As of November 1, 2006, the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies participates in the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs, administered through the U.S. Department of Education. There are many financing options available to students through FSA once they have been accepted into the school.

Masters students
To qualify for Federal Student Aid you must be enrolled as at least a one half-time student. Graduate students may qualify for subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, Grad PLUS loans and alternative loans.

Full-time enrollment = 9 credits per semester
Half-time enrollment = 5 credits per semester

Certificate students
To qualify for Federal Student Aid you must be enrolled as at least a one half-time student. Certificate program students may qualify for Pell grants, subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, PLUS loans and alternative loans.

Full-time - students must complete 900 hours in twenty-six instructional weeks.
Half-time - students must complete 450 hour in twenty-six instructional weeks.

The first step to applying for any of these programs is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form can be accessed on line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Please click on the "Before you Begin" section and read through it to help you get organized.

To complete the FAFSA you will need:

• A completed Federal Tax return (FAFSA website will indicate which year)
• Your social security number
• Your drivers license number
• A current bank statement
• Current statements for all investment
• Hazelden's school number is 040443

(You will need the above listed information for both you and your parents if you are under the age of 23 and enrolled in the Certificate Program.)

You can sign your FAFSA on the Web electronically if you have a U.S. Department of Education PIN number. To request a PIN, a few days prior to completing the FAFSA go to http://www.pin.ed.gov/. The U.S. Department of Education will send you a PIN in the mail within a week.

Once you have completed, signed and submitted your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will send you and the Financial Aid Administrator a Student Aid Report (SAR) by email (or postal mail). The SAR will indicate your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). This is the amount you (or your parents) are expected to contribute to the cost of your education for the academic year. Upon receipt of the SAR, the Financial Aid Administrator will prepare an Award Letter that will outline what programs you are eligible for. The Award Letter from the Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) will indicate the type of aid and amounts of eligibility. You will be asked to accept or reject each component of aid offered.

All students are required to provide a copy of their signed 2006 Federal Tax Return, and W-2's related to the income reported on the federal tax return.  On your award letter you will be asked to provide additional information that will be used to verify the information provided on the FAFSA.  Please send this information along with a completed, signed copy of your award letter to:

Dixie Christensen, Federal Aid Administrator
Hazelden Foundation, RW5
15251 Pleasant Valley Road, PO Box 11
Center City, MN 55012

You will be directed to Hazelden's Guaranty Agency Web site. On this Web site you will be directed to complete the Entrance Counseling module, which is required by Federal law, and will walk you through the responsibilities associated with taking out an educational loan. Once completed, you will be directed to electronically sign a Master Promissory Note. You will also be asked to select a lender with whom you wish to work. After verification is completed, the FAA will then certify the amount of the loan and notify you of the disbursal schedule via email. If you have questions on Federal Loans, please contact Dixie Christensen at DChristensen@hazelden.org or 651-213-4014.

If you have additional financial need after all grants and Federal loans are used, the parents of undergraduates can apply for a Plus loan and graduate students can apply for a Grad Plus loan.

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