JCU's OHIO ACCESS INITIATIVE

What is the Ohio Access Initiative?
Low-income Ohio families can now afford a quality John Carroll education through participation in the Ohio Access Initiative (OAI). This initiative combines a John Carroll grant with federal and state grant aid, and the Federal Stafford Loan program to meet the published flat, full-time tuition cost.  Students may also receive assistance with room and board costs.

John Carroll University strives to eliminate family income as a barrier to affording a quality John Carroll education. Low-income Ohio students from families that are eligible for the federal Pell grant (typically families with an annual income of under $40,000) may be able to attend John Carroll University with minimal out-of-pocket expenses.

Eligibility

• Recent Ohio high school graduates who will be first-time, full-time freshmen.
• A filed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in which students meet all necessary citizenship requirements, eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant, as well as eligibility standards for institutional need-based financial aid.
• Additional financial documentation for verification to ensure the accuracy of eligibility.  Forms required may include, but not be limited to: tax forms, W-2s, and 1099s. An annual Income Verification Form is required of all students prior to any funds crediting a student account.
• Annual financial aid review.  If Pell eligibility changes, students can expect a commitment comparable to other students with similar financial need.  Students will receive priority consideration for additional institutional scholarships made possible through the generosity of our alumni and friends of the University.
• Willingness to engage in community service and social justice activities.
• Observance of the rules and regulations of John Carroll University as outlined in the Community Standards Manual and the JCU Undergraduate Bulletin.  Serious infractions or sanctions may result in termination of financial assistance.

Awarding of Funds
John Carroll will meet the published full-time tuition and fees for students through the combinations of federal and state grant aid, the Federal Stafford loan, and John Carroll OAI grant assistance. Tuition-related charges beyond the flat full-time tuition will not change a student financial aid award. Fines and other fees assessed to the student account will not be counted. Students that have unique tuition and registration needs beyond a normal semester course load should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to assess the impact and cost of such decisions. For students wishing to live on campus, the Office of Financial Aid may award additional funds toward room and board for students on an individual basis.

Stafford Loan Borrowing
OAI students will be awarded the Federal Stafford Loan in their financial awards. Over four years, the total Stafford loan borrowing at the full level would be $19,000. Our goal is to ensure that students graduate without an excessive loan burden. In certain situations, John Carroll may award federal Perkins loan funding. However we will monitor students to ensure that OAI students graduate with under $25,000 in total borrowing – this amount ensures a realistic payment expectation for our graduates and is consistent with national borrowing averages. However, students are not required to borrow these funds. If a family has other means to pay their tuition balance, the loan amounts may be adjusted or declined. JCU will not replace a declined Stafford loan with additional institutional grant assistance.

What if I receive other outside scholarships and assistance?
An outside scholarship is any scholarship not awarded by the government or the school, such as a scholarship provided by a private sector company, philanthropist or foundation. Outside scholarships are considered resources to the student and may affect your financial aid award, dollar for dollar. John Carroll must adhere to various Federal guidelines concerning "overaward situations" when the total financial aid exceeds the school's cost of education. You are required to report any outside scholarships to the Office of Financial Aid.

Additional Help
John Carroll's financial aid staff is always available to answer any questions you may have concerning the FAFSA form and the application process. Please contact us at (216) 397-4246 or (888) 335-6800 (toll-free) or via email at jcuofa@jcu.edu.

Required Service
Students who receive funds through the Ohio Access Initiative are required to follow a four-year service plan. This plan can be accessed here.