Financial Aid Guide

This guide to the financial aid process is designed to simplify a complex procedure so students will have the best opportunity to receive the aid for which they are qualified.

This guide provides information about the different financial aid programs available through The Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing. To help understand the terms used, please refer to the "Financial Aid Glossary." A "Financial Aid Checklist" is also included to help students meet important dates and deadlines.

It is hoped that this is a helpful resource in answering financial aid questions. Should additional questions arise, please contact the School of Nursing financial aid office at (412) 578-5537.

Financial Aid

Many factors go into a decision to pursue a career in nursing, including financing nursing education. A nursing education is likely to be one of the largest investments a student and his or her family make. Early and realistic financial planning is critical to ensure that adequate funds are available for education at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing. The financial aid office is committed to helping students and their families explore all available forms of assistance to help offset these educational costs.

Should I Apply for Aid?
Yes! It is in the student's best interest to apply for financial aid. The federal and state guidelines are complicated and the criteria for eligibility are such that it is difficult for any individual to determine whether he or she qualifies. A student who decides not to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is deciding that he or she needs no assistance in financing nursing education.

How to Apply for Financial Aid
Students who wish to apply for any type of financial aid (grants and/or loans) will be required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This one application will be used to determine all grant and loan eligibility. It is imperative that this form be filed as soon as possible. The application is available after the first of the year in high school guidance counselor offices, banks, public libraries, college/university financial aid offices, on the Internet (www.fafsa.ed.gov), or by contacting the School of Nursing financial aid office.

Aid Available at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing

Financial aid at the School of Nursing is divided into two categories: gift aid and loans. The gift aid programs include state and federal grants and scholarships. The financial aid office places a priority on assisting students in obtaining gift aid before discussing loan eligibility.

GRANTS

There are two grant programs offered through the School of Nursing: Federal Pell grants and PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) grants. Both of these programs can be applied for by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by the required deadline.

Federal Pell Grant

• Program is funded by the federal government.
• Application is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Students must demonstrate financial need as determined by the U.S. Department of Education's need analysis system.
• Student must not have previously obtained a bachelor's degree.
• Pell grant application deadline is June 30 of the school year for which aid is requested.

Pell grant helpful hints:

• After the application has been reviewed, the applicant will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) if the FAFSA was submitted on paper or an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) if the FAFSA was submitted electronically.  The SAR/ISIR details the information the student provided on the original application.
• Review the SAR/ISIR for inaccuracies. If the SAR/ISIR is incorrect, correct the necessary items, complete, sign, and return to the address indicated or via the Internet.
• If the SAR/ISIR is correct, retain a copy.
• If your SAR/ISIR has been selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, you will be notified by the School of Nursing to forward, within 30 days, a signed copy of your and/or your parent's previous year's federal income tax return, W2 forms, and verification forms.  No aid will be awarded without the completion of the verification.  The School of Nursing verifies 100% of students selected.

PHEAA Grant

• Program is funded by the state of Pennsylvania.
• Application is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• Students must demonstrate financial need as determined by PHEAA's need analysis system.
• Must maintain at least half-time undergraduate enrollment status without having received a bachelor's degree.
• Available to residents of Pennsylvania only; "Residency" is defined as 12 consecutive months of residency in Pennsylvania as a non-student prior to filing the FAFSA.
• PHEAA deadlines:
  • May 1 if the student had grants the previous year
  • August 1 for first-time applicants
  • File as early as possible after January 1.

Notification of award eligibility will be made by PHEAA to the student when the application process is complete.

PHEAA grant history is checked annually before the Fall Term, for satisfaction of academic progress requirements.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships Award Disbursement Policy
Awards will be disbursed according to the stipulations expressed by the award. If there are no stipulations, awards will be disbursed at the discretion of the director.

School of Nursing Scholarships

The Western Pennsylvania School of Nursing Alumni Award

• Up to three $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to first-year students based on academic achievement, essay and financial need.
• Student must have achieved ranking in the top two-fifths of her or his high school graduating class with a minimum total SAT score of 1000.
• Funds will be awarded in equal disbursements over the length of the academic year.
• Eligible students will be mailed an application by the School's financial aid office.

