Eligibility for Aid

In order to be eligible to receive financial aid at Lakeside School of Massage Therapy, students must meet the following requirements:

  • You must enroll in an approved certification program.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen.
  • You must be making satisfactory progress toward completion of your degree.
  • You may not be in default on any federal education loan or owe an overpayment of a federal education grant.
  • If applicable, you must be registered for the Selective Service.

ESTIMATED COSTS
Your financial aid eligibility begins with your cost of attendance. Actual costs vary for each individual student, so the financial aid office uses average costs, based on a survey of the amounts students report spending in each category. Each student’s costs are estimated according to factors including which program you have selected to enroll in.


EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC)
When you submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Federal Processing Center calculates an expected family contribution (EFC) using a formula based on the information you provide.

FINANCIAL NEED
The Financial Aid Department uses your estimated costs, minus your EFC, to determine your level of financial need. If you do not have financial need based on this formula, you are still eligible for an unsubsidized federal student loan.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSATANCES
If extenuating circumstances affect your ability to pay the cost of attendance, call or email the financial aid department to discuss your situation with your financial aid coordinator. Some examples of extenuating circumstances affecting students or parents of dependent students are loss of a job, excessive medical bills, disability, or divorce.

CHANGES TO ELIGIBILITY
Be sure to check with your financial aid coordinator if your status changes in any way. Federal regulations may require an adjustment to your financial aid eligibility.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
If your, your spouse's or your parents' financial circumstances have changed since you completed your FAFSA, you should contact the financial aid coordinator to report what has changed. Your financial aid coordinator will evaluate your request and let you know if additional documentation is needed to support your request for reconsideration based on the change(s) you report.

Be aware that certain adjustments are already considered in the calculation of a family's ability to pay in the federal formula that calculates financial need. Therefore, we will not always be able to reduce your expected contribution based on your unique circumstances. Special consideration is generally given only for the following circumstances:

  • loss of employment or change of employment status
  • divorce/separation or death of a parent/spouse
  • loss of untaxed income (i.e. child support)
  • disability
  • unusually high medical bills or disability-related expenses
  • loss of one-time income
  • unusual expenses not considered by the FAFSA (i.e. dependent care expenses, unusual transportation costs)

To be considered you must submit a written letter describing your extenuating circumstances that merit consideration. You will need to provide outside documentation to support your claim.