Federal Financial Aid Resources

The U.S. Department of Education provides financial aid resources for students meeting the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Degree seeking
  • Good academic standing
  • No defaulted student loans

Resources are available in the form of loans and work study.

Federal Resources Available

Stafford Loans

  • Subsidized: No interest while in school or during six- month grace period.
  • Unsubsidized: Interest rate is 6.8% after July 1, 2006.

Authorized under the Higher Education Act (HEA) by the U.S. Department of Education, the School-as-Lender program allows you to choose The Chicago School to be the lender for your graduate Stafford Loans. While The Chicago School will originate your loan, all loan servicing will be provided by Citibank.

Click to view the Chicago School-as-Lender Promissary Note.
School-as-Lender FAQ

The Chicago School will process your graduate loan with any lender of your choice. If you choose a lender other than The Chicago School you need to send an e-mail to finaid@thechicagoschool.edu to notify us of your choice.

How to Apply for Federal Financial Aid
Financial Aid Deadline

Federal Work Study

The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to each student’s course of study.

Click here to learn more.

Federal GraduatePLUS Loan

If you require additional funds to help finance your education, The  Chicago School encourages students to apply for a GraduatePLUS Loan (GradPLUS) from the lender of your choice.

GraduatePLUS Loan FAQ

The Chicago School has an optional lender list for the Federal GradPLUS loan. In compiling this list, the school focused on lenders that we thought provided the best benefits for students such as governmental secured interest rates, repayment rebates, zero to low origination fees, and zero to low default fees.

You can select a lender from our list or any lender of your choice. If you opt to use a different lender or know of another lender with better repayment benefits, please contact The Chicago School financial aid office at finaid@thechicagoschool.edu.

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Financial Aid Contacts

Financial Aid Advisor
Leticia Chavez

Financial Aid Advisor
Carrie Cruz

Director of Financial Aid
Lytashia Grove

General Inquiries

312.329.6606
Send an email

Admission Contacts

Chicago & Grayslake, IL

Director of Admission
Yareli Meza

Director of Admission Operations
Meghan Connolly

Assistant Directors of Admission
Won Kim
Pari Pinyo
Ben Rottschafer

Admission Counselors
Tim Finklea 
Laura Chavez

Operations Assistants
Anna Hickner


Los Angeles, California

Director of Enrollment Services,
Los Angeles Campus

Heather La Belle

Associate Director,
Los Angeles Campus
Joe Romero

Admission Counselor,
Los Angeles Campus
Jay Burke

General Inquiries
800.721.8072
Send an email to the Admission Office.