Financial Aid

NewSchool's Financial Aid Advisors assist students with finding the best financial aid options and scholarships while answering application-related questions.

Financial Aid Steps

Federal Student Aid

Most students at NewSchool use some form of federal student aid. The federal government offers several financial aid programs to help you pay for school, including grants and loans. To find out what aid may be available to you, you must first determine your eligibility by applying for aid.

To apply for federal student aid:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Use school code 030439.
Make note of your FSA ID.

Helpful Tips: Be sure you have your previous year tax return information handy when you fill out the FAFSA. If you are a dependent student, your parents will also need an FSA ID, and you will also need their tax information to complete your FAFSA.

Federal and State Student Aid Deadlines

You may submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) until June 30.

Many states have additional financial aid programs available to their residents, and deadlines may differ. You will need to plan ahead. For example, the deadline for both CalGrant and California Dream Act applications is typically at the end of April or beginning of March.

To learn more about CalGrant, the California Dream Act, and other state programs, visit the CalGrantWebsite.

After You Apply for Aid

Once you submit your FAFSA, contact your Enrollment Specialist to help you set up an appointment with the Financial Aid office.

The Financial Aid office will produce an award letter for you and the financial aid staff member to review. They will go over costs and your aid eligibility with you and advise you on next steps. You will have the opportunity to decline any awards, complete loan applications and counseling as appropriate, and make arrangements to cover out-of-pocket expenses not covered by financial aid.

Want to Learn More?

Find additional information in the NewSchool of Architecture & Design Financial Aid FAQs.

Review FAQs and in-depth information about the FAFSA and federal student aid for both students and their parents at studentaid.gov

FAFSA Simplification

Due to the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act on December 27, 2020, as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the FAFSA is undergoing major modifications for the 2024-2025 aid year.

2024-2025 FAFSA Availability

Instead of October, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available by December 31, 2023.

Be prepared! As defined under “New FAFSA Terminology”, all contributors should have a studentaid.gov account (FSA ID).

This is only temporary for 2024. After the 2024-2025 aid year, the FAFSA is expected to be available in October as usual.

2024-2025 FAFSA Prep

While the 2024-2025 FAFSA won’t be available until some point in December, you can still prepare by doing the following:

– Create an account username and password on the Federal Student Aid website and assist contributors, such as your parent(s) or spouse, in creating their own account username and password. An account username and password provide access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system serves as your electronic signature.

– Sign up for informational emails and opt into informational text messages under Communication Prefences within your user account (i.e., FSA ID) to receive up to date notifications and learn about upcoming changes to the FAFSA.

– Complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens in December.

– Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to find out how much federal student aid you may be eligible for starting with the 2024–25 award year.

What to expect:

When will the Department of Education send FAFSA results to NewSchool?

Students can start completing the 2024-25 FAFSA by December 31, 2023.
Once you complete the online FAFSA, you will get a confirmation page along with a follow-up email.
The Department of Education will begin processing online FAFSA beginning in January 2024 and will begin processing paper FAFSAs in February 2024.
NewSchool will not begin receiving the results from your online FAFSA until the end of January 2024 and cannot begin making corrections until February 2024.

More Streamlined Process

The new FAFSA application process will provide a simpler and more streamlined process for students. It will feature fewer questions, fewer requirements, and retrieve tax information using a direct data exchange from the IRS instead of the previous IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

New FASFA Terminology

Contributor

The FAFSA is introducing the new term contributor referring to anyone required to provide information on the FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent, and/or the parent’s spouse (inclusive of step-parent).
- Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student’s college costs.
- Students will need the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and email address to invite them to complete the required portion of the FAFSA.
- Contributors will need to provide personal and financial information on their section of the FAFSA.
- If your biological/adoptive parents are divorced or separated from each other, the contributing parent(s) is the parent (and their spouse, if remarried) who provided the greater portion of your financial support during the 12 months immediately prior to filing the FAFSA. If you did not receive any support from either parent(s) or they both contributed 50% to your support, then it is the parent with the highest income and assets. It is no longer the parent you primarily lived with during the past 12 months.

