housing, meal costs, books, supplies, transportation, and other expenses.
Here is one example of the combined educational and non-educational components of the Cost of Attendance for one 9-month Academic Year:
| BUDGET CATEGORY | STUDENT LIVING OFF CAMPUS | STUDENT LIVING WITH PARENTS OR RELATIVES |
|---|---|---|
| 2 YEAR ASSOCIATE OF ARTS | ||
| Tuition | $32,400 | $32,400 |
| Fees | $1,371 | $1,371 |
| Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment | $1,540 | $1,540 |
| Living Expenses (Housing & Food) | $19,431 | $10,125 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,428 | $3,609 |
| Transportation | $1,764 | $1,611 |
| Loan Fees | $91 | $91 |
| TOTAL BUDGET (COA) | $61,025 | $50,747 |
The tuition and fees numbers represent average charges for a standard academic load of 15 units each quarter. The charges for books, course materials, supplies, and equipment are also based on averages and assume an academic load of 15 units per quarter. When calculating their expected cost of attendance, students should use these figures only as a guide. Actual tuition and fees charges will be shown in the Payment Schedule on the FIDM Student Portal.
DETERMINING AID ELIGIBILITY
FIDM uses Federal Methodology to assess financial need (Cost of Attendance (COA) minus the federally calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
| TENTATIVE PACKAGE EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|
| COA | $61,025 |
| (minus) EFC- | $1,000 |
| NEED | $60,025 |
| AID PACKAGE | |
|---|---|
| Federal Pell Grant | $6,445 |
| Federal Direct Subsidized Loan+ | $3,500 |
| Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan+ | $6,000 |
| TOTAL AID PACKAGE | $15,945 |
| TOTAL UNMET NEED | $44,080 |
PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT
If the required FAFSA information does not accurately reflect the current situation of the student or the student's family, the student can appeal to FIDM for consideration for the college to exercise its authority to update the FAFSA information. This process is known as Professional Judgement (PJ). The Professional Judgment process requires a thorough review by Student Financial Services staff to determine what changes, if any, can be made to the FAFSA information. The outcome, if approved, can include a revision of the elements used to calculate the student's EFC and/or an override of the student's dependency status.
Consideration of the PJ request will be based on the student's or family's Special Circumstances (related to financial situations, such as loss of a job, etc.) or Unusual Circumstances (related to adjustment to a student's dependency status based on a unique situation, for example, human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.).
To request consideration for a Professional Judgment decision, the student will begin the process by contacting the FIDM Financial Aid office at: financialaid@fidm.edu. All requests for Professional Judgment consideration will be reviewed. Financial Aid staff will inform the student if additional documentation is required. Once all required documentation has been submitted, FIDM will respond with the results of the decision within 60 days.
CRITERIA FOR CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY
Students must be enrolled and be making satisfactory progress in order to receive aid funds. Registration will be checked before aid funds are disbursed. Full time enrollment at FIDM is considered to be a minimum of 12 units per quarter. Federal Pell and Cal Grant awards will be prorated for a student who initially registers full time and subsequently drops below full time enrollment. To maintain eligibility for Federal Student Loans, students must maintain at least half-time attendance. Please contact the Student Financial Services Department for specifics.
Students are responsible for reapplying for financial assistance on a timely basis. The federal financial aid award year begins each July 1st. Aid applications are made available to students beginning in October for the following financial aid award year.
Students returning from a Leave of Absence must contact their Student Advisor prior to their return to determine if they need to reapply for aid.
Students meeting all program requirements will be considered to be eligible aid recipients.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements
Students receiving federal financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in accordance with FIDM's SAP policy. A student who does not meet SAP standards is subject to loss of financial aid.