FAQs

Who can I contact if I have questions?

The Financial Aid Department is here to assist you. Please contact us at any time with your questions, either via email or phone. We look forward to hearing from you.

New York: 888.324.2433 | California: 866.318.2433.

When should I start applying for financial aid?

As soon as possible. In order to complete the admission process and secure a seat in their desired class, prospective students must establish the ability to pay the cost of attendance no later than 60 days prior to the class orientation.

How long will it take to complete the financial aid process?

With the help of a financial aid adviser, the process can be completed within one week. However, we recommend that you begin the process as soon as possible.

What are all of the financial aid options available to me?

Students may be eligible for:

How do I apply for a Pell Grant?

A Pell Grant is money provided to you by the federal government that is applied to your tuition. Anyone applying for a Pell Grant must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Visit our page on federal financial aid for more information.

How do I apply for scholarships?

There are many scholarships available to students seeking a career in the culinary and pastry fields, with varying requirements. Visit the scholarships section of our website to get started.

Am I a dependent or independent student?

For financial aid purposes, the federal government has put together the following questions to determine whether a student is dependent or independent. If you are able to answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, you are considered independent; if not, you are considered dependent.

• Were you born before January 1, 1986?
• At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?
• As of today, are you married? (Answer "yes" if you are separated but not divorced.)
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If you answered "no" to all of the questions above, you are considered to be a dependent student and will need to provide your parent(s)' tax information when you apply for financial aid.

Why do I need my parents' tax information on the FAFSA?

If you are a dependent, you do not have sufficient tax information. Dependency status is determined by answering Step 3 on the FASFA application.

What is the benefit of applying for a Direct Stafford Loan?

Federal Stafford Loans serve as a helpful tool to assist students with covering the cost of tuition. The benefits are as follows:

Subsidized Stafford Loans are federally guaranteed loans based on financial need. Interest does not accrue on the loan while you are in school at least half time, or during any future deferment periods. The federal government "subsidizes" (or pays) the interest during these times.
Additionally, there are maximum amounts you can receive per school year.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are federally guaranteed loans that are not based on financial need. Interest does accrue from the time the loan is disbursed to the school. Additionally, there are maximum amounts you can receive per school year for dependent and independent students. Click here for more information.

What is a Parent PLUS Loan?

The Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) is an affordable, low-interest loan designed for parents. With the PLUS Loan, you can borrow up to your child's total cost of education, minus other financial aid awarded to the student. This total cost can include tuition, books, food, housing, transportation, and other expenses. Learn more about Federal PLUS Loans.

How do the alternative loan programs work?

Alternative loan programs are designed to aid students with financing options that will adequately meet their needs for help with education costs. This loan allows you to borrow up to your cost of attendance, which means tuition, books, fees, transportation, and housing costs may be included within your loan. Learn more about private loans.

Can I apply for a loan to cover living expenses?

Yes! Alternative loans programs and Direct PLUS Loans provide the option to include living expenses as a part of your loan.

Does federal financial aid apply to all courses?

At this time, Pell Grant, Direct Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans apply only to Classic Culinary Arts and Classic Pastry Arts programs.

What external resources do you recommend for further reading?

Following is a list of helpful links to general financial aid and scholarship information.

Finaid.org
Explanations on state and military aid, loans, and other financing options.

Scholarships.com
A wide array of public, private, fraternal, and civic sources for scholarships related to your experience and goals.

Fastweb.com
Information on more than 600,000 scholarships.