Consent

All Contributors–student, student’s spouse (if married), and student’s parents(s) (if a dependent student)–must provide consent to have tax data transferred directly from the IRS to the FAFSA, even if you did not file a tax return. However, for a dependent student, only the student and one parent (if married) must sign the FAFSA if (1) filed a joint tax return as married in 2022 and (2) are still married to each other on the date the FAFSA is completed.
If consent is not provided by all required parties, the student will not be eligible for federal financial aid.
In previous years, transferring IRS data was optional. It is now required.
If the IRS is unable to transfer your data, then you will manually enter the required information.

Student Aid Index (SAI)

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is now the Student Aid Index (SAI). It is a new need analysis formula used to determine financial aid eligibility. Unlike the EFC, the SAI may be a negative number.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

The Student Aid Report (SAR) is now the FAFSA Submission Summary. This is the summary submission document you receive after completing the FAFSA. The Department of Education will not send your FAFSA results until the end of January 2024.

StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID)

Typically, every contributor must have their own account username and password in order to submit the FAFSA online.
However, in the case of a dependent student whose parents filed a joint return for the applicable tax year and are still married at the time the FAFSA is completed, only one of the parents is considered a contributor and needs an account username and password.
If the student is now married or has remarried after December 31, 2022, then the student and the student’s spouse will need an account username and password.
If the student’s parent is now married or has remarried after December 31, 2022, then the student, biological/adoptive parent, and step-parent will need an account username and password.
At the point the 2024-25 FAFSA becomes available, a contributor who does not have a Social Security Number should be able to receive an account username and password.
Go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launchto create an Account Username and Password. An email address can only be attached to one account and cannot be used by multiple users.

FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX)

- The FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) is the system replacing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to transfer an individual’s Federal Tax Information to the FAFSA. Once the contributor(s) gives consent, the FA-DDX allows tax information to transfer from the IRS to the FAFSA.

Household Number in College

- - The number of family members in college will still be asked on the FAFSA, but it will no longer be used in determining the Student Aid Index (SAI).
  - This may mean that students who have several siblings in college at the same time may see a reduction in their federal Pell Grant eligibility than in past years.

New Dependent Student Rules

Expect new rules for determining which parent(s) information must be included on the FAFSA and who must consent and sign.

What if my parents refuse to complete the FAFSA?

If the parents of a dependent student are unwilling to provide their information on the FAFSA, but the student doesn’t have an unusual circumstance, the student can choose to have their school determine their eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only.
The school will have to document that the parent is unwilling to complete the FAFSA. Typically, the parent will sign a form indicating their refusal to complete the FAFSA.
This will prevent the student from receiving any federal or state financial aid other than Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans.

What is a Provisional Independent Status?

If students indicate on the FAFSA that they have unusual circumstances that prevent them from contacting their parent or that contacting their parents would pose a risk to the student, the FAFSA will be processed based on a provisional independent status.
However, you do not qualify for aid under a provisional independent status.
An NSAD Financial Aid administrator must verify the student’s circumstances and determine whether a dependency override is warranted.
A student may be experiencing unusual circumstances if they:
- left home due to an abusive or threatening environment.
- are abandoned by or estranged from their parents and have not been adopted.
- have refugee or asylee status and are separated from their parents, or their parents are displaced in a foreign county.
- are victim of human trafficking.
- are incarcerated, or their parents are incarcerated and contact with the parents would pose a risk to the student.
- are otherwise unable to contact or locate their parents and have not been adopted.

Contact the Financial Aid department if one of the above circumstances apply to you.

Expanding Pell Grant Eligibility

The new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation may overall the number of undergraduate students who qualify for a federal Pell Grant and may also increase the amount received.

Eligibility for federal Pell Grant may be expanded compared to previous years. However, due to the formula no longer including number in college, some students Pell eligibility may decrease compared to previous years.

Federal Student Aid Estimator

The Federal Student Aid Estimator tool provides students and families an estimate of their 2024-2025 federal financial aid using the new Student Aid Index (SAI).

Please note: This is not a FAFSA. Students will need to complete a 2024-2025 FAFSA when it becomes available after December 2023.

Coursework toward Program of Study (CPoS)

You may not be aware, but there is an important emphasis in federal and state financial aid rules that cause your grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans to be reduced if you enroll in the wrong classes. These rules also apply to NSAD Guaranteed Scholarships. Only courses required for degree completion can be used to determine your aid eligibility for these programs.

