Post-Baccalaureate Certification

In order to be considered for federal aid, you must complete the FAFSA application online at studentaid.gov/fafsa.

Before you complete the FAFSA application, please read the information below to help guide you through answering some of the FAFSA questions that many students entering the Post-Baccalaureate Program have difficulty answering. Not answering these FAFSA questions accurately may delay the processing of your financial aid.

Step 1: Student Demographics

What degree or certificate will you be working on when you begin the school year?

• Choose the option: Certificate or diploma (occupational, technical, or educational program of two or more years)

What will your college grade level be when you begin the school year?

• Choose the option: 5th year, Post Baccalaureate Certification, 2nd Degree

At the beginning of the school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?

• You must answer: NO to this question unless you have been admitted into a Master's degree-seeking program. Please keep in mind that although you are admitted through the Graduate School at Millersville University, you are not considered a graduate student for federal aid purposes unless you are seeking a Master's degree or higher degree. Post-baccalaureate students are considered undergraduate students for financial aid purposes.

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Step 4: Parent Demographics

Do I need to include parent information on my FAFSA?

• There are specific dependency questions that a student must answer to determine if they are a dependent or independent student.
• If you answer "no" to all questions, you MUST provide parental information on the FAFSA even if you no longer reside with your parents or they no longer provide your support. The federal government will still view you as a dependent student and parental information is required for all dependent students.

Students seeking a Post-Baccalaureate Certification are NOT eligible for any federal or state grants.  Per federal regulations, once a student receives their first bachelor's degree, they are only eligible for federal loans.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for federal aid, students must meet all general federal aid eligibility requirements, as well as:

• Have a completed FAFSA on file with Millersville University
• Be enrolled at least half-time in their Course Program of Study(CPOS) each semester in order to qualify for Federal Direct Loans.
  • 2023-2024 and future academic years: half-time enrollment is 3 CPOS credits 
  • 2022-2023 and prior academic years: half-time enrollment is 6 CPOS credits
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Not be in default of any other federal loan(s).

Please keep in mind if you are simply obtaining a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, this information does not apply to you.

ANNUAL and Aggregate lifetime LOAN LIMITS

The amount a student is eligible to receive in federal loans is based on their dependency status as determined by their FAFSA application. 

• Dependent Post-Baccalaureate Certification Students are eligible for up to $5,500 per academic year.
  • Dependent students cannot exceed $31,000 of the total amount borrowed in Federal Direct Loans for any undergraduate degree (this includes any amounts borrowed for your initial bachelor's degree & your current Post-Baccalaureate Certification). 
  • This is referred to as Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limits. 

• Independent Post-Baccalaureate Certification Students are eligible for $5,500 per academic year and can qualify for up to an additional $7,000 in Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans, for a total of $12,500 for the academic year.  
  • Independent students cannot exceed $57,500 of the total amount borrowed in Federal Direct Loans for any undergraduate degree (this includes any amounts borrowed for your initial bachelor's degree & your current Post-Baccalaureate Certification). This is referred to as Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limits. 

The Office of Financial Aid will offer the maximum amount you are eligible to receive.

• Students must accept their loan offer through their MAX account for it to be credited toward their bill. 
  • If you are having issues accepting your loans or wish to accept/reduce them to a specific amount, you can do so by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at 717-871-5100 or by completing a Loan Change Form.
• Students must have a valid Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note on file with the Department of Education. 
• If you want to use a portion of your loans in the summer you must complete the Summer Aid Application. 
• Failure to meet the general eligibility requirements listed above may result in the cancellation of your loan offer.

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Check out these step-by-step instructions on how to navigate your myVILLE Student Portal and MAX Account so you can ensure your financial aid requirements are completed and avoid processing delays!

NAVIGATING YOUR STUDENT PORTAL AND REQUIREMENTS

For other Financial Aid Tips and Tools, click here.

To continue receiving federal aid you must complete a new FAFSA application each year and ensure you are meeting all the eligibility criteria. Click the links below to learn more about Course Program of Study (CPOS), Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and Aggregate Lifetime Loan limits to see how they can affect your aid eligibility.

Course Program of Study (CPOS)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limits

If the Federal Direct Loan(s) offered to you is not enough to cover your expenses or if you do not meet the general eligibility requirements to receive Direct Loans, there is additional funding for which a Post-Baccalaureate Certification student can apply. 

• Private/Alternative Loans are available for students to apply for through outside lenders.

It is recommended that students exhaust the Federal Direct Loan eligibility before looking into additional loan options. Keep in mind that the Office of Financial Aid cannot process financial aid for more than the cost of education. 

For tuition costs per semester, please see the Graduate Tuition Costs.  All Graduate students are charged at the graduate rate per credit, regardless of the number of credits enrolled. 

• For more detailed information about Millersville University's billing and payment plan options please visit the Office of Student Accounts (OSA) website.
• For information on the maximum amount that you can borrow per academic year, visit the Billing & Payment Information section of our website. You will find your estimated cost of attendance (used for financial aid purposes only), instructions on viewing your balance due, and other tips for understanding your bill. 

To receive a portion of your federal loans in the summer you must have a FAFSA application on file for the upcoming academic year (summer, fall, spring) and you must also complete Millersville's Summer Aid Application to request funds in the summer. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible. Click below to learn more about Summer Aid.

APPLYING FOR SUMMER AID