Student Aid
How Aid Works
Learn how to apply for and receive financial aid.
The Office of Student Aid administers all federal, state, institutional, and private funds throughout Penn State for the undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students.
Students who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet Federal and Penn State Student Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements will receive a financial aid notification via email from Penn State’s Office of Student Aid. Your financial aid notification will provide you with instructions on how to access your Financial Aid Offer, which will list all the student financial aid (loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships) for which you qualify, based on your eligibility.
Determine Your Need
Once you have completed your FAFSA, your Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated through a formula established by federal law. The formula takes into account many variables including your (and your parents' if you are a dependent student) such as:
Income and assets
Number of people living in your household
State of residence
Your cost of attendance minus your SAI equals your financial need. Your SAI does not vary from school to school regardless of the actual cost of the institution you are attending. However, your financial need will vary according to each school's cost of attendance.
Application, Enrollment, and Federal Requirements
Have a high school diploma
Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid Social Security Number
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) yearly
Comply with any and all requests for information
Remain in good standing on educational loans and grants per the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS)
Be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program. Most certificate programs do not meet the eligibility requirements for federal student aid, however, there are some exceptions. Please contact our office for additional information.
In general, remain enrolled for at least six credits if you are an undergraduate student* with the exception of the ,which is awarded based on the number of credits (1 credit minimum) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)/Student Aid Index (SAI). Your Pell grant may require recalculation at census date if you have dropped credits during the add/drop period.
In general, remain enrolled for five credits; at the 400 level or higher if you are a graduate student.
Comply with Penn State's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
*Some grant programs require full-time enrollment, which is indicated in each grant's eligibility section.
We will monitor your Financial Aid Offer throughout each semester to ensure your student aid does not exceed your financial need or your costs. If this occurs, a hold will temporarily appear on the homepage of your LionPATH account indicating that you have an “Overaward of Financial Aid”. Our office will review and adjust your aid as appropriate to remain within federal guidelines.
We must also monitor to be sure that you have not used your Federal Aid eligibility at another school during the same academic period. If this occurs, a hold will temporarily appear on the homepage of your LionPATH account indicating that you have been flagged for “Transfer Monitoring”. If you have aid pending at another school, you will want to contact them to have it cancelled. Our office will review and adjust your aid as appropriate to remain within federal guidelines.
Apply for Federal Student Aid
Take the next step towards a future at Penn State by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
What you need to know as a student at Penn State
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Penn State's SAP Policy outlines the federal regulations we must follow to monitor student progression toward completion of degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in determining the types of aid for which you are eligible. Once you have completed your FAFSA, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) 2023-24 or Student Aid Index (SAI) 2024-25 is calculated through a formula established by federal law.
The formula takes into account many variables including your (and your parents' if you are a dependent student):
Income and assets
Number of people living in your household
State of residence
Your cost of attendance minus your EFC/SAI equals your financial need.
Your EFC/SAI does not vary from school to school regardless of the actual cost of the institution you are attending. However, your financial need will vary according to each school's cost of attendance. For most students, financial aid only meets part of their financial need.
FA-DDX:
The Data Direct Exchange is the recommended Method for submitting your parent and/or student tax information. This tool is the fastest, most accurate way to input tax return information into the FAFSA form. Go to the Federal Student Aid site's FAFSA page, select the "Make FAFSA Correction" link and then the "Financial Information" tab. Continue through the screens until you click "Submit". You can view the Federal Student Aid tutorial here.
Tax Return:
You can also provide a legible, signed copy of page one and two of IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, a tax return from Puerto Rico or a foreign income tax return filed for the specified year. Note: Foreign tax returns must have each line translated to English.
Options for taxpayers who did not keep a copy of their tax return or require a verification of non-filing letter:
Access the tax software product used to prepare and file their tax return. They may be able to access their account to download and print a copy.
Contact the tax preparer or provider who filed their tax return.
To access your transcript immediately, download your tax transcript at Get Transcript Online. Review the identity authentication requirements for Secure Access before attempting to register.
Use Get Transcript by Mail. The IRS will mail a transcript to the address on your return within 10 days.
File Form 4506-T. The IRS will mail a transcript to the address on your return within 10 days.
Call the IRS’s automated line at 800-908-9946 to order a transcript by mail. The IRS will mail a transcript to the address on your return within 10 days.
