ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS – NON-CALIFORNIA RESIDENT STUDENTS

Estimated Tuition & Fees by Semester

Applicable Beginning September 3, 2024

ONLINE PROGRAMS – NON-CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS

¹Tuition per credit hour is an estimated rate. Actual tuition is charged on a per semester basis. Refunds, if applicable, are prorated if student withdraws prior to program completion (see Refund Policy in September 2024 Academic Catalog).
²Students may opt out and purchase publicly available textbooks through any book seller. The cost of e-book access issued through the school is non-refundable. Physical textbooks may be returned in their original packaging for a full refund. Used textbooks may be returned for a partial refund.
³Technology fee is charged on specified semesters and is non-refundable once the student starts a term(s) for that particular semester. The technology fee is refundable during the Cancellation Period.
⁴The current Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate is $0.00 per $1,000 and applies to California residents only. Please see the STRF Policy in September 2024 Academic Catalog.
 ⁵Additional fees may include replacement badge ($20); and returned check fee ($25).

ALL PROGRAMS (Domestic/International/Online/Online California)

PROJECTED INDIRECT COSTS PER TERM (Month)

Indirect Costs per Term (Month) are the same for all programs. Each term is approximately one month long, with four terms per semester. Below are estimated costs for basic monthly expenses, which LAFS does not charge. Your actual expenses will vary. The total cost of attendance can be calculated by multiplying the monthly amount by four and adding that amount to the total tuition and fee costs for the semester from the applicable program chart above.

BOOKS & MATERIALS

The school provides an easy and convenient method for students to obtain the digital and non-digital textbooks required for their courses. Students will be charged for the cost of textbooks in addition to tuition unless the student chooses to opt out during the registration process. If students opt out, they are required to obtain the books independently by the course start date each month. Assignment deadlines will not be extended and students’ grades may be affected if they opt out but do not secure the textbooks used in the course in a timely manner. Students may request a modification for a subsequent payment period regarding their choice to use the school’s method to obtain books, but not retroactively, by contacting the Business Office.

If students opt out of the school’s method, they will receive any Title IV credit balance, if one is created for the payment period in question, no later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the first day of class or fourteen (14) calendar days of the date the Title IV credit balance appears on the student account. If a Title IV credit balance is not created and, therefore, a student is not due to receive one, she/he is still responsible for purchasing the required books for her or his courses. By the seventh (7th) day of each course start date within the payment period, the school will provide a method for students to obtain the books and supplies required for their courses.

• For courses using a digital textbook, a digital textbook provided by the school will be automatically redeemed with the school’s contracted third-party vendor and charged to the student account.
• For courses using a non-digital textbook, students will be able to pick up the textbook from the Distribution Center, which is located on the 4th floor of Building 2 (6353 Sunset Blvd.). For students in Online programs that use non-digital textbooks, the book will be mailed to the student’s address on record.

TECHKIT

The TechKit is a package of mandatory program items that are essential for a student’s success. The primary component of the TechKit is a laptop computer and software that serves as a personal workstation throughout a student’s education. Purchase of the TechKit is not included in the cost of tuition, but is a mandatory fee charged to all students. The entire bundle must be purchased as a whole from the school. The composition and cost of the Techkit is specific to each program of study. In some programs, other required equipment such as camera and lighting gear or musical equipment is part of the TechKit. The TechKit comes with program-specific hardware and software that allows students to work on their projects on and off campus and maintain their personal portfolio from any location.

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE FEES

METHODS OF PAYMENT

Payments may be made in the form of cash, check, major credit cards, money order, and/or through scheduled disbursements of federal financial aid programs.

Students will only be required to pay tuition in advance for one payment period or semester. However, at the student’s option, the school will accept payment for tuition and fees for an academic year or the full program once the student has been accepted and enrolled and the date of the first class session is disclosed on the enrollment agreement.

DELINQUENT STUDENT ACCOUNTS

Monthly past due notices are sent to students who have outstanding balances beyond their payment due dates.  When a balance is $3,500 and over and is 60 days past due the student’s account is determined to be delinquent.

Monthly notices are sent to students with delinquent accounts.  On the 4th and final notice and balance is still unresolved, school will make the determination to withdraw the student from the program.

Cancellation, Withdrawal & Refund Policies

Student’s Right To Cancel

Student has the right to cancel the enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later. In addition, students who have not visited the school prior to enrollment will have the opportunity to withdraw without penalty within three business days following either the regularly scheduled orientation procedures or following a tour of the school facilities and inspection of equipment where training and services are provided. All monies paid by an applicant will be refunded if requested within three days after signing an enrollment agreement and making an initial payment.