Coursework toward Program of Study (CPoS) include courses in your major, or other degree requirements. Enrolling in coursework that meets an outstanding degree requirement is known as eligible CPoS coursework. For those depending upon aid to attend NSAD, not paying attention to this rule could affect the amount of aid you will receive.

Why This is Important

Taking courses that are not required to complete your degree could result in you receiving less or no aid and, in some cases, owing money back.

In other words, the undergraduate full-time financial aid cost of attendance (COA) requires you to be enrolled in at least 12 eligible credit hours. For example, if nine of your 12 credit hours are CPoS eligible but three of your credit hours are not, your COA will reflect that you are not a full-time student (only 75 percent) and impact the total amount of aid you can receive. Remember: We cannot award aid in excess of your specific COA.

Your Checklist

Check your Nexus Student Portal to be sure your major is correctly declared.

See your advisor to be sure you’re registering for classes that fulfill an outstanding requirement.

Check your Financial Aid Tab in Nexus Student for messages and updates to your financial aid.

While it’s great that the federal government, the state of California, private donors and others are willing to help you finance your education, it is very important that you understand that there are a variety of conditions attached to the aid you receive.

Perhaps the single most important item for you to know is this: in most cases, you are awarded grants, loans, scholarships and other forms of financial assistance for the purpose of completing classes taken toward earning a degree. This means that most forms of financial assistance you receive from the federal government (for example, Federal Pell Grants, Federal undergraduate/graduate student loans), from the State of California (for example, Cal Grant) or from private or university benefactors carry substantial penalties if you enroll in courses but don’t finish those courses.

Remember this: financial aid is awarded to students so that they may complete courses, not so that they may attempt courses. This is an important and significant distinction. Should you enroll in courses but fail to successfully complete the course, you could become personally financially responsible for the costs of your tuition and fees, plus be required to pay back the loans, grants or scholarships that you received. You should never withdraw from any course or stop attending any course without first consulting with the Financial Aid Office and your academic advisor.

We know that these rules can seem complicated, so the following highlights are intended to help you understand the basic requirements of accepting financial aid. Please be sure to review the NSAD Financial Aid Terms and Conditions which you must agree to on Anthology as a precondition to accepting any financial aid offer. You will also want to make yourself familiar with the terms and conditions of any loan, grant or scholarship that you choose to accept. Hotlinks are also provided in the descriptions that follow to help you connect to the full policies that are applicable.

Official and Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who drop classes on or before the census date may have their aid adjusted. In addition, faculty at NSAD are requested to report academic engagement by a published date (i.e., the census date). NSAD faculty are required to take official attendance throughout the quarter, faculty can report academic engagement by taking attendance or by a documented academic activity. If a student is reported as ‘Stopped Attending’ or ‘Never attended’ in all enrolled courses within a quarter, the student is considered to be “unofficially” withdrawn from the university. Withdrawals may have serious impact on the student’s financial aid status.

Students who receive the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, or Federal Direct Loans must complete more than 60% of the quarter to earn 100% of their aid. If you are officially or unofficially withdrawn before completing more than 60% of the term, then NSAD must perform a Federal Return of Title IV Funds Calculation. The Return Calculation is based on the premise that students “earn” federal financial aid for each calendar day that they attend classes. This means that the University may be required to return all or part of your aid to the federal government if you withdraw before completing your classes. You will also still be responsible for paying any applicable tuition and fees for the courses you attempted but did not complete. Anytime a Return Calculation is performed, the student is likely to owe a balance to the University from funds that must be returned. It is very important that you attend your courses! To review the Return Calculation Policy and examples, click here.
In addition, if you officially or unofficially drop below half-time status, NSAD will notify your loan servicer through enrollment reporting that you are no longer enrolled at least half-time. Your six month grace period for loan repayment will begin on the date of dropping below half-time status. You will be sent an email from NSAD requesting that you complete Loan Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov and make preparations to begin repayment of your loan.
Finally, withdrawing from all your classes has a negative impact on your eligibility to receive financial aid in the future. The federal government requires that every student must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards to retain financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement

Federal regulations require that we establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of awarding financial assistance under the Title IV programs authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (34 CFR 668.34). NSAD complies with this requirement by monitoring each student’s “overall combined” cumulative grade point average (GPA), “overall combined” pass-rate (percentage of credit hours passed divided by credit hours attempted), and “overall” maximum time frame for completion of the student’s program of study.

