Award Letter Information
Award Amounts
Please note that any awards listed in the student's award letter are subject to change. Should your awards be adjusted, you will be notified. Awards may be adjusted for various reasons including federal verification review (see below) and changes in housing and/or enrollment status.
About Estimated Pennsylvania State Grants
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will begin notifying students of their actual Pennsylvania State Grant awards in mid-May. To be considered for a Pennsylvania State Grant, students must fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and complete the Pennsylvania State Grant Form. Most renewal students do not have to complete the State Grant Form. If you have questions about the PA State Grant application process, please contact PHEAA at 1-800-692-7392.
About Federal Work Study
Federal Work Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. The FWS award represents the maximum amount of wages the student is permitted to earn during the academic year. Work is limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session and 37.5 hours per week at other times. Students employed under the FWS program are typically paid at the prevailing minimum wage and receive bi-weekly paychecks for wages earned. FWS earnings will not be deducted from the student bill since students receive their wages directly. Students awarded FWS are responsible for finding their own jobs. Current job postings and other information about student employment are available online at http://www.lhup.edu/careerservices/campuslocalemployment.htm .
Please Note: Students who are not awarded FWS may also work on campus and may view current job postings and other information via the above link.
About Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Participation in any educational loan program is strictly voluntary. The Student Financial Services (SFS) Office offers all eligible, accepted, degree-seeking students a Federal Direct Stafford Loan. These loans are processed through the Direct Loan Program. Under this program, the federal loan funds come directly from the federal government. For important information about the Direct Loan program, including how to apply and answers to frequently-asked questions,please click here.
The Federal Direct Stafford Loan amount(s) for which a student qualifies will be listed in the Award Letter. If the student does not wish to borrow a Stafford Loan or wishes to reduce the loan amount(s), s/he should follow the instructions in the Award Letter for rejecting or reducing awards.
New Stafford Loan borrowers must complete an online Loan Entrance Counseling Session and a Master Promissory Note at www.studentloans.gov in order for their loan money to disburse to Lock Haven University.
About Federal Direct PLUS Loans and Alternative Loans
Participation in any educational loan program is strictly voluntary. For information about both the Federal Direct PLUS and Alternative Loan programs, please click here. 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 and the parent applicant does not intend to appeal the credit denial or to seek an endorser for the PLUS Loan, the dependent student will be considered for additional unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds.
Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as sufficiently moving toward successful completion of degree requirements. The LHU Student Financial Services Office is required by federal regulation to determine whether a student is satisfactorily progressing toward degree completion. Your official LHU academic record (i.e. transcript) is reviewed to determine student compliance with the SAP policy. All LHU students are evaluated for SAP at the end of each enrollment period (i.e. after fall, spring, and summer) once grades are posted by the LHU Registrar's Office.
LHU's Federal SAP policy is available online at http://www.lhup.edu/financial-services/policies.htm . Students are responsible for knowing and meeting SAP requirements; therefore, it is important to acquaint yourself with the SAP policy as soon as possible.
Please Note: 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 mid-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. For more information regarding the verification process, click here.
Transfer Student Information
Stafford Loans:
Your financial aid package has been prepared using the current transfer credit information on file with the Registrar’s Office. The amount of accepted credits determines your actual grade level for Stafford Loan eligibility. It is possible that the loan amount(s) listed in the enclosed Award Letter may reflect a freshmen level Stafford Direct Loan amount of $3500 because you have not submitted your official transcript(s) through the Admissions or Registrar’s office. Some students may also have incomplete official transcripts that can affect their grade level for loan eligibility.
Please review the chart below to determine your grade level loan amount. If you believe that your loan should be higher based on transfer credits accepted, you may appeal the award by providing documentation to Student Financial Services (SFS) along with a Loan Change Form. This form is available for printing on the SFS website. Associate Degree students are limited to loan amounts for the first two levels indicated on the chart.
|
Accepted Credits |
Stafford Loan Amounts |
|
0-29.9 |
$3500 Subsidized, $2000* or $6000** Unsubsidized |
|
30-59.9 |
$4500 Subsidized, $2000* or $6000** Unsubsidized |
|
60-89.9 |
$5500 Subsidized, $2000* or $6000** Unsubsidized |
|
90 and above |
$5500 Subsidized, $2000* or $6000** Unsubsidized |
Please remember that your Subsidized Stafford Loan eligibility is also determined by the results of your FAFSA application and may be limited, but you are still permitted to borrow the total amount available in a combination of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.
Pennsylvania State Grants:
Transfer credits also affect the status of your PA State Grant program and the requirement to earn 24 credits for each year of a full-time state grant award. State grant eligibility is reviewed in mid-August; therefore, transfer students are encouraged to insure that their final, official transcripts are provided to the Registrar’s Office prior to this review. This will prevent your grant from being cancelled due to possible progress issues.