Your education is an investment in yourself and your future. To assist you with the cost of your investment, Millersville University has several payment options available to finance your education.

1. Student Financial Aid Programs

Full time enrollment - 12 credits or more (undergraduate), 9 credits or more (graduate)

Less than full time enrollment - less than 12 credits (undergraduate), less than 9 credits (graduate)

Eligible degree or certificate programs

Day and/or evening credit courses

With the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 15 of each year, you can be considered for the following sources of federal, state and institutional financial aid:

Federal Pell Grant Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant State Grant - Information for Pennsylvania residents (PHEAA) and grants for residents of other states Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant Federal Work Study

Federal Perkins Loan Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Federal PLUS Loans (for Parents) Graduate PLUS Loan (for graduate students) Millersville University Institutional Programs

The Office of Financial Aid encourages all students to file the FAFSA. Excluding the Federal PLUS Loan, the FAFSA is used to determine what sources and amount of aid you are eligible to receive through the Student Financial Aid Programs. The Office of Financial Aid and your State Higher Education Agency may also request additional information to complete your eligibility.

Grants

Federal Pell Grant

• Does not have to be repaid.
• The U.S. Department of Education determines student's eligibility for this source.
• Grant award amount ranges from $445 to $4,731 for eligible students for the 2008-09 academic year.
• Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree.
• Can be awarded for less than 6 credits, if the student is eligible.

PA State Grant (PHEAA)

• Does not have to be repaid
• State Agency determines student's eligibility for the grant.
• Generally based on financialneed.
• State Agency may require additional forms.
• Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.
• Pennsylvania Residents - Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the grant program. (1-800-692-7932)
• State Aid Deadlines are listed on FAFSA. Student must comply by the listed deadline in order to be considered for their state's grant. For Pennsylvania, the deadline is MAY 1. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered for the PA State Grant.
• For non-Pennsylvania Residents - Student should contact their State Agency for additional information. See a listing of other State Agencies.
• Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree.
• The 2008-2009 maximum yearly amount for Pennsylvania residents attending Millersville University is $3,404.
• If you are attending Millersville University, we must be listed first on your FAFSA in order for you to receive the PA State Grant at our school. If you listed another school as the first choice, you can update Millersville University to the first school choice on your own by calling PHEAA directly at 1-800-692-7392 (say "grants" at the voice response system). You may update it online instead of calling by going to PHEAA's website. You will need to log in if you already have a username and password with AES or PHEAA. If you do not have one, create an account with a username and password. Once you have logged into your account, select the current academic year under "Grant Status." Then select the "Change School Information Form" and then complete the information and submit the form. *Please note: This change only adjusts the PHEAA Grant record and not the FAFSA.*

Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• Does not have to be repaid.
• Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree.
• Administered by the Office of Financial Aid.
• Priority is given to students who receive a Federal Pell Grant.
• Students must have exceptional financial need.
• Due to the availability of funds at the school, there is no guarantee that every eligible student will be able to receive an FSEOG.
• Maximum yearly award at Millersville University is $800.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient and have financial need
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program
• Be a U.S. Citizen. Effective for the 2009-2010 academic year, eligible non-citizens will also be eligible.
• Be a first year (0 - 29.9 credits earned) or a second year (30 - 59.9 credits earned) student
• Effective beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, the definitions for a first year and second year student will change to first year (0 - 23.9 credits earned) and second year (24 - 47.9 credits earned). Any student with 48 credits or more earned is no longer eligible for the Academic Competitiveness Grant. Federal Regulations require us to define an academic year and award the ACG based on that information. An academic year is defined as 24 credits and 30 weeks of instruction.
• Be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits). Effective for the 2009-2010 academic year, students who will be enrolled at least part-time (6 credits) will also be eligible. Students enrolled less than full-time will have their grant prorated based on their enrollment status.
• Be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
• First year students may not have been previously enrolled in a program of undergraduate education and must have completed secondary school program of study after January 1, 2006
• Second year students must have a 3.0 GPA in an eligible program and must have completed secondary school program of study after January 1, 2005
• This grant may only be received for a maximum of 2 years (4 full-time semesters)

All potentially eligible students should have been completed additional questions on the FAFSA if it was completed online. If you did not complete the FAFSA online and think you will qualify for this grant, please contact our office so we can discuss your eligibility - you can contact our Federal Grants Coordinator, Tonya Anthony, at 717-872-3026.

