Gannon University

UNIVERSITY EXPENSES

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION Per Semester Rate Per Credit Rate
12-18 Credits

HOUSING DEPOST        100.00
the Housing Deposit unless any damages is refunded at the end of the lease period. The credit will be applied to any outstanding balance before being refunded.

PAYMENT

All tuition, fees, room and board charges are due one week before the start of the semester.
The following payment options are available:
• Cash or Check
• Credit Card
Credit Card payment is available through CheckFree via the web or
by phone. CheckFree accepts MasterCard, Discover and American Express. A 2.75%
convenience fee is applied to all transactions. More information regarding credit
card payment can be found at www.gannon.edu/epayment.

* Payment Plans
  Annual Plan
  The TuitionPay plan is available through Academic Management Services (AMS) which enables you to pay all or part of your annual   costs in ten interest-free payments for a minimal processing fee. For more information, check out the AMS TuitionPay website at www.tuitionpay.com.

  Semester Plan
  A Deferred Payment plan is available through Gannon's Cashier Office which enables you to defer up to $2,500 per semester in   three interest-free payments for a minimal processing fee.

INDEBTEDNESS POLICY

A student who is in debt to the University may not register or receive an official transcript of his/her credits from the Registrar until his/her indebtedness has been discharged.

PAST DUE ACCOUNTS

Past due accounts without satisfactory arrangements with Gannon's Cashier Office will be turned over to a collection agency. All reasonable collection costs, including attorney fees and other charges necessary for collection, will be the student's responsibility.

REFUND POLICY

Tuition & Fees:
For 14 week semesters, a percentage of tuition charged will be refunded as follows: 100% during the first week; 80% the second week; 60% the third week; 40% the fourth week; and no tuition refund thereafter. For fees, 100% refund will be given during the first week; and no fee refund thereafter.
There is no financial adjustment for credits dropped between the flat rate (12-18 credits).
After the first week of the semester, there is no financial adjustment when a student drops from full-time to part-time.
For semesters less than 14 weeks, a percentage of tuition charged will be refunded as follows: 75% of tuition only will be refunded for drops completed within the first five days of the start of the course; and no refund thereafter.
Housing:
A 100% refund will be given during the first week of the semester; and no refund thereafter.
Board:
A percentage of board charged will be refunded as follows: 100% during the first week; 80% the second week; 60% the third week; 40% the fourth week; and no refund thereafter.
Federal:
The Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to determine how much financial aid was earned by students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term.
For a student who withdraws after the 60% point-in-time, there are no unearned funds. However, a school must still complete a Return calculation in order to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement.
The calculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula: Percentage of payment period or term completed is the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.
Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula: Aid to be returned is (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of
earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term. If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution. If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal. The institution must return the amount of Title IV funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days after the date of the determination of the date of the student's withdrawal.
Refunds are allocated in the following order:
• Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
• Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans (other than PLUS loans)
• Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Parent (PLUS) Loans
• Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grants for which a Return of funds is required
• Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants for which a Return of funds is required
• Other assistance under this Title for which a Return of funds is required (e.g., LEAP)GU

GU GOLD FUNDS

The student ID card also acts as your GU Gold card. GU Gold funds can be used for a variety of purchases on and off campus. Details can be found at www.gannon.edu/gugold. Deposits can be made any time during the year. Once funds are deposited they cannot be withdrawn as cash, or used to pay balances on a student's tuition account. Funds remain on account from one semester to the next until the student graduates or withdraws. At that time, a refund can be requested. The credit will first be applied to any outstanding balance on a student's tuition account before being refunded.

FINANCIAL AID AND STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

In order to bring a Gannon education within the reach of qualified students who could not otherwise afford it through either their own or their families' reasonable efforts, Gannon offers an integrated financial aid program of scholarships, loans, and employment.

The Gannon Early Version Award Application (EVA) for financial aid should be filed concurrently with the application for admission. Each EVA is reviewed to determine scholarship, grant, loan, and employment opportunities administered by the Office of Financial Aid under the advisement of the Financial Aid Committee

Gannon's Financial Aid program is open to all students attending classes during the nine month period from September through May. Financial aid is not available for summer term courses, although Gannon can help students secure outside loans to help with expenses during this period.

