Student Financial Services
Paying for higher education is a lifelong investment in yourself and your future, and the University of Saint Joseph is committed to supporting students by offering extensive financial aid opportunities. Eligible students receive assistance in the form of merit scholarships, need-based grants, loans and part-time on-campus employment. Funds are available from federal and state governments, private donors and University resources.
The office of Student Financial Services administers all forms of financial aid and provides financial literacy education. Staff are available year-round to assist students and their families as they navigate the financial aid process and plan for the cost of their degree. Appointments for individualized counseling sessions are encouraged.
Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid
Undergraduate
First-Year and Transfer Students
All incoming undergraduate students are automatically reviewed for merit-based scholarships during the holistic, comprehensive review for admission to the University. When reviewing applications, the Office of Admissions considers a student’s academic record, accomplishments and activities in both school and the community, the student essay and all academic letters of recommendation received.
Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based grant assistance and federal loan funding opportunities at USJ. The University’s priority filing date is February 15. If a FAFSA is filed after February 15, financial aid is awarded based on availability of funds. The online FAFSA application is available at www.studentaid.gov. The University FAFSA School Code is 001409.
Returning Students
Merit-based scholarships awarded through the Admissions process are automatically renewed as long as renewal criteria are met. Students receiving need-based institutional aid or any federal or state financial assistance must reapply for renewal each year by submitting a FAFSA annually.
Graduate and Doctoral Students
The primary source of financial assistance for graduate and doctoral students is financing through student loans. Students can file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal student loans, or can utilize alternative loans through a private lender. The online FAFSA application is available at www.studentaid.gov. The University FAFSA School Code is 001409. Some Graduate and Doctoral programs have scholarships available, which are determined by the program’s academic department.
Federal Verification
Federal regulations require the University to verify selected students for accuracy of information on their submitted FAFSA. Selected students need to complete a Verification Worksheet, available in the online financial aid system. Additionally, students who have not, or are unable to use, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import their tax information into the FAFSA must provide a copy of their, and their parent(s) if applicable, IRS Tax Return Transcript or a signed copy of their federal tax return, for the 2021 tax year. If the verification review results in a change to the student’s financial aid eligibility, a revised notification will be sent via email to the student’s university e-mail account as soon as the review is completed. Students are asked to provide the requested documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing and disbursing their financial aid. Holds may be applied to a student account, impacting the student’s ability to register for a subsequent semester, if financial aid is not processed and disbursed timely.
Other Application Requirements
Additional forms and documents may be requested from applicants as their aid applications are reviewed. Once an application is completed and reviewed, the Office of Student Financial Services will notify the applicant of their eligibility for financial aid.
Academic Requirements for Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid must be matriculated into a degree-granting program or eligible certificate program, and enrolled in the appropriate credit hours per term. Students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress. Additional aid program-specific requirements are outlined under each aid program.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
In accordance with federal regulations, all financial aid recipients are required to make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards their degree, and be in good academic standing in order to remain eligible to receive federal, state or institutional financial aid. It is important to note that SAP standards described here are separate from, and in addition to, the Academic Standing policy established by the faculty of the University .
To maintain SAP and be eligible for federal, state and institutional financial assistance at USJ, students must meet and maintain the following criteria:
- A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00, and;
- Successful completion of at least 66.6% of all attempted credits, and;
- Successful completion of the credits required for their degree or certificate within 150% of the standard length of their academic program
Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester. Students will be notified in writing of the results of an evaluation that impacts the student’s eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial assistance. SAP reviews result in one of the following statuses:
- Good Financial Aid Standing
The student has met all SAP standards as listed above and is making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion
The first time a student has not met all SAP standards listed above and is not making satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion. A student is assigned the status of financial aid warning automatically and may continue to receive financial assistance in the next semester provided the student meets all other program requirements.
A student cannot be placed on two consecutive semesters of financial aid warning; the student must return to good financial aid standing by the end of the financial aid warning period to remain eligible to receive financial aid. A student who has returned to good financial aid standing but at a later date does not meet SAP standards can be placed on a second term of financial aid warning.
Financial Aid Probation
A student on financial aid warning who has not met all SAP standards by the end of the next semester of enrollment is no longer eligible to receive assistance under federal Title IV, state and institutional financial aid programs unless the student has an approved SAP appeal on file with the Office of Student Financial Services. Students should follow the process of how to appeal as described in the full SAP policy .
Financial Aid Suspension
A student whose SAP appeal is not approved will remain on financial aid suspension and will not be eligible to receive financial aid until all SAP deficiencies have been repaired.
Determining Need-Based Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid decisions are made after a careful review of a student’s application for assistance. Eligibility for financial aid is based on financial need, and is determined by a needs analysis formula using the financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To calculate a student’s financial need, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the student’s total Cost of Attendance (COA) calculation. The COA includes direct costs billed by the university, such as tuition, fees, housing and food, as well as indirect costs such as books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses.
Financial aid assistance is provided to help the student and their family meet their financial need. A financial aid “package” of assistance is generated, and may include scholarships, grants, loans and on-campus employment. Funding is limited; therefore, the University is unable to meet 100% of need of all enrolled students. A student enrolled in an undergraduate program who has already earned their first bachelor’s degree is not eligible for institutional, federal or state grants or scholarships, but may apply for federal student loans.