Award amounts are up to $750 for first year students and up to $1,300 for second year students.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant

• Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient and have financial need
• Be in an eligible major
• Be a U.S. Citizen. Effective for the 2009-2010 academic year, eligible non-citizens will also be eligible.
• Be a third year (60 - 89.9 credits earned) or a fourth year (90 - 120 credits earned) student
• Effective beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, the definitions for a third year and fourth year student will change to third year (48 - 71.9 credits earned) and fourth year (72 - 95.9 credits earned). Any student with less than 48 credits or more than 96 credits earned is not eligible for the National SMART Grant. Federal Regulations require us to define an academic year and award the National SMART Grant based on that information. An academic year is defined as 24 credits and 30 weeks of instruction.
• Be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits). Effective for the 2009-2010 academic year, students who will be enrolled at least part-time (6 credits) will also be eligible. Students enrolled less than full-time will have their grant prorated based on their enrollment status.
• Be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Must have a 3.0 GPA
• Award amounts are up to $4,000
• This grant may only be received for a maximum of 2 years (4 full-time semesters)
• Be enrolled in at least one course required for the major in order to receive the National SMART Grant in that semester
• Student Teaching is not considered a required course for the major, so students who are seeking a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) and are majoring in a National SMART Grant qualified major will not be eligible for the National SMART Grant in the semester s/he student teaches, unless another course required for the major is taken in that same semester.

All potentially eligible students will be awarded by the Office of Financial Aid.

Eligible majors are in the fields of Computer Science, Engineering, Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, and other Multidisciplinary Studies.

Please be aware that not all majors in these fields qualify.

Loans

Federal Perkins Loan

• MUST BE REPAID to the school.
• Student must indicate interest in loans on the FAFSA (2008-2009 FAFSA, question "What types of aid interest you?" - answer code of "2" or "3"), to be considered for the loan.
• Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students.
• The student is the borrower.
• Low interest loan (5%) for students with exceptional financial need.
• Loan amount up to $3,000 per academic year.
• Administered by the Office of Financial Aid. This means that the school is the lender.
• Student must sign a Promissory Note before the funds can be disbursed to their account (available from the Bursar's Office).
• Student may cancel all or a portion of the loan within 14 days after the date the school has sent notification that the loan funds have been credited to the student's account. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to cancel the loan.
• REPAYMENT begins NINE months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time - graduates, withdraws, does not return the following semester, stops attending classes, or drops below 6 credits.
• Student has up to 10 years to repay loan depending on the size of the student's debt.
• During the repayment period, under certain circumstances, the school that originated the loan may grant deferments, forbearances, or cancellations. A list of deferments and cancellations is provided at the time the student signs their Promissory Note.

Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Millersville University's Recommended Lender Lists

The Office of Financial Aid provides borrowers with a list of recommended lenders. These lenders have established themselves as quality institutions based upon efficiency in loan servicing, responsiveness to questions, quality of servicing, and borrower benefits. The lender you choose is a very important step in the loan process. Although the financial aid office provides a recommended lender list, borrowers are free to choose any lender participating in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

Similarities between the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan:

• TO APPLY, STEP 1- Student must indicate interest in loans on the FAFSA (2008-2009 FAFSA, question "What types of aid interest you?"-answer code of "2" or "3"), to be considered for the loan. If the student answered "no" and would like to be considered, he/she needs to complete an "Initial Loan Request Form" from the Office of Financial Aid.
• TO APPLY, STEP 2 - Student must complete and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before the loan funds can be disbursed to his/her account. The MPN will need to be completed online. See our recommended lender list below and click on the lender's name to go to the website to complete the MPN online. The online MPN can only be done after the loan has been processed by Millersville University and the student needs a PIN (from the Department of Education - the same one he/she used on the FAFSA) to electronically sign the MPN. The MPN is good for a period of 10 years.
• TO APPLY, STEP 3 - FIRST TIME BORROWER AT MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY - must complete a Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling
• TO APPLY, STEP 4 - Students selected for verification must complete, sign, and submit with supporting documents, the Verification Form to the Office of Financial Aid. The Verification Form is available at the Office of Financial Aid.
• Amount borrowed is based on the student's academic level at the time the loan is processed. The amounts listed are the maximum yearly amounts. If the student receives other financial aid, the loan amount may be less.
• Due to regulation changes, any Federal Stafford Loan disbursed after July 1, 2008 will have increased amounts as follows:

