Admitted: Financial Aid

The MCAD Financial Aid Office is available to assist all students with finding options to fund their education.

All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid and scholarships even if you do not think you are eligible. Financial aid assists in removing financial barriers for families who cannot afford the cost of an education beyond high school and fills in the gap for families who can afford only part of the cost. Although most grant awards are based on financial need, some loans and scholarships are available regardless of need. The MCAD Financial Aid Office is available to assist you with finding options to fund your education.

Be sure to review all 7 steps outlined below. Jump to step:

1. Submit the FAFSA
2. Verification Process
3. Financial Aid Award Notification
4. Review Costs and Financial Aid Offered at All Schools
5. Accept Financial Aid Award
6. Other Financing Options
7. Pay Remaining Semester Balance
8. Special Circumstances Financial Aid Appeal Process

Step 1: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

This is the first step to establishing eligibility for all federal and state student aid programs as well as MCAD need-based aid. Use the appropriate sign-on password you have received from the Department of Education. Complete your FAFSA.

The FAFSA is now available for Spring 2025 as well as the Fall 2025–Spring 2026 school year. Be sure to select the correct academic year and review priority deadlines. To receive financial aid, student must complete the FAFSA for each academic year they plan to enroll at the college. MCAD’s school code number is 002365.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and some aid is limited. The sooner you complete the FAFSA, the better your chances are of receiving all the aid you are entitled to receive.
• You will need an FSA ID (username and password) to electronically sign your FAFSA. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need to sign using a separate FSA ID. Full instructions and help are available Federal Student Aid.
• Using your FSA ID, you can return to the site later to check on the status of your application, review results of your processed FAFSA, and submit corrections.
• Students and contributors are required to grant consent to have their federal IRS tax returns transferred onto the application directly.
• Review FAFSA Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid for more information.

Helpful Videos

• How to Create Your FSA ID
• How to Fill out the FAFSA
• Dependent or Independent Student?
• After the FAFSA: What Happens Next

Step 2: Verification Process

Verification uses documentation to confirm that the information provided on the FAFSA is correct. For any student selected for verification, the federal government requires colleges and universities to verify, or confirm, the data reported by students and their parent(s) on the FAFSA. Not all applications are selected. In this process, MCAD will be comparing information from copies of the student (and parent's) Federal tax return transcripts, W-2 forms and/or other financial documents as well as educational records (if necessary).

Process

Once you are admitted and MCAD has received the results of your FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will email you if supporting documents are needed to complete your aid application. Information on what is needed and links to download forms can be found at myaid.mcad.edu, your online financial aid portal.

All forms and documents need to be submitted to the MCAD Financial Aid Office. This can be done by email, fax, or mail.

MCAD Financial Aid Office
2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Fax: 612-874-3733
financial_aid@mcad.edu

*Receipt of FAFSA information from the Federal Government is delayed. Please watch for email notifications.

Step 3: Financial Aid Award Package Notification

Once your FAFSA results have been reviewed by your financial aid counselor, a financial aid award will be calculated. The award letter will be emailed to you and your parent using the email addresses you included on your FAFSA. The award letter will include information about the aid you qualify for, anticipated costs for the upcoming year, and other financing options that may be available to you. Receipt of FAFSA information from the Federal Government is delayed. Please watch for email notifications.

Some forms of aid, like loan programs, may require additional paperwork or web-based activity. Any missing information or documents will always be listed at myaid.mcad.edu under Documents.

Step 4: Review Costs and Financial Aid Offered at All Schools

Your financial aid package may vary from school to school, because it is created based on the cost of attending that particular school. Do not assume that just because one school’s tuition costs less or one school is offering a higher scholarship that it is the best value for the money.

A good way to measure the value of the financial aid is to compare all the costs and all the scholarships and grants being offered. Use the Comparing Costs and Financial Aid worksheets to help you with this process.

Step 5: Accept Financial Aid Award

Once you have reviewed your financial aid award and understand what is being offered, you will need to accept your financial aid award. You always have the option to decline a loan or work-study award or to accept a reduced amount on these forms of aid. To complete the accept process go to myaid.mcad.edu and select the “Accept/Decline Awards” option under the Menu.

Step 6: Other Financing Options

Monthly Payment Plan

MCAD offers the option to set up a monthly payment plan each semester. This plan allows families to allocate the amount they wish to pay over the semester in even monthly payments. This is an interest-free option to pay the balance not covered by financial aid. The payment plan is administered by MCAD’s Business Office. Information about the plan is included with the semester billing or you can contact the office directly at student_accounts@mcad.edu or 612.874.3654.

Educational Loan Options

1. Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans: for parents of dependent students only
2. Federal Grad PLUS Loan: for students in MCAD MA or MFA programs
3. Student and Parent Alternative Loans: for all students

Students must complete the FAFSA to be considered for all federal loan programs and some alternative loan options. Get explanations of the different loan options.

Loan applications can take up to four weeks for lending institutions to process, so these are the recommended dates to start the application process for each semester. It is best to calculate the amount that will be needed for the academic year so you only need to complete the application process once each year. The loan amount will be divided between each semester. Your financial aid counselor can assist you with any questions.

Step 7: Pay Remaining Semester Balance

Balances on the semester bill that will not be paid by financial aid need to be paid by the following due dates.

The Business Office prepares semester bills and will alert you when they are ready to view. They can also assist with any questions that relate to the semester costs. View your student account and pay your deposit(s).

Your financial aid will show on the semester bill once the aid is accepted and all additional requirements are completed. You can review the status of your financial aid award by going to myaid.mcad.edu. Please keep in mind that any additional loans or the monthly payment plan need to be approved and listed on the semester bill by the above listed due dates. All outstanding balances must be paid by the payment due dates in order to start attending classes each semester.

Step 8: Special Circumstances Financial Aid Appeal Process

MCAD understands that special circumstances occur which may affect a student's financial aid eligibility. The MCAD Financial Aid Committee will review each request for change on an individual basis. Please note that submission for review will not guarantee changes in financial aid files. All decisions are final.

NOTE: As part of the review process, the Financial Aid Committee looks at the student’s current financial aid package. It is expected that all financial aid options have been explored and exhausted before coming to the committee, including federal student loans.

The following are examples of special circumstances:

• Significant loss or reduction of employment, wages, or unemployment compensation.
• Additional costs incurred as a result of a student's disability.
• Excessive medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance (documentation must be submitted) that exceed 7.5% of the family's or student's Adjusted Gross income.
• Divorce or separation of parents after completing the FAFSA (legal documentation must be submitted).
• Death of a parent after submitting the FAFSA.
• Loss of child support

Please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your special circumstances situation(s).

Note: If you already have an EFC of zero (0), you are not eligible to complete this form.