Students who wish to cancel their enrollment should fill out the cancellation form available in the Student Advising Department (1st floor, Building 2, 6353 Sunset Blvd.) or send written notice by email to advising@lafilm.edu (campus students) or onlineadvising@lafilm.edu (online students) or mail to: Student Records Department, The Los Angeles Film School, 6353 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.

If a student has received federal financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of monies  not paid from federal student financial aid program funds. LAFS will refund any monies paid by the student and will remove any charges from the student’s account. All refunds will be made within 45 calendar days of the date of the cancellation.

Trial Period Of Enrollment

A Trial Period of 30 calendar days from the program enrollment date may be granted on a defined degree program basis. The Trial Period of attendance is a four-week period of time where a student attends an eligible program without incurring program charges or receiving Federal Student Aid funds. Once the student is admitted as a regular student after successfully completing the trial period, he/she is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid funds for the entire payment period.

Students who are enrolled in a Trial Period program may withdraw at any time during this period without financial obligation. The student will not be eligible to receive Title IV, HEA program funds until the successful completion of the Trial Period. Students who attend a Trial Period and who wish to receive Title IV, HEA program funds after successfully completing the trial period and becoming a regular student must meet the other student eligibility criteria as provided in the regulations at 34 CFR 668.32.

Refund Policy

The institutional/California state refund policy shall be a pro-rata refund of monies paid for institutional charges for students who have completed 60% or less of the enrollment period (semester) in which the student withdraws. The pro-rata percentage is based on the number of days the student was enrolled and in attendance within the enrollment period. There shall be no refund available to the student if the student withdraws after completing more than 60% of the enrollment period.

For students receiving funds through the Federal Student Aid program, unearned funds will be returned to the aid programs in the order required under Federal Law. If any portion of those charges was paid from the proceeds of a non-federal loan, then the refund will be sent to the lender or to the agency that guaranteed the loan, if any. Any remaining balance will be paid to the student within 45 days following the student’s withdrawal.

Withdrawal From The School

Students who wish to withdraw from the school must notify the school orally or in writing. Students who choose to notify the school in writing may fill out a withdrawal form in person with the assistance of their Student Advisor (located on the 1st Floor of Building 2, 6353 Sunset Blvd.) or send written notice by email to advising@lafilm.edu (campus students) or onlineadvising@lafilm.edu (online students) or mail to: Student Records Department, The Los Angeles Film School, 6353 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. Students who choose to notify the school orally can do so by clearly communicating their intent to withdraw to their Student Advisor by telephone, virtually, or in-person. Responsibility for providing a notice of withdrawal rests entirely with the student. Any money owed to the school is due on the effective date of the withdrawal. Refunds, if any, will be paid in accordance with the Refund Policies set forth in the catalog and enrollment agreement. The date of determination will be the date the student notifies the school of his or her intent to withdraw.

Students may be Administratively Withdrawn under any of the following circumstances:

• Student is administratively dropped from all courses in a term due to non-attendance.
• Student fails to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Student fails to return from an interruption of training (IOT).
• Student fails to reconcile their financial accounts in a timely manner.
• Student fails to comply with the school’s policies, rules, and standards.
• Student violates the Student Code of Conduct.

The date of determination will be the date that the school administratively withdraws the student. For students who are administratively withdrawn due to non-attendance, the Registrar will determine the last date of attendance using attendance records. If Student obtains a loan to pay for this degree program, Student will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan, plus interest, less the amount of any refund. If Student is eligible for a loan guaranteed by the federal or state government and Student subsequently defaults on that loan, both of the following may occur:

1. The federal or state government or a loan guarantee agency may take action against Student, including applying any income tax refund to which Student is entitled to reduce the balance owed on the loan
2. Student may not be eligible for any other federal student financial aid at another institution or other government assistance until the loan is repaid. Student acknowledges that any loans Student takes out are Student’s sole responsibility. Student also acknowledges that determination of whether a particular loan or set of loans is suitable for Student remains at Student’s sole discretion. LAFS encourages Student to conduct his or her own due diligence about available lenders, interest rates, and repayment terms.

Withdrawal & Refund Policies For Iowa Residents

The school is not required to be authorized by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. The School uses a pro-rata refund policy for Iowa residents who are enrolled in online programs. Students who are rejected by the college or cancel enrollment within five (5) business days of the school’s receipt of a signed enrollment agreement are entitled to a 100% refund of tuition and fees (0% tuition and fees charged).