Taxpayers who filed an amended tax return, Form 1040-X, should use the adjusted gross income and earned income listed on their revised tax return.
Alternative documentation for Information Document Request (IDR) applications:
IRS Data Retrieval plan applicants must submit alternative documentation of income.
The applicants submit this documentation to their federal loan servicers after completing and submitting the online IDR application.
The process for submitting the alternative documentation of income is explained to borrowers as part of the online IDR application. Alternative documentation of income usually consists of copies of pay stubs or most recently filed tax returns.
Once you have been selected for verification a hold is placed on your federal financial aid. Your financial aid will remain on hold until documentation is received, reviewed, and corrections are transmitted to the Department of Education (i.e. we will submit an updated copy of your FAFSA based on the information that you have submitted). If you or your parent do not comply with the verification request, we cannot disburse your federal financial aid. Your aid may eventually be canceled if you do not comply with the verification request. If canceled due to non-compliance, there are no guarantees that we will be able to reinstate your financial aid if you comply with the request after your due date or the end of your enrollment period. You will be responsible for any unpaid charges that remain on your student account as a result of your aid being cancelled.
All documents should:
Be signed by the student and parent
(if the student is a dependent)
Include the student's 9-digit Penn State I.D. number
Not have blanks
If the answer to a question is zero, enter the number “0” (zero)
Contact the Graduate School.
Tuition rates may vary year-to-year. Review our to update rates and to and explore our tools for estimating cost at Penn State.
Guide to Consumer Information
Attendance at a School Other Than Penn State
In most cases, Penn State does not process student financial aid for you if you attend another college or university.
Considering Another School?
You may be considering attending another school for one or more of the following reasons:
You would like to participate in a study abroad program, internship program or temporarily take classes at a college or university closer to your home.
Your academic college or department supports study at another college or university (other than Penn State) because it benefits you academically.
Penn State does not process student financial aid for you if you attend another college or university, in most cases, due to the high risk of potential liability related to the repayment of Federal Student Aid.
Because the monitoring of attendance is a manual process for both Penn State and the other college or university you choose to attend, Penn State may not be informed if you do not attend or withdraw from classes during an enrollment period.
If Penn State is not informed, the Office of Student Aid is obligated to repay any federal student aid that you received when you were thought to be enrolled at another college or university.
Manual disbursement of student aid funds would be required if you register at a college or university other than Penn State.
This manual disbursement of student aid results in weak audit trails, which could jeopardize the Penn State Office of Student Aid's ability to participate in federal aid programs.
If you are considering attending a college or university other than Penn State and currently rely upon student financial aid to assist in paying your educational expenses, please contact the Office of Student Aid to discuss your options.
The Office of Student Aid can, in most cases, process your student financial aid in the following situations:
You are planning to participate in a Penn State established study abroad program
You are planning to register for a Penn State course (and pay tuition to Penn State) for classes delivered at a college or university other than Penn State
You meet general eligibility requirements
Intercollegiate Athletic Program
The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act requires co-educational institutions of postsecondary education that participate in a Title IV, federal student financial assistance program, and have an intercollegiate athletic program, to prepare an annual report to the Department of Education on athletic participation, staffing, and revenues and expenses, by men's and women's teams. The Department uses the information to prepare its required report to the Congress on gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.
Penn State Intercollegiate Athletic Scholarships
Penn State offers athletic grants in 29 varsity sports, 15 men's and 14 women's, at the University Park campus. Athletic grants are awarded by the individual coach responsible for the sport.
General Institutional Information
About Penn State
Penn State is accredited by the Commission on Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Commission on Higher Education is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Copies of documents related to accreditation are available online.
Consumer Information on College Navigator Website
Review school accreditation information.
As Pennsylvania's land-grant university, Penn State continually seeks to make information about its activities and services readily accessible to interested citizens.
Services for Disabled Students
Penn State offers services for students with disabilities.
Percentage of Pell Grant Recipients
National Center for Education Statistics. Follow the link, select the Penn State campus location, and then 'Financial Aid'.
This page includes how to file a complaint with Penn State's regional accrediting agency. While the page is primarily for WC students, all students may utilize this information.
Written Arrangements with Other Organizations or Institutions:
Penn State does not participate in student aid-related consortium agreements.
Academics
Links to programs of study at Penn State, departmental websites, and contact information for faculty and instructors.
