Financial Aid for Current Students

Bella Baldassano
3026 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-7742
Bella.Baldassano@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Wafaa Bedreddeen
100 Suite
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa
319-887-3649
Wafaa.Bedreddeen@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Becky Briggs
3022 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-7762
Becky.Briggs@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Cassie Brown
3102 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-7783
Cassie.Brown@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
In-Person Loan Limits Hold Appointment
Zoom Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Peggy Linden
100 Suite
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa

319-887-3969
Peggy.Linden@kirkwood.edu 

Heidi Morrison
100 Suite
Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa
319-887-3971
Heidi.Morrison@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Kenisha Rhine
3006 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-5437
Kenisha.Rhine@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Kris Ruddle
3054 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-5497
Kris.Ruddle@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

Jacob Zirkelbach
3010 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-5594
Jacob.Zirkelbach@kirkwood.edu 
Make an Advising Appointment
Make a Loan Limits Hold Appointment

College Access Specialist

Jeffrey Jovel
3062 Iowa Hall
Main Campus

319-398-7791
Jeffrey.Jovel@kirkwood.edu 

Make an Advising Appointment

For Loan Limit Holds:
In-Person Appointment
Zoom Appointment

Kaitlyn Trimpe
3072 Iowa Hall
Main Campus
319-398-1739
Kaitlyn.Trimpe@kirkwood.edu 

Make an Advising Appointment
For Loan Limit Holds:
In-Person Appointment
Zoom Appointment

Almost everything you need to be ready for financial aid is listed on your Financial Aid Checklist.

Most tasks that a student would need to complete for financial aid will be located in the Student Forms portal available on the Financial Aid Checklist or directly: https://kirkwood.studentforms.com/.

Forms not currently available on Student Forms are listed below:

• Parent Refusal Form
• Plus Pre-Approval Form
• Financial Aid SAP Appeal Guide
• Consortium Agreement

The following guides may help with creating and maintaining your Student Forms account.

• Student Account: How to create a Student Forms account.
• Parent Account: How to create a Parent account on Student Forms.
• E-Sign Pin: How to create an e-sign pin to sign forms.
• Forgot User Name: How to recover your username and password.

Federal Pell Grant
A grant awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree and who have demonstrated adequate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Any student who qualifies for a Pell Grant based on their 2023 – '24 FAFSA currently on file is eligible for additional Pell Grant to be used toward their 2023 summer tuition. Summer Pell Grant students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits).

If you were not eligible for a Pell Grant on your 2023 – '24 FAFSA, you would not be eligible for Pell Grant funds to be applied to your summer tuition. If you have not filed a current FAFSA for 2023 – '24, you may still submit one now until June 30, 2024.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
An additional campus-based grant awarded to highest-need students. These funds are limited and are awarded based on the date the FAFSA was completed. Based on availability of funds, a second awarding may occur before the beginning of the spring and summer semesters.

Kibbie Grant
The Kibbie Grant, also called the Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant, is for Iowa residents enrolled in specific programs at Iowa community colleges. An application for financial aid must be received by the federal processor prior to the state deadline, and the expected family contribution must be within the parameters set by the state. Students must also be accepted into the technical portion of their program.

Those eligible for the Kibbie Grant could have half their tuition paid for, for up to two years, depending on the financial need of the student. Part-time students may be eligible for prorated amounts.

View Kibbie Eligible Programs.

To view all eligibility requirements, please visit the state website.

Last-Dollar Scholarship
The Last-Dollar Scholarship is intended to cover tuition and institution-wide fees for Iowa residents in programs that lead to high-demand jobs. If other state and federal programs do not cover the entire cost of tuition for a postsecondary diploma or associate degree, the Last-Dollar Scholarship will fill the gap. In order to be eligible, students must meet income requirements and be accepted into the technical portion of their program.

View Last-Dollar Scholarship eligible programs.

To view all eligibility requirements, please visit the state website.

Iowa Vocational Technical Grant
Grant funding available to Iowa residents in Vocational-Technical programs. An application for financial aid must be received by the federal processor prior to the state deadline, and the expected family contribution must be within the parameters set by the state. Students can receive up to five semesters of Iowa Vocational-Technical Grant. Students must also be accepted into the technical portion of their program.

To view all eligibility requirements, please visit the state website.

GEAR UP Iowa Scholarship
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Scholarship is a non need-based scholarship program that assists students in the 2.0 GEAR UP Iowa cohort with the cost of postsecondary education. Recipients must have been in the official 2.0 GEAR UP Iowa cohort. Awards are prorated for students enrolling less than full-time.

