Applying for Aid

Graduate Programs

To be eligible for financial aid, students need to be admitted and enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate educational program or approved certificate program. The Office of Graduate Admission will advise the Office of Financial Aid when you have completed this process.

Students who have not been admitted into the University are considered guest students. Guest students are not eligible to receive Federal or State financial aid. Please be sure to contact Student Business Services to make other payment arrangements for any registered course(s).

Additionally:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security number. 
• For Concordia-Chicago to receive the results, you’ll need to enter our Federal School Code: 001666.
• You must complete the form every academic year to remain eligible for aid.
• You may be asked to submit additional documentation to our Office of Financial Aid to determine your financial aid eligibility. 
• You can view required documents by logging into Concordia Connect.
• It may take at least three business days for Concordia-Chicago to receive your completed FAFSA information.

The email notification will prompt you to view your financial aid award letter and any missing items through Concordia Connect. 

If you’re a returning student, you’ll receive an email at your Concordia-Chicago email address, notifying you when a new financial aid award is available for online review.

You’ll need to confirm your award or loan by accepting or declining the offered amount(s). All students must accept the terms and conditions online. To do so, follow these instructions:

1. Log in to https://connect.cuchicago.edu and click on “Billing/Financial Aid,” located on the left-hand side. This will take you to the Financial Aid page.
2. In the right-hand column, select “Financial Aid Awards” under “View My Financial Aid Awards.” Be sure to select the correct academic year. Then select the “Terms & Conditions” tab. 
3. Once you have thoroughly read and understand the information, click “Accept.” 
4. Now you can proceed to making award decisions. Select the “Accept Award Offer” tab, and accept or decline your aid offers.

Below you’ll find a few helpful tips, term definitions and some instructions on how to complete these requirements.

• Master Promissory Note (MPN): This is the borrower’s agreement to repay their Federal student loan under the terms and conditions of the loan. After logging in, select “Complete Master Promissory Note,” then choose “Subsidized/Unsubsidized.”
• Direct Loan Entrance Counseling: Borrowers who are new to Concordia-Chicago are required to complete entrance counseling in order to obtain a loan. This counseling session goes over your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. When you complete it, you’ll need to make sure Concordia-Chicago is listed as the school.
• To make sure that your student loan funds arrive in a timely manner, we strongly encourage you to submit all your required documents as soon as possible each academic year.
• Because your aid must be processed and posted to your student account while you are actively enrolled at least half-time, your financial aid file must be complete at least one week before the end of enrolled classes.
• If your file remains incomplete for any reason (including because you have not accepted an offered loan, you have not completed the Master Promissory Note or loan entrance counseling, or you are missing any other necessary documentation), your aid will not be able to post and you will have a balance due.
• Unpaid balances may result in a hold on your account, which keeps you from registering for additional classes and from receiving your transcripts or diploma.

Be aware of important financial aid dates.

Oct. 1: Students will be able to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 every year.

December 1: Students will be required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2024-25 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2022 income information, rather than their 2023 income information.

March 1: Financial aid packaging is underway. Accepted students with a completed FAFSA on file will receive an electronic Financial Aid Award/Loan Notification. Students can view, accept, and/or decline their financial awards by logging onto Concordia Connect.

April 1: Priority FAFSA Filing Date for graduate students for all types of aid

First bill due date: All financial aid documents, including loan requirements, must be complete by the bill due date, or the student is responsible to make payment arrangements with the Student Business Services Office.

Financial Aid Disbursement Dates: Your financial aid will disburse to your student account during each period of eligible enrollment. If you have a loan awarded for only one semester (fall-only or spring-only), it will post on two separate dates: one half of the awarded amount will post in the beginning of the term, and the remaining half will post after the midway point. For further information on Student Financial Aid Policies, choose the appropriate option below.

All missing financial aid documents and written requests for loan increases must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the end of your course(s) within a semester. Failure to meet the deadline may not allow your financial aid to be processed.

Graduate Students (PDF)

Expected 2024-2025 disbursement dates for graduate students:

Summer 2024: 5/28/2024* and 7/15/2024*

Fall 2024: 9/9/2024* and 11/4/2024*

Spring 2025: 1/20/2025* and 3/24/2025*

* Note: Students must meet all financial aid requirements and be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program to have funds disbursed. These dates are estimated and may vary based on the student's actual enrollment.

For more information, you can find us at:

Office of Financial Aid
Concordia University Chicago
7400 Augusta Street 
River Forest, IL 60305

Help line: 708-209-3113
Email: Financial.Aid@CUChicago.edu
Fax: 708-488-4102