IMPORTANT….PLEASE READ

Online Award Letter FAQs: 

The answers to many frequently-asked Award Letter questions (FAQs) can be found online at www.lhup.edu/financial-services.

 Award Amounts: 

            Please note that any awards listed in the Award Letter are subject to change.  Should your awards be adjusted, you will be notified in writing.  Awards may be adjusted for various reasons including federal verification review (see below) and changes in housing and/or enrollment status.

About Estimated ACG Grants (New Students):

            Your financial aid package may include an estimated Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) if you are Pell Grant eligible and if you indicated on the FAFSA that you completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.  Upon receipt of your final, official high school transcript, Lock Haven University will review your high school coursework to determine whether or not you actually qualify for ACG.  If you do not qualify for this grant, Student Financial Services will notify you accordingly.  

About Estimated PA State Grants:

                The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will begin notifying students of their actual PA State Grant awards in mid-May.  All students who are undergraduate PA residents, who have not yet earned a first baccalaureate degree, should have received an “Application Complete” notice from PHEAA by now.  Any student who has not received this notice should contact PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392 to inquire about the status of his PA State Grant application.

About Federal Stafford Loans:

                By indicating interest in student loans in Step One of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a student has requested a Federal Stafford Loan.  This begins the Stafford Loan application process.  Students who did not indicate interest in loans, but who would like to be considered for a Federal Stafford Loan, may correct their FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The actual processing of Stafford Loans will begin in June, and once a student’s loan is processed, the student will be notified of that by AES/PHEAA.  More information about the process is available via our web pages at www.lhup.edu/financial-services.

New Transfer Students and Stafford Loans:

                The Registrar's Office will provide the Student Financial Services (SFS) Office with official transfer credit information in June.  Therefore, any Federal Stafford Loan amount(s) listed in the Award Letter may reflect freshmen level loan amounts.  Rest assured that your actual grade level will be used to determine your actual  Stafford Loan eligibility, which could result in your receiving additional Stafford Loan funds.   The processing of actual Stafford Loans will begin in June.

About Federal PLUS Loans and Alternative Loans:

                Participation in any educational loan program is strictly voluntary.  You will find information about both the Federal PLUS and Alternative Loan programs via our web pages at www.lhup.edu/financial-services.  PLUS Loans are available to the parents of dependent students and to graduate students.  It is important to note that a credit check will be performed on all PLUS Loan applicants to confirm eligibility for this loan program.  If a parent applicant is denied a PLUS Loan, the dependent student will automatically be considered for additional unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds.  For more information about educational loans, please visit our web pages at www.lhup.edu/financial-services.

Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress:

To maintain eligibility for federal financial aid, the following requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) must be met.  A full-time, undergraduate student must: (1) earn 21 new credits in two semesters of attendance; (2) maintain a grade average consistent with the requirements of the "Probation and Retention Standards" published in the University Catalog; (3) have a minimum accumulated GPA of 2.00 after two years of enrollment; (4) and complete his/her educational program within a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the length of the program. This includes all semesters of enrollment even if no financial aid was received. Requirements for other students vary.  The complete federal SAP policy may be viewed online at www.lhup.edu/financial-services/financial-aid/progress.htm.  Notes:  (1) Students must know and meet all SAP requirements; (2) Additional academic progress requirements may apply to other aid programs, such as the PA State Grant.

Federal Verification:

                If a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is selected for federal verification review, all need-based, federal financial aid listed in the Award Letter is tentative pending completion of that review.  Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) at www.fafsa.ed.gov to determine if your FAFSA has been selected for review.  In April, the Student Financial Services Office will begin requesting, from selected students, the documentation needed to complete the verification review.  A student must respond to this request immediately to ensure timely processing and disbursement of his financial aid.