*Changes based on law signed May 7, 2008

• Students may cancel all or a portion of the loan within 14 days after the date the school has sent notification that the loan funds have been credited to the student's account. Contact the Office of Financial Aid (717-872-3026) to cancel or reduce the loan, submit a Loan Change Form online (Online Form for 2008-2009) or download the Loan Change Form (downloadable for 2008-2009) (downloadable for 2008-2009) and return it to the Office of Financial Aid (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
• The loan MUST BE REPAID to the lender. The lender is a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). Please see our Federal Stafford Loan Recommended Lender List below.
• The student is the borrower.
• Student has up to 10 years to repay the loan depending on the size of the student's debt.
• Student selects lender at the time of application.
• During the repayment period, under certain circumstances, the lender may grant deferments, forbearances, or cancellations. A list of deferments and cancellations is provided at the time the student signs their Promissory Note.
• Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled for at least 6 credits.
• The school can refuse to certify a student's loan application OR certify the loan for an amount less than the student would otherwise be eligible. The school must document the reason for its action and explain the reason to the student in writing. The decision of the school is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Effective July 1, 2006, the interest rate on the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans is a fixed rate of 6.8%
• The Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans have the following declining interest rates:
  • 6.8% for loans disbursed 07/01/06 - 06/30/08
  • 6.0% for loans disbursed 07/01/08 - 06/30/09
  • 5.6% for loans disbursed 07/01/09 - 06/30/10
  • 4.5% for loans disbursed 07/01/10 - 06/30/11
  • 3.4% for loans disbursed 07/01/11 - 06/30/12
• A student can receive a subsidized and unsubsidized loan for the same period.
• Fees of up to 4% may be deducted from the total loan amount at the time of disbursement.
• Loan funds are disbursed in at least 2 installments.

Differences between the Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan:

• In addition to the base amount listed in the previous section, INDEPENDENT STUDENTS or DEPENDENT STUDENTS whose parents have been DENIED a PLUS loan, may borrow an additional amount. The amounts listed are the maximum yearly amounts.If the student receives other financial aid, the loan amount may be less.
• Due to regulation changes, any Federal Stafford Loan disbursed after July 1, 2007 will have increased amounts as follows:

*Changes based on law signed on May 7, 2008

Total Stafford Loan Limits

Federal Stafford Loan Recommended Lender List

The "recommended" lenders listed above are recommended for the following reasons:

• They may offer discounts on origination fees.
• They may offer Stafford Loan repayment incentive programs.
• Please see our statement above regarding Recommended Lenders.
  
  

  *To apply, use the links above for the lender you choose and follow the instructions.
  
  

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loan)

• We request that parents do not apply for the PLUS loan until after May 1 prior to the year the student will attend (i.e. May 1, 2008 for 2008-2009 academic year).
• For parents of incoming freshman students, we request you apply for the PLUS loan between March 15 and June 15. This will allow sufficient time for processing of the loans prior to billing for the fall semester.
• FAFSA is not required to apply for the loan.
• A parent is the borrower.
• Parent must pass a credit check (see more information below the lender chart)
• See the links below from our recommended lender list to apply online.
• Effective July 1, 2006 the interest rate will be a fixed rate at 8.5%
• Loan funds are sent to the school by the lender in at least two installments.
• Please be advised that if you do not indicate a loan term on your loan application, the loan term will default to the academic year (fall/spring). It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to indicate correct loan term dates to ensure the correct processing of your PLUS loan.
• The loan term dates are used as follows:
• For the entire academic year (Fall/Spring), use 8/25/08 - 5/02/09
• For the Fall only, use 8/25/08 - 12/13/08
• For the Spring only, use 1/12/09 - 5/02/09
• The school can refuse to certify a student's loan application OR certify the loan for an amount less than the student would otherwise be eligible. The school must document the reason for its action and explain the reason to the student in writing. The decision of the school is final and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education.
• Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement for the period of enrollment for which the loan was borrowed. Effective for any loan disbursed after July 1, 2008, the Federal PLUS will be deferred until six months after the student ceases enrollment at least part-time. If the loan is serviced through American Education Services (AES - it will be if you chose one of our recommended lenders) and you would like to begin repayment, you must contact AES directly once the loan has been processed by Millersville University.
• During the repayment period, under certain circumstances, the lender may grant deferments, forbearances, or cancellations. Parent must contact lender or agency that holds their loan.
• PLUS application can be obtained from a lender that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
• Enables parents with good credit histories to borrow to pay the educational expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time.
• Yearly limit is equal to the student's Cost of Attendance minus any other financial aid received by the student.
• Fees of 3% of the loan will be deducted from the total loan amount at the time of disbursement.
• Parent may cancel all or a portion of the loan within 14 days after the date the school has sent notification that the loan funds have been credited to the student's account. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to cancel the loan.
• Interest is charged from the date the first disbursement is made until the loan is paid in full.
• Parent has up to 10 years to repay loan depending on the size of the parent's debt.
• The student must be a degree seeking student.
• Student must verify dependency status by completing the FAFSA or by completing a PLUS Loan Dependency Status Form and submitting it to the Office of Financial Aid.
• Our recommended lenders offer benefits and incentives to Federal PLUS Loan borrowers, either on their own or as part of the Keystone PLUS program. Please contact the lender for details.
• Please see our statement above regarding Recommended Lenders.
  