All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship Program is a statewide need-based grant program that assists high-need Iowa residents with the cost of postsecondary education. Awards are prorated for students enrolling on a less than full-time basis.

Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship
The Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship provides funds for eligible members of the Iowa National Guard to help with the cost of attending Iowa colleges and universities.

Education and Training Voucher
The Education and Training Voucher Program is a federally funded program to provide postsecondary education and training opportunities to students who are currently or who have been in foster care. Recipients must make satisfactory academic progress to receive awards. Awards are prorated for students enrolling less than full-time.

Cedar Rapids College Career Connection Grant
The Cedar Rapids College Career Connection Grant is awarded to Cedar Rapids residents enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. This $6000 grant is reduced based on other grants and scholarships received. It is also a pro-rated award based on the student’s enrollment level.

Students must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible. Kirkwood will automatically award this grant to eligible students.

Scholarships are provided by organizations and are not required to paid back. Many high schools, employers, businesses, and community centers provide scholarships. Kirkwood Community College also provides scholarships for many students.

Kirkwood’s scholarship program provides support for students at all academic and financial levels, and for all credit programs.

Kirkwood uses a scholarship-matching tool to connect Kirkwood Eagles to hundreds of internal and external scholarship opportunities! Best of all, Kirkwood students only need to complete one easy application to be considered for the hundreds of internal scholarships offered through the Kirkwood Foundation.

Apply Now

Check Award Status

All Scholarships

Work Study Process
Find the perfect opportunity to earn while you learn today! Our work-study program gives you the opportunity to earn money to assist with educational expenses.

Kirkwood employs over 100 students during the academic year. Join our team today!

Current Job Listings

The Work-study program is administered by the Financial Aid Office. The supervisor of each department requests a specific award amount for each student worker for the academic year, based on departmental needs and available Work-study budget. Returning students are responsible for securing their Work-study positions each year in April and early May.

If you are new to the Work-study program, you will be notified of your Work-study award via your Kirkwood email account in June. This notification will prompt you to view the current Work-study openings. If you were not initially awarded, and you interested in the Work-study program, you can inquire with the Work-study coordinator to see if you are eligible.

Contact the supervisor of the Work-study position you are interested in to set up an interview. 

Student Eligibility
Students must qualify for the Federal Work-study Program. Federal Work-study is a form of federal financial aid therefore you must complete the FAFSA form for possible eligibility. Work-study award amounts are not a guarantee of funds; it is the maximum a student is able to earn.

It is the responsibility of the supervisor and the student to monitor hours and dollars earned so the student does not become ineligible for Work-study if one of the following occur:

• Student withdraws completely from Kirkwood classes
• Student is not registered for any Title IV credits
• Student demonstrates no financial need based on federal FAFSA results
• Student is put on Financial Aid Suspension
• Student graduates from Kirkwood Community College
• Students are not eligible to work if they have not submitted the forms necessary to process their financial aid award.

Work Hours
Student workers will be scheduled to work approximately 5 – 10 hours per week. Work-study students may not work more than 20 hours a week during the school year. Work study students may work up to 28 hours per week during break periods and during the summer.

All students should keep in mind, once you have earned your full Work-study award, you must stop working immediately. Contact your supervisor to see if their budget will allow for an increase in the Work-study award. The supervisor will request, by email, an increase in the award to the Work-study coordinator.

All students should be given the opportunity to work their Work-study awards in the department to which they are hired. The student, together with the supervisor, should plan a work schedule that is compatible with his/her class schedule. Any request for time off, such as a weekend or a particular shift, must be approved in advance by the supervisor.

Federal regulations require verification if a student works during a scheduled class time.

Student Responsibilities
Complete all “New Employee Forms” with your Work-study supervisor before you begin working. This is only applicable for first-time Work-study students. If you are switching Work-study positions or adding a Work-study position, you only need to complete the “New Hire-Work Study” form with your supervisor.

All Work-study students must have the following forms on file with the Human Resource department before you can begin working on campus. Please complete these forms with your Work-study supervisor.

• Kirkwood Community College “New Hire-Work Study” form.
• Current W-4 Forms (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate).
• I-9 Form (Employment Eligibility Verification) on file in Human Resource. Students are required to provide two types of appropriate documentation when filing the I-9 form.
• Kirkwood Community College Direct-Deposit Form. All earnings are direct deposited to the student’s bank account; paychecks will not be issued.
• Confidentiality Agreement Form.
• Electronic Consent for W-2 Form.

If a student fails to provide the required documentation, he/she will be removed from the work schedule and will not be allowed to work until the documentation is completed.

