Step 1 - Student Financial Aid and Award Information

Read and respond to the following regarding your Financial Aid Offer.

What does a financial aid offer include?

Your financial aid offer includes, for your period of enrollment as a degree-seeking student at Carroll College items such as:

  1. Your Direct Cost, at Carroll, this includes tuition, fixed fees and housing & food. For 2024-2025, the estimated Direct Cost is $53,032. All students are originally packaged to this amount. 
  2. The amount and types of financial aid for which you are eligible.

What is the Cost of Attendance?

Your estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) for the 2024-2025 academic year is $57,204 which includes the following:

  • Full-time Tuition - $40,132
  • Housing & Food - $11,548
  • Fixed Fees - $1,352
  • Books & Supplies Allowance - $800
  • Transportation Allowance - $1,400
  • Personal Expense Allowance - $1,900
  • Loan Fees $72

Is my aid renewable?

Federal financial aid is renewed based upon the results of a yearly FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) submission prior to our February 1st deadline.  If your FAFSA results change, your federal aid eligibility may change.  In general, if your income, assets and household size stay relatively the same, your FAFSA results should also stay relatively the same; therefore, your federal aid and Carroll College need-based aid would also stay relatively the same.  Carroll has an Institutional Need-Based Gift Aid Guarantee.  For more information view the Need-Based Gift Aid Guarantee Policy.

Carroll College merit scholarships are intended to cover your four year degree at Carroll.  Merit awards are limited to four (4) years of study.  Institutional activity and athletic awards are based on your continued involvement in these programs and awards are renewed based on department head or coach approval.  Most major and academic related scholarships and grants are limited to your four year degree at Carroll.  Students must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits each semester), and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as outlined in the Carroll catalog in order to retain institutional aid.  Satisfactory Academic Progress standards also apply to federal aid.

How do you determine my financial aid package?

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is the amount determined by Federal calculations that your family can contribute toward your Cost of Attendance during the enrollment period. This amount is calculated through needs analysis using the information you submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your SAI can be found on the Student Aid Report (SAR), which details your FAFSA results. Your Demonstrated Financial Need is the Cost of Attendance minus the SAI. This amount determines the types and amount of Federal and institutional financial aid for which you may be eligible.

Financial aid, excluding Federal Work-Study, is credited to your student account at the beginning of each semester.

Federal Work-study funds are paid directly to the student each month for the hours worked.

What if I am offered Federal Work-Study?

The Federal Work-Study Program allows you to obtain a Work-Study job, usually on-campus, for 10 hours per week. If you are offered Work-Study and do not wish to accept this offer, reject the offer on the your financial aid offer. If your package includes Federal Work-Study and you accepted the offer please read the Work-Study Guidelines. The Federal Work-Study Aid Offer is paid monthly based on actual hours worked. Work-Study is not deducted from the billing statement.  View a list of work-study positions.

What if I have questions regarding my Financial Aid?

If you need general information regarding financial aid, please select of the following link:

This document contains general information regarding Financial Aid at Carroll College. If you still have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 1-800-992-3648, ext. 5425.

What if the information on my aid offer is inaccurate?

Your offer is based on factors as indicated on the FAFSA you completed. Unless otherwise indicated, it has been assumed that you will be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours (full-time at Carroll) for fall and spring terms. If this assumption is not correct or if you find other inaccurate information, please notify our office immediately. Part-time students may not be eligible for need-based Carroll aid and merit awards.

How will I receive my loan funds?

Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loans are transferred through an electronic funds transfer (EFT) process where your proceeds are sent to the college and deposited directly into your student account and credited to your outstanding fees. Any credit balance remaining will be available for you to pick up in the Business Office beginning the second Friday after classes start.

What will my bill be?

Your Carroll College bill will depend on the number of credits for which you enroll, the types of classes in which you enroll, and your selected housing & food plan. You will receive a bill each term based on that particular term's charges. Questions about your bill and/or payment plans should be directed to the Business Office. Direct costs billed to the student include but are not limited to tuition, fixed fees, course/lab fees, housing/food, health insurance, and incidental fees. Additional personal/transportation/book expenses and loan fees are estimated at $4,172 for the year but can vary from student to student and are not billed to the student.  A listing of all course fees is available on the academics page in the Class Schedule section.

What if my financial aid does not cover my bill?

You must pay any tuition, fees, housing or food charges not covered by your financial aid, by the payment deadline. Payment arrangements can be made with the Business Office for charges not covered by financial aid.  Find out more about payment plans.

Disbursement for Books and Supplies (Return of Credit Balances)

Students who receive loans, grants, or scholarships that are greater than the cost of tuition, fees, and housing and meals receive a refund within two weeks after the funds are applied.  Students with a credit balance will be offered a book voucher prior to the first day of class for up to $800 per term to use through the on-line Carroll book vendor.  Questions regarding processing of refund checks should be directed to the Business Office at (406) 447-5547.  Questions regarding book vouchers should be directed to the Carroll Bookstore at (406) 447-5418.

What if my Financial Aid is more than my bill?

If your Federal Financial Aid is more than your costs for tuition, fees, housing and food you will receive these funds to help with living expenses. If there are any funds remaining after the institutional charges are applied, a refund will be available for pick up at the Business Office.

If you live off-campus, you may not receive Carroll Institutional Aid in excess of charged tuition and fees. If you live on-campus, you may not receive Carroll aid in excess of charged tuition, fees and actual housing and meal charges.

The Business Office will begin issuing checks AFTER the start of classes each term. Questions regarding processing of refund checks should be directed to the Business Office at (406) 447-5547.

What is satisfactory academic progress?

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the minimum standards you must maintain to continue receiving financial aid funding.  You are responsible for reading and understanding this policy. Additional questions are answered on the SAP Academic Process Policy.