Hazel Gearhart Scholarship

• Maximum of two $500 scholarships available to second-year students.
• Eligible candidates must achieve the highest grade point average for nursing courses with above average clinical performance as determined by faculty at the completion of the first year of the School of Nursing program.

Donna Bigley Memorial Scholarship

• Second year nursing student.
• Top 20% of the first year of nursing school class based on cumulative GPA.
• Completion of essay regarding the student's philosophy of nursing and why the student chose the nursing profession.

Outside Scholarships

Department of Veterans Affairs/  United Mine Workers/  Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Financial aid is available for students who qualify for these programs. Eligible applicants should contact the local office of these agencies for information. Veteran's benefits are available for students who have served in the U.S. Armed Services under the Montgomery G.I. Bill or who are sons or daughters of disabled or deceased veterans.

National Service Organizations, Businesses, Corporations, Fraternal Organizations, Women's Clubs and Other Community Groups
Many clubs and organizations have scholarship funds available for students with varying qualifications. Applicants should contact these organizations in their local communities.

Contact your high school guidance counselor, public library or the Internet for other scholarship opportunities for which you may be eligible.

LOANS

Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for student loans. The filing of this application will generate a "need analysis" necessary to compute expected family contribution. The expected family contribution is the financial amount that the family (student plus parent or spouse, if applicable) is expected to be able to contribute toward the student's educational costs. The formula used to calculate the family contribution is set by the federal government.

Stafford Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Additional Unsubsidized)

• Long-term low-interest loan program available through the federal government.
• Maximum amounts available for subsidized and unsubsidized loans are $2,625 for the first academic year and $3,500 for the second academic year.
• Maximum amount available for additional unsubsidized loans for independent students and dependent students whose parents are denied a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is the lesser of the cost of education minus financial aid (includes subsidized eligibility) and $4,000.
• New borrower interest rate varies annually, not to exceed 8.25%.
• Student must attend at least half-time.
• Student must demonstrate need through an approved need analysis system.
• Students must not be in default with previous loans.
• Applications are available from commercial lenders, credit unions and through the AES/PHEAA Loan Division.
• Loan repayment or withdrawal begins 6 months after graduation unless a deferment is necessary.

Federal PLUS

• Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students.
• Dependent students' parents are eligible for the PLUS.
• Interest rate for this loan varies annually, not to exceed 9%.
• Maximum amount available is the cost of education minus all financial aid.
• PLUS borrowers do not have to show need, but must have credit approval.
• Borrowers must not be in default on previous loans.
• Loan repayment begins 60 days after final loan disbursement.

Loan Deadlines and Helpful Hints

• To apply for a Stafford Loan and have the funds for the beginning of the school year, please complete, sign and mail the application according to instructions by June 1.
• To avoid delay in processing, promptly submit signed copies of federal income tax forms and W2 forms if requested by the school.
• Contact the financial aid office at the School of Nursing with any questions regarding loan eligibility.

Prior Post-Secondary Education
Federal regulations require that all transfer students and students who have had any post-secondary education must have their financial aid history verified prior to the awarding of any aid. The School of Nursing does this electronically via the National Student Loan Data Service (NSLDS) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Special Conditions

Any change to the student's (or the student's family's) financial status during the school year should be reported to the financial aid officer at the School of Nursing. Requests to reevaluate the student's financial aid package must be made in writing. The following situations could affect eligibility for financial aid:

• unemployment (student, parent or spouse)
• change in marital status of student or parents
• death of parent or spouse
• loss of unemployment benefits
• loss of untaxed income

Continued Eligibility

Continuation or renewal of state or federal aid is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. (Refer to the Academic Policies section for more detailed information on academic progress.) If enrollment is interrupted or terminated for any reason, financial aid and loan refunds and repayments will be calculated according to federal guidelines and School policy. Costs for repeat courses in the same school year are at the student's expense. Students are eligible to reapply for aid as detailed in the School's Financial Aid Policy/Procedure Manual, which is available from the financial aid office.