Perform tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Contact your supervisor if you will be absent due to illness as early in the work day as possible. In addition, advance notice should be given when requesting a change in the work schedule or to take time off.

Continued tardiness or failure to notify your supervisor when you cannot report for work is sufficient grounds for termination.

Inform your supervisor of your class schedule and availability to work.

Keep your electronic timecard up to date.

Time sheets are filled out within the students' MyHub account and will be submitted to the supervisor on the cutoff date according to the Payroll Calendar (supplied to the student by the supervisor).

Monitor the hours you have left to work. Talk to your supervisor about increasing your Work-study award before your award runs out.

If a student falsifies a timecard information the Student Employment Coordinator is obligated to report this incident of fraud to the Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General. A federal investigation may result. Falsification of a timecard will result in immediate dismissal from the Work-study program. The student will not be eligible to work on campus the remainder of their time at Kirkwood.

Represent yourself and Kirkwood Community College in a professional manner and maintain the confidentiality of student and College records to which you may have access. Appropriate work attire is expected at all times. Speak to your supervisor for suggestions.

Termination of Employment
A student may be terminated from their Work-study position if the student is not performing in a satisfactory manner. The supervisor should make clear to each student employee their performance and responsibility expectations. The termination process is up to the supervisor's discretion.

Immediate Dismissal: If a student has falsified records including timecards, divulged confidential information from the workplace, or is caught stealing, the student will immediately forfeit employment opportunities while at Kirkwood Community College.

If a student falsifies a timecard information the Student Employment Coordinator is obligated to report this incident of fraud to the Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General. A federal investigation may result. Falsification of a timecard will result in immediate dismissal from the Work-study program. The student will not be eligible to work on campus the remainder of their time at Kirkwood.

Direct Subsidized Loans
Offered to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school.

The fixed interest rate will depend on when the loan was disbursed. Additionally, a loan origination fee will be applied and deducted from the loan payout and this is why your amount that is sent to you is slightly less than the amount on your offer letter.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Offered to eligible undergraduate students where eligibility is not based on financial need.

The fixed interest rate depends on when the loan was disbursed. Additionally, a loan origination fee will be applied and reduced from the loan payout and this is why your amount that is sent to you is slightly less than the amount on your offer letter.

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
This loan is made to parents of dependent students for their educational expenses. Repayment begins 60 days after the final disbursement; however, parents can request a deferment while the student is enrolled at least half time. As a parent, you will have to log in with your FSA ID and then you can complete the PLUS Loan application. PLUS loans are in the parent's name and the repayment is the parent's responsibility.

The fixed interest rate depends on when the loan was disbursed. Additionally, a loan origination fee will be applied and reduced from the loan payout and this is why your amount that is sent to you is slightly less than the amount on your offer letter.

More Information about Direct Loans
Information here Direct Loan amounts are determined by the number of earned credits at the time of awarding.

• Students who have earned fewer than 30 credits are awarded a base loan of $3,500, which may be subsidized or unsubsidized depending on need.
• Students who have earned 30 or more credits are eligible for $4,500.

In addition, dependent students are awarded $2,000 in Unsubsidized loan, and independent students are awarded $6,000. These amounts are subject to previous borrowing limitations and the individual student’s eligibility and financial need. Students are able to accept up to their maximum awarded amount.

If additional credits are earned after the award has been made, and additional loan funds are requested, the Financial Aid Office will evaluate any additional eligibility at the student’s request.

In accordance with federal law, please note that first-time borrowers must be enrolled for 30 days from the start of the term, in addition to completing the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling session, before they are eligible to receive the loan funds.

Also, the funds will be divided into two disbursements; the first disbursement will be issued after 30 days from the start of the term and will be credited towards tuition first with the remaining funds going to the student. The remaining payment will be issued halfway through the loan period.

For example, if the loan period is for fall only, the remaining payment will be issued halfway through that term. If the loan period is for fall and spring, the remaining payment will be issued at the beginning of the spring term.

Any tuition debt will be paid first with the remaining funds going to the student. If a student has completed all steps necessary to activate their loan, they can use any remaining balance at the bookstore for course materials.

To help calculate student loan payments, the Department of Education has created a loan simulator.

To learn more about Direct Loans, visit the federal website about Direct Loans.

The Pell Grant, the Vocational Technical Grant, the Kibbie Grant, the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, and the GEAR UP Iowa Scholarship are pro-rated based upon the number of credit hours enrolled. While loans are not pro-rated, to qualify for the entire loan amount, you have to be enrolled at least half-time.

