Parent and Family Guide

Students who are interested in grants, loans or federal work study must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students interested in applying for scholarships can apply for scholarships online. Some scholarships may require a FAFSA to be filed. Each scholarship will have its own specific eligibility requirements.

Financial aid representatives available. If you would like to set up an appointment to meet with a financial aid representative, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (630) 942-2251.

Yes, whether you claim your student on your Federal Tax Return will not impact your student’s status – as far as being considered independent or dependent. When a student completes their FAFSA, they will be considered independent only if they can answer “yes” to one of the following questions:

• Is the student age 24
• Is the student married, at time of application
• Does the student have children or legal dependents that he/she financially supports more than 50%
• Is the student currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, for other than training purposes
• Is a veteran of the U.S Armed Forces
• At any time since age 13, was the student in foster care or a dependent/ward of the court
• At any time since age 13, was the student an orphan
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence was the student an emancipated minor
• As determined by a court in your state of legal residence was the student placed in legal guardianship
• As determined by a high school homeless liaison was the student determined to be an unaccompanied homeless or at risk of being homeless
• As determined by a homeless shelter or transitional housing authority was the student determined to be an unaccompanied homeless or at risk of being homeless
• As determined by a runaway or homeless basic youth center or transitional living program was the student determined to be an unaccompanied homeless or at risk of being homeless

If a student is considered to be dependent, then the student must submit information in regards to their biological or adoptive parent. If a biological or adoptive parent is remarried –at time of application- then step-parent information would be submitted.

Everything is at time of application:

• If your current marital status is divorced at time of application – then only one parent’s information would be reported on the FAFSA, if you are not remarried. It would then be the parent that provided more than 50% of the student's support in the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA.
• If your current marital status is Married, but you are separated and living in separate residences at time of application – then only one parent’s information would be reported on the FAFSA. It would then be the parent that provided more than 50% of the student's support in the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA.

When the FAFSA is submitted, you are reporting your tax information as reported on your Federal Tax Return. If there has been a change in income since filing your taxes then you would want to contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance about filing a Special Circumstance Appeal Form.

The Special Circumstance Appeal Form will allow you to provide documentation to our office in regards to an income change; such as a job loss, loss of benefits, etc. The office would adjust the student’s FAFSA accordingly. The FAFSA would be re-processed based on the new income amounts. 

Note: Submitting a Special Circumstance Appeal Form does not automatically guarantee a change in the student’s award.

Students are contacted via their COD email address; we do not mail information out to the student or to the parents. Be sure your student is checking their COD email address and Financial Aid Self Service through inside.cod.edu.

• If your student has not set up their insideCOD portal account, have the student go to inside.cod.edu to set up their account
• If you student was not aware they had a COD email address, have your student setup their email account. 

The first step to apply for a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. The Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are educational loans that do not require a co-signer and/or a credit check. The loans will be in the student’s name only. 

NOTE: Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the Office of Student Financial Assistance will no longer automatically include Federal Direct Loans in your offer letter. Instead, students who wish to borrow Federal Direct Loans will need to complete a request form. Additional details will be listed on the student's 2025-2026 offer letter.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a low interest loan based on financial need as determined by your Expected Family Contribution and Cost of Attendance. The federal government pays the interest while you are in school or during your 6-month grace period. Current interest rate information can be found online at studentaid.gov. The student must enroll and be actively participating in a minimum six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for a Subsidized Stafford Loan. 

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a low interest loan and not based on financial need. You are responsible for interest payments while in school. Current interest information can be found online at studentaid.gov. The student must enroll and be actively participating in six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

The first step to apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. You will then need to complete a PLUS Promissory Note. The Federal Direct PLUS Loan does require a credit check. If you are approved for a PLUS loan you will need complete a PLUS Request Form to our office. Parents may request up to the student's Cost of Attendance minus any other financial aid received by the student.

Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is borrowed by the parent on behalf of their dependent student and is not based on financial need. Current interest rate information can be found online at studentaid.gov The student must enroll and be actively participating in six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for a PLUS Loan.

If you are denied a PLUS loan then the student may request up to an additional $4,000 in Unsubsidized loans to help cover their educational expenses. The student will need to complete and return a Federal Direct Loan Form to our office to request the additional Unsubsidized Loans. This is not an automatic process.

Student loans will be first be applied to your student’s tuition and/or book costs.

Any loan funds in excess of tuition and/or book costs will be made available to the student to be used for additional educational expenses, including housing and transportation costs. 

NOTE: Please visit our Financial Aid Dates page for information regarding disbursement dates. 

If you have a College Illinois plan, your student will need to contact the Registration Office at time of registration or before registering for classes.  Your student can contact the Registration Office at 630-942-2377.

If you are participating in a 529 plan, contact the Cashier's Office immediately after you register for classes and inform the cashiers you are using a 529 plan. The cashiers will place a protective hold on your account to allow time for the check from the 529 plan to be sent to the College.  You can contact the Cashier’s Office at (630) 942-2206.

Eligible students may charge required books and supplies against their available financial aid funds.

Students must be in Good Standing, have a Financial Aid Offer Letter in their Financial Aid Self Service and available funds for books.

You can check your status by going to inside.cod.edu > myACCESS for students > Financial Aid > Financial Aid Self Service

Information regarding out Bookstore Dates can be found online

If you live out of district this will not affect the amount of financial assistance offered to your student, however, living out of district will affect cost of tuition. For information regarding our tuition rates.