What if I receive resources from an outside source after I am packaged and it is not listed on my financial aid offer?

Any outside educational funding must be reported to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. Prompt reporting of additional funding could prevent having to repay a portion of your federal financial aid. Private scholarships, when received, are applied one-half to each semester, unless the donor specifies differently.

Will my offer ever change?

Your offer may be affected by many factors, including changes in Federal, State, or institutional regulations, or the number of credits for which you enroll.

If you choose to live off-campus or are granted permission to live off-campus, the following aid may be impacted:

  • Merit Scholarships for students entering Carroll fall of 2019 forward (Bishop Carroll, Presidential, Trustee, All Saints, Founders)-will be reduced by $4,000 a year ($2,000 term) if off-campus
  • Carroll requires on-campus residence living for the first three years
  • Roy F. Simperman Butte Central Scholarship-will be cancelled if off-campus or residing in apartments
  • Roy F. Simperman Parker School Scholarship-will be cancelled if off-campus or residing in apartments
  • Montana Catholic Room Grant-will be cancelled if not residing in Guadalupe, St. Charles or Borromeo Halls
  • Bishop Gorman Catholic Room Grant-will be cancelled if not residing in Guadalupe, St. Charles or Borromeo Halls  
  • Catholic Room Grant-will be cancelled if not residing in Guadalupe, St. Charles or Borromeo Halls 

If you choose to live at home with parents your room and board allowance will be adjusted to $2,442 for the year ($1,221 a semester) and your aid may be revised.

Carroll College merit scholarships, awards and need-based grants are often funded through the generosity of alumni and friends of the college.  You may be notified in the fall of a specific donor's name and then be requested to write a thank you letter to the donor. 

A student may not receive financial aid to repeat a class more than one time.  Financial aid is also not available for audit courses.

If additional Carroll need-based aid, for example athletic aid, is received after the initial aid offer, need-based Carroll grants may be reduced.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study).

The Office of Financial Aid will notify you of any changes to your offer by sending you a revised aid offer notification. Revised offers can be viewed on the Carroll College portal.

What if my Financial Aid situation changes dramatically during the year?

Special Circumstances

Carroll College understands that students and their families may at times experience unique situations.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may no longer reflect the current financial situation.  Section 479A of the Higher Education Act Provides institutions with authority to adjust , on a case-by-case basis and with appropriate documentation, reported data elements or cost of attendance components.  This is known as a special conditions appeal.  Appeals can be considered after an eligible FAFSA has been filed.

Special Circumstances are financial.  Adjusting certain data elements can change your student aid index (SAI) or cost of attendance.
 Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Changes in employment (income change or loss and/or assets).
  • Changes in living situation (divorce or separation for example).
  • Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance.
  • Child or dependent care.
  • Computer purchase.
  • Housing change.
  • Study Abroad.
  • Other items that impact the student's ability to pay for college.

Special Conditions DO NOT include but are not limited to:

  • consumer debt,
  • family living expenses,
  • a parent's unwillingness to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan,
  • a different university\college offering more aid.

An appeal form is available on our forms bank.  If you feel you have special circumstances as described above, please reach out to the financial aid office and discuss your situation with a counselor.  Additional information or documentation will be required.  Appeals may result in an increase in higher education loan eligibility.  A timely response to a submitted appeal will be sent to the student.

Unusual Circumstances

Carroll College understands that students and their families may at times experience unique situations.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may no longer reflect current dependency status.  Section 479A of the Higher Education Act provides institutions with authority to adjust, on a case-by-case basis and with appropriate documentation, a student status.  This category is known as unusual circumstances.  Appeals can be considered after an eligible FAFSA has been filed.  

Unusual Circumstances are those conditions that support a change to the student's dependency status.
Examples include but not limited to:

  • Parent abandonment or estrangement.
  • Physical or mentally abusive family environment.
  • Human trafficking.
  • Refugee/asylee status.

Unusual circumstances DO NOT include but are not limited to:

  • parental refusal to contribute or be a contributor to the student's education,
  • parental refusal to provide information for the FAFSA or where the parent(s) do not claim the student as a 'dependent' for IRS tax purposes,
  • a parent's unwillingness to borrow a Federal Direct PLUS Loan,
  • a different university/college offering more aid.

An appeal process is available by request only and after you have spoken with the financial aid office.  If you feel you have special or unusual circumstances as described above, please reach out to the financial aid office, and discuss your situation with a counselor.  Additional information or documentation will be required unless a previous appeal has been completed.  A timely response to a submitted appeal will be sent to the student.
 

Consumer Information

Notice of availability of institutional and financial aid information is located on our Consumer Information Directory.

Information in the directory will include statistics similar to the following:

  • Graduation Rate- Percentage of full-time students who graduate within 6 years is 68% at Carroll College, which compares favorably to the national average and much higher than public institutions.
  • Loan Default Rate- Percentage of borrowers entering repayment and defaulting on their loan is only 1.3% which compares to the National Average of 7.3%.
  • Median Borrowing- Students at Carroll College typically borrow $23,308 in Federal loans over 4 years.  The federal loan payment over 10 years for this amount is approximately $240 per month.  Your borrowing may be different.
  • Grant Aid- The percent of full-time, first-time students that receive grant aid is 70%.
  • Repaying Your Loans - To learn about loan repayment choices and to work out your Federal Loan monthly payment, visit the Federal Student Aid Repayment Estimator.

I HAVE READ AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE INFORMATION

YES

NOTE: You must answer YES to the above question to continue to Step 2 of your Financial Aid Aid Offer. By clicking YES, you confirm you have read and completely understand the information and will be redirected to your Self-Service account.

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