Students who are enrolled less than full time are considered part-time students. For part-time students, a lower cost of attendance will be used to determine eligibility for financial aid awards. If your attendance level changes up to the end of the second week of classes, this may change the amounts of your awards.

Students may receive no more than 600% of the Pell Grant award, where 100% is generally considered the equivalent of one year of full-time Pell Grant.

The Pell Grant amount will be determined after the Pell Recalculation Date for the semester. Classes added or dropped after that date will not change the Pell Grant award.

Federal Direct Loans must have at least two disbursements. If your loan is for one semester only, the second disbursement will be at the midpoint of the semester. To remain eligible for a Federal Direct Loan, you must be enrolled at least half-time during the entire period for which the loan was processed. Therefore, if you drop below half-time, any remaining disbursements will be canceled. If you return the following semester, a new loan may be created based on remaining eligibility.

Your award is based on projected funding from institutional, state, and federal sources, and is subject to change. Specifically, state programs are subject to the availability of funding from the state and can be reduced if that funding is reduced by the state. This applies to the Iowa Vocational-Technical Grant, the Kibbie Grant, the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, the Last Dollar Scholarship, the Education and Training Voucher, and the Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship.

If other sources of assistance or additional resources are received after your financial aid application is completed, you are required to notify the Financial Aid Office immediately.

If a student is in default status on a Federal Student Loan or has an unpaid overpayment for previous financial aid awards, they are ineligible for additional financial aid.

One of the requirements for receiving financial aid is that you attend the classes for which you are registered. Attendance is monitored in all classes. We will disburse financial aid based on the number of credits you have been reported as attending. If you have late start classes, some of your pro-rated awards will not be sent until you are attending those late start classes.

If any amount of tuition is paid with funds from a Title IV Program and the student withdraws during the established refund period, the Title IV program funds will be adjusted and any unearned aid will be returned in the following order: Loans: Federal Unsubsidized, Federal Subsidized, and Federal Plus. Grants: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Other Title IV programs. Under federal law, Kirkwood must return the funds as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after Kirkwood determines the student’s withdrawal date.

A student’s financial aid is based on the number of classes the student is enrolled in and the number of days the student is enrolled in classes. When a student initiates a withdrawal from one or more classes, the amount of financial aid the student is eligible to receive is affected. The Return of Title IV funds to the federal government is based on a calculation that determines how much aid the student is eligible to receive and how much the student is no longer eligible for because he/ she is no longer enrolled in school. This calculation is applicable until the student has completed more than 60 percent of the semester. Once the student has completed more than 60 percent of the semester, all financial aid is considered earned.

For example:

If a student completed 20 percent of the semester, the student will have earned 20 percent of the financial assistance awarded for the semester. Any aid above and beyond the 20 percent is considered unearned and must be returned to the federal government.

As prescribed by federal law, Kirkwood is required to return the lesser of:

• The unearned amount of financial aid; or
• An amount equal to the student’s total institutional charges for the semester, multiplied by the percentage of unearned aid.

As prescribed by federal law, the amount the student must return is:

• The unearned amount of Title IV assistance minus any funds Kirkwood returned. If the student is required to repay unearned loan funds, these funds will be repaid in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, through scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.

If the student is required to repay unearned Pell and/or SEOG Grant funds, the law provides that the student is only required to return grant funds if the final grant overpayment amount exceeds 50 percent of the total grant assistance the student received for the payment period.

Any unearned grant money must be repaid by either making arrangements with Kirkwood or with the U.S. Department of Education.

If a student withdraws from Kirkwood prior to completing 60 percent of the semester, the student is responsible for paying any outstanding tuition and fee charges that remain after Kirkwood has repaid any unearned financial aid to the federal government.

If there is aid available after your tuition has been paid, you may use that amount at the bookstore as long as you have your EagleCard and book list.

First time Stafford Loan borrowers’ loan funds cannot be deposited/mailed until the mandatory 30-day wait period from the start of the semester ends. However, those funds are available at the bookstore if the loan has been accepted and all checklist steps are completed.

You can view your amount available at the bookstore by clicking Account Summary in MyHub and scrolling down the page.

You'll set up your direct deposit information in MyHub:

• Choose "My Bill” under Student Links, then “Direct Deposits” under Refunds Section.
• Choose "Refunds" from the toolbar at the top, then "Set up Account." Select an account type and input the corresponding bank account and routing information.
• Review the agreement and click "Agree" to finalize your direct deposit. The account is now set up and will show under "Refunds" as a direct deposit account.