Refunds will be paid within thirty (30) days of a student’s official termination or withdrawal. If the school cancels or discontinues a course or educational program stated in the Enrollment Agreement, the school will refund all monies paid for that course or program. Iowa residents who are enrolled in online programs will receive a refund of tuition charges in an amount that is not less than ninety percent (95%) of the amount of tuition charged to the student multiplied by the ratio of the remaining number of calendar days in the school period to the total number of calendar days in the school period.

In accordance with Iowa refund policies, refunds will be calculated for the semester using the following formula:

EXCEPTIONS: If an Iowa online student cancels his/her program at any time due to the student’s physical incapacitation, the student’s refund shall be calculated using the following formula:

Cancellation due to physical incapacitation will require medical documentation.

Withdrawal & Refund Policies For Maryland Residents

The Los Angeles Film School shall provide for refunds of tuition to Maryland students as provided below.

Withdrawal & Refund Policies For Wisconsin Residents

Students who wish to withdraw from their program are encouraged to notify the Student Advising Department. However, a written notice of withdrawal is not required. For students receiving funds under Title IV, the school shall comply with applicable federal guidelines for providing constructive notice of an intention to withdraw.  Refunds, if any will be paid in accordance with the Refund Policy in this Catalog. 

Student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Institution when any of the following occurs:

• Student notifies the Student Advising Department of his or her intent to withdraw or as of the effective date of Student’s withdrawal, whichever is later;
• the Institution terminates Student’s enrollment for failure to maintain satisfactory progress; failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the Institution, including the Student Code of Conduct set forth in the catalog; failure to meet financial obligations to the Institution; and/or for cause determined within the Institution’s sole discretion;
• Student fails to return from an authorized leave of absence (ie: Interruption of Training (IOT);
• Student ceases to log on to the LMS and ceases to participate in online course activities in which case date of withdrawal will be deemed to be student’s last LMS log-on date.

The school uses a pro-rata refund policy for Wisconsin residents who are enrolled in online programs. Wisconsin Online students have three (3) business days from the time of enrollment to cancel their enrollment for a full refund, After the three-business-day cancellation period, all tuition will be refunded to students that drop within the first five (5) days of the semester.

Refunds will be paid within 40 days of a student’s official withdrawal. If the school cancels or discontinues a course or educational program stated in the Enrollment Agreement, the school will refund all monies paid for that course or program.

Refunds will be calculated for the semester using the following chart:

Refund calculations in accordance with the above chart will be based upon the last full week prior to withdrawal. Monthly notices are sent to students with delinquent accounts. On the 4th and final notice and balance is still unresolved, the school will make the determination to withdraw the student from the program.

Financial Services

The Los Angeles Film School has Financial Aid counselors to help students and their families develop a financial plan to enable program completion. These counselors help students complete applications for grants and loans applicable to the student’s circumstances. Once a student’s eligibility for financial assistance has been determined, the student and the counselor develop a plan for meeting educational expenses. Students may apply for scholarships, grants, and loans to assist with college expenses. Scholarships and grants are sums of money given to an eligible student to be applied toward the student’s educational costs. Students do not repay scholarships or grants but must meet specific requirements to receive them. Various loans may also be available to assist students with educational costs.

IF A STUDENT OBTAINS A LOAN TO PAY FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, THE STUDENT WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE LOAN PLUS INTEREST, LESS THE AMOUNT OF ANY REFUND.

All students who receive federal or state-sponsored financial assistance must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined in the Academic Policies and Procedures  section. Students not actively attending due to an interruption of training (IOT) or withdrawal may not receive award disbursements. The school is eligible for financial aid and participates in many programs to assist students with their education.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

The Financial Aid Department encourages all applicants who apply for financial aid to begin the process early. Those seeking “federal” financial aid are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be completed online at studentaid.gov. After the FASFA is submitted, the U.S. Department of Education notifies applicants of their results, and our Financial Aid counselors will be available to discuss the available options for funding the selected degree program. Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid Programs requires that a student be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen [Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151) or Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a green card].

Financial aid is only available to students enrolling in a degree program. Individual course students are not eligible for financial aid. The school reserves the right to decline the certification of any educational loan.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant Program is designed to assist undergraduates with education expenses. Under this program, an undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree. Awards for the 2023–24 award year range up to $7,395. The U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula, established by Congress, to determine eligibility.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is also designed to assist undergraduates with education expenses. Under this program, an undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree. Amounts are determined by application of the federal formula regarding a student’s need as determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Pell Grant eligibility.

