Federal and State Financial Aid for Undergraduates

To be eligible you:

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Must be enrolled as matriculating student (i.e.-enrolled in a degree or certificate program)
Must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year.
Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application for all federal and state financial aid.

Need-based grant determined by the FAFSA calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Part-time and full-time undergraduates may be eligible.
Pell Grants amounts are adjusted to reflect changes in enrollment status, if made prior to the 5th week of classes.
After the 5th week of classes, Pell Grant amounts will not be adjusted based on subsequent changes to enrollment statuses (i.e.-course load).
The maximum number of equivalent full-time semesters a student is eligible to receive a Pell Grant is 12 semesters (the number of semesters will vary for part-time students).

Need-based grant ranging from $100-1,000 annually.
Awarded to those students demonstrating the greatest financial need.
Typically, you must qualify for the federal Pell Grant to receive an SEOG Grant.

Up to $4,000 in annual award for those planning to enter teaching profession full-time.
Award is pro-rated based on enrollment status ($4,000 annual award for undergraduates taking 12 or more credits; $3,000 for undergraduates taking 9-11 credits, $2,000 for undergraduates taking 6-8 credits and $1,000 for undergraduates taking 3-5 credits). There is currently a 6.9% award reduction taken as a result of Federal Sequestration cuts.
More information

Awarded based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Provides a student with an opportunity to work in a campus job for an hourly wage.
Awards range from $100 to $1,850 annually.
Not applied directly toward tuition, room and board charges, as the student receives a monthly paycheck for hours worked.
Direct deposit of funds into the student's personal bank account is available.
Students must complete an I-9 and W-4 form in order to receive a paycheck for any hours worked.
Learn more about Campus Work Study.

Basic student loan available to all students, regardless of financial need.
The education loan most students borrow first, before all others.
If your Direct Loan is subsidized, the government will pay the interest while you are in school.
If your Direct loan is unsubsidized, you have the option of capitalizing the interest or of paying the interest quarterly during the in-school period.
On both the subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loan, payment of your principle itselfdoes not begin until six months after graduation, provided the student remains enrolled on at least a half-time (6 credits) basis.
Direct Loans have a variable-fixed interest rate, meaning, the rate will be set each year, effective July 1st, but once set, will remain fixed for the life of that particular loan.
Repayment period is ten years.
More information

Federal, education loans are available to credit-worthy parents of dependent students, regardless of financial need, through the U.S. Department of Education (no lender/bank required).
Parents can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid received.
Repayment begins within 60 days of the second disbursement being made to the student's account (2nd disbursement is typically made to student accounts in January so repayment begins in March).
Deferments are available upon request for up to four years while the student is enrolled as an undergraduate.
Repayment period is ten years.
More information

Arcadia is a participating Yellow Ribbon institution.
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.
More information

Awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania state residents demonstrating financial need.
Awards are need-based, based on your federal EFC (Expected Family Contribution) from the FAFSA and your annual cost of attendance.
You must file the FAFSA by May 1st to receive consideration. First-time applicants will also be required to complete a supplemental form which you can link to when completing the FAFSA.
You must take at least 6 credits a semester to be considered.
If you are enrolled in a fully online program, in a program that is more than 50% online or, you are taking more than 50% of your credits online in any given term (regardless of program), you are not eligible for PA State Grant funding for that term.
Questions regarding PA State grant aid can be directed to the PHEAA Grant Division at 1-800-692-7392 or students can visit www.pheaa.org.

If you are not from Pennsylvania, check with your local state agency to determine your eligibility for grant aid from your individual state.

For Undergraduates