  Our recommended lenders are listed below.

*To apply, use the links above for the lender you choose and follow the instructions.

We recommend that any parent who is applying for the Federal PLUS Loan do so as early as possible so there is adequate time to process your loan application.

Please see below the Recommended Dates for applying for the
Federal PLUS Loan (parent):

The Office of Financial Aid is not responsible for any late fees added to a student's account
or for a student's schedule being dropped if ALL paperwork is not completed by the
above recommended dates to allow for adequate processing time.

Graduate PLUS Loan

• FAFSA must be filed by student
• Student must pass a credit check - the loan is in the student's name (not in the parent's name)
• Must be enrolled for at least 6 credits
• We recommend to borrow the maximum under the Federal Stafford Loan program first, but this is not required.
• Effective for any loan certified or disbursed on or after July 1, 2006
• This loan is for graduate students only (must be seeking a graduate degree - i.e. Master's Degree)
• Students seeking a Post-baccalaureate Certification (teacher certification) do NOT qualify for this loan.

Federal Work Study

Student earns money to help pay for educational expenses.

Employment may be on or off campus. Jobs are not assigned; it is up to the student to obtain employment.

Awarded to degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students with the greatest financial need. It is automatically awarded to the student if he or she is eligible and indicated code of "1" or "3" on the FAFSA (2008-2009 FAFSA, question "What types of aid interest you?").

Payment is made to the student through a paycheck every two weeks.

Wages will be at least the current federal minimum wage.

Administered by the Office of Financial Aid.

Work hours will not exceed 20 hours per week and will be assigned according to the student's course schedule.

Undergraduate students are paid by the hour. Graduate students may be paid by the hour or receive a salary.

MU Scholarships

Scholarships - each Millersville University applicant is reviewed for institutional scholarships through the Office of Admissions.

See "Scholarship Searches"

2. Alternative Loans

Private education loans require the borrower to be a creditworthy student, parent or co-borrower. Generally the loans have a variable interest rate and charge a fee.

View more information on Alternative Loans, how to apply, and lender information.

The loan term dates for 2008-2009 are used as follows:

For the entire academic year (Fall/Spring), use 8/25/08 - 5/02/09

For the Fall only, use 8/25/08 - 12/13/08

For the Spring only, use 1/12/09 - 5/02/09

3. Payment Plans

Millersville University Installment Payment Plan (MIPP)

Obtain a copy of the MIPP Brochure from the Student Forms Center (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) - this form is usually available after April 1 prior to the academic year
(MIPP payments start May 1).

Get more information on MIPP from the Bursar's Office or contact them at 717-872-3021 or 717-872-3641.

DEADLINES:

Annual Option: May 1

Fall only option: May 1

Spring only option: November 1

4. Private Sources

These resources are not programs funded through Millersville University and require research on the student's part. They include scholarships, tuition waivers, employee assistance programs, Veterans Educational Benefits, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (for individuals with disabilities) and scholarship databases.