All students are encouraged to seek and maintain scholarships offered by organizations in their communities, parents' employers, and clubs and lodges. Students who are Pennsylvania residents are required to apply for aid through the Pennsylvania State Scholarship and Grant Program. All assistance should be reported to the Financial Aid Office, even if it is received after the Gannon award has been made.

Application Procedure

All students seeking need based financial aid should file financial aid applications no later than March 15.
Need based financial aid is awarded on the basis of established financial need. Need is defined as the difference between the family's relative financial strength and the cost to attend Gannon. All students must file the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA) available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov, from guidance counselors, or the Financial Aid Office.
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by an analysis of the data submitted.
Upon determination of the EFC, a student's need is derived and an aid package is put together.

Types of Assistance

Financial Aid is generally awarded in the form of a package including grant, scholarship, employment, and loan funds. The amount of each type of aid varies according to the University's funds and the student's need. During 2006-07 about 90 percent of Gannon's students who applied received financial assistance. The 2006-07 financial aid budget was over
28 million dollars. Aid awards range from $100 to the full cost of tuition and room and board. In addition, many Gannon students receive scholarship funds from outside the University.

Loans

Long-term loans are an important financial aid resource available to students who need help and who are willing to pay for part of their current education with their future earnings.

Federal Stafford Loans
All students are eligible to apply for a Stafford Student Loan. Under this program a student may borrow a maximum amount from $3,500 to $5,500 per year subject to a total undergraduate borrowing limit of $23,000. The interest rate is fixed, and the principal may be deferred while a student is enrolled at least half-time. This type of loan can be obtained through any lender. Parent loans and independent student loans are also available. Repayment may be made over a ten-year period which begins six months after less than halftime enrollment. Interest accrues immediately.

Alternative Loans
Alternative loans are loans that can be obtained to help pay for the cost of education. These loans are in the student's name and in most cases require a creditworthy co-signer. This type of loan can also be deferred until after graduation. Gannon will certify most alternative loan, but does have a preferred lender list for our students.

Federal Perkins Loans (formerly NDSL)
Gannon University awards Perkins Loans on a limited basis. The interest rate on this loan is five percent. Interest and principal payment begins nine months after leaving college or graduate school.

Nursing Student Loan Program
The Nursing Student Loan Program is patterned after that of Perkins' loans but applies only to those who have been accepted in the nursing program. The program is intended to assist full- time students to achieve careers in nursing by providing long-term, low-interest loans to help meet the costs of education.

Parent loans
Federal Parent PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loans can be used to cover college expenses, including tuition, room, board, and fees, minus any other financial aid received. The PLUS loan is not need-based and has a fixed rate. Like the Federal Stafford Loan, a PLUS loan can be obtained through any lender, although Gannon does have a preferred lender list for parents.

Student Employment

Parents and students often question the wisdom of a student's working. The answer, of course, depends upon the individual's ability and study habits. Experience indicates, however, that the discipline required for a job often carries over into a student's study habits. Those who hold a part-time job for a modest number of hours each week often show better academic performance than those who do not. The advantages of term-time employment, however, vary with the individual, and entering freshmen are cautioned against planning to work more than ten hours a week.

The Federal Work-Study Program
The majority of the employment opportunities on campus are reserved for students eligible to participate in the Federal Work-Study Program. This federal program provides students with many interesting opportunities to work with faculty, staff and administrators. Students work limited hours a week and are able to set up their work schedule around the times they attend classes.  

Off-Campus Employment
The Counseling and Career Services Office maintains a file of off-campus jobs available to Gannon studens and will assist students in finding employment.

Scholarships and Grants

General Scholarships
Gannon awards scholarships to freshmen and transfer students who meet eligibility standards for merit based aid such as academic and leadership awards. In addition, need based aid is considered for students who demonstrate financial need by filing the required applications and adhering to deadlines. Award packages are renewed each year to students that remain in academically good standing and continue to meet the required eligibility standards for both types of merit and need based aid. Students need not apply for specific scholarships since they will automatically receive consideration for all funds for which they may be eligible when they submit the FAFSA.

