Types of Financial Aid

Undergraduate Students

CIIS offers both institutional and federal aid to our students.

Grants
Money for undergraduate students that they do not need to repay.

Federal Pell
Available for students who demonstrate need per their FAFSA. Our Year-Round Pell Policy is listed at the bottom of this page.

FSEOG
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, available to students who demonstrate need per their FAFSA.

Cal Grant
A California state grant that requires you to file your FAFSA online before March 2 every year.

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Aid

Institutional aid is in the form of CIIS scholarships. Please refer to our Scholarships page.

Stafford Loans
This is a federal loan program. You are required to pay back the loans to the Department of Education beginning six months after you graduate or become enrolled less than half-time (this six month period is is called a "grace period"). Subsidized Stafford loans means that the government pays for the interest while you're in school. Unsubsidized Stafford loans means that interest accrues while you're in school.

PLUS Loans
Undergraduate PLUS stands for "Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students." This is a federal loan program for parents of dependent students to borrow additional funding for their children's educational costs.

Graduate PLUS Loans are a supplemental loan for which students may apply with the Department of Education online. This is a 7.9% fixed interest rate loan and the interest accrues while you're in school. Unfortunately, the Department of Education doesn't offer a grace period for this loan.

Private Loans
Once you and your family have considered institutional and federal loan options, you can use the California Private Loan Marketplace to instantly and accurately compare rates and terms from multiple private loan lenders side-by-side. This will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate loan for you.

The Marketplace displays products from local and national lenders, complete with detailed listings of APRs (annual percentage rates), interest rates, total cost, monthly payments, borrower benefits, fees and repayment options. You may click here to start the comparison.

Regardless of which private lender you choose, you will need to complete a self-certification form before receiving your first disbursement of loan funds. Your lender may provide this form to you when you apply for the loan. You can also download it here (PDF).

Final Disclosure and Right-to-Cancel Period
Under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), your lender must provide you with a finalized disclosure statement after you have signed your promissory note. The final disclosure statement confirms the terms and conditions of your loan.

At the time that this final disclosure is delivered, your "right-to-cancel" period begins. During this period of six business days, you may cancel the loan by contacting the lender. The lender cannot release the first disbursement of your loan funds until the end of the right-to-cancel period.

Graduate students should first opt for the Graduate PLUS loan. This may be the only option if a graduate student has lost his/her financial aid eligibility. Undergraduate independent students may opt for a private loan to supplement their living expenses.

Work Study

Work Study is a federal program that allows students the opportunity to work on and off campus (only domestic students can work off-campus) to fund their education. CIIS does not guarantee a job. It is the the student's responsibility to apply for and secure a position. Work Study funds are not an entitlement; students must work in order to receive these funds.

Domestic students can work on- and off-campus at an hourly wage of $11.75/hour. Community service-based jobs (off campus) are only eligible to domestic students. In addition, if a student is working off campus, the student may not work on campus nor hold other community service positions.

International students can work on campus at an hourly wage of $11.75/hour. This is considered institutional aid. International students may work up to 40 hours per week during breaks (contingent upon CIIS budget). For more information regarding employment for international student status, contact your international student advisor at (415) 575-6157.

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

CIIS works with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to assist students in securing their educational funding. Students need to register online with the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine their eligibility.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a national community service program that provides funding for education in exchange for service. CIIS will match the AmeriCorps education award for the full amount received for one full term of service. The award will be granted after completion of 15 units of study in one of the programs (MA/PhD) in the School of Consciousness and Transformation.

GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon

CIIS works with the Department of Veteran Affairs for those students eligible to receive GI Bill educational funding. CIIS also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. For more information, please visit the Veterans and their Families page.