Things to keep in mind about your direct deposit:

• Once funds are released from us to your bank it can take 3 – 5 business days for the funds to show in your account.
• Direct Deposit is not guaranteed, if there is an issue with your account (wrong account number, prepaid card, etc.) you will receive a paper check.
• Please ensure the account you are adding will accept ACH deposits.
  
  If you choose not to set up a direct deposit, the balance of financial aid will be mailed to your local address on file when your attendance is verified. Please allow 3 – 5 business days to receive the check via mail. Checks must be cashed within 90 days of issue.

Each year, the Department of Education selects a number of financial aid applicants for a process called "Verification." The Financial Aid Office is required to check the accuracy of information submitted on financial aid applications (FAFSA forms) with the information contained in official documentation such as federal income tax returns, Social Security statements, statements regarding untaxed income and other necessary documents. In addition, to those students selected by the U.S. Department of Education, the Kirkwood Financial Aid Office reserves the right to select additional students for the process of verification at its discretion. This discretionary selection may be generated randomly, due to conflicting information, or due to concerns that data may not be accurate or complete. The following policies and procedures for verifying information contained in a student aid application are implemented in accordance with federal regulations: 34 CFR 668.53 General Provisions, Federal Register 10/31/89 Vol. 54, No. 209, p.45997 "Policies and Procedures," and the Application and Verification Guide for Title IV Financial Aid Programs.

Notification and Communication

Students selected for verification must submit documentation for the process of verification in order for official financial aid eligibility to be determined. When a student is selected for verification, the student will be notified as follows:

1. The U.S. Department of Education will notify the student on their Student Aid Report.
2. Kirkwood will provide written electronic notification to the student identifying the documents required for the verification process. This notification will be sent to the student by the Financial Aid Office no later than three weeks from the time the Financial Aid Office receives official notification from the U.S. Department of Education that the student was selected.
3. Kirkwood also provides secure 24 hour access to information showing verification document requests for each student at www.kirkwood.edu/eaglenet on the EagleNet system.in the Student Forms system.
4. As a courtesy, Kirkwood’s Financial Aid Office may contact students on a weekly basis using emails and letters to give updates on requested verification documents. However, Kirkwood will not send more than 12 emails/letters over a 12 week period.
5. As a courtesy, Kirkwood’s Financial Aid Office may contact students by phone to encourage them to submit documents to complete the verification process.

Minimum Documentation required (varies by verification tracking group)

Dependent Student

• Signed Verification Worksheet
• IRS Return Transcripts
• Certain untaxed income and benefits
• Child support paid
• High school completion and ID/Statement of Purpose
• Additional documents as requested by Kirkwood

Independent Student

• Signed Verification Worksheet
• IRS Return Transcripts
• Certain untaxed income and benefits
• Child support paid
• High school completion and ID/Statement of Purpose
• Additional documents as requested by Kirkwood

Deadlines
Verification documentation should be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the planned term of enrollment. Submitting the required documents by the due date mentioned, facilitates the college's ability to verify all information in a timely manner, ensure that financial aid packages and reconciliation of funds are accurate, and that financial aid is posted to the student’s account in a timely manner.

Failure to submit the required documentation (or submit it in a timely manner) will delay or eliminate the disbursement of federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds.

Families who file federal tax filing extensions must forward a copy of the federal request for extension form to the Kirkwood Financial Aid Office along with copies of W2’s and other income statements. The Financial Aid Office may request other documentation to verify income.

Loss of Aid Eligibility

No financial aid will be disbursed to a student’s account if the student is selected for verification and the verification process is not complete. If financial aid has already been disbursed and the student is subsequently selected for verification, further disbursements are stopped until which time the process is complete. Failure to submit the required documentation (or submit it in a timely manner) may eliminate the eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid funds.

Conflicting Information Policy

The Kirkwood Financial Aid Office exercises its right to seek additional information whenever there is conflicting information in a student file. Conflicting information must be resolved before financial aid funds may be fully processed and/or disbursed. Failure to reach resolution within the enrollment period (which requires written documentation for the student’s financial aid file) eliminates aid eligibility. In some cases, resolution of conflicting information within 30 days of the end of the enrollment period may not provide sufficient time to process financial aid for that enrollment period. Therefore, aid eligibility could be eliminated.

The Financial Aid Office will notify the student in writing if there is a need for further documentation to satisfy verification requirements. This notification will occur within two weeks of the initial review of submitted documentation by the Financial Aid Office. The student and/or parent(s) must respond within two weeks of the date of the notification. For information on the consequences of failing to provide the additional requested documentation, please refer to the Verification Policy section entitled "Loss of Aid Eligibility."