Faculty/Instructional Personnel
Scroll down to Resources and Select College "Explore" or Campuses "Explore". Once you are on the college page, click the "Directory" link and search for the relevant faculty. On the campus page scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find "Campus Directory" or "Contact Us" and search for the relevant faculty.
Professional Licensure and Certification
The Interactive State Licensure Disclosure Dashboard provides information about state requirements and prerequisites to determine whether a program meets a state or territory’s requirements.
Finance
Information about tuition adjustments based on drops and withdrawals and refunds of credit balances.
An outline of the process to leave the University if you are unable to complete the semester.
Withdrawing from the University can impact current semester and future semester eligibility for aid.
Policy
Click the link to visit Penn State Student Affairs where you can view data at a glance via infographic and explore our dashboard links.
Safety
Anti-Hazing Report - "Select Anti-hazing Report" under Helpful Links. You can view the Pennsylvania State Law at: Act 80 of 2018, the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
Information you discuss with, or provide to, the Office of Student Aid is generally considered confidential. Please note, however, that Student Aid employees, in accordance with Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (Title 23 Pa. C. S., Chapter 63) and Penn State Policy AD72 on Reporting Suspected Child Abuse, are required to file a report with the PA Department of Human Services if there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child (a person who is currently less than 18 years of age) has been the victim of child abuse. More information about reporting requirements is available at the Penn State Office of Ethics and Compliance.
Student Aid and Scholarships
University Scholarships
The Office of Student Aid, the University's academic colleges, and the Penn State Commonwealth Campuses offer a variety of scholarships to eligible students. Eligibility for the awards varies and is typically determined based on merit, financial need, or a combination, as defined by the specific scholarship program. Typical scholarship awards may range from $1,500 per year to $7,000 per year, with an average value of $2,500. Students may be identified and selected to receive a particular scholarship on the basis of their prior or current academic performance, other accomplishments, or financial need.
Students should also research available scholarships through their campus or college of academic enrollment. All of these scholarships are competitive as each year Penn State enrolls many outstanding academically talented students who qualify for these awards. We encourage you to complete your admission application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early in order to receive full consideration for all available scholarships.
External Scholarships
In addition to university scholarships, we encourage you to explore and apply for scholarships through external organizations and other private funding sources. Additional guidance and information on where to search for outside scholarships can be accessed through external scholarship opportunities.
Our office also regularly posts external scholarship opportunities on its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
Federal and State Student Aid Programs
Penn State participates in the major federal and state grant, loan and work-study programs. These funding sources make up the majority of all student aid funding with education loans being the largest program. Eligibility is determined based on information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Student aid funds are awarded based on each applicant’s relative financial need.
Grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant or the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) program for PA residents, are applied to meet tuition and other direct expenses and do not require repayment. Federal Work Study funding is earned through campus-based jobs and is received via paycheck for hours worked.
Federal student loan programs offer students the most affordable loans through competitive interest rates and repayment is deferred until after graduation. In addition to the loans available to students themselves, parents who request further assistance may consider the Federal Parent PLUS Loan Program. Parents who qualify for this program can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any aid that is available to their student.
Funding Your Education
As a public university, Penn State relies on state appropriations funding to help manage the cost of tuition. While the University continues to build its scholarship endowment, with an undergraduate enrollment across Penn State campuses that exceeds 70,000 annually, available funds do not yet reach all deserving students.
Even though student aid, including education loans, can help defray some of the costs incurred in earning a college degree, students and their parents will bear a significant responsibility for paying the necessary educational expenses. Therefore, we encourage that a financial plan be developed in order to make this important investment, and to assist in determining the level of education loan debt that both student and parents are willing to incur to acquire a Penn State education.
To provide additional assistance for families to manage tuition and other costs, Penn State offers an installment payment plan to spread the payments over several months of each semester.
Penn State's Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center offers a variety of online self-study modules to help with making informed decisions about money management. These and other financial planning resources include:
The Office of Student Aid is committed to working with students and their families to determine the funding options that might work best in making a Penn State education possible.
Student Financial Assistance
Contact
General
Employment
Financial Aid Programs
Loans
Federal Direct Student and Parent Loan General Repayment Information
Federal Perkins/University Loan Deferments and Cancellations
and
Log into
to access your federal loan history from the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS)
Student Loan Default Rate
Default Summary Report 2020
Percentage of Students Who Borrow – National Center for Education Statistics. Follow the link, select the Penn State campus location, and then 'Financial Aid'.