Student Rights

You have the right to know what financial aid programs are available at your school.

You have the right to know the deadlines for submitting applications for each of the programs available.

You have the right to know how financial aid will be distributed, how decisions are made, and the basis for these decisions.

You have the right to know how your financial need was determined. This includes how costs for tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, uniforms/shoes, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc., are considered in your budget.

You have the right to know how much of your financial need has been met as determined by the financial aid office at your school.

You have the right to know what resources ( such as parental contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) were considered in the calculation of your need.

You have the right to request an explanation of the various programs in your student aid package.

You have the right to know your school's refund policy.

You have the right to know what portion of the financial aid you received must be repaid. If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know the interest rate, the total to be repaid, the length of time you have to repay estimated payment amounts, and the right to cancel loans for the current school year.

You have the right under the Stafford Loan Program, if you cannot meet the repayment schedule, to request that the loan payments be reduced for a specific period of time if it will assist you in avoiding default.

You have the right to know how the school determines whether you are making academic progress, and what happens if you are not.

Student Responsibilities

You must complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the right place.

You must provide correct information. In most instances, misreporting information on financial aid applications is a violation of law.

You must return all additional documentation, verification, corrections and/or new information requested by either the School's financial aid officer or the agency to which you submitted your application.

You are responsible for reading and understanding all forms that you are asked to sign and for keeping copies of them.

You must accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign.

You must be aware of and comply with deadlines for application and/or reapplication for aid.

You should be aware of your school's refund policy. All schools must provide information to prospective students about the school's programs and performance. You should consider this information carefully before deciding to attend a school.

As a loan recipient you must notify the lender in writing if any of the following occur:

• change of address
• graduation or change of graduation date
• withdrawal from school
• drop to less than half-time enrollment
• name change
• transfer to another school
• change in employment status and/or employer

Financial Aid Checklist

Financial Aid Glossary

Financial aid has its own unique vocabulary. Many of the terms in this Financial Aid Guide are defined below:

Cost of Attendance
The estimated cost of attendance for an institution usually includes tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, uniforms/shoes, personal and miscellaneous expenses.

Dependent Student
A dependent student is one who must report her or his own income information and also the income information of her or his parents. A dependent student is one who does not fall into one of the categories given under the definition of an independent student (see below).

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The expected family contribution is the amount the student and/or the student's family are expected to contribute to the student's education from income and assets. The contribution amount is based on a federal government formula adopted by Congress. The expected family contribution will be the same for any school to which the student applies.

Financial Aid Transcript (FAT)
The financial aid transcript (FAT) is used by post-secondary institutions to collect data regarding financial aid awards from previous schools attended. This information is accessed electronically via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
This paper or electronic application for federal and state financial aid must be completed annually according to deadlines established by the U.S. Department of Education, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), and the School.

Independent Student
An independent student is one who reports only her or his income information (and spouse's, if married) when applying for student aid. A student is automatically considered independent if she or he is at least 24 years old as of December 31. Those less than 24 years old as of December 31 of the first year of enrollment are considered independent if they fall into one of the following categories:

• Single, undergraduate with no dependents, and not claimed on parent's past     2 years' U.S. income tax returns. Also, the student must demonstrate self sufficiency by having proof of income according to limits set by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (AES/PHEAA).
• Married and not claimed as a dependent on the student's parent's tax return
• Students with legal dependents other than spouse for whom the student is providing at least 50% support
• Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces
• Orphan or ward of the court

Need Analysis
Need analysis is a system used to estimate a student applicant's need for financial assistance to help meet her or his educational expenses.

Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory academic progress is the requirement of a financial aid recipient to fulfill a specified educational objective within a specific time frame as defined by the institution and/or the aid agency.

Student Aid Report (SAR)/Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR)
The Student Aid Report (SAR) or Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), if the FAFSA is submitted electronically, is the official notification of the results of the Pell grant application. The report, usually three to four pages long, is mailed or e-mailed directly to the student from the U.S. Department of Education.

