Atlantic Acting School participates in the Federal Student Aid program through the Department of Education. Students are eligible for Federal financial aid through FAFSA for the Certificate Program – 2 years: Acting. Atlantic Acting School is not a participating organization in the Plan 529 College Savings plan through the IRS.
Atlantic Acting School’s institution code is 042903.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions:
FAFSA Application Form
Students may be eligible for financial assistance under one or more of the federal programs. These programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loan. These programs are designed to assist students in meeting their educational expenses.
Students applying for financial aid are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
The FAFSA form is required to determine eligibility for all federal student financial aid, including non-need-based student and parent loans. Applicants should complete and submit the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov.
Any FAFSA selected for verification will require submission of additional documents prior to awarding. Only U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens qualify for aid through the Federal student aid program.
Financial aid applications are reviewed after an offer of admission has been made.
The suggested deadlines for completing the required FAFSA form and submitting necessary documents are as follows for the 2025-2026 academic year:
- November 30, 2024: For students applying during Atlantic’s Practical Aesthetics early application period
- March 1, 2025: For incoming students
- April 15, 2025: For all returning students
To receive financial aid for the 2025 – 2026 academic year, your FAFSA application should be completed by June 1, 2025.
If you are applying for admission to Atlantic Acting School, it is strongly recommended that you complete and submit your FAFSA form during your application process according to the suggested timeline above to expedite disbursement of federal aid.
As stated above, the FAFSA is also required to be considered for Atlantic Need-Based Scholarship.
All applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled or accepted to the Certificate Program – 2 Years: Acting (Evening Conservatory, and Spring and Summer programs are not eligible for Federal Student Aid).
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Have a valid social security number.
- Not be in default on any Federally-funded student loans or owe a refund on any federally-funded aid received at any institution.
- Have a valid high school diploma or a recognized equivalency such as GED.
- Maintain satisfactory progress in the program. Satisfactory progress is defined in the Student Handbook.
- The steps to apply for financial aid are listed below.
Click HERE to view the Federal Student Aid website for more information on the requirements you must meet to be eligible for Financial Aid.
Information Regarding Financial Aid
Step 1: Apply
Students wishing to receive financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
To complete the FAFSA, applicants (and guardians of the applicant if still a dependent) must first obtain an FSA ID from the Federal Student Aid Identification website. Then follow the instructions on the FAFSA to complete the form online. The following information will be helpful in completing the FAFSA:
- Federal Income Tax Return
- Parents’ or guardians’ Federal Income Tax Returns if the applicant is a dependent.
- Question 47 on the FAFSA should be answered “NO” regardless of what the applicant holds. The Department of Education recognizes Atlantic Acting School as an Undergraduate level of study for the purposes of Financial Aid.
- Atlantic Acting School’s institution code is 042903
To receive financial aid for the 2025 – 2026 academic year, your FAFSA application should be completed by June 1, 2025. When you are applying to Atlantic Acting School, it is strongly recommended that the applicant completes the FAFSA form during the application process.
INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS at Atlantic Acting School have a different set of criteria, which can be found on the Scholarships page.
Step 2: Review and Accept Awards
Review the award letter and determine which types of aid and amounts to accept. Then, follow all instructions for to complete acceptance of Federal Student Aid awards.
Step 3: Awards Disbursed
A full description of Atlantic Acting School’s loan and grant disbursement policy is below. The first disbursement of federal aid will be no earlier than thirty days after the first day of the enrollment period.
- Complete Entrance Loan Counseling – you are an Undergraduate student
- Login: Click here to log into the Federal Student Aid website
- Click On: Sign In (blue box) Enter your log in information and FSA ID
- Click On: Complete Entrance Counseling (2nd option)
- Select: Entrance Counseling (1st option)
- Select: New York State > Atlantic Acting School
- Select: Notify this school
- Select: I am completing entrance counseling to receive Direct Loans as an undergraduate student.
- Follow and Read all instructions carefully.
Atlantic Acting School will disburse your loan in at least two installments (one per term). No installment will be greater than half the amount of your loan for the school year. First year undergraduates who are also first time borrowers will receive a first disbursement 30 days after the first day of your enrollment period.
Federal PELL Grants are also disbursed in equal amounts for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Grant and Loan disbursements are first applied to your direct tuition costs for the designated term. Any amount of federal student aid received on behalf of a student (PELL grant, DIRECT Student Loans (SUB/UNSUB), Parent PLUS Loan) exceeding direct tuition costs for the student will be refunded to the student (parent/guardian), if applicable to be used for indirect school expenses (i.e. room, board, transportation, etc.).
Below is a brief description of each form of aid offered, but for more detailed information, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.
Federal Pell Grant
A grant for students with demonstrated financial need who have not obtained a bachelor’s or professional degree. These grants can award as much as $5775.00.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOGs)
A grant for undergraduate level students with demonstrated financial need. Those who will receive Pell Grants will receive an FSEOG first, which will be awarded between $100.00–4000.00.
Federal Stafford Loans
Low interest loans available to students regardless of degree status. Stafford loans maybe be Subsidized or Unsubsidized. Unsubsidized loans are available to all students without consideration of financial need while Subsidized loans are available to students with demonstrated financial need. Stafford loans do not enter repayment until six months after leaving the school. See the table below for loan limits.
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
Loans available to parents of non-degree holding dependents. Parents may take out up to the full tuition per year minus any other loans the student may accept from their award. Repayment generally begins within 60 days of loan disbursement.
Maximum Stafford Loan Limits
Eligibility for Stafford Loans depends on dependent/independent status, how many years of study they have completed, and can only be determined by completing the FAFSA.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions:
financialaid@atlantictheater.org
Please note: all documents submitted to the Atlantic Acting School for admission review are subject to verification.
Documents for verification may include the following:
- An official transcript or GED transcript
- Certificate of high school equivalency
- Documentation of completion of a state approved home school program
- DD-214
- Any other documents requested by the school to complete verification (i.e. identification documentation and post-secondary transcripts from previously attended institutions).
After the FAFSA is submitted (and any errors, flags, and/or verification issues have been resolved), a Financial Aid Award Letter will be issued detailing the amounts and types of financial aid to be awarded.
The student (and parent/guardian, if applicable) must follow all instructions on the Financial Aid Award Letter, the accompanying paperwork and communications with the Director of Financial Aid to receive Federal Student aid.
No Federal Student Aid eligibility can be determined until all FAFSA information is current, accurate and verified.
Further verification may be required if the U.S. Department of Education selects a student for validation of high school graduation. Those selected for verification are fully responsible for providing the requested documents. Failure to comply with the verification procedure within the time frame provided– or the submission of fraudulent documents – may result in denied admission or immediate dismissal from school.
Students must submit verification documentation within 5 business days of request or within the specified application deadline. Students failing to submit requested verification documents in time are ineligible for Financial Aid.
Approximately 3-4 business days after submitting the FAFSA online, the Atlantic Acting School’s Financial Aid Office will receive your FAFSA information in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR) electronically. Accepted and enrolled students will be contacted by the Director of Financial Aid within 7 business days regarding any necessary verification or corrections to the FAFSA information so that a Financial Aid Award Letter can be issued for the academic year they are applying/enrolling to attend.
If it has been more than 7 business days since you completed your FAFSA and you still have not received an award letter from the Financial Aid Office, then please contact FAFSA. (1-800-4FED-AID/1-800-433-3243) to be sure that your FAFSA is actually complete and was submitted to the Atlantic Acting School code.
Please Note: The school only issues Financial Aid Award Letters (after all corrections and errors have been resolved) for students who are accepted to or enrolled in the program.
How to contact Atlantic's Financial Aid Office
Director of Financial Aid: Heather Baird
- Phone: 212-691-5919
- Email: financialaid@atlantictheater.org
- Address: The Atlantic Acting School | Attn: Director of Financial Aid | 76 Ninth Avenue, Suite 313, NYC 10011
To better understand your aid requirements, be sure to use the following online resource:
- Click here for the Net Price Calculator.
All recipients of Federal Student Aid must maintain satisfactory progress as defined below or risk becoming ineligible to receive aid.
There are several criteria that affect a student’s ability to progress and continue in their training at Atlantic Acting School. These criteria include absences, grades, demonstrated progress, positive attitude and work ethic. Decisions on student retention and promotion are decided by the administration in close concert with the faculty. The same SAP requirements and guidelines are applied to all students, regardless of whether or not they receive financial aid.
Attendance Policies
Certificate Program – 2 Years: Acting:
Atlantic Acting School abides by a strict attendance policy.
SAP Requirements
In addition to the attendance requirements, students in the Conservatory Program are held to Satisfactory Academic Progress policies designed to ensure that students progress in their education according to the standards laid out by faculty members at the beginning of each semester. Each student is graded and reviewed against their prior work and achievement, active participation in class, and ability to work as an ensemble member.