Institutional Scholarships

The school has a variety of institutional scholarship opportunities to assist students in meeting their financial needs while attending one of our degree programs. Each scholarship is unique, and eligibility is dependent on the type of program and eligibility. Please contact a Financial Aid representative for more information.

FEDERAL LOANS

Direct Loans

A Direct Loan is a low-interest loan made to a student enrolled in an Undergraduate Degree Program. Annual loan limits increase each subsequent year a student attends. Repayment terms and conditions are flexible in order to meet the needs of students after graduation.

Parent Direct PLUS Loans

A Parent Direct PLUS Loan is a credit-based loan made to either parent of a dependent child enrolled in an Undergraduate Degree Program. Available to credit-worthy parents, these loans provide funds for a student’s educational expenses and may also provide additional money for living expenses. The interest rate is determined by Congress and compares favorably to other education financing options.

Private Education Loans

Many private lenders offer alternative education loans to supplement the federal programs after maximum limits are reached. These non-federal education loans have differing fees, interest rates, and repayment options. They are credit-based and students may often secure a more favorable interest rate by using a co-signer. Students are strongly encouraged to maximize their eligibility for federal aid prior to applying for any private education loan. Contact the Financial Aid Department for more information. Students acquiring an educational loan to finance tuition and related educational expenses will be obligated to repay such loans and interest thereon. Defaulting on educational loans may have an adverse effect on a student’s ability to qualify for future credit, loans, grants, and governmental assistance programs. Information regarding the rights and responsibilities of federal/private loan borrowers can be obtained during the online entrance interview as well as in the promissory note from the lending institution.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Federal Work-Study

The school participates in the Federal Work-Study Program. The Federal Work-Study Program is designed to provide jobs to qualified students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education-related expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. Students are awarded Federal Work-Study funds based on a federally prescribed formula. The school is an equal opportunity employer.

Veterans Education Benefits

The school is authorized to train students receiving Veterans Education Benefits as approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Awards are determined by application with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and funding is disbursed directly to the institution for the Post 9/11 GI Bill^® and the Yellow Ribbon Program (most other Chapters disburse funding directly to the student).

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

Various states offer funding in the form of Vocational Training Benefits for designated applicants.

Return of Federal Title IV Aid

If a federal aid (Title IV) recipient either officially or unofficially withdraws, The Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) must perform a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation to determine the percentage of federal aid that the student has earned for the semester based upon the portion of the semester completed as of the withdrawal date. For official and unofficial withdrawals, the LAFS Registrar will determine the withdrawal date that is equal to the student’s last date of attendance (LDA) using LAFS’s attendance records. The withdrawal date is used to determine the percentage of the semester that the student completed prior to withdrawal. This percentage is the basis of the R2T4 calculation to determine the amount of federal aid the student earned for the semester and what must be returned or disbursed. This calculation must be performed by LAFS within 30 days of the date the institution determines that a federal aid recipient student has withdrawn.

R2T4 FORMULA

LAFS will determine the percentage of the semester completed by calculating the total number of days the student completed in the semester by counting the number of days between the first day of the semester through the withdrawal date and dividing that by the number of days in the semester, which is the number of days between the first and last day of the semester. Both of these day counts shall exclude any scheduled breaks of five days or more and days on an approved leave of absence during the semester. The resulting percentage is applied to the amount of eligible federal aid disbursed and pending for the semester. This is the amount of federal aid earned for the semester.

For example, if the student completed 20 days of a 100-day semester, the student would earn 20% of the federal aid for that period and the unearned 80% would need to be returned to the appropriate federal programs. If a student withdraws on or before completing sixty percent (60%) of the semester, LAFS will return the unearned portion of the federal aid funds awarded to the appropriate federal aid program within 45 days of the date LAFS determined the student withdrew. If the portion of the semester completed is greater than 60 percent, the student has earned 100% of the eligible federal aid for the semester.

INSTITUTIONAL CHARGES

LAFS is also required to apply this earning percentage to the amount of institutional charges for the semester and if the unearned institutional charges are less than the unearned federal aid, the institution is only required to return the unearned portion of the institutional charges. This can happen in situations where the student received excess federal aid for living expenses or other non-institutional costs. The calculation of unearned institutional charges is different than the institution’s tuition refund policy, which will also be calculated to determine the student’s tuition obligation. After the application of both refund policies, the student may owe a tuition balance for charges that were originally paid by federal aid.

