Phase 1
Before You Apply
1
Confirm Your Eligibility
Make sure you meet the basic federal requirements to receive financial aid at AVI Career Training.
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To qualify for federal financial aid at AVI Career Training you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Be enrolled or accepted into an eligible AVI program (Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy, and others — ask our team for the current list)
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Not be in default on any federal student loan
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) once enrolled
- Register with Selective Service (if required)
Not sure? Contact our Financial Aid office — we'll help you confirm eligibility before you invest time in paperwork.
2
Create Your FSA ID
Your Federal Student Aid ID is your digital signature for all federal financial aid applications.
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- Go to studentaid.gov and create your FSA ID using your Social Security number
- Use an email address you check regularly — important aid notices will be sent there
- Parents of dependent students must create their own separate FSA ID
- Allow 1–3 days for your FSA ID to be fully verified before using it to sign your FAFSA
Important: Never share your FSA ID with anyone — not even our Financial Aid staff. It is your legal electronic signature.
3
Estimate Your Aid with Our Net Price Calculators
Get an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before completing your FAFSA.
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AVI Career Training offers two net price calculators to help you estimate your cost of attendance and expected aid:
- Esthetics Net Price Calculator — for Basic Esthetics, Master Esthetics, and related programs
- Cosmetology Net Price Calculator — for the 1,000-hour Cosmetology program
Note: These are estimates only. Your actual aid package will be determined after your FAFSA is processed and reviewed by our Financial Aid Director.
Phase 2
Complete Your FAFSA
4
File Your FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the gateway to all federal grants, loans, and work-study programs.
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Go to fafsa.gov and complete your application. You will need:
- Your FSA ID (created in Step 2)
- Your Social Security number
- Federal tax return or IRS Data Retrieval Tool (recommended)
- Records of untaxed income (child support, veteran benefits, etc.)
- Bank statements and records of investments
- AVI Career Training’s Federal School Code — contact us at admissions@avi.edu for our current code
File early! Some grant funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The FAFSA opens October 1 for the following academic year.
5
Review Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
After submitting your FAFSA, you'll receive a Student Aid Report summarizing your information and Student Aid Index (SAI).
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- Check your email (and spam folder) for your SAR — it arrives 3–5 days after FAFSA submission
- Review every section for accuracy — errors can delay your aid
- Note your Student Aid Index (SAI) — a lower number generally means more grant eligibility
- If you need to make corrections, log back in to fafsa.gov
- Forward a copy of your SAR to admissions@avi.edu to begin your AVI financial aid review
Selected for Verification? If your SAR says "Selected for Verification," proceed to Step 6 before your aid can be finalized.
Phase 3
Verification & Special Circumstances
6
Submit Verification Documents (if selected)
The Department of Education randomly selects some students for verification. If selected, you must submit additional documents before aid is awarded.
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Being selected for verification is common and does not mean anything is wrong. You may be asked to provide:
- Signed copies of your (and parent's, if dependent) federal tax transcripts or IRS Tax Return Transcript
- Verification worksheet (provided by our Financial Aid office)
- Proof of identity and high school completion
- Documentation of untaxed income
Submit all documents to our Financial Aid office at admissions@avi.edu or bring originals in person.
No aid until complete: Your financial aid package cannot be finalized until verification is successfully completed. Respond promptly to any requests.
7
Request Professional Judgment (if needed)
If your financial situation has changed significantly since filing your FAFSA — job loss, divorce, medical expenses — our Financial Aid Director can review your case.
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Professional Judgment allows our Financial Aid Director to adjust your federal need analysis for circumstances not reflected in the FAFSA. Qualifying situations include:
- Loss of employment (student, parent, or spouse)
- Death or divorce of a parent or spouse
- Extraordinary medical expenses
- Dependency overrides
- Computer purchase for educational use
- Other significant financial changes
Read the full requirements on our Professional Judgment Policy page before submitting your request.
Required: All PJ requests need a signed letter from you, supporting documentation, a valid SAR, and a federal tax transcript.
Phase 4
Review & Accept Your Award
8
View & Accept Your Financial Aid Award
Once your FAFSA is processed and any verification is complete, AVI Career Training will prepare your financial aid award package.
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Your award letter will list all aid you are eligible to receive, including:
- Federal Pell Grant — free money based on financial need; does not need to be repaid
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan — interest-free while enrolled at least half-time
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan — available regardless of financial need
- WIOA Funding — workforce investment aid for eligible students
- Any other grants or institutional aid you qualify for
Review each award type carefully. You do not have to accept all of your loans — only borrow what you need.
Accept grants first. Pell Grants never need to be repaid. Only accept loan amounts you truly need after grants and other aid are applied.
9
Complete Loan Entrance Counseling & Sign Your MPN
If you accept any federal loans, you must complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before funds are disbursed.
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Both steps are completed at studentaid.gov using your FSA ID:
- Entrance Counseling — a required online session (about 30 minutes) that explains your rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower
- Master Promissory Note (MPN) — a binding legal agreement to repay your loan; your signature covers all Direct Loans at AVI for up to 10 years
- Parent PLUS Loan borrowers must complete a separate MPN and credit check at studentaid.gov
Nothing disbursed until both are done. Loan funds will not be released until both entrance counseling AND the MPN are on file.
10
Confirm Your Enrollment & Await Disbursement
Once all steps above are complete, confirm your enrollment start date with AVI and your aid will be disbursed according to our payment schedule.
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- Contact AVI Career Training at admissions@avi.edu or (571) 491-4634 to confirm your enrollment start date
- Aid is typically disbursed within 30 days of the start of enrollment once all requirements are met
- Any remaining balance after tuition and fees are paid will be refunded to you
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) throughout your program to keep your aid
Veterans: GI Bill® and other military benefits require separate certification through our School Certifying Official. Visit our Veterans page for details.
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Veterans & Military Students
GI Bill®, Post-9/11 GI Bill, DoD Tuition Assistance, and dependent benefits are available at AVI Career Training alongside Title IV aid. The financial aid process for veterans runs parallel to — not instead of — the FAFSA process.
Learn About Veterans Benefits →
Common Questions
Financial Aid FAQs
How long does the financial aid process take?
From filing your FAFSA to your first disbursement typically takes 4–8 weeks if all documents are submitted promptly. Apply and complete your checklist as early as possible — ideally 6–8 weeks before your intended start date.
What is a Pell Grant and do I have to pay it back?
A Federal Pell Grant is free money based on financial need — it never has to be repaid. Eligibility is determined by your FAFSA results and enrollment status. For the 2024–2025 award year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395.
Can I receive financial aid if I already have a college degree?
Yes — having a prior degree does not disqualify you from most federal aid at a vocational school. Pell Grant and loan eligibility are based on your current FAFSA results and enrollment, not whether you have a previous degree.
What is WIOA funding and how do I apply?
WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) is a federal workforce program that can cover tuition for eligible students. Eligibility is determined through your local American Job Center (formerly One-Stop). Contact us at admissions@avi.edu and we'll help connect you with the right resources.
My financial situation changed after I filed my FAFSA. What can I do?
You may be eligible for a Professional Judgment review. Our Financial Aid Director can adjust your need analysis to account for job loss, divorce, medical expenses, and other significant changes. Review our Professional Judgment Policy for details and required documentation.
How do I check my financial aid status?
Contact our Financial Aid office directly at admissions@avi.edu or call (571) 491-4634. Our team can update you on your application status, missing documents, and award details.
Need Help?
Contact Financial Aid
Our Financial Aid team is here Monday through Friday. Whether you have a question about your FAFSA, need to submit documents, or want to discuss your award package — we're ready to help.
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