Financial Aid and your 3+ Program
Navigating Finances during Clinical Placement
Millersville University Allied Health students often complete their final year at a clinical site or affiliated institution. During this final phase of the 3+ program, your billing, enrollment, and financial aid may look different than in previous years.
If you want to use financial aid during this timeframe, your next steps will depend heavily on your specific program. Some students may not have any change to their financial aid process, while others may require a Consortium Agreement to have their credits and costs included when determining aid eligibility.
| Consortium Agreements are a formal contract that allows a student to receive financial aid at Millersville while taking coursework at another host school, such as a clinical site or partner institution. Without it, we can’t include those credits in your financial aid eligibility or adjust your Cost of Attendance (COA) to reflect any added expenses. |
| 💡 Pro Tip: Not all students need one; it depends on their program and personal financial needs. Confused? Don't worry—we'll help you figure it out! |
Do You Need a Consortium Agreement?
Some Allied Health programs require a Consortium Agreement to process financial aid during their clinical or final year. For others, it’s optional.
Even if your program doesn’t require one, you may still complete a Consortium Agreement if you have extra costs—like higher tuition, supplies, or travel—that are above what is already included in your standard Cost of Attendance (COA).
| ⚠️ Disclaimer: A Consortium Agreement doesn’t guarantee more aid, but it may increase your COA, giving you more room to borrow loans if needed. The COA sets the maximum amount of aid we’re allowed to award, so this process simply helps align your aid eligibility with your actual expenses. |
What's next?
Click on the + below to access additional information for your program. Use the information and tables to identify:
- How tuition and enrollment work
- If you need to complete a consortium agreement
- Who to contact for cost documentation when submitting a consortium agreement.
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MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY & NUCLEAR MEDICINE
If you're completing your clinical year through an affiliated institution
(e.g., St. Joseph’s or Johns Hopkins), you must submit a Consortium Agreement each semester you request financial aid, including summer, fall, and spring.Submitting the Consortium Agreement helps prevent duplicate aid disbursements between Millersville and the partner institution, ensuring compliance with federal financial aid regulations.
Details Information Tuition Paid To Clinical program directly Courses Enrolled MU Placeholder Courses (MTEC 998, NUMT 998) Charged MU Tuition No need for charges and other expenses from an affiliated institution. Questions? Contact your program coordinator. Degree Awarded By Millersville University Consortium Needed? Yes. Submit a consortium agreement for each semester you are requesting aid. Obtain cost documentation from the clinical program.
Medical Technology Contacts
Clinical Site Program Director Contact Info Reading Hospital Ethan Kentzel 📧 ethan.kentzel@towerhealth.org
📞 (484) 628-7898WellSpan York Hospital Christina M. Scott 📧 cscott6@wellspan.org
📞 (717) 851-2473Penn State Health – Hershey Dr. Mary Beth Miele 📧 mmiele@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
📞 (717) 531-7461St. Joseph’s University – Lancaster Sherry Soost Schoenberger 📧 ssoost@sju.edu
📞 (717) 947-6310
Nuclear Medicine Contacts
Clinical Site Program Director Contact Info St. Joseph’s University – Lancaster Madeline Greth 📧 mgreth@sju.edu
📞 (717) 947-6139Financial Aid (St. Joseph’s) Breanne Cornielle 📧 bcornielle@sju.edu / finaid@sju.edu Johns Hopkins – School of Imaging David Kelkis 📧 dkelkis1@jhmi.edu -
Respiratory Therapy (MU & UPMC Lititz)
Details Information Tuition Paid To Millersville University at the set tuition rate. Courses Enrolled MU Courses (BIOL and RESP) Clinical Costs Travel to hospitals (varies by placement) Consortium Needed? No—unless the student needs to borrow funding above the current Cost of Attendance (COA) , or if the student is taking additional credits at another institution that will transfer back to MU. Additional Action Contact your program director for cost estimates that exceed your Cost of Attendance (COA), only if you need additional room above your COA. Program Contact Ms. Elaine Chrissos, Program Director
Brossman 166
📞 717-871-9324
📧 elaine.chrissos@millersville.edu
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ATHLETIC TRAINING, OPTOMETRY, PODIATRY, AND MEDICINE (3+2 AND 3+4 PROGRAMS)
Details Information Programs Included AT, OPT, POD, MED Courses Enrolled MU Placeholder Courses (e.g., ATTR 998, OPT 998, POD 998, MED998) Charged MU Tuition No Home Institution for Aid The graduate institution during the clinical phase Degree Awarded By Millersville University (after credits transfer back) Consortium Needed No – financial aid is handled by the new institution -
the form, checklist & consortium agreement guide
Use this checklist if you’re completing your clinical year at an affiliated institution and want to receive financial aid through Millersville University.
You must complete the following steps for each semester you request aid:
🔲 Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Complete a Summer Financial Aid (SFA) Request as well if you need to request financial aid for that term.
🔲 Download the Consortium Agreement- COMING SOON!
Complete the student portion (pg. 1) and then submit it to the appropriate party—host institution, clinical site, or your program director—for completion of page 2, where they will confirm\
- The number of placement credits or credit hours being earned that semester.
- Total program-related costs, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and travel.
- If tuition and fees are charged by Millersville, they only need to include the total additional expenses, such as books, supplies, travel, etc..
🔲 Understand processing and disbursement
The Office of Financial Aid will review your Consortium Agreement for each semester. Don't forget you need a separate one each term! Allow 7-14 business days.
- If the costs listed on your form exceed the standard amount included in your current Cost of Attendance (COA). The difference will be added—increasing your COA and allowing for additional borrowing, if needed.
Your aid disburses after the add/drop period each semester.
- If charged by MU, aid will pay toward your charges, and any remaining aid will be refunded to you for additional program expenses.
- If charged by another entity, aid will be paid to OSA, and then you will receive a refund; you are responsible for paying the balance at your host institution.
💡 Important: If another institution is providing you with financial aid, contact Millersville’s Office of Financial Aid. You cannot receive federal aid from two schools at the same time.
🔲 Notify MU Financial Aid of enrollment changes or withdrawals
You are responsible for notifying the Office of Financial Aid if you make any changes to your enrollment or placement plans. This must be done regardless of whether it is before or after the semester.
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instructions for program contacts
🔲 STEP 1: Complete contact information.
🔲 STEP 2: Confirm the student's program. This will indicate how the student is billed.
🔲 STEP 3: Complete enrollment data
🔲 STEP 4: Include additional cost data. Refer to the chart below for a guide on what you must provide:
Confirm how the student will be billed:
Cost and Enrollment Information that Must be Included
By Millersville University
- An itemized list of potential additional costs the student may incur. This can include travel, supplies, Uniforms, certifications, or other program-specific needs.
- The total academic/placement credits the student will earn for their clinical hours
MU Sends Tuition to Partner Institution (e.g., UPMC)
- The total amount the Partner Institution is charging
- An itemized list of potential additional costs the student may incur. This can include travel, supplies, Uniforms, certifications, or other program-specific needs.
- The total academic/placement credits the student will earn for their clinical hours
Student Pays the Clinical Site Directly
- Itemized tuition/fees from the clinical site
- An itemized list of potential additional costs the student may incur. This can include travel, supplies, Uniforms, certifications, or other program-specific needs.
- The total academic/placement credits the student will earn for their clinical hours