This policy is applicable to Federal Title IV Programs, State Programs inclusive of the Cal Grant, and various NSAD Scholarship Programs.

Please read and be sure you understand our full SAP policy.

In general, students must meet the Qualitative (GPA), Pace (progression toward degree), and Maximum Timeframe financial aid standards to remain in good standing and be eligible for financial aid (as long as all other eligibility requirements are met).

If placed on Financial Aid Suspension, students are ineligible to receive aid until they meet the above three standards, or an appeal is approved. There are limited options for appealing the status of financial aid suspension.

NOTE: Students should also be aware of the difference between a financial aid suspension based on the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and an academic suspension which is based solely on grades and GPA (refer to the Academic Standing policies in the Undergraduate & Graduate Catalogs). A financial aid suspension means the student can still attend NSAD; however, the student will not receive financial aid. An academic suspension means the student cannot attend NSAD for the length of the suspension even if eligible for financial aid. These are two different suspensions, and there are two different appeal processes that are independent of each other.

Financial Aid Appeals (please attached the SAP appeal form, it’s in the zip file)

The vast majority of NSAD students receive some measure of financial assistance from a combination of the federal government, the state of California, NSAD and private donors. It is very important that you understand that the aid you receive is given for the purpose of completing each course and making efficient progress toward completing your degree. Federal and state regulations, as well as campus policies, will require that we monitor the satisfactory academic progress of every student who receives financial aid. Failing to achieve acceptable grades, failing to make timely progress toward your degree, establishing a pattern of enrolling in but not finishing classes, or failing to meet any other requirements of your financial aid award may result in you becoming ineligible to receive further aid.

At the same time, most federal, state and other aid policies recognize that there can be exceptional circumstances that prevent a student from being able to successfully meet all terms of their financial aid awards. For those exceptional circumstances, there may be a specific appeals process that will allow you to explain your extenuating circumstance and regain your aid. Based on the source of aid, more than one appeal may be required. In all cases, documented extenuating circumstances must exist.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

NOTE: Students should also be aware of the difference between a financial aid suspension based on the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and an academic suspension which is based solely on grades and GPA (refer to the Academic Standing policies in the Undergraduate & Graduate Catalogs). A financial aid suspension means the student can still attend NSAD; however, the student will not receive financial aid. An academic suspension means the student cannot attend NSAD for the length of the suspension even if eligible for financial aid. These are two different suspensions, and there are different appeal processes that are independent of each other.

Federal, state and other regulations require that we establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of awarding financial assistance under Federal Title IV programs (including grants, work-study, and loans), Cal Grant, and various NSAD scholarship programs. NSAD complies with this requirement by monitoring each student’s “overall combined” cumulative grade point average (GPA), “overall combined” pace (percentage of credit hours passed divided by credit hours attempted), and “overall” maximum time frame for completion of the student’s program of study.

Please read and be sure you understand our full Financial Ad SAP policy.

In general, students should be aware that there are three specific standards related to staying in Good Standing to receive financial aid.

You must minimally be meeting one of the following GPAs:
1. Undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 “overall combined” GPA
2. Graduate students at the Master’s or Specialist level must maintain a 3.0 “overall combined” GPA
You must have an “overall combined” pace of 67% (percentage of credit hours passed divided by credit hours attempted)
Federal law allows students to receive Title IV assistance up to 150% of the program’s published length. For most undergraduates, this means that you may receive financial aid only up to 180 attempted credit hours. Students become ineligible for financial aid once it is mathematically impossible to graduate within the maximum timeframe.

There are limited options for appealing the status of financial aid suspension based on lack of satisfactory academic progress. You should be aware that, depending on the timing of when the appeal is submitted, the appeal may not be reviewed prior to when registration fees are due for the upcoming quarter. You may need to be prepared to pay registration fees while your appeal is being reviewed. If the appeal is approved after the quarter begins, the student will be considered for financial aid, if otherwise eligible. However, there is no guarantee that any appeal will be approved, and if you have paid your registration fees out-of-pocket for the term, you may not be eligible for a refund.