OVERPAYMENTS

If LAFS pays a refund based on unearned institutional charges, this is less than the unearned portion of the federal aid and the student may owe the difference as an overpayment to the U.S. Department of Education. LAFS will notify the student within 30 days regarding how much is owed in an overpayment, how it is to be returned, and in what timeframe. If an overpayment is not repaid, the student will lose access to further federal aid until the overpayment is resolved.

POST-WITHDRAWAL DISBURSEMENTS

In some cases, eligible federal aid is delayed and not disbursed to the student’s account as of the withdrawal date. This can occur for a variety of reasons, but these funds are usually included in the R2T4 calculation as “could have been disbursed” funds. If it is determined that any of these pending funds are earned and eligible for disbursement after withdrawal, they will be offered in writing, no later than 30 days after the date LAFS determined the student withdrew, to the student/parent as a post-withdrawal disbursement. The student or parent must authorize the post-withdrawal disbursement of Direct Loan funds before the funds can be posted to the student’s account. The student/parent must accept these funds within 14 days of notification. If LAFS receives confirmation from the student/parent, that they wish to receive the post-withdrawal disbursement of loan funds, LAFS must make the post-withdrawal disbursement as soon as possible but no later than 180 days after the date LAFS determined the student withdrew. LAFS will apply all post-withdrawal disbursements to outstanding charges on the student account first before any resulting credit balance is handled.

LAFS is permitted to credit a student’s account with the post-withdrawal disbursement of Title IV grant funds to cover current outstanding allowable charges without the student’s permission for tuition and fees. These disbursements must be credited to the student’s account within 180 days of the date LAFS determined the student withdrew. Likewise, any post-withdrawal disbursement of Title IV grant funds not credited towards the student’s account to cover allowable charges must be disbursed to the student within 45 days of the date LAFS determined the student withdrew.

SPECIAL RULE FOR SEMESTERS WITH MODULES

There are special withdrawal rules for a semester that has modules (courses that do not span the entire length of the semester). A student is not considered withdrawn for federal aid purposes if at the point of ceasing participation in the semester, the student:

• successfully completes 49% of the days in the semester,
• earned half-time credits (6 semester credits) during the semester, or
• completes all of the program requirements and is considered a graduate

For days to count toward the 49% requirement, the student must receive a passing grade in at least one course that spans an entire module.

If the student meets any of these conditions, the student is not considered to be withdrawn for federal aid purposes, and all aid received for the semester is retained. If grades for the semester are not received within 30 days from the date LAFS determines the student ceased participation, the student will be processed an R2T4 calculation. If a passing grade is received at a subsequent point, LAFS will reevaluate the student’s withdrawn status and may reverse the R2T4 calculation and refund payments.

Credit Balance Payments

If the student has a Title IV credit balance upon withdrawal, it will not be paid to the student until after the return to Title IV fund calculation is performed to determine if the funds are earned.  If the student’s account has a credit balance after the completion of the R2T4 calculation, the resulting credit balance will be refunded to the student as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after the completion of the R2T4 calculation. 

REPAYMENT OF TITLE IV FUNDS

If a student withdraws and the R2T4 calculation shows that the student has been disbursed more federal aid than has been earned through the withdrawal date, LAFS is required to return the unearned federal aid funds to the federal programs from which the student received funds within 45 days of the date LAFS determined the student withdrew in the following order: 

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Direct Subsidized Loan
• Direct PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grants
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
• FSEOG
• TEACH Grants

OFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL

Students who wish to withdraw from the school must notify the school orally or in writing. Students who choose to notify the school in writing may fill out a withdrawal form in person with the assistance of their Student Advisor (located on the 1st Floor of Building 2, 6353 Sunset Blvd.) or send written notice by email to advising@lafilm.edu (campus students) or onlineadvising@lafilm.edu (online students) or mail to: Student Records Department, The Los Angeles Film School, 6353 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. Students who choose to notify the school orally can do so by clearly communicating their intent to withdraw to their Student Advisor by telephone, virtually, or in-person. Responsibility for providing a notice of withdrawal rests entirely with the student. Any money owed to the school is due on the effective date of the withdrawal. Refunds, if any, will be paid in accordance with the Refund Policies set forth in the catalog and enrollment agreement. The date of determination will be the date the student notifies the school of his or her intent to withdraw.

UNOFFICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WITHDRAWAL

The school may withdraw students for any of the following reasons.

• Student is administratively dropped from all courses in a term due to non-attendance.
• Student fails to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Student fails to return from an interruption of training (IOT).
• Student fails to reconcile their financial accounts in a timely manner.
• Student fails to comply with the school’s policies, rules, and standards.
• Student violates the Student Code of Conduct.

The date of determination of withdrawal will be the date that the school withdraws the student. The withdrawal date will be the date the Registrar determines as the last date of attendance using attendance records.

Institutional Refund Calculation

LAFS will calculate the amount of tuition and fees a student is obligated to pay when withdrawing from a semester. The institutional/California state refund policy shall be a pro-rata refund of monies paid for institutional charges for students who have completed 60% or less of the semester in which the student withdraws. The pro-rata percentage is based on the number of days the student was enrolled and in attendance within the semester. There shall be no refund available to the student if the student withdraws after completing more than 60% of the semester.

For example, if the student completed 20 days out of a 100-day semester, the student would be charged 20% of the tuition for the semester. The student may also be charged the full cost for one-time fees, unreturned books, and equipment received before withdrawal.

Any payments remaining on the account after any federal aid refunds due to the R2T4 calculation will be subtracted from this adjusted balance and if a credit balance is created, it will be paid to the student or the designated Direct Loan within 45 days following the student’s withdrawal. If the student has a Title IV credit balance after the adjustment of tuition charges for this policy, this credit balance will be paid to the student within 14 days after it is created on the student’s account. The student may direct LAFS to return any refund due to the student to his/her outstanding Direct Loan. The student must fill out an authorization form advising the school where they would like their refund to be sent. If no authorization form is received, any remaining balance will be refunded to the student. In no case will the amount refunded to the assistance program exceed the amount disbursed.

If the student owes a balance after the application of the refund policy, the student will be billed for the amount due to LAFS and payment is due upon receipt.

CREDIT BALANCES

The school receives financial aid funds for each student in two disbursements for each academic year of study. If a student borrows more than tuition to cover additional education-related costs, the student will be requested to sign an authorization form to hold a federal student aid credit balance. Upon receipt of borrower’s signature on the form, the school will refund the credit balance owed.

The school receives disbursements each semester based on packaged and guaranteed financial aid. If a student borrows more than tuition to cover additional education costs within the confines of the Cost of Attendance (e.g., final project or living expenses), a stipend check will be issued to the student based on the following credit balance policy: All tuition for the semester in which a credit balance is scheduled must be received before a student can receive a stipend check. Any delays in providing documentation to financial aid or adjustments due to verification changes may result in a delay of the stipend check.

Due to circumstances outside the institution’s control, there are instances when a scheduled disbursement does not occur as the result of a processing error with the lender or the Department of Education. When this happens, the funds do not post to the student’s account on the expected date. This situation will result in a delay of the stipend check as funds must be received in order to issue any credit balances to the student. The school will do everything possible to ensure that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible so as not to result in a lengthy delay.

Schools must disburse credit balances to students within 14 days as a requirement of the U.S. Department of Education. Credit balances only occur after a disbursement is made on a student account. Once funds are received, the school can guarantee that a stipend check will be issued within 14 days between the date of disbursement to the institution and the issuing of a stipend check to a student. We encourage students to plan accordingly.

If a student is using Direct Loans as part of their total Financial Aid package, please note that there is a 30-day waiting period for the initial disbursement of loans to first-time borrowers (this only applies for stipends issued in the first semester of the freshman academic year of study). Depending on the amount of funds borrowed above tuition and fees, this delay in Direct loans will result in one of the following scenarios:

• If the projected stipend is less than the net award of Direct loan(s), there will be a delay of the entire stipend check until federal loans have been disbursed and generated a credit balance on the student account
• If the projected stipend is more than the net award of Direct loan(s), there will be two stipend checks issued. The first will be based on a credit balance from funding not subject to the 30-day Direct loan delay. The second check will be based on the additional credit balance that occurs as a result of the Direct loan disbursement(s) following the 30-day rule.

Per U.S. Department of Education regulations, the institution is required to issue credit balances for PLUS loans directly to the parent borrower unless we receive authorization in writing from the parent borrower (prior to loan disbursement) to release the check to the student. Please contact Financial Aid for more information and a copy of this form. If a student does not attend one or more terms, a stipend in a subsequent semester may be reduced based on a change in enrollment status (this particularly impacts federal aid recipients).

