General Questions

Q. What is the Cost of Attendance?
The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for a period of enrollment. Federal law dictates the types of expenses that can be included in the Cost of Attendance, which is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid. Federal regulations allow schools to set the allowances used for each type of cost and create a Cost of Attendance for different categories of students.

Estimated Full-Time Undergraduate Cost of Attendance 2009-2010
Your cost to attend Loyola Marymount University for 2009-2010 can be estimated using the chart below. Actual expenses for individual students will vary based on selected housing and meal plan costs, and additional expenses for books and supplies.  For a detailed list of actual tuition, fees, LMU housing and LMU meal plan charges visit www.lmu.edu/studentaccounts.

	Housing Status While Enrolled
	On Campus	Off Campus, Not with Parents or Relatives	With Parents or Relatives
Tuition and Fees	$35,378	$35,378	$35,378
Average Room & Board	$12,025	$11,290	$3,222
Average Books/Supplies/Misc. Expenses	$4,680	$5,415	$5,778
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance	$52,083	$52,083	$44,378

You can estimate what it will cost you to attend LMU by using the above chart and subtracting your financial aid award and all other resources available to you to meet college expenses.

Q. How do I accept my awards? 
You are required to accept or decline all financial aid offered to you on your PROWL account. 

Q. I have been selected for Federal Verification, now what?
Verification is a process used to verify certain information on the FAFSA to ensure its accuracy. Students are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education randomly. If you have been selected for verification for 2009-2010, and you are a dependent student, you must submit your 2008 federal taxes to the Financial Aid Office. If you were required to provide parent information on your 2009-2010 FAFSA, you must also submit a copy of your parent(s) 2008 tax return to the Financial Aid Office and a 2009-2010 Federal Dependent Verification Worksheet.  If you are an independent student, i.e. you were required to provide parent information on your 2009-2010 FAFSA, you 2009-2010 Federal Independent Verification Worksheet to the Financial Aid Office.


Q. What is Master Promissory Note (MPN) ?
The master promissory note is a document the student signs when borrowing a loan. When the student signs a master promissory note, a binding legal document, he/she promises to repay the student loan(s). The note also includes important language about rights and responsibilities as a borrower.

Q. How do I apply for the APLE Program?
The Assumption Program of Loans for Education (APLE) is a state-sponsored, competitive loan forgiveness program that assists qualified teachers in repayment of their undergraduate and graduate Federal Stafford Loan(s), up to $19,000, over the course of four years. 

Review the APLE eligibility information online.  If you believe you are a qualified teacher who meets the eligibility criteria, download an application, and submit it to the Financial Aid Office by the annual May 1^st deadline.  Please ensure that the form is completed and signed prior to submission, and that you select only one (1) qualified teaching area.  

Applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee based upon their cumulative GPAs and the rigor of coursework completed. 

After submitting your application, you may be contacted by the APLE selection committee to provide an additional Statement of Ambition that includes your career goals and any relevant personal and/or professional accomplishments.  The Statement of Ambition should be no more than two (2) pages, and must only be submitted if requested.

If you are nominated to be an APLE participant, you will receive a notification letter from the Financial Aid Office.  A financial aid counselor will complete the required section of your APLE application, and your application will be forwarded on to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for evaluation.  It may take up to six months before you receive communication from CSAC.  

It is the student's responsibility to follow-up with CSAC regarding acceptance and tracking, once their application has been forwarded to the commission by the Financial Aid Office.

If you continue to have questions after reviewing APLE's Frequently Asked Questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Q. If I am an employee at LMU, do I qualify for forgiveness of federal student loans?
Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a program for borrowers of federal student loans who work in a wide range of "public service" fields, including jobs in government and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.   In order to qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the borrower must be employed by an organization that is “exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).”  Although LMU is a non-profit organization, it is classified as a “public charity” under 170 (b) of the IRC and does not meet Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility guidelines.  LMU employees do not qualify for Public Service Loan forgiveness.  More information can be found online at http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp.