Financial Aid
Source: https://www.cleary.edu/admissions/financial-aid
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:25
Financial Aid
800.686.1883
admissions@cleary.edu
Make a Gift
Apply Now
Apply Now
Cleary University
Nearly 98% of Cleary University students receive some form of financial aid.
The Office of Financial Aid encourages all students to apply even if they think they are not eligible, as assistance is available on a need and non-need basis. A FAFSA application must be completed to be considered for Cleary University institutional grants and scholarships.
Check Our Net Price Calculator
HOW TO PREPARE
GETTING STARTED
Research and understand all your financial aid options. Estimate your costs and learn how you can apply for aid.
CLICK HERE
APPLYING FOR AID
New and continuing students can apply for financial aid. Learn the next steps and review your financial aid package.
APPLY HERE
TYPES OF AID
Scholarships
Grants
Loans
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
MANAGING YOUR AID
Understanding your financial aid is key to staying on track. This page covers the essentials of your aid offer.
CLICK HERE
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Additional tools and information to help you further understand your financial aid.
MORE INFO
2026-2027 FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a critical tool that provides students with access to a wide range of financial resources to support their educational goals, including grants, scholarships, low-interest loans, and the federal work study program all designed to help offset the costs of attending a college or university. At Cleary University, the 2026-2027 FAFSA will cover the Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 semesters.
NOTE: The 25-26 FAFSA is still available until June 30th and can still be applied to the Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 Semesters
Call or schedule an appointment with a Cleary Financial Aid advisor if you have any questions! Phone 800-686-1883 or email
finaid@cleary.edu
. You can also reference the student aid help guide for more help
APPLY NOW
TUITION & FEES
Covers tuition, housing, and fees for all programs. Costs vary by credits, program type, and housing choice. Use to plan your yearly or semester budget.
Click Here
FERPA RELEASE
FERPA is a federal law that protects student education records. Students must complete this form to let parents or spouses access private info like billing, grades, and financial aid.
Click Here
Enrollment Deposit / Make a Payment
Need information on how to make a deposit during enrollment, or pay tuition or other fees. This is the right place.
Click Here
Net Price Calculator
This calculator estimates your net price - total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships - based on what similar students paid in a past year.
Click Here
Scholarships & Grants
Many scholarships and grants are available, but they can be hard to find. Cleary University is here to help you discover and apply for opportunities to make college more affordable.
Click Here
Contact The Financial Aid Team
(800) 686-1883 ext 5005
finaid@cleary.edu
| Fax: (517) 338-5041
Brandy Akers
Senior Financial Aid Coordinator
Renee Cauley
Financial Aid Advisor
Sage Erskine
Financial Aid Student Services Specialist II
Julea Fisher
Financial Aid Support Specialist
Trenton Okkonen
Financial Aid Student Services Specialist II
JoAnn L. Ross
Vice President of Financial Aid
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I adjust or return a loan I accepted?
If you wish to reduce or cancel a loan you previously accepted, you must complete a Loan Adjustment Form. Please contact the Financial Aid office to have this form sent to you. Note that there are time limits (typically 14 days from disbursement) for us to return funds on your behalf.
I dropped a class. Will this affect my financial aid?
Yes, your financial aid is often based on your enrollment status (e.g., full-time vs. part-time). If you drop below a certain number of credits, your aid package may be adjusted. Please consult with a Financial Aid Advisor before dropping classes!
How soon do I need to file the FAFSA, and should I still apply if I think my family makes too much money?
The sooner you fill out the FAFSA, the better. The application is free, and it’s not just a way to determine how much federal student aid you’ll receive. State governments, and some colleges and universities use information from the FAFSA to determine what state and institutional aid you qualify for. But state agencies and individual schools also have different deadlines to qualify for aid — so keep track of all of the deadlines, and get a head start. Even if your household income is too high for you to qualify for federal grants or work-study funds, the FAFSA is also used to determine federal student loan eligibility. There’s no harm in applying, and on average, it only takes 15 minutes to fill out the FAFSA.
When will I receive my refund?
If your financial aid covers more than what you owe for the semester, you are entitled to a refund of those funds. Once your loans have been disbursed by the Department of Education and added to your account, the business office will post a refund to your account. From the date of posting they then have 14 days to send those funds back to you.
If your refund is not because of a federal loan but from Institutional aid or an outside alternate loan, our Business Office may take 30-45 days to process your refund.
Setting up a direct deposit will make this process faster, if you do not have direct deposit setup then your check will be sent via mail. See our Direct Deposit Form in the forms above for instructions on setting up direct deposit with Cleary University.
How can I set myself up for success when repaying my student loans?
There are several different repayment plans for student loan borrowers. The best way to set yourself up for success is to pick the repayment plan that’s best for you to avoid falling into default. Once you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or leave school, your federal student loan goes into repayment. However, for most federal student loan types, you have a 6-month grace period before you are required to start making regular payments.
Note
: Not all federal student loans have an automatic grace period, and it helps to know which loans accrue interest during the grace-period. When your loan enters repayment, your servicer will automatically place you on the Standard Repayment Plan, but you can request a different repayment plan at any time. If you aren’t sure which repayment plan best fits your needs, visit
studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment
for more information. It’s also important to communicate with your student loan servicer and let them know if you need help in repayment. You can find out who your servicer is through the National Student Loan Data System for Students by selecting “Financial Aid Review.” or by logging into your studentaid.gov account they should be noted on your home dashboard.
Contact Us
Telephone Number
800.686.1883
Locations & Maps
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By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.
Cleary graduates use their business arts education to become the employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders who transform the marketplace…and the world.
Follow Us
Facebook-f
Twitter
Linkedin
Instagram
About Cleary
Other Information
Get in Touch with Us
HOWELL
Main Campus
3750 Cleary Dr.
Howell, MI 48843
800.686.1883
DETROIT
2470 Collingwood St.
Detroit, MI 48206
800.686.1883
Mon-Fri | 9am to 5pm
Sat-Sun | Closed
800.686.1883
admissions@cleary.edu
Get Started
Contact
Get Info
Visit
Give
Apply Now
Information
Current Students
Future Students
Faculty Resources
Alumni Relations
Quick Links
Canvas
Email
Student Portal
Library
Counseling
Faculty Portal
IT Help Desk
800.686.1883
admissions@cleary.edu
Make a Gift
Apply Now
Apply Now
Cleary University
Nearly 98% of Cleary University students receive some form of financial aid.
The Office of Financial Aid encourages all students to apply even if they think they are not eligible, as assistance is available on a need and non-need basis. A FAFSA application must be completed to be considered for Cleary University institutional grants and scholarships.
Check Our Net Price Calculator
HOW TO PREPARE
GETTING STARTED
Research and understand all your financial aid options. Estimate your costs and learn how you can apply for aid.
CLICK HERE
APPLYING FOR AID
New and continuing students can apply for financial aid. Learn the next steps and review your financial aid package.
APPLY HERE
TYPES OF AID
Scholarships
Grants
Loans
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
MANAGING YOUR AID
Understanding your financial aid is key to staying on track. This page covers the essentials of your aid offer.
CLICK HERE
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Additional tools and information to help you further understand your financial aid.
MORE INFO
2026-2027 FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a critical tool that provides students with access to a wide range of financial resources to support their educational goals, including grants, scholarships, low-interest loans, and the federal work study program all designed to help offset the costs of attending a college or university. At Cleary University, the 2026-2027 FAFSA will cover the Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 semesters.
NOTE: The 25-26 FAFSA is still available until June 30th and can still be applied to the Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 Semesters
Call or schedule an appointment with a Cleary Financial Aid advisor if you have any questions! Phone 800-686-1883 or email
finaid@cleary.edu
. You can also reference the student aid help guide for more help
APPLY NOW
TUITION & FEES
Covers tuition, housing, and fees for all programs. Costs vary by credits, program type, and housing choice. Use to plan your yearly or semester budget.
Click Here
FERPA RELEASE
FERPA is a federal law that protects student education records. Students must complete this form to let parents or spouses access private info like billing, grades, and financial aid.
Click Here
Enrollment Deposit / Make a Payment
Need information on how to make a deposit during enrollment, or pay tuition or other fees. This is the right place.
Click Here
Net Price Calculator
This calculator estimates your net price - total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships - based on what similar students paid in a past year.
Click Here
Scholarships & Grants
Many scholarships and grants are available, but they can be hard to find. Cleary University is here to help you discover and apply for opportunities to make college more affordable.
Click Here
Contact The Financial Aid Team
(800) 686-1883 ext 5005
finaid@cleary.edu
| Fax: (517) 338-5041
Brandy Akers
Senior Financial Aid Coordinator
Renee Cauley
Financial Aid Advisor
Sage Erskine
Financial Aid Student Services Specialist II
Julea Fisher
Financial Aid Support Specialist
Trenton Okkonen
Financial Aid Student Services Specialist II
JoAnn L. Ross
Vice President of Financial Aid
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I adjust or return a loan I accepted?
If you wish to reduce or cancel a loan you previously accepted, you must complete a Loan Adjustment Form. Please contact the Financial Aid office to have this form sent to you. Note that there are time limits (typically 14 days from disbursement) for us to return funds on your behalf.
I dropped a class. Will this affect my financial aid?
Yes, your financial aid is often based on your enrollment status (e.g., full-time vs. part-time). If you drop below a certain number of credits, your aid package may be adjusted. Please consult with a Financial Aid Advisor before dropping classes!
How soon do I need to file the FAFSA, and should I still apply if I think my family makes too much money?
The sooner you fill out the FAFSA, the better. The application is free, and it’s not just a way to determine how much federal student aid you’ll receive. State governments, and some colleges and universities use information from the FAFSA to determine what state and institutional aid you qualify for. But state agencies and individual schools also have different deadlines to qualify for aid — so keep track of all of the deadlines, and get a head start. Even if your household income is too high for you to qualify for federal grants or work-study funds, the FAFSA is also used to determine federal student loan eligibility. There’s no harm in applying, and on average, it only takes 15 minutes to fill out the FAFSA.
When will I receive my refund?
If your financial aid covers more than what you owe for the semester, you are entitled to a refund of those funds. Once your loans have been disbursed by the Department of Education and added to your account, the business office will post a refund to your account. From the date of posting they then have 14 days to send those funds back to you.
If your refund is not because of a federal loan but from Institutional aid or an outside alternate loan, our Business Office may take 30-45 days to process your refund.
Setting up a direct deposit will make this process faster, if you do not have direct deposit setup then your check will be sent via mail. See our Direct Deposit Form in the forms above for instructions on setting up direct deposit with Cleary University.
How can I set myself up for success when repaying my student loans?
There are several different repayment plans for student loan borrowers. The best way to set yourself up for success is to pick the repayment plan that’s best for you to avoid falling into default. Once you graduate, drop below half-time enrollment, or leave school, your federal student loan goes into repayment. However, for most federal student loan types, you have a 6-month grace period before you are required to start making regular payments.
Note
: Not all federal student loans have an automatic grace period, and it helps to know which loans accrue interest during the grace-period. When your loan enters repayment, your servicer will automatically place you on the Standard Repayment Plan, but you can request a different repayment plan at any time. If you aren’t sure which repayment plan best fits your needs, visit
studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment
for more information. It’s also important to communicate with your student loan servicer and let them know if you need help in repayment. You can find out who your servicer is through the National Student Loan Data System for Students by selecting “Financial Aid Review.” or by logging into your studentaid.gov account they should be noted on your home dashboard.
Contact Us
Telephone Number
800.686.1883
Locations & Maps
Facebook-f
By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.
Cleary graduates use their business arts education to become the employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders who transform the marketplace…and the world.
Follow Us
Facebook-f
About Cleary
Other Information
Get in Touch with Us
HOWELL
Main Campus
3750 Cleary Dr.
Howell, MI 48843
800.686.1883
DETROIT
2470 Collingwood St.
Detroit, MI 48206
800.686.1883
Mon-Fri | 9am to 5pm
Sat-Sun | Closed
800.686.1883
admissions@cleary.edu
Get Started
Contact
Get Info
Visit
Give
Apply Now
Information
Current Students
Future Students
Faculty Resources
Alumni Relations
Quick Links
Canvas
Student Portal
Library
Counseling
Faculty Portal
IT Help Desk