Student Financial Aid

Undergraduate Student Financial Aid

The goal of the Financial Aid Program at the University of Saint Joseph is to place higher education within the reach of as many qualified students as possible. The University believes that the primary responsibility for financing an education rests with students and their families.

Recognizing that not all families have the ability to meet educational costs in full, the University draws from a variety of federal, state, and institutional programs, which include merit scholarships, grants, loans, and on-campus employment opportunities.

How is Financial Aid Need Determined?

The University of Saint Joseph calculates a family’s ability to pay for university using the federal formula of need analysis called Federal Methodology. This formula considers factors such as parent and student income and assets, size of family, age of parents, and number of family members in college/university. This information is gathered from data the family provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). By using this formula, a figure called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined.

To calculate a student’s financial aid need, the EFC is subtracted from the total Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include tuition, fees, room, and board, while indirect costs include books, supplies, travel, and personal expenses. The University of Saint Joseph awards financial aid that will help the family meet the financial aid need. The financial aid package may include grants, scholarships, student loans, and on-campus employment.

This example is based on the 2014-2015 tuition and fee rates:

Financial aid applicants will be considered for all types of financial aid (excluding outside sources of financial aid) for which they are eligible upon review. Undergraduates who have already earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for institutional or state funds, but may apply for Federal Direct Loans.

Since financial aid is awarded to students on an annual basis, students must reapply each year. Undergraduate students who wish to be considered for federal and non-federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

Scholarships

See the scholarships available to undergraduate students through generous gifts from alumni and friends of the University of Saint Joseph.

Institutional/Merit Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to students at the time of admission and are renewable to a maximum of four years provided students maintain full-time enrollment status and the required grade point average (GPA) associated with the scholarship.

The Financial Aid Office will review a student’s cumulative GPA at the end of the spring semester every academic year. If the student does not maintain the minimum GPA associated with the merit scholarship, it will be removed from the student’s financial aid award for the next academic year. The University does not guarantee that this amount will be supplemented with any other forms of institutional aid. If the minimum GPA requirement is met at the end of the following spring semester, the merit scholarship may be reinstated for the next academic year.

Endowed Scholarships

Endowed scholarships are available to undergraduates. Upperclass students who apply for financial assistance are automatically considered for these awards upon review of their financial aid applications.

Graduate Student Financial Aid

All graduate students accepted into a graduate degree program, approved graduate certificate program or enrolled in a Teacher Certification Program and who are enrolled in at least 6 credits per term are eligible to apply for financial assistance from the University. Most graduate students apply for the Federal Direct Loan to help meet the cost of tuition. The maximum annual amount a student may borrow through this program is $20,500. The University also provides payment plan options that can be coordinated with a student’s employer-paid tuition benefit.

For specific information on the Federal Direct Loan Program, use this quick link to the U.S. Department of Education’s financial aid website: www.studentloans.gov

Veterans Benefits: The Yellow Ribbon Program

Undergraduate and Graduate

Veterans and students eligible for VA educational benefits must complete an application for admission. In addition, they must contact the VA coordinator in the Office of the Registrar at 860.231.5225, to apply for educational benefits.

The University of Saint Joseph, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, a GI Education Enhancement program. The University and the VA will cover the cost of tuition expenses for student veterans.

Students receiving Veteran’s Benefits as payment on their tuition and fees are eligible for federal Title IV aid only. Students receiving this type of benefit will have their institutional financial aid awards reviewed and adjusted and/or cancelled.

For complete details about the Yellow Ribbon Program, see the VA website: www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm.

Veterans who are interested in learning more about educational opportunities available at the University of Saint Joseph through the Yellow Ribbon Program can contact the VA School Certifying Official at 860.231.5205 or jpiscitelli@usj.edu.

Apply Online for Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required by the University of Saint Joseph. Online applications are more accurate and are processed more promptly. Click on the quick link to the U.S. Department of Education Web page used by students to complete the FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov. For help completing the entire online process, make an appointment with a Financial Aid staff member. You’ll need this information available to complete the FAFSA:

• The University of Saint Joseph School Code - 001409
• Copies of the most recent Federal Tax Return and W-2 statements
• Information on the values of cash, savings, and checking accounts, and investments
• Student’s Social Security number
• Student’s driver’s license number
• Student’s Alien Registration number if not a U.S. citizen
• Records of untaxed income

Eligibility

To be considered for financial aid, all students must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Have applied to the University of Saint Joseph and have been formally accepted for admission as a matriculated student in The Women’s Program or The Program for Adult Learners
2. Plan to pursue at least six credit hours per semester. Undergraduates enrolled in three credit hours per semester may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, but no other forms of financial aid
3. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the guidelines outlined below

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and be eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid at the University of Saint Joseph, students must meet and maintain the following criteria:

The minimum grade point averages (GPA) required for students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for purposes of financial aid consideration is 2.00 at the end of each semester.

To remain eligible for financial aid, students must successfully complete the credits required for their degree or certificate within 150% of the standard length of their academic program. For example, full-time students must earn a minimum of 10 credit hours per semester.

Full- and part-time students must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of all credits attempted (that is, courses in which the student remains enrolled in past the add/drop deadline).

Academic progress is evaluated at the end of fall and spring semesters. The first time that all the SAP criteria are not met students will be notified that for the following semester they will be placed on Financial Aid probation. This will allow students one semester to meet the required standards. If students fall below the SAP standards again in any subsequent semesters they will lose financial aid for the following semester.

The full Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy can be found at:  ww2.usj.edu/PDF/finaid/satisfactory-academic-progress.pdf.

Priority Deadlines

Financial aid applications are read according to the date they become complete. A financial aid application is considered to be complete upon receipt of all required forms, documents, and signatures. April 15 is the priority deadline for upperclass students; February 15 is the priority deadline for new students applying for the fall semester. New students applying for the spring semester should apply by November 15.

Full-time students: Applications received by the priority deadlines will be given full consideration for all types of financial assistance for which the student is eligible, including University of Saint Joseph merit and need-based grants. Applications received after the priority deadlines will be given consideration for these grants on a funds-available basis. Late applications will be awarded the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan programs if eligible.

Part-time students: Part-time students matriculated in The Undergraduate Programs for Women or The Program for Adult Learners may be eligible for Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans. To ensure timely processing and disbursement of loan proceeds, students are encouraged to submit their financial aid application material by the priority deadline for the semester in which the student wishes to receive financial aid.

Policy for Disbursement of Financial Aid Funds

Eligibility and the disbursement of financial aid funds are based on enrollment status. Student enrollment status is verified each semester by the Office of the Registrar at the conclusion of the add/drop period. Funds are adjusted and disbursed accordingly.

Return of Title IV Funds

The University of Saint Joseph is required to determine the earned and unearned Federal Student Aid a student has earned as of the date the student ceased attendance, based on the amount of time the student spent in attendance. The calculation of these funds earned by the student has no relationship to the student’s incurred institutional charges.

The University policy for students who borrow through the Federal Direct Loan program permits a refund of tuition and fees and a cancellation of some or all Title IV proceeds up to the 60% point of enrollment in each term, determined on a pro rata schedule. After the 60% point students have earned 100% of the Title IV funds they were scheduled to receive.

Refunds are processed within 45 days of the student’s withdrawal date or within 45 days of when the University determines the student to have withdrawn if the student does not notify the University of withdrawal.

Additional Information

Detailed, up-to-date information on the financial aid programs and policies mentioned in this section can be obtained by calling Student Financial Services toll free at 1.866.442.8752, or 860.231.5223, or by email at financialaid@usj.edu.