Appealing Financial Aid SAP due to Qualitative (GPA) and / or Pace (pass rate) Standards

Students who are suspended from financial aid due to Qualitative (GPA) and / or Pace (pass rate) Standards. To appeal the suspension, you must submit the following documents. In person appeals are not permitted.

NSAD Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form located on the forms page.
A personal statement that explains extenuating circumstance(s) for each quarter that needs to be addressed. Please email the Financial Aid Office to determine which quarters your appeal must address. Students may submit an appeal on the basis of extenuating circumstances which were not anticipated prior to when all relevant quarters started.
The personal statement should also address how the extenuating circumstance has been resolved to the extent that it should not create an ongoing barrier to meeting all SAP requirements.
Supporting documentation pertinent for all quarters required to be addressed. Examples include, but are not limited to, a physician’s statement on official letterhead, copy of a death certificate, or signed statements from a counselor or clergy member attesting to the extenuating circumstance.

If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on a financial aid academic plan and will be eligible to continue receiving financial aid so long as you meet the conditions of the plan. However, if the Financial Aid Appeals Committee denies your appeal, you will remain on financial aid suspension. To regain eligibility for financial aid, you will have to take classes and successfully meet both the Qualitative (GPA) and / or Pace (pass rate) Standards. The decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final and cannot be further appealed for one year unless the student satisfactorily completes additional credits for further consideration.

In a small number of cases, the finding of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee may be that the appeal, as presented, has merit but lacks sufficient documentation. In those limited cases, you will be afforded the opportunity to re-appeal to the NSAD Financial Aid Appeals Committee. You will be notified through campus email if you are granted the option to re-appeal.

Re-appealing for additional consideration will be allowed only if you are able to present new documentation, not previously submitted for consideration in your initial appeal. Re-appealing does not imply a guarantee of a positive outcome.

To re-appeal the suspension to the NSAD Financial Aid Appeals Committee, you must submit the following documents. In-person appeals are not permitted.

Supporting documentation, not previously submitted, pertinent to the quarter(s) in which you failed to make adequate academic progress. Examples include a physician’s statement on official letterhead, copy of a death certificate, or signed statements from a counselor or clergy member attesting to the extenuating circumstance.
If denied, the decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final and cannot be further appealed for one year unless the student satisfactorily completes additional credits for further consideration.

Appealing SAP based on Maximum Timeframe Standard

Students who are suspended from financial aid due to either not graduating within the allowed Maximum Timeframe or who cannot mathematically graduate within the Maximum Timeframe can appeal. To inquire about appealing, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@newschoolarch.edu

Coursework Toward Program of Study

Coursework toward Program of Study (CPoS)

Why This is Important

Taking courses that are not required to complete your degree could result in you receiving less or no aid and, in some cases, owing money back.

Your Checklist

Check your Nexus Student Portal to be sure your major is correctly declared.

See your advisor to be sure you’re registering for classes that fulfill an outstanding requirement.

Check your Financial Aid Tab in Nexus Student for messages and updates to your financial aid.

Financial Aid Policies and Procedures

Official and Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who receive the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, or Federal Direct Loans must complete more than 60% of the quarter to earn 100% of their aid. If you are officially or unofficially withdrawn before completing more than 60% of the term, then NSAD must perform a Federal Return of Title IV Funds Calculation. The Return Calculation is based on the premise that students “earn” federal financial aid for each calendar day that they attend classes. This means that the University may be required to return all or part of your aid to the federal government if you withdraw before completing your classes. You will also still be responsible for paying any applicable tuition and fees for the courses you attempted but did not complete. Anytime a Return Calculation is performed, the student is likely to owe a balance to the University from funds that must be returned. It is very important that you attend your courses! To review the Return Calculation Policy and examples, click here.
In addition, if you officially or unofficially drop below half-time status, NSAD will notify your loan servicer through enrollment reporting that you are no longer enrolled at least half-time. Your six month grace period for loan repayment will begin on the date of dropping below half-time status. You will be sent an email from NSAD requesting that you complete Loan Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov and make preparations to begin repayment of your loan.
Finally, withdrawing from all your classes has a negative impact on your eligibility to receive financial aid in the future. The federal government requires that every student must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards to retain financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement

This policy is applicable to Federal Title IV Programs, State Programs inclusive of the Cal Grant, and various NSAD Scholarship Programs.