Outside Scholarships

Candidates for Gannon scholarships are urged also to apply for national, state, and local scholarships for which they may be eligible and which may be used at the institution of their choice. These include National Merit Scholarships and scholarships offered by local foundations, clubs or business organizations.

The high school guidance office should be consulted about these awards. If such scholarships do not cover the full need of the student, they may be supplemented by Gannon grants. All outside scholarships received and applicable at Gannon should be reported to the Financial Aid Office, even if they are received after the FAFSA is sent in or after a Gannon award is made. Federal regulations mandate all resources, including outside scholarships, must be considered in determining need.

Gannon University reserves the right to adjust all University Grants, Scholarships or other Gannon Funds, including Diocesan Grants, if the student recipient receives additional Grants, Scholarships or Tuition Assistance from any other internal or external source.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant
The FAFSA must be filed in order to determine if a student would be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Eligibility varies and is based on parent and student income and asset information.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)
Current conditions and eligibility requirements are listed at the Dept. of Education web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.pdf
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
The FSEOG program was established by Congress to help universities enroll qualified students with exceptional financial need. Gannon awards these funds to undergraduate students who fall into certain need categories.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Prospective students who are candidates for financial aid at Gannon University must take the following steps:

• File a formal application for admission with the Admissions Office.
  
• File the Gannon Early Version Award Application (EVA).
  
• File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  
• Pennsylvania residents must file the FAFSA no later than May 1st in order to be eligible for State Grant funds. Students from other states should file the appropriate state required form for state grant purposes only.

Army ROTC Scholarships

The Army ROTC program awards two and three year Campus Based Scholarships. These
scholarships pay full tuition, a $900.00 a year book fee, plus a monthly stipend of up to
$300.00-$500.00 per month for 10 months of each school year.

For additional information, contact the Gannon University Department of Military Science,
Beyer Hall, Room 408, or telephone (814) 871-5758.

POLICY STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT

A minimum of 24 credits is required to academically advance one academic year. This progress will be checked each term you are in attendance. If you have not progressed a minimum of 12 credits in any one term, you will be considered on Financial Aid Probation. Your aid will be continued for the next term but you will be required to make up any deficiency prior to the next awarding of funds.

Failure to comply with academic advancement will result in the loss of aid for any subsequent term. Students are reminded that progressing at the rate of only 24 credits per year, while meeting the minimum progress requirement, will utilize all of their eligibility before completing their program of study.

Part-time students who are eligible for aid will also be required to academically advance in the same manner as mentioned above, except at a reduced rate of 6 credits per semester (12 credits per year) at half-time and 9 credits per semester (18 credits per year) at three-quarter time. A similar probationary period of one semester will also apply in the case of part-time students. Prior to the receipt of a 3rd year of financial aid the student must have a 2.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average.

Federal Grant recipients may be given an additional two semesters of assistance on financial aid probation beyond the above policy. A formal request must be made to the Financial Aid Office.

VETERANS ASSISTANCE

In an effort to provide veterans with personal support and multiple services, Gannon
University maintains an Office of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Affairs representative offers
the veteran current information on the assistance available primarily in the areas of higher
education, vocational and technical training. Assistance is also available to explain the wide
range of VA benefits accruing to veterans and their dependents as well as guidance in filing
the appropriate VA forms.

Benefits currently available to the veteran under the GI Bill can range from $200 a month to
$1,075. Many opportunities such as tutoring, counseling, and remedial programs can be
explained to the veteran by contacting the Gannon Veterans Affairs Office.

Veterans' PHEAA grants are offered with maximum awards up to $4,500 a year. Loans are
another source of financial aid to the veteran.

The Veterans Affairs Office additionally provides a referral service to veterans for federal, state, and county services which are not a part of any veteran's program but are available to the veteran.

Gannon University will take veteran status into consideration in making decisions regarding admission. Up to 6 credits of Military Science can be awarded to the student for his military training. Additionally many schools attended and training given while in the service allow for the granting of credit for corresponding university courses.