Financial Aid Processing and Disbursement
Once a student’s financial aid file is complete, funds are ready to process and disburse onto the student account. Disbursement of funds begins around the start of the semester. Enrollment status is verified each semester by the Registrar’s Office at the end of the add/drop period, and financial aid is adjusted if there are enrollment changes.
Scholarships and Grants
University institutional financial aid, which includes merit and need-based assistance, is available to new full-time first-year and transfer students, and is renewable for a maximum of four (4) years, or eight (8) semesters, provided the student maintains continuous full-time enrollment, meets Satisfactory Academic Progress, and maintains the necessary cumulative grade point average (GPA) as indicated on the admissions letter. Institutional financial aid is only available for the Fall and Spring semesters.
A current list of scholarship and grant programs available to students at the University of Saint Joseph is available on our website.
Endowed (Donated) Scholarships
Generous donors establish endowed funds to support students and programs at the University. Students who apply for financial assistance are automatically considered for these funds upon review of their financial aid application. Endowed scholarships are primarily available for undergraduate students.
Additional Semester(s) of Institutional Financial Assistance
Undergraduate students who cannot complete their degree requirements within four (4) years/eight (8) semesters due to extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal to extend their eligibility for institutional financial aid for up to an additional semester or academic year, as needed to obtain degree as dictated by the student’s academic plan of study, provided the student enrolls full time. Approval of the appeal is not automatic nor guaranteed and is reviewed on a case by case basis.
Withdrawal and the Return of Title IV Funds
Federal financial aid, also known as Federal Title IV funds, are provided to students under the assumption the student will successfully complete their coursework. If a student withdraws from all courses within a semester, the University is required to determine the earned and unearned Federal Student Aid a student has 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 Registrar’s Office will document the student’s official withdrawal date, which is used to determine the percentage of the semester completed, and therefore, the amount of aid a student has earned. The following situations are not subject to the federal calculation and the student must have:
- completed 60% or more of the semester, or
- completed all requirements for graduation from the program before completing the days/hours in the semester the student was scheduled to complete, or
- successfully completed one modular course or a combination of modular courses that equal 49% or more of the semester, excluding breaks during or in between modules, or
- successfully completed coursework equal to or greater than half-time enrollment (6 credits), or
- provided written confirmation to resume attendance within a 45-calendar days of when they ceased attendance.
The University must calculate earned aid by multiplying the total aid disbursed or, which could have been disbursed, by the percentage of the payment period the student completed. If less aid has been disbursed than a student has earned, then a post-withdrawal disbursement must be made. The University will notify the student or, if a Parent PLUS Loan the parent borrower, in writing within 30 days of the date the institution determined the student withdrew that a post-withdrawal disbursement is available. The student/parent must respond within 14 days of notification in order to receive the funds. The student/parent may accept all or part of the post-withdrawal disbursement.
If more aid was disbursed than earned, then the University, the student, or both must return all unearned aid in a specific order:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans
- Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal SEOG
- Other Title IV assistance for which return of funds is required
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. Students are responsible for repaying all unearned aid a school is not required to return, as well as any balance created on their Bursar account by the application of the Title IV return of funds formula.
Graduate Certificate Programs
As of July 26, 2021, only two graduate level certificate programs are eligible for federal financial assistance:
- Dietetic Internship Program
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Students seeking financial assistance for other certificate programs may use private loan funding. Additional information is available on our website about private alternative loans.
Veterans Education Benefits
Students receiving Veteran’s Education Benefits as payment on their tuition and fees are eligible for Federal Title IV financial assistance only. Students receiving this type of benefit will have their institutional financial assistance reviewed for adjustment.
The Yellow Ribbon Program
In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Yellow Ribbon funds are provided by the University and matched by the VA to eligible Veteran students to cover tuition expenses that exceed national maximums. Students must provide their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA to the University’s VA school certifying official to confirm eligibility. See chart below for details on maximum funding by student type.
| Yellow Ribbon Category by Student Division |
Number of Students Who Can be Awarded |
Total Yellow Ribbon Contribution Amounts That Can be Awarded |
|
Undergraduate Students (not including nursing majors)
|
10 |
USJ: $7,163.00
VA: $7,163.00
Total: $14,326.00 |
| Undergraduate Nursing majors only |
10 |
USJ: $7,877.00
VA: $7,877.00
Total: $15,754.00
|
| Graduate, Doctorate Students (all excluding Pharmacy) |
5 |
USJ: $1,524.00
VA: $1,524.00
Total: $3,048.00 |
| Doctorate, Pharmacy Only |
2 |
USJ: $5,000.00
VA: $5,000.00
Total: $10,000.00 |
Veterans who are interested in learning more about educational opportunities available at USJ through the Yellow Ribbon Program can contact the VA school certifying official at 860.231.5225.
Additional information
For additional details and the latest information on financial aid at USJ, call Student Financial Services at 860.231.5223 or email financialaid@usj.edu.
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