Financial Aid Office
Student & Administrative Services Center, Rm. 1013 · (570) 327-4766 or (800) 367-9222 · Fax: 570.321.5552
Nontraditional Students and Financial Aid
Are you 24 years of age or older? Do you have at least one child that you provide most of his/her financial support? Are you married? Are you a veteran? If you answer yes to any of those questions, you may be considered as a nontraditional student. Many nontraditional students have been away from 'school' for some time, and appreciate extra guidance when planning to begin or return to college.
Financial aid is an important part of most students' success, so invest the time and effort to learn as much as you can about it. Here are several tips:
- Keep good records, and copies of all applications you submit
- Ask questions to be sure you understand everything
- Don't wait until the last minute!
- Be aware of deadlines and submit forms well before tuition bills are due
- Learn more about the College's SIS, where you can quickly check your financial aid and bill status
- Review our FAQs
- Deadlines for scholarships come early!
- Be conscious of keeping your loan debt to a minimum
Financial Aid Application (FAA)
Penn College has an internal FAA, to be completed once a year. New students complete it as part of the Admissions application, but in subsequent years, you can complete yours via SIS.
Apply for Grants
The first step in determining your eligibility for grants and student loans is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You should complete the FAFSA online. To do so, you will need a federal PIN (Personal ID Number). To request a PIN and to submit your FAFSA online, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Submitting a FAFSA online is fast and secure. Millions of students submit their FAFSAs online every year.
When should you submit the FAFSA? Early in the year, whether you will start classes in the summer, fall, or spring (January of the next year) semester. If you are required to file a federal tax form (1040, etc.), you should submit the FAFSA as soon as you complete your income tax, preferably before April 1, which is Penn College's Priority Application Date.
Once the FAFSA Office receives your application, it will forward your information to your home state’s aid center, which may send you additional application material. Be aware that the state of Pennsylvania aid center (PHEAA) has a deadline of May 1 for most students.
By the way, don’t confuse www.fafsa.ed.gov with fafsa.com or easyfafsa.com. Those commercial sites will charge you money to complete your FAFSA. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE, so don’t waste your money!
If you do need assistance, call, e-mail, or stop by the Penn College Financial Aid Office; and/or visit this FAFSA site. By answering YES to any question in Step Two of the FAFSA on the Web, you are considered an independent student, and so will skip the step for parents.
You will need to renew your FAFSA information every year, preferably during the first three months of the year and after you've completed your federal income tax return.
Submitting the FAFSA is the first step in applying for government-backed student loans. The next step is to request a loan.
Loans
Most students require student loans to help pay expenses. You should submit a loan application at least 90 days before your tuition bill is due, but you can apply as soon as you schedule classes. First-semester independent students can receive a maximum of $4,750 per semester through the government-backed Federal Stafford Loan Program.
You should apply for your Stafford Loan online. As you apply, choose a lender from the list you will see and electronically sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN). Online Stafford Loan MPNs are processed quickly. You will need your federal PIN to sign your MPN. First-time borrowers need to complete entrance counseling offered by AES.
Scholarships
Review information about Penn College scholarships. With our easy-to-complete online application, you will be considered for all scholarships for which you satisfy the criteria. Remember that deadlines come early! April 1 is the deadline for the following Fall Semester. For most scholarships, you must be a full-time student to apply. Here are several Penn College scholarships specifically for nontraditional students:
- Beverly J. Boob Memorial Scholarship
- Dr. Peter B. Dumanis Memorial Scholarship
- Dwight Stoltzfus Memorial Trade Scholarship
- Lycoming County Medical Society Auxiliary Scholarship
- Maxine Stiffler/Lycoming County Paralegal Association Annual Scholarship
- Querimit Health Sciences Scholarship
You may also want to explore our external scholarship page, where you can view scholarships offered by off-campus sponsors and use scholarship search engines. Below is an external scholarship that women aged 40 years and over may consider:
Federal Tax Incentives
Students that file federal income tax returns may be eligible for a tax credit or deduction for qualified education expenses, specifically payments of tuition and fees (including payments credited by educational loans). For more information on the Hope Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit and the Tuition and Fees Deduction, visit the Parent & Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition & Fees Web site provided by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Student Loan Reduction Programs
Student Loan Rebates and Upromise are two separate but similar programs that allow you to help reduce your student loan debt. Various merchants will contribute a percentage of purchases you make from them toward your student loan. Family and friends can join on your behalf. Be aware that many of the program partners require online purchases.
Bursar's Office
The Bursar’s Office/Student Accounts is responsible for the billing and collection of student fees, but also disburses or distributes financial aid funds. This is the office to contact regarding questions about your student bill, and to receive or inquire about any refunds you are to receive. As mentioned above, you can check billing and financial aid information from SIS.
Make Good Use of Your Time and Money
Good planning and preparation for courses can reduce both the amount of time and the amount of loan money that you need to complete your degree. Many new students underestimate the amount of study time they need to devote to a course to earn the grade they want, so give careful thought to the number of credits you can 'handle' each semester. Students that are good planners, know their limits, and manage their time well are much less likely to withdraw from or fail a course(s). Take advantage of the tutoring, guidance, and support that Academic Support Services can provide, including their orientation-style Summer PLUS program.
Explore the rest of this Financial Aid website, including our FAQs. Complete applications well ahead of deadlines, strive to minimize educational loan debt, and feel free to ask us questions!