Overpayments of federal and state aid, if they occur, are resolved when Kirkwood makes subsequent adjustments to the student's account. If, in the event that an adjustment cannot be made by Kirkwood to the student's account, Kirkwood will refer the overpayment to the proper federal and/or state agency.

Correction of Information

Kirkwood will submit the verified corrections to the U.S. Department of Education electronically or online with the CPS. This will ensure that corrections are made known to all parties and that the needs analysis will be updated accurately and according to federal standards. Additionally, the student is required to update any subsequent or related applications such as state grant information, private scholarship forms, and other related institutional applications.

Misuse of Financial Aid and Referral Process

The Kirkwood Financial Aid Office will report any suspected fraud or falsified information (on the part of the student, the parent, preparer of financial aid applications, or related parties) to the U.S. Department of Education and all other related parties for immediate action. This information will be forwarded to authorized agencies in addition to the U.S. Department of Education for investigation such as the Office of Inspector General. Anyone who suspects fraud or abuse may make a confidential report by contacting the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) or by email at oig.hotline@ed.gov. Students are provided contact information for the OIG on Kirkwood’s financial aid website.

Award Change Notification

The Kirkwood Financial Aid Office will notify a student of the results of verification if, as a result of verification, the student's expected family contribution changes and results in a change in the student's financial aid. If changes are made prior to the student receiving a Notice of Award, the student will be notified of any corrections from verification by receiving a new Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education. If changes are made after the student has received a Notice of Award and those changes affect financial aid, in addition to receiving an updated SAR, Kirkwood will notify the student by email no later than 30 days after the verification is complete.

Rejected ISIRs and C-Codes

The Financial Aid Office resolves all rejected ISIR issues and "C" code issues before awarding financial aid to a student.

When a student's ISIR is flagged with a "C" code because of the need to resolve a database match or any other reason, Colleague assigns a communication code to the student's record. The student receives an email requesting action to resolve the issue. Like with verification, documentation received to resolve issues with a student's ISIR are submitted through Student Forms. These documents are worked by Financial Aid Advisors and Financial Aid Program Managers. Once the issue is resolved, any necessary corrections are made to the ISIR, and Kirkwood will receive an updated ISIR if needed.

Once school begins, you'll want to maintain good grades. Federal regulations require that students make reasonable academic progress in order to continue receiving financial aid. It's officially called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

SAP is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average, percentage of credit hours earned in relation to those attempted, and the length of the academic program.

To assure that you're making progress toward earning a degree both in terms of number of hours completed and cumulative GPA, Kirkwood requires that you maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA and cumulative pace of 67 percent.

To view your current SAP status go here.

Here are the possible SAP statuses and what they mean:

(None)
You have not yet had any classes evaluated for the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and are eligible for financial aid.

SAT
You are meeting the standards of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy and are eligible for financial aid.

WRN
You are on Financial Aid Warning. You have one semester to reach the required GPA and Pace or your financial aid will be suspended.

SUS
You are on Financial Aid Suspension. You are not eligible to receive financial aid. You may restore eligibility by completing half time work in one semester, paying for those classes in full, and completing an academic plan. You may also appeal your suspension. You can learn more about the appeal process by going to: http://www.kirkwood.edu/keepyouraid

MAX
You are on a Financial Aid MAX Suspension. Students must complete their their educational program in a reasonable length of time, which is defined as no more than 150% of the credit hours required for graduation in that program, regardless of major changes. For example, if a student is working towards a Liberal Arts-AA, which is 62 credit hours; he or she can receive aid up to 150% of the credits

AP
Your financial aid appeal has been approved and you are on an Academic Plan status. You must follow the plan, maintain a 75% Pace and earn a 2.0 GPA each term or your aid will be suspended.

APM
Your financial aid appeal has been approved and you are on an Academic Plan status. You must follow the plan, maintain a 75% Pace and earn a 2.0 GPA each term or your aid will be suspended.

If you want to appeal a MAX or SUS status, you can read about the process at the following link: Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Our official Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is also on the same page.

Consortium Agreement – A contract between two colleges that recognizes the registration of a student at each site for financial aid purposes. It also certifies that only one of the two colleges will administer Title IV financial aid for the student.

Cost of Attendance – A college's estimated cost to attend college for the period of enrollment. This includes tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

Entrance Counseling – Ensures you understand the terms and conditions of your loan and your rights and responsibilities. You'll learn what a loan is, how interest works, your options for repayment, and how to avoid delinquency and default.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – A calculated number, based on the responses on a FAFSA, used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. This will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – A form completed by current and future college students to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.

FSAid – A username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn't be created or used by anyone other than you.

