Financial Aid

The unsubsidized and Grad PLUS loans are available to those students in the Master of Acupuncture program who qualify. The process begins by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is located at https://studentaid.gov/.

Please remember when you file your form to enter the Academy’s school code, which is: 041335.

Students qualify for up to $20,500 in unsubsidized loans per loan period, which can be used to cover the cost of tuition. Unsubsidized means loans accrue interest from the day they are disbursed. Interest rates are set by Congress each May, and are based on the latest 10-year Treasury rate. Therefore, interest rates can go up or down, and the new rate takes effect with the new FAFSA year (starting July 1st).

The Grad PLUS loan is provided in addition to the unsubsidized loan. This loan is credit based, and the amount available varies based on the cost of tuition per loan period. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/grad/landing.

The Academy’s program is approved for veterans’ educational benefits by the State Approving Agency. The first step to using VA education benefits is to contact the VA at 1-888-GIBILL1 to see what specific benefits are available to you – the VA is the sole determiner of benefits.

• For any student using US Department of Veterans Affairs or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits, while VA payment is pending, the Academy will not:
• prevent the student’s enrollment
• assess a late penalty fee to the student
• require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
• deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills the Academy

However, to qualify for this provision, the student may be required to:

• produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
• provide a written request to be certified
• provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code § 3679 subsection (e), and effective August 1, 2019, this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veterans Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. Within 90 days of the date when the school certifies the student’s tuition and fees, following receipt of the student’s VA Certificate of Eligibility, this school will not: “Honoring those who served U.S.” Page 2 Prevent the student’s enrollment; Assess a late penalty fee to the student; Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding; Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution. However, to qualify for this provision, students will be required to: Provide the College with: A copy of his/her VA Certification of Eligibility (COE) – A “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website; eBenefits; OR An approval letter for chapter 31 benefits, such as a VAF 28-1905 form.

If a student receiving federal financial aid withdraws from the Master of Acupuncture program, the school is required to calculate the amount of federal loan money that must be returned to the government in accordance with Title IV federal regulations. The amount returned will depend on the amount dispersed to the student, the number of didactic days in the loan period and the student’s official withdrawal date. The official withdrawal date is the date upon which the Academy receives written notice or provides written notice to the student.

Students may accrue balances due to the Academy after federal monies have been returned to the government. Students are responsible for any balance owed to the Academy.