Please read and be sure you understand our full SAP policy.

Financial Aid Appeals (please attached the SAP appeal form, it’s in the zip file)

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

NOTE: Students should also be aware of the difference between a financial aid suspension based on the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and an academic suspension which is based solely on grades and GPA (refer to the Academic Standing policies in the Undergraduate & Graduate Catalogs). A financial aid suspension means the student can still attend NSAD; however, the student will not receive financial aid. An academic suspension means the student cannot attend NSAD for the length of the suspension even if eligible for financial aid. These are two different suspensions, and there are different appeal processes that are independent of each other.

Please read and be sure you understand our full Financial Ad SAP policy.

In general, students should be aware that there are three specific standards related to staying in Good Standing to receive financial aid.

You must minimally be meeting one of the following GPAs:
1. Undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 “overall combined” GPA
2. Graduate students at the Master’s or Specialist level must maintain a 3.0 “overall combined” GPA
You must have an “overall combined” pace of 67% (percentage of credit hours passed divided by credit hours attempted)
Federal law allows students to receive Title IV assistance up to 150% of the program’s published length. For most undergraduates, this means that you may receive financial aid only up to 180 attempted credit hours. Students become ineligible for financial aid once it is mathematically impossible to graduate within the maximum timeframe.

Appealing Financial Aid SAP due to Qualitative (GPA) and / or Pace (pass rate) Standards

NSAD Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form located on the forms page.
A personal statement that explains extenuating circumstance(s) for each quarter that needs to be addressed. Please email the Financial Aid Office to determine which quarters your appeal must address. Students may submit an appeal on the basis of extenuating circumstances which were not anticipated prior to when all relevant quarters started.
The personal statement should also address how the extenuating circumstance has been resolved to the extent that it should not create an ongoing barrier to meeting all SAP requirements.
Supporting documentation pertinent for all quarters required to be addressed. Examples include, but are not limited to, a physician’s statement on official letterhead, copy of a death certificate, or signed statements from a counselor or clergy member attesting to the extenuating circumstance.

To re-appeal the suspension to the NSAD Financial Aid Appeals Committee, you must submit the following documents. In-person appeals are not permitted.

Supporting documentation, not previously submitted, pertinent to the quarter(s) in which you failed to make adequate academic progress. Examples include a physician’s statement on official letterhead, copy of a death certificate, or signed statements from a counselor or clergy member attesting to the extenuating circumstance.
If denied, the decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final and cannot be further appealed for one year unless the student satisfactorily completes additional credits for further consideration.

Appealing SAP based on Maximum Timeframe Standard

Freakily Asked Question

Is a financial aid appeal the same as an academic appeal? Can I appeal once for both issues?

No, the academic appeal process is different. If the Records Office has notified you that you are on academic suspension because your GPA is too low, you will need to appeal through the Academic Appeal process to resolve the academic suspension. An academic appeal, if approved, will allow you to enroll in classes for the affected quarter; a scholarship or SAP appeal, if approved, will allow you to receive your related aid for the affected quarter.

The financial aid appeals process deals specifically with whether or not you met all the terms and conditions required for the form of financial aid you received. Please note: If you are on both academic suspension and scholarship suspension, you will need to submit both types of appeals, if you wish to enroll and to receive your scholarship.

What is an “extenuating circumstance”?

An extenuating circumstance is a situation beyond your control which prevented you from being able to meet financial aid or scholarship requirements. Extenuating circumstances may include (but are not limited to) having a severe illness or extensive hospitalization which limited your ability to attend classes or complete scholarship service hours, a family member having a severe illness which required your presence for a significant amount of time, a death of an immediate family member which impacted you significantly enough to affect class attendance or participation, or extreme financial hardship which prevented you from attending classes or completing service hours.

Generally, the situation must have occurred after the quarter began. If your extenuating circumstance first occurred before the quarter started and you chose to enroll anyway, you will need to explain what changed after the start of the term, which affected your ability to meet your scholarship or satisfactory academic progress requirements.