In-School Deferment – A type of student loan deferment that lets you pause payments on your student loans while you're still enrolled in school at least on a half-time enrollment status.

Loan Period – The academic year or portion of an academic year that the loan is requested for.

Loan Servicer – a company that assigned to handle the billing and other services on federal student loans on the Department of Education's behalf.

Master Promissory Note (MPN) – Your signed promise to pay the federal government back for loans borrowed to attend college.

Return of Title IV Calculation – After a student withdraws a calculation is performed to determine the amount of federal funds the student has earned and the amount of unearned federal funds for which the school and the student is responsible to return, (if any).

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) – The process a school uses to measure a student's academic progress by evaluating a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA), percentage of credit hours earned in relation to those attempted (Pace), and the length of the academic program. Kirkwood evaluates SAP after each semester.

School Code – An identifier that the U.S. Department of Education assigns to each college. Kirkwood's is 004076.

Student Aid Index – A calculated number, based on the responses on a FAFSA, used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. The SAI will be used beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

Student Aid Report (SAR) – An electronic or paper document that gives you some basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid.

Title IV Aid – Federal student aid funds, which are from federal student aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Verification – The process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. If you're selected for verification, your school will request additional documentation that supports the information you reported.

Withdrawal – When a student drops all classes (Official Withdrawal) or stops attending all classes (Unofficial Withdrawal).

How much money do I need to go to school?
While there is not a set amount, in addition to the cost of direct school expenses (tuition, books and related supplies), will also want to consider everyday living expenses like housing, food, clothing, and entertainment. You can see the tuition costs here.

Will you work while going to college?
Many students work part-time. As you look at your class schedule, calculate the amount of time you can work and estimate how much you will be able to earn while attending college.

Am I eligible for financial aid?
In general, to be eligible for financial aid, a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or its recognized equivalent.
• Be enrolled in a diploma or degree program.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Not be in default of a federal or state student loan, nor owe a repayment on any federal grant.
• Meet requirements specific to the financial aid program for which the student is applying.

Can I receive financial aid at more than one school at the same time?
In most cases, no, you may only receive financial aid from one school at a time. If you are enrolled at two schools, the school from which you are receiving your degree will process your financial aid.

Am I eligible for as much money if I have a BA degree?
Students who have a degree are not able to receive federal grant dollars. However, this does not apply to other types of federal financial aid, which means you may be considered for federal work-study and student loans.

How much income can I have and still qualify for grants? Why don't I qualify for Federal Pell Grant?
There is not a set dollar amount that determines whether a student receives financial aid. Most of the data requested on the FAFSA is used in a formula created by the federal government to calculate eligibility. Some of the major factors are household size, student and parent income, receiving means-tested benefits, and asset information. When you fill out the FAFSA, there is an estimate of aid. Please note that this is only an estimate. Kirkwood will determine your award once your file is complete.

Why haven't I been awarded financial aid yet?
These are some of the most common reasons why you may not have received your offer of financial aid:

• You did not list Kirkwood's school code (004076) when you completed your FAFSA. You can return to FAFSA, log in using your FSA ID, and add Kirkwood. Or you can call 1-800-4-FED AID to request that Kirkwood receive your FAFSA results.
• You may have forgotten to sign your FAFSA form (paper or web-based). You can sign electronically with your FSA ID. Can't remember your FSA ID? Go here and choose "Forgot My Username". You can also call 1-800-4-FED AID to recover your FSA ID.
• We require additional documentation that has not been provided yet. Log in here to see what you may need to do.
• The Financial Aid Office has not had enough time to determine your eligibility. This may take four to six weeks during peak processing times (June through August).
• You may have a HOLD on your account. Students must resolve any holds before receiving an offer of financial aid.

Can I enroll without an award?
You can enroll without an award if you are able to make full payment on your own. If you pay in full and receive an award later, a check will be mailed to you. If you are unable to pay on your own, you should continue to check MyHub daily for updates to your award status.

How can I check my application and award status online?
Log in to MyHub. Once you have logged in, click 'Check status' on the Financial Aid tile on the right side of the webpage. You may view your award by the year or view your award by the term. If no award appears, it is likely additional information is required. You may check to see what is still needed by logging in here.

What do I do if my financial aid is not processed before my tuition bill is due?
Typically the best option is to sign up for the Kirkwood Payment Plan, an interest-free monthly installment plan.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This considers you for federal- and state-funded aid. Scholarships require student initiative. You can apply for Kirkwood scholarships by filling out just one application. Additionally, there are many other sources of external scholarships that you may qualify for, so we encourage all students to investigate scholarship opportunities independently as well.

