Financial Aid

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the first step in the financial aid process for both federal programs (Pell Grant, Direct Loans, Parent PLUS Loans) and state programs. The personal and financial information reported on the FAFSA is how a student’s eligibility is determined for all aid, including grants, student loans and work-study positions. It is recommended that students complete the FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/ROLES for the quickest possible processing​. 

DCAD’s Federal School CODE is 041398 

Income Adjustment 

Please contact the Financial Aid Department. [email protected]

Federal Work Study

Students work 5 to 15 hours per week, are paid and receive paychecks on the 15th and 30th of each month. Positions include: office assistants, lab monitors, student ambassadors, tutors, instructor aides, reading assistants, etc. Students also have been placed at various off-campus sites within walking distance of DCAD, including Christina Cultural Arts Center and The Delaware Contemporary.

Current Work Study employment opportunities:

• Student Services Assistant
• Library Assistant
• 3D Lab Monitor
• Fine Arts Assistant
• Assistant at The Delaware Contemporary 
• Admissions and Marketing Ambassador

State Vocational Rehabilitation (V-R) Offices

The Financial Aid Office works with government agencies such as State Vocational Rehabilitation Offices, for students with documented disabilities seeking various recuperative educational grants. Students should check with their state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Offices for V-R details and to determine eligibility for V-R grants.

Veterans Benefits

DCAD also works closely with students who are or have served in the military i.e. active duty, veterans, and/or dependents, to secure military educational benefits.

Veterans who need information regarding their benefits need to log on to the VA website  at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ and follow the prompts to Education Benefits. This website will provide Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607 eligibility requirements 

VA Benefit Resources:
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

5 Must Know GI Bill Facts
https://www.military.com/education/gi-bill/5-must-know-gi-bill-facts.html?ESRC=education.nl

GI Comparison Tool
https://www.va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool/

Federal student loans available to all undergraduate students. A student may borrow up to $3,500 in Subsidized Stafford Loans for the freshman year and $4,500 for the sophomore year; students may receive up to an additional $2,000 per year in Unsubsidized Stafford Loan monies.
With a Subsidized Stafford Loan, no interest is accrued while the student is enrolled at least half-time in college. With an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, interest does accrue while a student is enrolled at least half-time in college.
Independent students and those whose parents’ PLUS Loan was denied are also eligible for an additional $4,000 per year in Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

Federal Plus Loan

PLUS Loans are federally-funded and available to working parents who have good credit.
Parents must complete and return a PLUS Pre-approved Form to the Financial Aid Office to have their credit checked. Once credit is approved, parents can complete a promissory note for any amount up to the student’s total cost of attendance for an academic year as determined by their school’s financial aid office and less any other financial aid the student may be receiving before applying for a PLUS Loan. A parent may defer making payments while their student is enrolled at least half-time. https://studentaid.gov/app/launchPLUS.action?plusType=parentPlus

Private Education Loans

DCAD’s preferred lenders listing is available at the link below:

https://choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/4139800

DCAD Tuition Payment Plan

DCAD makes it as easy as possible to pay your yearly tuition. All payments are due by the College’s published dates, unless students choose to participate in our payment plan.
For those who choose to take advantage of the monthly payment plan, payments begin August 1 for the academic year and are subject to a $25 fee per semester. Students interested in the payment plan should call the Bursar’s Office at 302.622.8867 ext. 218 for more information.

Grants are considered “gift aid” and do not have to be repaid.

Federal Pell Grants

Funds received through this program depend on a student’s financial need (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education) and the cost of attendance associated with DCAD. 

• Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, matriculate into an undergraduate program of study and demonstrates financial need. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are ineligible for this grant.  
• Apply: Complete the FAFSA. Visit the https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/ROLES  for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints on navigating this process. 

Please add this for the Federal Aid link  https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/ROLES 

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

Funds received through this program depend on a student’s financial need (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education), and other financial aid packaged the student’s account. FSEOG funds are disbursed by the school. 

• Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, matriculate into an undergraduate program of study and demonstrates financial need. Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are ineligible for this grant.   
• Apply: Complete the FAFSA. Visit https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/ROLES for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints on navigating this process. 

State Grants

Most states offer grant programs to their residents, however, some states do not permit grant eligibility to residents who study out-of-state. Each state has its own guidelines, application deadlines, and eligibility criteria. Students should contact the Higher Education Agency in their home state for details. A FAFSA must be completed.

