College Financial Aid Information

The following information is pulled from various sites. Please complete your own research to determine what is best for your son and your family. The information below was collected from the following sites.

Organizations and Agencies
- The Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (PASFAA) - www.pasfaa.org
- The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) - www.pheaa.org
- The United States Department of Education (USDE) - www.ed.gov
- The College Board - www.collegeboard.com
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) - www.ncaa.org
Services and Forms
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - www.fafsa.ed.gov
- Federal Student Aid PIN - www.pin.ed.gov
- FastWeb (a scholarship search) - www.fastweb.com
- Financial Aid Information Page - www.finaid.org
- Pennsylvania Tuition Account Program - www.patap.org

Please visit each site for all the details and information that they provide and reach out to your son's Guidance counselor if you have any questions. They will be happy to help you in any way that they can.

Applying for Financial Aid

Important Things to Keep in Mind When Applying for Financial Aid

Apply. If you do not complete the Application Process you may miss out on sources of financial aid that can assist you in meeting your educational costs. Contact the Financial Aid Counselor at the school you plan to attend for information on the Application Process and deadline dates. You should complete the financial aid applications as early as possible regardless of your acceptance to a particular school. This will ensure you maximum consideration for all aid available.
You are not alone. The financial aid process can be confusing for a first-time applicant. Take the time to make an appointment with your guidance counselor or the financial aid counselor at the school you plan to attend. The counselors are available to assist you and your family through the financial aid application process.
Explore all sources of financial aid. Financial aid funds can be obtained from many different sources. In addition to Federal Financial Aid Programs, there are state programs, institutional programs, and private scholarships and grants. Students should investigate local, regional, and national sources of private funds and how to make applications for these funds
Pursue your educational goals. The purpose of financial aid is to provide access to education. Students sometimes feel that cost is a barrier to attending the institution of their choice. The difference between what a school costs and what the family is expected to contribute may be available in financial aid funding, thereby allowing a student to consider attending any school, regardless of cost.
Everyone can apply for Financial aid! Some families feel that they have too much income to be eligible for financial aid. Not every family will qualify for grant assistance. However, regardless of income, they can borrow funds to pay for educational costs under the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan Program and the Federal Parent Loan Program
Keep copies of all forms you use in applying for financial aid. Maintain copies of all correspondence that you receive from the Financial Aid Office, as well as from all other agencies dealing with financial aid. You may need to refer to these documents at a later date.

College Codes for Financial Aid

Below are commonly requested codes. For more information please contact the Guidance Office.

Albright College - 003229
Allentown College - 003986
Alvernia University - 003233
Arcadia University - 003235
Bloomsburg University - 00315
Bucks County Community College - 003239
Community College of Philadelphia - 003249
Drexel University - 003256
Gwynedd Mercy College - 003270
Holy Family University - 003275
Kings College - 003282
Kutztown University - 003322
LaSalle University - 003287
Lehigh University - 00328
Lycoming College - 003293
Manor Jr. College - 003294
Neumann University - 003988
Penn State University-Main Campus - 003329
Penn State University-Abington - 03342
St. Joseph's University - 003367
Temple University - 003371
University of Pennsylvania - 003378
University of Sciences in Philadelphia - 003353
University of Scranton - 003384
Villanova University - 003388
Widener University - 003313
West Chester University - 003328

Financial Aid Reward Letters

The Language of Financial Aid Award Letters

Federal Pell Grant
- Students who meet federal criteria for financial need automatically receive this grant, which does not require repayment.
Federal SEOG (Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant)
- Awarded to low-income students based on availability of funds at the college, and does not require repayment.
College Grant/Scholarship
- Individual colleges or universities determine eligibility for these awards. These awards may or may not be need-based. They are funded by the college and do not require repayment.
State Grant Programs
- These awards are made to state residents who generally attend college in-state. State grants may or may not be need-based and do not have to be repaid.
Federal Work-Study
- This program is awarded to students with financial need. Students work part-time to earn this award.
Federal Perkins Loan
- This low-interest rate (5%) federal loan is for students with exceptional financial needs and is based on the college's available Perkins loan funds. As with all education loans, repayment is required.
Federal Stafford Loans
- These low-interest-rate education loans must be repaid. Annual borrowing limits vary depending on the student's year in college. Two types of Stafford loans are available:
Subsidized
- These loans are awarded to students with financial need. The federal government pays the interest on the loan while the students are in college and during deferment and grace periods.
Unsubsidized
- These loans are awarded to students regardless of family income. Borrowers pay interest while attending college or may defer payment and allow interest to accrue.