANS
Students are free to use any lender of their choosing when applying for alternative loans. In order to assist in your research, we have listed lenders who have been selected by our students in the past to finance all or part of their tuition and/or living expenses. To obtain more information or to apply for one of these alternative loans, please click on one of the lender names listed below, or contact an outside lender of your choice.
SALLIE MAE SMART OPTION STUDENT LOAN
For more information and a detailed comparison chart on the above lenders, please click here.
5. GRANT/SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
Like grants, scholarships do not require repayment. They are awarded according to any number of factors, which may include academic talent, performing talent, participation in certain activities/ special interests, or demonstrated financial need. Scholarship requirements and application procedures vary depending upon the criteria set by the scholarship provider.
The Los Angeles Film School Program Scholarship
This is a scholarship that is offered to prospective students who submit a creative piece for their intended program of study. Students must submit complete enrollment application, scholarship application, and program specific requirements no later than 90 days before the intended start date. The awarding of this scholarship is determined by a committee and notification is provided one month prior to the start of class. Please contact your Financial Aid Officer for additional details.
The Los Angeles Film School Needs-Based Scholarship
This is a scholarship that is offered to enrolled students who have demonstrated financial need. Students must have completed a current award year FAFSA and submitted requested documentation to the school. Award amounts vary based on need and funds available. Please contact your Financial Aid Officer for additional details.
Outside Private Scholarships
Many clubs and organizations offer scholarships to vocation school students. You can obtain information about these awards from high school guidance offices, the library, or from the internet. Past students have used the following free Internet scholarship search services:
www.FinAid.com
www.Fastweb.com
www.collegenet.com
If you or your family belongs to any social, civic, ethnic, religious, professional or service group, you should contact them. They often have educational assistance programs that are not advertised. Also, employers often have education assistance plans for employees and/or dependents.
6. OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS
a. Veteran’s Benefits
Some military education benefits can now be applied to housing expenses and fees, in addition to tuition. For more information, please contact our Military Admissions office at: 323-860-0789 or military@lafilm.com.
***WE ARE A PROUD PARTICIPANT OF THE CHAPTER 33 G.I. BILL AND YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM. PLEASE CONTACT OUR MILITARY ADMISSIONS OFFICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS AT 323-860-0789 or or military@lafilm.com.***
b. Vocational Rehabilitation
Several states have government funded programs that enable vocational rehabilitation training for individuals that meet specific guidelines. These guidelines most often include non-traditional students that are entering or re-entering the work force. Vocational rehabilitation programs vary from state to state and are meant to be used after all federal financial programs have been exhausted. For more information on Military Vocational Rehabilitation, please contact our Military Admissions office at: 323-860-0789 or military@lafilm.com.
c. Federal Work Study
Work Study is available for eligible students who qualify. Information will be provided during registration week. Interested students are advised to meet with our Work Study Coordinator 30 days after their start to interview for open positions. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to continue in the Work Study program. It is recommended that students opting for Work Study use it as a means of supplementing their living expenses while completing their education program.
7. EXIT LOAN COUNSELING
All students opting to use federal loans as part of their Financial Aid package are required to complete exit counseling.
Exit Counseling
Once a student has completed his/her program requirements and is preparing to graduate, it is important that any students with federal loans complete their exit interview. In general, all students must meet with our Financial Aid Coordinator to complete an in-person exit interview. Students with federal loans however, will also need to complete the online exit counseling prior to meeting with Financial Aid. Below is the link to the online component of the exit interview:
Exit counseling (to be completed prior to graduation):
Online Exit Counseling
8. CONTACT US
The Financial Aid Department at The Los Angeles Film School is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM and welcomes students to come in and learn more! We encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have regarding your specific situation.
Financial Aid Phone: (323) 769-8509
Financial Aid Email: finaid@lafilm.com