National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS)
Federal Direct loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guarantee agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.
Policy
Student Retention and Graduation Rates
Student Retention and Graduation Rates Disaggregated by Aid Sources - Click on "Financial Aid" tab to view Federal Student Assistance.
National Center for Education Statistics
Penn State’s Student Retention Rate - Search for “Penn State”, expand the “Retention and Graduation Rates” section.
Student Completion or Graduation Rate -Search for “Penn State”, expand the “Retention and Graduation Rates” section.
Students Convicted of Possession or Sale of Drugs
Drug convictions no longer affect your federal student aid eligibility.
When you complete the FAFSA form, you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes, you will be provided a worksheet. Please answer the questions correctly; however, they won’t impact your eligibility.
Click this link to visit Penn State Student Affairs for information about voter registration and election information.
You Have Rights and Responsibilities as a Student Using Financial Aid
Last year, more than 63,400 Penn State students received student financial assistance to help with the cost of education. Federal, state, and institutional resources partner with you and your family to help meet your educational costs.
Your Responsibilities
You are responsible for:
Reading all materials provided by the Office of Student Aid and other awarding agencies. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you sign.
Completing and correcting application materials to the appropriate agencies within required or recommended time frames.
Knowing and complying with the rules governing the aid you receive. These rules include but are not limited to: one, you must not be in default on any prior educational loan and two, you must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) due to repayment or adjustment.
Providing documentation, federal tax returns, W-2s, and any additional information requested by our office.
Complying with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign.
Finalizing your semester schedule each semester by the Financial Aid Census Date, which is typically the end of the drop/add period, to ensure availability of all financial aid funds that you have been offered. Aid may be adjusted based on the number of credits for which you are enrolled as of the Census Date.
Using student financial aid solely for direct educational costs and related living expenses.
Knowing the financial aid implications of dropping a course or withdrawing from Penn State.
Maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
Keeping your local and permanent addresses current with the Office of the University Registrar.
Reporting any change in your status, including informing the University and your loan servicer of changes to your name, address, social security number, and graduation date or if you transfer to another school.
If you have educational loans, contacting your loan servicer(s) with any changes in enrollment including cancelling your courses, withdrawing, or taking a leave of absence from the University to determine any repayment obligations during your time away from the University. If you re-enroll at Penn State, you will need work with your loan servicer(s) to process a deferment of your loan payments.
Providing complete and correct information on applications and in response to requests from our office or other awarding agencies.
Begin attendance in all of the classes for which you receive financial aid. If you withdraw from or fail a class you did not begin attending, your federal financial aid may be reduced or canceled. Academic attendance includes physically attending class, submitting academic assignments, taking exams, or participating in online discussions that are part of the course delivery.
Repay all loans according to your repayment schedule and to contact your loan servicer immediately if you can't make a requirement payment. Should you default on a federal loan you will not be eligible for financial aid.
Activate your Penn State email account and regularly check your financial aid status in LionPATH.
Complete exit counseling if you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment if you have borrowed Federal Direct Loans or University Loans.
Reporting private sources of student financial aid to the Office of the Bursar at the address below. Please submit a copy of your outside scholarship award letter to:
Office of the Bursar
Attn: External Awards
109 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802
Fax: 814-865-6535
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Privacy (FERPA). All records and information submitted with your application for financial aid are confidential and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information. Read more about FERPA and the privacy and release of student information.
Know the correct procedures for applying for student financial aid, your cost of attendance and the types of aid available.
Know how financial need is determined, what the criteria are for financial aid sources, how satisfactory academic progress is determined, and what you have to do to continue receiving aid and how to reestablish your eligibility for financial assistance if you fail to maintain satisfactory progress.
Understand the type and amount of assistance you will receive, how much of your need has been met, and how and when you will receive your aid funds.
View the contents of your student financial aid file, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Know the conditions of any loan you accept.
Know the terms, conditions, and pay rate for any student job you accept.
Appeal any decision with our office in regard to your application.
Expect notification of your financial aid offer and any adjustments to it.
Know where to find information on loans you borrowed, repayment options, and debt management strategies.
Review Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Repayment for more information about federal loan repayment options and to see a sample loan repayment schedule.
Certain consumer information. Federal regulations require that institutions provide specific consumer information about the school and about financial aid to enrolled and prospective students.
Cancel all or part of your federal loan and/or disbursement.