Contact: finaid@cleary.edu or 517.338.3015

The mission of the Financial Assistance Department is to assist students in securing funds to cover the costs of their academic endeavors at Cleary University. We believe that higher education should be accessible to all students through the resources of the student, the student's family, and through any other funding source for which the student is eligible. We believe that there should be a balance between gift aid (scholarships, grants) and self-help aid (work, loans).

To accomplish this mission, the Financial Assistance personnel comply with regulations from federal, state, and local funding sources. The Financial Assistance Department obtains, updates and posts scholarship resource information and materials regularly to the web site. In an effort to provide quality service to students, the department utilizes electronic processing technology

Financial Aid Eligibility

To be eligible for financial aid you need to:

1. Demonstrate financial need
2. Be a degree-seeking student
3. Have a valid Social Security number
4. Be a U.S. born citizen or eligible non-citizen
5. Register with the Selective Service (Draft),  if required
6. Have a high school diploma, GED, completed a home school program, or pass an ability to benefit test
7. Must be registered half-time (six credit hours undergraduate, three credits graduate)

Financial Need Determination

Financial need is determined from the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A formula is used to determine a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the amount that the student and his or her family are expected to contribute towards the student’s education. This EFC will be the same, no matter what school a student is attending. 

The Financial Aid Office developed a cost-of-attendance budget based on Federal Methodology Cost of Attendance Budget guidelines that is composed of a student’s direct and indirect expenses while attending college. To determine a student’s need at Cleary, the following formula is used:

Cost of Attendance (-) EFC = Need

The need figure tells determines the maximum amount of aid a student may receive in the form of grants, awards, work-study and loans.

The cost of attendance for programs is based on the number of credits a student takes per quarter, in addition to books, supplies, room, board and transportation costs. Cleary University uses several different budgets, depending on a student’s situation. The Michigan Department of Education uses its own budget to determine eligibility for Michigan Tuition Grant and Michigan Competitive Scholarships.