Financial Policies

Pre-Entrance Expenses

A non-refundable fee of $50 must accompany the application.

The applicant must pay for required laboratory studies, the physical examination, and clearances.

To reserve a place in the School of Nursing, accepted students must pay a non-refundable $95 enrollment confirmation fee within three weeks of receiving their acceptance letter.

Tuition, Fees and Rent
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing reserves the right to change tuition, fees, rent and other expenses.

The tuition and fees listed below for the School of Nursing program are for the 2005-2006 school year. Tuition, fees and rent are subject to change.

⁽¹⁾Non-refundable library/test fees.
⁽²⁾Clarion University tuition and fees are estimates.
⁽³⁾Non-refundable clinical lab. fee.
⁽⁴⁾Non-refundable ACLS fee.

  
⁽¹⁾ Non-refundable library/test fees.
⁽²⁾ Clarion University tuition and fees are estimates.
⁽³⁾ Non-refundable clinical lab. fee.
⁽⁴⁾ Non-refundable ACLS fee.
⁽⁵⁾ Graduation fee.
⁽⁶⁾ Non-refundable NCLEX Review Course fee.

Notes
⁽¹⁾ Library, test, and student activity fees are paid on the first day of each Fall Term. The library fee covers the cost of use and maintenance of the Learning Center. The test fee covers the cost of administration of standardized nursing achievement examinations.  The annual activity fee is included for student activities and membership in the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP).

⁽²⁾ Students pay tuition directly to the college or university for college courses. The college or university determines the tuition costs and course withdrawal policies.

⁽³⁾ A clinical lab. fee is paid on the first day of the Winter Term of the First Year. This fee covers some of the cost of medical equipment and supplies used during clinical practice lab.

⁽⁴⁾ An advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) course fee is paid on the first day of the Summer Term of the First Year. The ACLS fee covers the cost of the ACLS certification course, required in Acute Health Alterations of the Adult.

⁽⁵⁾ A graduation fee is paid on the first day of the Winter Term of the Second Year. The graduation fee covers the cost of diploma and announcement printing, basic school pin, and sitting charge for class picture.

⁽⁶⁾ An NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) Review Course fee is paid the first day of the Spring and Summer terms of the second year.

Rent charges for the year are $500 per 10-week term. Rent charges are subject to change. A security deposit of $150 is due upon checking into the Nurses' Residence. Checks are made payable to "The Western Pennsylvania Hospital." The amount of security deposit returned is based upon the condition of the room at the time of the room check. If rent is not paid on the due date or on an alternate date arranged with the financial aid officer, the student will be asked to move out of the Nurses' Residence.

Students pay rent (if applicable) and nursing course tuition and fees on or by the first day of each term.

A late fee of $25 is assessed if any payment is not received on the due date.

Students may not continue in a nursing course until all required payments are made.

Students who repeat nursing courses for any reason will pay the current tuition rate. Applicable fees will be prorated.

An outside collection agency will pursue a student's delinquent account if the collection efforts of the Financial Aid Office are unsuccessful.

Tuition/Rent/Fees Refund Policy

A student without financial aid who withdraws from the School of Nursing or moves out of the Nurses' Residence while the term is in session will receive a refund proportional to the percent of calendar days remaining of the term (i.e., if 10% of the calendar days are completed, 90% of the charges are refundable). After 60% completion, no refund will be given.

A student with federal financial aid who withdraws is eligible for a refund using the federally mandated 'Return of Title IV Funds' policy, which is on file in the Financial Aid Office.

Refunds for college or university tuition are determined by that institution. If the student has financial aid, the refund is determined by the Financial Aid Office of the School of Nursing. The library, test, clinical lab fee and ACLS fees are non-refundable.

Summary of Expenses

Typical Student Budget (in dollars)

Estimated Expenses ⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ Estimates are based on student surveys.
⁽²⁾ Preadmission costs of the physical examination
     and required diagnostic studies are not included.
⁽³⁾ Non-refundable.