American International College

BSc in Sports and Recreation Management

AIC was founded on the principles of providing access to higher education and removing barriers. We continue those traditions today—99% of full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

We’re dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to a quality, affordable education. And we do everything we can to make the process of applying for financial aid easy. As soon as you’ve received your admission letter, you may apply for financial aid. And we’ll be here to help you every step of the way.

Undergraduate Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are awarded based on both need and merit. These are essentially free money for students who meet eligibility requirements. Below is a sample selection of grants and scholarships that AIC students have applied for and been awarded in the past:

Academic Merit Scholarships

Awarded to full-time undergraduate students. The Admissions Office is responsible for selecting recipients based on established academic criteria.

AIC Grants

Awarded to full-time, undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.

Federal Pell Grants

Federal funds are awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate high need. Award amounts are determined through the FAFSA.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Federal funds are available to undergraduate students with the most financial need as determined by the FAFSA.

State Scholarships/Grants

Awarded by a student’s state of legal residence, based on the state’s eligibility requirements. Undergraduate students residing in the state of Massachusetts must submit their FAFSA prior to May 1st in order to be considered for the Mass Grant. Other states may have different deadlines, so we suggest checking with your home state as early as possible.

• Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program (new in 2024)
  • This scholarship is available to students pursuing their education in fields such as STEM, Health Professions, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Economics, and Business.
  • For more information, or to apply, please visit: Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Aid Assistance

Private Scholarships/Grants

There are literally thousands of private scholarships and grants out there. We recommend checking with your High School Guidance Department for local scholarships, as well as researching foundations dedicated to student scholarships- such as the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

Undergraduate Student Loans

Unlike grants, loans are funds borrowed by a student and/or his/her parents, and must be repaid with interest. Below is a selection of popular loans:

William D. Ford, Federal Subsidized Direct Loan

Awarded on the basis of need by the federal government. The interest rate is set annually. The federal government pays the interest as long as the student is enrolled at least half-time. Repayment begins 6 months after the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.

William D. Ford, Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan

Federal loan available to students who do not qualify on the basis of need. Students are charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. The interest rate is set annually. If a student chooses to allow the interest to accrue while in school or during other periods of nonpayment, it will be capitalized, meaning that the interest will be added to the principal of the loan. Repayment begins 6 months after the student borrower is no longer enrolled at least half-time.

Parent PLUS Loans

An unsubsidized federal loan program for parents of dependent undergraduates. Parents may borrow up to the cost of education, less other financial aid received by the student. The interest rate is also set annually. Unlike Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans, the parent will need to apply online at studentaid.gov in order to receive a Parent PLUS Loan. The application takes a few moments to complete and is non-binding. Additionally, if the parent is not approved for a PLUS loan, students receive an additional Unsubsidized Loan instead.

Alternative Loans

Students and families may borrow up to the cost of education, less financial aid received annually. AIC does not endorse any particular alternative loan lender. Any alternative loan a student chooses should be based solely on student and or family research and opinion. Alternative loans and or private loans are different from federal direct loans, are not guaranteed by the government, involve a credit check, and often require a credit-worthy co-signer. AIC recommends that alternative loans be used as a last resort after utilizing all other forms of financial aid.

Student Loan Repayment

AIC has teamed up with Solutions at ECMC to answer all of your student loan repayment questions. Solutions is a service of the non-profit organization ECMC and is dedicated to helping students manage educational loans. Their resources are available to you free of charge.

Undergraduate and Graduate Work Programs

Work programs allow students to take on part-time jobs while they are enrolled at AIC. Some work-study programs include:

Federal Work-Study

This program provides jobs (either on or off campus) for students demonstrating financial need. Students may earn up to the amount of the work award and are paid biweekly for the number of hours worked.

Institutional Employment

Funded by AIC, this employment program offers part-time jobs on campus. Students are paid biweekly for the number of hours worked. Students do not need to exhibit financial need in order to work under this program.

Financial Aid Eligibility for Undergraduates

We’re dedicated to making sure that any student who wants to attend AIC can do so, regardless of their financial situation.

As you begin the process of applying for financial aid at AIC, please know that we are here to help. Contact a financial aid counselor for answers to questions, advice, and more.

Your eligibility for financial aid is determined by applying for financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the one and only application you will need in order for AIC financial aid counselors to evaluate your financial need and determine how much you and your family are eligible for.

Your Student Aid Indicator (SAI) is determined is based on the information you provide on the FAFSA. This amount is derived by analyzing your family’s income and assets, and the number of family members in your household. The amount your family is expected to contribute (determined by your SAI) is then subtracted from the total cost of AIC tuition to determine your total need. From there, we determine the amount of financial aid you may be eligible to receive.

Financial aid packages may include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. In order to be eligible to receive financial aid from AIC, you must meet the following criteria:

• Exhibit financial need (some programs)
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be accepted for admission to AIC as a degree-seeking student
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Meet satisfactory academic progress requirements
• Be free from default on a previous student loan or refund obligation to a federal student grant program

Institutional aid is awarded to undergraduate students enrolled full-time (12+ credits per semester). Federal aid is awarded to students enrolled at least half-time (6+ credits per semester). In some instances, students may be eligible for a Pell Grant if enrolled at least 1/4-time (3-5 credits per semester).

International Students

The Financial Aid Office at AIC does not offer need-based financial aid to international students. Questions regarding possible academic scholarships should be directed to the Office of Admissions.

All international students who have been admitted to the College should make arrangements for their financial obligations to AIC and for their entire stay in the United States before leaving their homelands.