I am separated/divorced. Should I include my ex-spouse's information on the FAFSA?
No. Use your income only. We may request documents when finalizing your file.

My ex-spouse has custody of the children, but I pay child support. Can I include my children on the FAFSA?
You may include them if you provide more than 50 percent of the child/children's support. In some cases, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

My spouse/parent passed away during the tax year. Do I include that income on the FAFSA?
No. If the person has passed away, you do not provide that income information on the application.

I am getting married in two months. Can I say I'm married on the FAFSA?
No. Report your status as of the time you fill out the application.

My parent is remarried. Do I have to include my step-parent's income even though they are not the biological parent and are not supporting me?
Yes. When a student's biological parents are unmarried, you must determine which parent provides more support and list that parent's information on the FAFSA. If that parent is remarried, you must include the step-parent's information on the FAFSA as well.

Do I have to apply for financial aid every semester?
No, just once per academic year.

How long does it take to process a FAFSA?
If you file electronically, you will receive a response in 3-5 business days. If you mail your application, it can take up to 3-4 weeks to receive a response. Please note that if you do not provide a signature on your FAFSA, your processing will be delayed.

I used the IRS Data Retrieval on my FAFSA, and my untaxed pension or untaxed IRA distribution rollover was incorrectly brought forward. What do I do?
Do not change the data imported into the FAFSA. Submit a copy of your 1099-R along with a signed statement with student name and k number to the Financial Aid office. The 1099-R is necessary to confirm that the amount is a rollover. With this documentation, we will remove the rollover amount from the FAFSA.

As a dependent student, can I file the FAFSA without parent information?
Yes, but it would be easier to have parent information. You might make them aware they would not be responsible for any loans you incur as the loans would be in your name. Kirkwood has a Parent Refusal form that can be used to inform your parents.

Do I include a deceased parent/spouse’s information on the FAFSA?
No. If the person has passed away, you do not provide that income information on the application.

Do I have to reapply for financial aid if I transfer to another school at semester?
You do not have to reapply, but dollar amounts do not transfer from school to school due to varying tuition cost. Check with the school you are transferring to about having your current year FAFSA information sent to them.

Will there be grant money available if I complete my FAFSA late?
Pell grant funds and student loans will be available. State-funded grants have a filing deadline and campus-based funds are limited. The sooner you apply, the greater your chances for receiving all sources of aid, if you are eligible.

What state grants are available for me if I complete the FAFSA?
There are a number of state grant programs which you can learn about them by going clicking on Types of Financial Aid on the right side menu. The Grants section is divided into categories: Federal, State and Local.

Do I qualify for the Last Dollar Scholarship?
The requirements for LDS are:

• Be an Iowa resident
• Enroll at least half time in an eligible program
• Complete the FAFSA
• Have an EFC of 20,000 or less as determined by your FAFSA application

If you qualify, you will be awarded an estimated amount as part of your financial aid offer. That amount will be updated after you register for classes.

How do I apply for Kirkwood scholarships?
Go here to apply for scholarships. You can check out our FAQ all about scholarships.

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?
With the Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, no interest accumulates while the student is enrolled in school because the government is subsidizing it during the deferment period. Interest begins to accumulate after the six month grace period that begins once the student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment. With the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, interest accumulates immediately after the loan is disbursed. The student will be billed quarterly while attending school. If the student does not pay the interest, it will be deferred. However, we recommend student pay the interest on unsubsidized loans because if they do not, they will owe more than they received as the interest is capitalized (added to the principal).

I just want a loan. Do I have to fill out the FAFSA?
Yes. The application is for both grant and loan eligibility.

How much can my parents borrow on a PLUS Loan?
The formula for determining the maximum dollar amount is the cost of the attendance minus the financial aid received. Check with the Financial Aid Office and they will do the calculation for you.

How can I get my loans deferred?
Kirkwood participates in the industry-sponsored consortium, the National Student Loan Clearinghouse. Kirkwood reports student status to the Clearinghouse and it is responsible for providing status and deferment information to guaranty agencies, lenders, servicers, and the Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System.

A list of participating lenders is available on the National Student Clearinghouse website. Deferments for lenders who are not members of the National Student Clearinghouse should be brought to the Financial Aid office. The deferments will be processed and mailed to the appropriate address. Students may view the electronic notifications and deferment forms that have been sent to lenders, servicers and guarantors on the Clearinghouse web site. The Clearinghouse web site may be accessed through MyHub.

It is important to continue to make payments on your loan until your loan is deferred. If you have further questions about deferment, please contact your loan servicer. To find out who your loan servicer is, log on to the Federal Student Aid website.