Welcome to Federal Student Aid

First Step: Apply to IIOP

Check out our Catalog for more information on application process.

IIOP students will use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid.

The International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics Code School Code: #043178

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your fist step for any financial aid.

Click here for more information.

These tools are designed to help you figure out how much money you may need for school. Check out our Cost of Attendance and Net Price Calculator to learn more about our tuition and fees and what you might expect in financial aid. Students often use a combination of financial aid, scholarships, loans, and personal funding to pay for school. 

Cost of Attendance is the Financial Aid Office’s best estimate of the total allowable cost to attend a program at the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics. The full “Cost of Attendance” budget includes tuition, required fees, books, and projected average living/personal expenses, based on a four-semester program.

To help with planning for costs, we have included the Cost of Attendance for 2025-2026 for O&P students. Please note the Cost of Attendance is an estimate of the costs to attend The International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics. You will have some variances based on your individual situation.

Visit Cost of Attendance Page

To request cost of attendance increase, click here. 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance Budget Adjustment Guidelines

Unlike scholarships or grants, loans need to be paid back with interest. However, you won’t need to start repaying most loans while you are in school.  Unlike scholarships and grants, loans must be paid back along with any interest that has accrued. Most student loans are loans offered through the Department of Education. You can also apply for a private non-federal loan, using Elm Select.

Federal Direct Loans

You are automatically considered for Federal Direct Loans when you submit the FAFSA. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program to be eligible for a Direct Loan. If this is your first time borrowing a federal student loan at IIOP, you will need to complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before loan funds can be applied to your account. Once enrolled at International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics, you must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to be eligible for additional loans.

All federal student loans obtained by a student or parent are reported to and tracked on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). NSLDS loan records are accessible to all authorized NSLDS users, including schools, student loan guaranty agencies, lenders, federal agencies, and other authorized users. You must be enrolled at least half-time and meet all eligibility requirements to receive a Direct Subsidized and/or a Direct Unsubsidized loan. Federal loan disbursements to your account can only be made if you are enrolled at least half-time at the time of disbursement. Loan disbursements may be reduced or canceled if your enrollment status changes. This may cause a balance owing to the school.

Loans for the academic year are issued in two payments (disbursements). In most cases the first payment will be at the beginning of the Fall semester and the second payment at the beginning of the Spring semester. If you have a loan for only one period, it will be disbursed in two payments, with the second payment at the midpoint of the semester.

Loan funds must first be used to pay for tuition, fees and other charges. If excess loan funds remain after campus charges for the semester are paid, you will be refunded the excess within 10 days of disbursement.

‍Annual and Aggregate Direct Loan Limits

Lifetime borrowing limits (i.e. aggregate limits) are based on a student’s status and degree level.

Maximum Time Frame

Students who borrow Federal Direct Loan funds are subject to a time limit, based on the length of their program measured in terms and the pace of completion required by their school, for which they can receive federal loans.

Additional Certificates
A student who completes one program and then returns for an additional program will start the new program with a new maximum time frame limit. The student’s GPA, credits attempted, and credits earned in both programs will be measured cumulatively across both programs for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

What Happens Next?

After you submit your FAFSA, you will receive a notice when your financial aid offer letter is available in your Student Portal. Review the following next steps.

‍The Financial Aid Office processes financial aid applications on a rolling basis. It can take some time to process your application, so you are encouraged to submit your FAFSA as soon as possible. You might be asked to send additional documents to verify your aid eligibility. It is important to submit those documents as soon as possible so that your financial aid offer is not delayed or canceled.

After your application and any follow-up documents have been reviewed and processed, the Financial Aid Office will email you to let you know that your offer is available on the Student Portal. Your Financial Aid Offer Letter can be found on the Financials tab.

Your Financial Aid Offer Letter shows a formula to help you understand how much money you are being offered compared to your Cost of Attendance. Cost of Attendance is a reasonable estimate of what it will cost you to attend IIOP for four semesters. SAI, or Student Aid Index, is calculated from your FAFSA and represents your ability to pay for your education.

Your initial financial aid offer will include the maximum amount available through a combination of Federal Student Loan funds and/or private loans. Further action is required if you choose to accept these loans.  Private Loans are available to students and parents. You can research private loan options at ELMSelect. You have the right to choose a private lender that is not listed at ELM Select. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Your Financial Aid Offer may change upon receipt of additional aid or review of additional documents. You will be notified of any adjustments. Adjusted financial aid offers replace any prior offers. IIOP reserves the right to correct any errors.

There are additional steps to finalize any federal student loans on your Financial Aid Offer Letter. Please follow the instructions on your Financial Aid Offer Letter carefully. Review the Next Steps page and check the Financials/Missing Documents section of the Student Portal to stay on track.

Now that you have reviewed your financial aid offer, you’ll need to take the next steps to finalize your financial aid and make sure it is ready to apply to your bill.

Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid

It is expected that you will carefully read the statement of Financial Aid Student Rights and Responsibilities and Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid. Your acknowledgment of the Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid is noted when you accept your federal loan offer.  Carefully review the terms and conditions before accepting your financial aid offer. 

Additional Aid Requirements

You are required to notify the IIOP’s Financial Aid Office in writing of any outside financial aid award you will receive during the academic year.  All awards must be reported to the Financial Aid Office.  This includes private awards, loans and grants not shown on your award letter.  If you are receiving a Direct-to-Consumer Loan (alternative or private loans that are disbursed directly to you), federal law requires that loan must be reported to our office. Since federal loans have a lower interest rate, students should always consider those first. ‍

Accept or Decline Your Aid

Log in to the Student Portal to Accept or Decline each item on your Financial Aid Offer.  You can reduce the amount of your loan offer by clicking accept and then entering a lower amount. You cannot increase the amount offered. Any financial aid you plan to use should be accepted prior to your tuition bill due date. 

Loan Entrance Counseling

Under federal regulations, if this is your first loan at IIOP, you must complete Loan Entrance Counseling before funds can be disbursed. Entrance Counseling is located on the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website under the “Complete Entrance Counseling” link. You must log in with your FSA ID and select IIOP as the school name in order for IIOP to be notified that you have completed the counseling.

Entrance Counseling helps you understand your rights and responsibilities in taking out a loan and provides information about the loan process, managing education expenses, and other resources. Allow approximately 30 minutes to complete the reading and take a short quiz. We encourage you to fulfill the loan counseling requirement prior to the first day of classes.

Loan Master Promissory Note

Federal loans require the completion of a Master Promissory Note (MPN), a legal document in which you promise to repay your loans and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It explains the terms and conditions of your loans and authorizes IIOP to disburse federal loan funds to your account. You must log in with your FSA ID and select IIOP as the school's name for IIOP to be notified that you have completed the MPN. Your federal loan funds will not be disbursed without a valid MPN.

Additional Documents

You may be chosen for a process called verification by the federal processor and/or the school at any point in the award year, even if you have already received financial aid funds. Students who are selected for verification must complete the verification process to remain eligible for federal funds. After completion of the verification process, your financial aid offer may change or be reduced because of a change in your Student Aid Index (SAI).

In order to complete the verification process, we may request additional documents. We will email you to let you know, and a list of required documents is also available on the Student Portal under Financials/Missing Documents. Be sure to respond as soon as possible – your financial aid could be delayed or canceled if you do not complete this process.  

When and how you receive your financial aid depends on the type of aid and whether you have completed all of the requirements. You are responsible for ensuring that your tuition bill is paid on time each semester, so you should check your Student Portal frequently.

Pending financial aid is shown on your tuition bill and may be subtracted from your amount due, provided that you complete all the requirements before the tuition due date.  These requirements include, but are not limited to, Entrance Counseling for Student Loans, Master Promissory Notes, and any documents shown as missing on the Document Required page on the Student Portal.  If you change your aid status, lose or cancel your aid due to Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, or fail to attend classes, you will be responsible for your full tuition bill without financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

You have the right to know:

• What financial assistance is available at the International Institute for Orthotics and Prosthetics, including federal, state, and institutional programs.

• The deadlines for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available.

• The terms and conditions of the various financial aid programs, including the criteria for continued eligibility for each program.

• The cost of attending International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics.

• International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics’s refund and withdrawal policies.

• The criteria used by the Financial Aid Office to select financial aid recipients.

• How your financial aid eligibility was determined, and what resources were considered in the calculation of your financial aid eligibility.

• How much of your financial need is unmet, as determined by the Financial Aid Office.

• What portion of the financial aid you receive must be repaid, and what portion is grant and therefore not repayable.

• How and when your financial aid will be disbursed.

• If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know the terms of the loan, such as the interest rate, the total amount to be repaid, cancellation provisions, the procedure for repayment, when the repayment is to begin, and deferment and forbearance possibilities and any special consolidation or refinancing options.

• How to appeal your financial aid offer if you feel there are special circumstances that were not originally taken into consideration.

• How International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid, what happens if you are not, and how to re-establish your eligibility for financial assistance.

You are responsible to:

• Read, retain, and understand all information supplied to you from the Financial Aid Office. If you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact the office.

• Promptly respond to inquiries or requests for information from the Financial Aid Office.

• Understand and comply with the terms and conditions of the aid you receive, including deadlines, continued eligibility, and application procedures.

• Inform the Financial Aid Office if you receive any type of additional financial assistance from an outside agency. By law, when determining your financial aid eligibility, the Financial Aid Office is required to consider all sources of funding.

• Supply accurate and thorough information on all forms submitted to the Financial Aid Office. Funds obtained on the basis of false information will have to be repaid and might subject you to penalties under the U.S. criminal code.

• Use financial aid funds only for educational expenses (tuition, fees, room, board, books, tools, supplies and other living costs).

• Notify the Financial Aid Office if your enrollment status changes.

• Report a change of address or name to the Operations Office. This will ensure the Financial Aid Office will have the most recent and accurate information.

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as prescribed by the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics policy on satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.

• If you borrow a federal loan, complete entrance counseling and exit counseling.

• If you borrow a loan, repay that loan. Failure to meet this obligation will adversely affect your credit rating and make you ineligible for future educational loans.

• If you borrow a loan, notify your lender or servicer of any changes in name or address while you are attending school and after you leave school.

Rights and Responsibilities specific to students receiving Title IV, HEA loans

The borrower’s rights include the following:

• written information on loan obligations and information on rights and responsibilities as a borrower;

• a copy of the MPN either before or at the time the loan is disbursed;

• a grace period and an explanation of what this means;

• a notification, if the U.S. Department of Education transfers the loan to another servicer without the borrower’s consent;

• a disclosure statement, received before beginning to repay the loan, that includes information about interest rates, fees, the balance owed, and a loan repayment schedule;

• deferment or forbearance of repayment for certain defined periods, if a borrower qualifies and if requested;

• prepay the loan in whole or in part anytime without an early-repayment penalty; and

• documentation when the loan is paid in full.

The borrower’s responsibilities are the following:

• completing exit counseling before leaving school or dropping below half-time enrollment;

• repaying the loan according to the repayment schedule even if the borrower does not complete the academic program, is dissatisfied with the education received, or is unable to find employment after graduation;

• notifying the lender or loan servicer if the borrower changes address, telephone number, name, social security number, and employer or its address or telephone number;

• making monthly payments on the loan after the grace period ends, unless the borrower has a deferment or forbearance; and

• notifying the lender or loan servicer of anything that might alter the borrower’s eligibility for an existing deferment or forbearance.

Cost of Attendance is the Financial Aid Office’s best estimate of the total allowable cost to attend a program at the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics. The full “Cost of Attendance” budget includes tuition, required fees, books, and projected average living/personal expenses, based on a four-semester program.

To help with planning for costs, we have included the Cost of Attendance for 2025-2026 for O&P students. Please note the Cost of Attendance is an estimate of the costs to attend The International Institute of Orthotics & Prosthetics. You will have some variances based on your individual situation.

Visit Cost of Attendance Page

Download 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance Budget Adjustment Guidelines