For students utilizing Post-911 GI Bill^® benefits and planning to use federal aid towards a credit balance on the student account, please note the school must wait until all tuition and fees for a semester are paid for before a stipend check can be issued. This may mean that the student will have to wait until the end of the semester before all monthly payments from the VA have been received before a credit balance shows up on the account and a check can be processed. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs can take up to three months to issue disbursements to an institution upon certification of attendance, which may also result in delays of any potential credit balances to the student account. We encourage all Post-9/11 GI Bill^® students to utilize their monthly MHA stipend from the Veterans Administration and budget accordingly until all funding has been received for a semester of study.

If a student borrows a private loan to cover living expense costs, all tuition and fees for a semester must be paid before a stipend check can be issued.

All students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive timely disbursements of federal financial aid and subsequent stipend checks. Please see the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy in the Academic Policies and Procedures section for further details. All fees for tuition,  and laptop/software package are deducted from the first stipend check. There is no option to defer these deductions from any future disbursements. Laptop costs are non-refundable.

GENERAL DISCLOSURE

At the time of this printing, The Los Angeles Film School does not have a pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not filed a petition within the preceding five years, and does not have a bankruptcy filed against it that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq).

FINANCIAL AID PENALTIES FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS

Students are advised that a conviction for any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV program funds will result in the loss of eligibility for any Title IV, HEA great, loan, or work-study assistance.

Military & Veteran Students

The Los Angeles Film School’s Military Benefits Department supports veterans and active-duty service members who want to pursue their education in the field of entertainment and media arts. We offer:

• Military advisors who understand the culture and lingo
• Yellow Ribbon tuition contributions with no maximum cap
• Help navigating the application process for GI Bill^® benefits
• Credit for applicable military training and education

Additional information regarding specific policies and procedures as well as special services and events for military and veteran students is available on our website at lafilm.edu/military or by contacting the team at military@lafilm.edu.

EDUCATION BENEFIT PROGRAMS

In some cases, military educational benefits will not cover the entire cost of tuition. All military students with a gap in tuition will need to secure their enrollment in congruence with school policies prior to starting class. Veteran students applying for military benefits are encouraged to speak with a military benefits advisor at The Los Angeles Film School prior to enrolling for any benefit. To do so, please call or send an email to military@lafilm.edu.

MILITARY TUITION ASSISTANCE

Eligibility and the amount of active-duty or reserve tuition assistance is determined by the branch of service. Students must independently apply for tuition assistance through their command/on base. Tuition assistance is paid directly to the institution.

CHAPTER 30, THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL^® – ACTIVE DUTY

Veterans who entered active duty beginning July 1, 1985, and who participated in the 12-month pay reduction program while on active duty. Also includes Chapter 32 active-duty persons with eligibility as of October 1, 1996, who elected to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill^®. Eligibility is decided by the VA. Benefits are paid directly to the student.

CHAPTER 31, VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT (VR&E)

This program was formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Veterans with a service-connected disability, or who are rated 10 percent or more disabled according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligibility is decided by a VA caseworker. Tuition is paid directly to the School; other benefits may be paid to the student.

CHAPTER 33, THE POST-9/11 GI BILL^®

Veterans who accumulated at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, with an honorable discharge, or those who received a service-connected disability after 30 days of service may be eligible for Chapter 33, as determined by the VA. Tuition and fees are paid directly to the School, with MHA and book stipends paid directly to the student. All payments are proportionate to Chapter 33 eligibility rating, with MHA payments based on DoD calculator (use school zip code for an E-5 with dependents). This benefit is frequently revised. Please refer to the VA for comprehensive changes to this benefit.

CHAPTER 33/TEB, THE POST-9/11 GI BILL^® TRANSFER

This option is for Chapter 33-eligible service members to transfer unused benefits wholly or in increments to spouses and/or children.

THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM,
A COMPONENT OF CHAPTER 33, THE POST-9/11 GI BILL^®

The School is a proud participant in this joint tuition grant-matching program with the VA for students who are entitled to the 100% eligibility rate. Yellow Ribbon amounts are applied solely and directly to tuition.

CHAPTER 35, SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

For spouses or children of veterans who died on active duty, whose death was caused by a service-connected disability, or who are rated by the VA as 100% permanently disabled.

CHAPTER 1606, THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL^® – SELECTED RESERVE

Benefits are paid directly to eligible individuals who have committed to the required length of enlistment in the Selected Reserve. 