Residents for Delaware: 

Visit: https://www.doe.k12.de.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1953 

Residents of Pennsylvania: 

Visit: https://www.pheaa.org/grants/state-grant-program/apply-renew.shtml 

DCAD Need-Based Grant

DCAD awards grants to students who demonstrate need based upon the information reported on their FAFSA. A FAFSA must be completed. However, if financial circumstances change, contact the DCAD Financial Aid Office to discuss the situation. Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained to continue receiving a DCAD Need-Based Grant.

DCAD Merit-Based Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded based on an applicant’s’ academic and artistic skill at the time of acceptance to the college. The maximum DCAD Merit-Based Scholarship given is $13,000.
Merit-Based Scholarships are renewable for the second year for students who maintain full-time status and satisfactory academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.0). The deadline to be considered for a Merit-Based Scholarship is March 15th for the fall semester.

Other Scholarships Resources

DCAD students have access to Scholly – Students can download the Scholly app to search from thousands of Outside Scholarship opportunities. Enrolled students can also access the website at app.myscholly.com/register directly from a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Contact Financial Aid at [email protected] for your Scholly access code.

DCAD has partnered with The Woman’s Opportunities Resource Center in Philadelphia to give $3,000 to DCAD students who are currently working and able to save $1,000 over a six month period. Contact Financial Aid at [email protected] for the program requirements.

• www.finaid.org
• www.fastweb.com
• www.scholarships.com
• For Delaware Residents:
  http://scholarships.delawarestudentsuccess.org/
• For New Castle County Delaware: https://www.newcastlede.gov/1870/College-Scholarship http://rotarywilmington.org/scholarship/ 
• The Callaro and Cleary Visual Arts Scholarship: http://www.ccartfoundation.org/scholarshipOpps.html 
• The Dominguez Firm Collegiate Scholarship Award:  https://dominguezfirm.com/scholarships
• Stuart B. Young Scholarship – awarded to students that demonstrate exceptional academic success. Please contact Financial Aid at [email protected] for the scholarship requirements.

A student’s overall academic progress is the standard by which progress towards a degree is measured. Each student’s academic standing is determined at the end of each semester on the basis of attempted credits and cumulative grade point average. In compliance with CFR 668.16 (e), to continue receiving financial aid, a student must make minimum satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the program of study in accordance with Title IV regulations and DCAD policies as follows:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
• Complete at least 67% of all attempted credits
• Maximum Time Frame – 150% Rule. A student must complete the highest degree being sought within 150% of the published length of their program. For example, a student who enrolls full-time in a program that requires 4 semesters to complete at DCAD, may receive financial aid for six semesters or 150%-time frame. If a student enrolls part-time; the financial aid office prorates the maximum time frame accordingly.

SAP Probation

If a student does not meet all of the above the Financial Aid SAP standards at the end of each semester, the student will be given one probationary semester. A student may continue to receive financial aid for one semester while on SAP probation. A student who fails to remove themselves from probation after one semester will be subject to academic dismissal.

• During SAP Probation, it is highly recommended that students plan ahead and work with an advisor to correct deficiencies.

SAP Dismissal

No aid will be granted once a student’s eligibility is suspended, including but not limited to federal, state and institutional aid.

SAP Appeal

A student whose aid is suspended may request reinstatement through the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The student must effectively demonstrate that the failure to meet SAP was due to an unusual or extenuating circumstance and explain what has changed.

Repeat Courses

Regulations permit students to retake any previously passed course only one time. If you are in the second retake (third enrollment) of a previously passed course, financial aid does not count that class in your enrollment for the term and could be adjusted to reflect the lower enrollment. “Passed” means a course grade of “C” or better.

Refund Policy for Title IV Financial Aid Recipients

Return of Title IV Funds Calculation for Withdrawals Federal Financial Aid Awards are based on the assumption that the student will complete the entire term for which the award is processed. If a student withdraws during a term, federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to apply a formula established by the U.S. Department of Education to determine the amount of federal financial aid earned as of the official withdrawal date from Delaware College of Art and Design. The amount of federal financial aid earned is determined by the percentage of time spent in academic attendance and has no relationship to the institutional charges you may have incurred. Once 60% of the semester has passed, you have earned 100% of the federal financial aid awarded to you. Title IV funds that are considered for the calculation include, Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) and PLUS Loans (Parent PLUS).