What documentation should I submit?

The documentation you submit will depend on your individual situation. The suggestions below include documents, which may help you support your appeal; however, this is not a comprehensive list. You should provide any documentation you feel supports your appeal and shows
1. that you had extenuating circumstances during the quarter(s) that you didn’t meet scholarship, service or Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements,
2. how those circumstances would have affected your ability to meet your requirements, and
3. that these circumstances have been resolved, so that you can now meet scholarship and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Federal Student Aid has released a series of educational webinars related to recent changes in federal aid including the 2024-2025 FAFSA. Check out a couple suggested videos below and visit their YouTube channel for more.

New FAFSA Bootcamp

Dependent Student Prototype

Other Forms & Loan Options

The U.S. Department of Education may select some applicants and/or their families for verification. The Financial Aid office will contact you if further documentation is required after you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Learn More

Tuition, Billing &
Payment Plans

When is tuition due?

Your tuition balance is due on the first day of class unless you have created a payment plan in your student portal. We currently use an outside vendor, ECSI, to manage student payment plans. A link to set up your account with ECSI is available through the “Student Services” tab of the student portal via the “Manage Your Tuition Payment Plan” link.

You must set up payment plans by the first of the month of the term start. If you have a past due balance, please contact the Bursar’s Office before setting up a payment plan at 1-877-747-3566 Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 4 PM PST.

Where is my bill?

You can view and print your bill from your student portal at the “Account Summary by Term” link in the “Student Services” any time of day.

How do I pay my bill?

Online – You can make one-time payments online here or at the “Manage Your Account/Pay Your Bill” link in the student portal.
By phone – Use a checking account, savings account, debit or credit card to make a payment by phone at 1-877-747-3566, Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 4 PM PST
By mail – Send to: NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Attn: Business Office, 1249 F St., San Diego, CA 92101

Do you have a payment plan and how does it work?

Our interest-free payment plans allow you to pay tuition by splitting your budget (your balance due) into 3 monthly payments in our quarterly plan or into 9 monthly payments using our annual plan. Your budget is the cost of your tuition and fees minus the financial aid you receive.

For example: Your budget for the quarter is $1,500. Under the quarter plan, you would pay $500 on the first of each month for 3 months. Under an annual plan, with a budget of $1,500 each quarter for 3 quarters (FALL, WIN, and SPR) or $4,500 total, you would pay $500 on the first of each month for 9 months.

To set up a payment plan, go to your student portal, under the “Student Services” tab, find the link for “Manage Your Tuition Payment Plan.” Follow the “Get Started” link, enter your personal information, and select your plan and budget amount. There is a one-time account set-up fee of $25. You will use this same link to make your payments each month. That’s it.

Questions? Feel free to call us or email us at studentaccounts@newschoolarch.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have compiled a list of common questions and answers to help you navigate the financial process with ease.

VIEW FAQS

Contact the Office of
Financial Aid

Mailing Address

1249 F Street | San Diego, CA 92101

Office Hours

Monday – Friday | 8 AM – 4 PM (Pacific)

Office of Financial Aid Hotline

(619) 684-8792

Contact Information

financialaid@newschoolarch.edu

Net Price Calculator

We are excited for you to discover the value and affordability a NewSchool education provides. Our calculator will give you an estimate of how much and what types of financial aid you might qualify for.

As you use the calculator, please remember:

This is not an application for admission or financial aid.
The results will only be as reliable as the data you provide.
The net price calculator will only give you an estimate of your net price and aid eligibility. The Office of Financial Aid will determine your final eligibility.
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 the year before you plan to enroll to receive federal student aid.

Get Started

Log in to your Shopping Sheet / College Raptor account to quickly estimate your net price. To create a new account, click below or simply continue as a guest and make a new account after we provide your net price estimate.

By using this calculator you agree to our Terms of Service Agreement.

Continue As Guest

Note:

The estimate provided using this net price calculator does not represent a final determination or actual offer of financial assistance. The cost of attendance and financial aid availability may change. This estimate shall not be binding on the Secretary of Education, ShoppingSheet.com, Newschool of Architecture and Design or the State of California.

For more information about applying for federal student aid, please go to StudentAid.gov.