BENEFIT RECIPIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Veterans receiving VA funding for any portion of their program are responsible to directly notify the campus certifying official or military benefits advisor of any change of status in their program to include:

• Transferring credits to program from another institution
• Testing out of a class
• Receipt of a failing grade for an entire class
• Modifications to the original program sequence as outlined in the catalog
• Benefit eligibility changes, Active Duty separation
• Course Withdrawal, Interruption of Training (IOT)
• Change of program
• Exiting the program

Students are expected to contact the military benefits advisor by visiting in person, speaking with them over the telephone, or emailing: military@lafilm.edu. Failure to communicate program changes may cause overpayment or underpayment of tuition and/or fees, which may result in a balance due to the school and a debt with the VA for ineligible MHA (Monthly Housing Allowance).

VA REFUND POLICY

The school complies with the Department of Veteran Affairs standards. Refer to the institutional refund policy (outlined in the Cancellation, Withdrawal & Refund Policies section). Tuition and fee payments found to be ineligible or an overpayment by the VA due to student academic/program changes, withdrawal/IOT, or benefit eligibility changes will be considered a school debt with the VA. The school would be required to return any funds considered as a debt by the VA. If the return of such funds creates a balance on the student’s account, the student will be responsible for covering the balance. Students may also have a debt with the VA for MHA payments received that the VA determines to be ineligible and or an overpayment.

VA STUDENT ACADEMIC UNSATISFACTORY PROGRESS DEBT ACCRUAL

In situations in which a class is not satisfactorily completed due to attendance, the VA reserves the right to debt the student for MHA and debt the school for tuition and fee payments received. If the school is required to return funds received for tuition and fees and it creates a balance on the student’s account, the student will be responsible for covering the balance. Students may retake a course one time without paying additional tuition or retake fees. Although students will not be charged additional tuition for the first retake of a course, the retake will be counted as days attended for purposes of calculating the percentage of tuition owed if students withdraw prior to graduation. Students who fail the first retake of a course will be charged the full tuition rate for each attempt thereafter. Such retake fees will not be covered by VA educational benefits and the student will be responsible for the cost

CHANGE OF STATUS

Students who neglect to inform the military benefits advisor of a change of status in program and or benefit eligibility may experience delays in receiving their MHA or a balance with the school. In order to assist students in this situation, we highly suggest students immediately notify the military benefits department of any academic/program changes and share any paper correspondence from the VA that may detail benefit changes with the campus certifying official/military benefits advisor. 

VA SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

The school complies with the Department of Veteran Affairs standards. Refer to the institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy (outlined in the Academic Policies and Procedures section).

BREAK PAY

The VA does not pay MHA during school breaks such as days outside of scheduled term start and end dates. 

MILITARY LEAVE POLICY

The school may grant more than one interruption of training (IOT) in the event that unforeseen circumstances arise, such as military service requirements, provided that any combined leaves of absence do not exceed 90 days within a 12-month period. However, students who are issued military orders should communicate their obligation and activation dates as soon as possible to both the Student Services and Military Benefits Departments.

The period of the leave may not begin until the student has acknowledged the following:

• An IOT may not exceed 90 days within any 12-month period and the school has approved a written and signed request.
• A military-service-related interruption of training (IOT) request that extends beyond 90 days must be accompanied with orders.
• All school equipment loaned out to the student taking leave will need to be returned to the Equipment Room (ER) before the IOT is granted.
• Re-entry into the program of study requires that students check back into school through the Student Services Department to coordinate scheduling and be directed to the appropriate departments to include the Military Benefits Department to reinstate program funding.

Upon submitting travel vouchers within the 90-day time frame and one month within the date on the approved travel voucher, military students will not be required to pay re-take fees for classes dropped due to the call to service using grants, VA monies, or cash.

Further, military students will not be charged tuition for classes not yet taken. Official orders are required for consideration for an extended IOT beyond 90 days but not to exceed 180 days within a 12-month period. Failure to return to school within the 90-day time frame that is a result of extended military service leave will require approved military travel orders with no longer than one month between the military approval date and the reinstatement date.

Every consideration to use existing credits will be exercised; however, extended absences may result in retakes or new classes that are part of a revised curriculum and will subject students to review by the Program Director.

PENDING VA PAYMENT COMPLIANCE

In accordance with Title 38 U.S. Code § 3679 subsection (e), while payment is pending from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Post-9/11 GI Bill^® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, the school will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

To qualify for this provision, students will be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class
• Provide a written request to be certified
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies