Informed Decisions

Make Informed Decisions

Kettering University and the federal government want to ensure you have as much information about loans. Below are some key details that you should review.

Student's right to know

You have the right to know the following information:

  • What financial aid programs are available.
  • Deadlines for submitting applications for aid.
  • How your financial aid will be distributed.
  • How your financial need was determined.
  • The College's refund policy.
  • What portion of your aid package is "gift aid" and what must be repaid.
  • The effect outside scholarships may have on your financial aid award.
  • If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know the interest rate, repayment amount and procedures, length of time to repay and when repayment begins.
  • How the college determines if you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens when you are not.
  • You have the right to accept, decline or seek adjustment to your financial aid award(s).
  • Information you give to the Office of Financial Aid will be treated confidentially.
  • You may contact the Office of Financial Aid if you believe that special conditions exist affecting your financial need that warrants an adjustment to your financial aid package. If you experience a change in family circumstances, such as loss of employment, death, separation or divorce, extremely high medical expenses that affect your ability to pay your educational costs, an appeal may be appropriate.

Student responsibilities

To receive financial aid, you have the following responsibilities:

  • Apply for financial aid every year.
  • Complete the FAFSA application form accurately and submit it on time.
  • Provide correct information. Information found to be knowingly falsified may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.
  • Provide all additional documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office.
  • Read all forms you sign.
  • Keep copies of all your financial aid records.
  • If required, you must register with the Selective Service System.
  • Complete the required entrance and exit loan counseling sessions.
  • Repay all loans in accordance with the terms of your promissory notes.
  • Notify your lender if any of the following occurs before your loan is repaid: change of name, change of address.
  • Notify the Financial Aid Office if you change your enrollment status (i.e. full-time to below full-time).

Fraud and Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when criminals gain access to personal data such as names, social security numbers, and bank and credit card information. Using the stolen data, the criminal can fraudulently obtain credit cards, establish cellular phone accounts and more.

Reduce Your Risk When Applying for Aid

  • After completing the FAFSA online, exit the application and close the browser; any cookies created during your session will be deleted automatically.
  • Don’t tell anyone your Federal Student Aid PIN, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA.
  • Review your financial aid award documents and keep track of the amounts applied for and awarded.
  • Never give personal information over the phone or Internet unless you made the contact. If you have questions about a solicitation or about your student loan account, call (800) 4-FED-AID.
  • Federal Student Aid securely stores your information on the National Student Loan Data System. However, if you complete or even request a student loan application from a lender, you may be granting the lender permission to access your file. Before providing personal information to an organization, review its privacy policy.
  • Shred receipts and documents with personal information if they are no longer needed.
  • Immediately report all lost or stolen identification to the issuer and to the police, if appropriate.

Don’t Pay for the FAFSA
Several websites offer help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that is provided free elsewhere. The official FAFSA is at studentaid.gov. You can get free help through the FAFSA's online help or from the financial aid administrator at your college.

If you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA online, you are not at the official government site. Remember, the FAFSA site address has .gov in it.

Save Your Money Don’t Pay for Help to Find Money for College

Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers or online:

  • Buy now or miss this opportunity.

Don't give in to pressure tactics. Remember, the opportunity is a chance to pay for information you could find yourself for free. We’ve provided a list of free sources.

  • We guarantee you’ll get aid.

A company could claim it fulfilled its promise if you were offered student loans or a $200 scholarship. Is that worth a fee of $1,000 or more?

  • I’ve got aid for you; give me your credit card or bank account number.

Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate. You could be putting yourself at risk of identity theft.

Report Fraud and Identity Theft

A company charging for financial aid advice is not committing fraud unless it doesn’t deliver what it promises. For more information about financial aid fraud or to report fraud, call the Federal Trade Commission toll free at (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), or go to www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

If you suspect that your student information has been stolen, it is important to act quickly. These offices will help you determine which steps to take depending on your situation.

  • U.S. Department of Education

Office of Inspector General Hotline
(800) MIS-USED (800-647-8733)
Complain online: www.ed.gov/misused

  • Federal Trade Commission

(877)-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)
Complain online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft

Exit Loan Counseling

Kettering University is required to ensure that you receive exit counseling before you graduate or withdraw.  

This requirement is in place so that you will receive essential information regarding your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. You will receive information about the types of loans you received, when and where to make your payments, what to do if you cannot make your payments and what can happen if you do not make your payments. 

Exit counseling may be completed online. To complete your counseling, locate the type of loan(s) you borrowed and follow the link indicated.

If you have a Federal Direct loan, you can complete exit counseling online by visiting the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at http://nsldsfap.ed.gov/.

  • Select the "Exit Counseling" link.
  • Click the "Start" button beneath "Loan Exit Counseling."

Follow the instructions to complete the counseling.

National Student Loan Data System

The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. It receives data from schools, agencies that guaranty loans, the Direct Loan program, and other U.S. Department of Education programs. NSLDS provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants that are tracked through their entire cycle; from aid approval through closure.

You can use the NSLDS Student Access Website to make inquiries about your Title IV loans and/or grants. The site displays information on loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, loan statuses, and disbursements. 

In order to use the NSLDS Student Access web site, you will need to provide your Social Security number (SSN), the first two letters of your last name, your date of birth, and your PIN (formerly known as EAC).

Financial Aid Code of Conduct

The Financial Aid Office adheres to NASFAA’s Code of Ethical Principles.

  1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.

a. Employees within the financial aid office will abstain from awarding aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Instead, this responsibility will be delegated to a designated individual within the institution. By doing so, we aim to eliminate any appearance of favoritism or conflict of interest.

b. In the event of a preferred lender list, it will be compiled without any bias and solely for the benefit of the students attending the institution. The information provided about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, comprehensive, and accurate. The complete process for selecting preferred lenders will be fully disclosed to the public. Furthermore, borrowers will have the freedom to choose any lender they prefer, even if they are not included on the institution's preferred lender list.

c. No employee, officer, or agent of Kettering University will have any arrangement with a lender that results in the lender paying a fee or other benefits, including a share of profits, to the school, its officers, employees, or agents, in exchange for loan referrals, concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of loans, or inclusion on a preferred lender list, or preferential treatment.

d. The institution will not deny, hinder, or unnecessarily delay a borrower's choice of lender, regardless of whether that lender is included on the preferred lender list.

e. Financial aid staff members are prohibited from accepting cash, gifts, or benefits exceeding a de minimis amount from any financial aid applicant, their family, or any entity seeking or conducting business with the institution. This includes refraining from accepting compensation for serving on advisory committees or boards, except for reasonable expense reimbursements directly associated with such service.

Prohibited gifts include, but are not limited to:

  • transportation
  • lodging
  • meals
  • entertainment
  • discounts
  • loans
  • favors or any other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount
  1. The law does provide for some exceptions related to specific types of activities or literature:
  • Brochures or training material related to default aversion or financial literacy
  • Food, training, or informational materials as part of training as long as that training contributes to the professional development of those individuals attending the training
  • Entrance and exit counseling as long as the institution's staff are in control, and they do not promote the services of a specific lender
  • Philanthropic contributions from a lender or servicer unrelated to education loans
  • State education, grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds administered by or on behalf of the State
  1. All information provided by the financial aid office will be accurate, unbiased, and devoid of any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  2. Institutional financial aid offers and other materials provided by the institution will include the following details:
  • A breakdown of estimated individual Cost of Attendance components, distinguishing between direct costs billed by the institution and indirect costs not billed by the institution.
  • Clear identification and proper categorization of each type of aid offered, specifying whether it is a grant/scholarship, loan, or work program.
  • An estimated net cost worksheet to help students understand their financial obligations.
  • Renewal requirements for the offered financial aid.
  • Contact information for the financial aid office.
  1. All required consumer information is displayed on the institutional website, Consumer Information
  2. A Financial Aid Glossary of Term is available on the institutional website, Financial Aid Glossary.
  3. Financial aid professionals will promptly disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity that the institution has a business relationship with. This commitment to transparency ensures that any potential conflicts are brought to light and appropriately addressed.
  4. No employee of Kettering University may receive anything of value from a lender, guarantor, or group in exchange for serving on advisory boards. They may, however, accept reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred while serving in this capacity.

This FA Code of Conduct is based on the NASFAA Code of Conduct

Cohort Default Rate

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year. 

Listed below is Kettering University’s 3-YEAR Cohort Default Rate: 

  • FY2019 = 0.5% (Michigan average is 14.4% and national average is 11.5% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)
  • FY2018 = 2.2% (Michigan average is 12.2% and national average is 10.8% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)
  • FY2017 = 2.7% (Michigan average is 11.5% and national average is 10.1% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)

Please refer to the Cohort Default Rate Guide for a more in-depth description of cohort default rates and how the rates are calculated.

Official Cohort Default Rates

Cohort Default Rate Guide

  • Student's right to know

    Student's right to know

    You have the right to know the following information:

    • What financial aid programs are available.
    • Deadlines for submitting applications for aid.
    • How your financial aid will be distributed.
    • How your financial need was determined.
    • The College's refund policy.
    • What portion of your aid package is "gift aid" and what must be repaid.
    • The effect outside scholarships may have on your financial aid award.
    • If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know the interest rate, repayment amount and procedures, length of time to repay and when repayment begins.
    • How the college determines if you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens when you are not.
    • You have the right to accept, decline or seek adjustment to your financial aid award(s).
    • Information you give to the Office of Financial Aid will be treated confidentially.
    • You may contact the Office of Financial Aid if you believe that special conditions exist affecting your financial need that warrants an adjustment to your financial aid package. If you experience a change in family circumstances, such as loss of employment, death, separation or divorce, extremely high medical expenses that affect your ability to pay your educational costs, an appeal may be appropriate.
  • Student responsibilities

    Student responsibilities

    To receive financial aid, you have the following responsibilities:

    • Apply for financial aid every year.
    • Complete the FAFSA application form accurately and submit it on time.
    • Provide correct information. Information found to be knowingly falsified may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.
    • Provide all additional documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office.
    • Read all forms you sign.
    • Keep copies of all your financial aid records.
    • If required, you must register with the Selective Service System.
    • Complete the required entrance and exit loan counseling sessions.
    • Repay all loans in accordance with the terms of your promissory notes.
    • Notify your lender if any of the following occurs before your loan is repaid: change of name, change of address.
    • Notify the Financial Aid Office if you change your enrollment status (i.e. full-time to below full-time).
  • Fraud and Identity Theft

    Fraud and Identity Theft

    Identity theft occurs when criminals gain access to personal data such as names, social security numbers, and bank and credit card information. Using the stolen data, the criminal can fraudulently obtain credit cards, establish cellular phone accounts and more.

    Reduce Your Risk When Applying for Aid

    • After completing the FAFSA online, exit the application and close the browser; any cookies created during your session will be deleted automatically.
    • Don’t tell anyone your Federal Student Aid PIN, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA.
    • Review your financial aid award documents and keep track of the amounts applied for and awarded.
    • Never give personal information over the phone or Internet unless you made the contact. If you have questions about a solicitation or about your student loan account, call (800) 4-FED-AID.
    • Federal Student Aid securely stores your information on the National Student Loan Data System. However, if you complete or even request a student loan application from a lender, you may be granting the lender permission to access your file. Before providing personal information to an organization, review its privacy policy.
    • Shred receipts and documents with personal information if they are no longer needed.
    • Immediately report all lost or stolen identification to the issuer and to the police, if appropriate.

    Don’t Pay for the FAFSA
    Several websites offer help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. We urge you not to pay these sites for assistance that is provided free elsewhere. The official FAFSA is at studentaid.gov. You can get free help through the FAFSA's online help or from the financial aid administrator at your college.

    If you are asked for your credit card information while filling out the FAFSA online, you are not at the official government site. Remember, the FAFSA site address has .gov in it.

    Save Your Money Don’t Pay for Help to Find Money for College

    Commercial financial aid advice services can cost well over $1,000. You might have heard or seen these claims at seminars, over the phone from telemarketers or online:

    • Buy now or miss this opportunity.

    Don't give in to pressure tactics. Remember, the opportunity is a chance to pay for information you could find yourself for free. We’ve provided a list of free sources.

    • We guarantee you’ll get aid.

    A company could claim it fulfilled its promise if you were offered student loans or a $200 scholarship. Is that worth a fee of $1,000 or more?

    • I’ve got aid for you; give me your credit card or bank account number.

    Never give out a credit card or bank account number unless you know the organization you are giving it to is legitimate. You could be putting yourself at risk of identity theft.

    Report Fraud and Identity Theft

    A company charging for financial aid advice is not committing fraud unless it doesn’t deliver what it promises. For more information about financial aid fraud or to report fraud, call the Federal Trade Commission toll free at (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), or go to www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams.

    If you suspect that your student information has been stolen, it is important to act quickly. These offices will help you determine which steps to take depending on your situation.

    • U.S. Department of Education

    Office of Inspector General Hotline
    (800) MIS-USED (800-647-8733)
    Complain online: www.ed.gov/misused

    • Federal Trade Commission

    (877)-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)
    Complain online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft

  • Exit Loan Counseling

    Exit Loan Counseling

    Kettering University is required to ensure that you receive exit counseling before you graduate or withdraw.  

    This requirement is in place so that you will receive essential information regarding your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. You will receive information about the types of loans you received, when and where to make your payments, what to do if you cannot make your payments and what can happen if you do not make your payments. 

    Exit counseling may be completed online. To complete your counseling, locate the type of loan(s) you borrowed and follow the link indicated.

    If you have a Federal Direct loan, you can complete exit counseling online by visiting the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at http://nsldsfap.ed.gov/.

    • Select the "Exit Counseling" link.
    • Click the "Start" button beneath "Loan Exit Counseling."

    Follow the instructions to complete the counseling.

  • National Student Loan Data System

    National Student Loan Data System

    The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. It receives data from schools, agencies that guaranty loans, the Direct Loan program, and other U.S. Department of Education programs. NSLDS provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants that are tracked through their entire cycle; from aid approval through closure.

    You can use the NSLDS Student Access Website to make inquiries about your Title IV loans and/or grants. The site displays information on loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, loan statuses, and disbursements. 

    In order to use the NSLDS Student Access web site, you will need to provide your Social Security number (SSN), the first two letters of your last name, your date of birth, and your PIN (formerly known as EAC).

  • Financial Aid Code of Conduct

    Financial Aid Code of Conduct

    The Financial Aid Office adheres to NASFAA’s Code of Ethical Principles.

    1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.

    a. Employees within the financial aid office will abstain from awarding aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Instead, this responsibility will be delegated to a designated individual within the institution. By doing so, we aim to eliminate any appearance of favoritism or conflict of interest.

    b. In the event of a preferred lender list, it will be compiled without any bias and solely for the benefit of the students attending the institution. The information provided about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, comprehensive, and accurate. The complete process for selecting preferred lenders will be fully disclosed to the public. Furthermore, borrowers will have the freedom to choose any lender they prefer, even if they are not included on the institution's preferred lender list.

    c. No employee, officer, or agent of Kettering University will have any arrangement with a lender that results in the lender paying a fee or other benefits, including a share of profits, to the school, its officers, employees, or agents, in exchange for loan referrals, concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of loans, or inclusion on a preferred lender list, or preferential treatment.

    d. The institution will not deny, hinder, or unnecessarily delay a borrower's choice of lender, regardless of whether that lender is included on the preferred lender list.

    e. Financial aid staff members are prohibited from accepting cash, gifts, or benefits exceeding a de minimis amount from any financial aid applicant, their family, or any entity seeking or conducting business with the institution. This includes refraining from accepting compensation for serving on advisory committees or boards, except for reasonable expense reimbursements directly associated with such service.

    Prohibited gifts include, but are not limited to:

    • transportation
    • lodging
    • meals
    • entertainment
    • discounts
    • loans
    • favors or any other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount
    1. The law does provide for some exceptions related to specific types of activities or literature:
    • Brochures or training material related to default aversion or financial literacy
    • Food, training, or informational materials as part of training as long as that training contributes to the professional development of those individuals attending the training
    • Entrance and exit counseling as long as the institution's staff are in control, and they do not promote the services of a specific lender
    • Philanthropic contributions from a lender or servicer unrelated to education loans
    • State education, grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds administered by or on behalf of the State
    1. All information provided by the financial aid office will be accurate, unbiased, and devoid of any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
    2. Institutional financial aid offers and other materials provided by the institution will include the following details:
    • A breakdown of estimated individual Cost of Attendance components, distinguishing between direct costs billed by the institution and indirect costs not billed by the institution.
    • Clear identification and proper categorization of each type of aid offered, specifying whether it is a grant/scholarship, loan, or work program.
    • An estimated net cost worksheet to help students understand their financial obligations.
    • Renewal requirements for the offered financial aid.
    • Contact information for the financial aid office.
    1. All required consumer information is displayed on the institutional website, Consumer Information
    2. A Financial Aid Glossary of Term is available on the institutional website, Financial Aid Glossary.
    3. Financial aid professionals will promptly disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity that the institution has a business relationship with. This commitment to transparency ensures that any potential conflicts are brought to light and appropriately addressed.
    4. No employee of Kettering University may receive anything of value from a lender, guarantor, or group in exchange for serving on advisory boards. They may, however, accept reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred while serving in this capacity.

    This FA Code of Conduct is based on the NASFAA Code of Conduct

  • Cohort Default Rate

    Cohort Default Rate

    A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year. 

    Listed below is Kettering University’s 3-YEAR Cohort Default Rate: 

    • FY2019 = 0.5% (Michigan average is 14.4% and national average is 11.5% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)
    • FY2018 = 2.2% (Michigan average is 12.2% and national average is 10.8% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)
    • FY2017 = 2.7% (Michigan average is 11.5% and national average is 10.1% which includes all public, private and for-profit institutions)

    Please refer to the Cohort Default Rate Guide for a more in-depth description of cohort default rates and how the rates are calculated.

    Official Cohort Default Rates

    Cohort Default Rate Guide

The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programs (including Kettering University) to disclose certain information to current and prospective students.