Financial Aid & Scholarships

Established by private lenders to supplement the student and parent education loan programs available from federal and state governments.

An official document issued by AMDA's Financial Aid Office that lists all of the financial aid awarded to the student. This letter details awards by type, amount and sources. The letter may also include a student payment plan, if applicable.

State funded; California offers a grant to eligible students who are California residents and attending AMDA College of the Performing Arts. The state determines the criteria for eligibility and award amounts. Must file the FAFSA prior to March 1.

The total amount it should cost a student to attend school. These include not only direct charges like tuition and fees and housing, but also allowances for living expenses such as transportation, books and supplies, and personal incidentals.

The release of grant or loan funds to a student's account. Any monies received in excess of student charges are then paid to the student or parent borrower in the case of loans.

The SAI will replace the EFC starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA as the eligibility index used to determine your eligibility for federal, and in some instances, state and institutional need-based student financial aid. Generally, students with a higher EFC are eligible for less need-based financial aid. It is based upon the information provided by the student and their family on the FAFSA.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. For more information visit the Department of Education FERPA page.

With a subsidized loan the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school, during the six-month grace period and during any deferment periods. Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need.

A loan for which the government does not pay the interest. The borrower is responsible for the interest on an unsubsidized loan from the date the loan is disbursed, even while the student is still in school. Students may avoid paying the interest while they are in school by capitalizing the interest, which increases the loan amount. Unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need.

Federal and institution-funded, school-administered, need-based grant program available to Pell-eligible students.

Assistance provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student's education. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work).

Form used to apply for Pell Grants and all other need-based aid. As the name suggests, no fee is charged to file a FAFSA.

An FSA ID is comprised of a username and password and can be used to login to certain Federal Student Aid websites, such as the FAFSA. If you are a parent and need to electronically sign your child's FAFSA, you need your own FSA ID.

An independent student is at least 24 years old as of January 1 of the award year, is married, is a graduate student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or is an orphan or ward of the court in his/her legal state of residence. A parent refusing to provide support for their child's education is not sufficient for the child to be declared independent.

The binding legal document that must be signed by the student borrower before loan funds are disbursed by the lender. The promissory note states the terms and conditions of the loan, including repayment schedule, interest rate, deferment policy and cancellations. The student should keep this document until the loan has been repaid.

Federal loans available to parents of dependent undergraduate students to help finance the child's education. For loans prior to 7/1/26, parents may borrow up to the full cost of their children's education, less the amount of any other financial aid received. For loans disbursed after 7/1/26, the maximum loan amount per academic year is $20,000 and the aggregate (lifetime) limit is $65,000 per dependent child. There is a minimal credit check required for the PLUS loan, so a good credit history is required. If your application for a PLUS loan is turned down, your child may be eligible to borrow additional money under the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan program.

A federal grant that provides funds based on the student's financial need.

An internal AMDA form that indicates who would pay any balance due, whether it is remaining after financial aid or should financial aid not come through.

Verification is a review process in which the Financial Aid Office determines the accuracy of the information provided on the student's financial aid application. During the verification process, the student and parent will be required to submit documentation for the amounts listed (or not listed) on the financial aid application. Such documentation may include signed copies of the most recent Federal and State Income Tax Returns for you, your spouse (if any) and your parents; proof of citizenship; proof of registration with Selective Service; and copies of Social Security benefit statements and W2 and 1099 forms, among other things. If any discrepancies are uncovered during verification, the Financial Aid Office may require additional information to clear up the discrepancies. Such discrepancies may cause your final financial aid package to be different from the initial package described on the award letter you received from the school. If you refuse to submit the required documentation, your financial aid package will be canceled and no aid awarded.