Financial Aid Policies: 2019-2020 Academic Year
The purpose of this policy page is to provide financial aid applicants with the various forms of information that they need to apply for financial aid. You should read this entire policy section. Your financial aid award letter reminds you to be familiar with this information. Acceptance of your financial aid award indicates your familiarity with the information in these policies and your agreement to abide by the rules herein.
You can navigate to particular sections and subsections of the policy by using the links below or by using the navigation bar on the right side of the screen available on each page.
What's New for 2019-2020?
This section provides a brief summary of policy changes and updates (since last year) that you will find below, and in other publications.
- In the Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, we clarified that a 1.8 GPA is required up to the point at which 57 credits have been completed. Previously this policy stated that a 1.8 GPA was required 'after 24 credit hours have been completed but before 57 credit hours have been completed', creating confusion about the GPA requirement up to the point at which 24 credits have been completed.
- Also in the Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, we clarified that the credits a student is taking, which qualify the student for financial aid eligibility, must be graded credits.
- If selected for verification, in order to complete the requirement to verify your tax data, we can now accept a signed copy of your IRS 1040 (parent or student). Previously we could only accept an IRS Tax Transcript. If you are selected for verification, more information on this will appear in your self-service requirements.
- In the past, Provost's Scholarships could only be renewed by achieving the required GPA over the two semesters of the most recently completed academic year. Continuance of the Provost's Scholarship is now based on a cumulative GPA or yearly GPA of 3.0 or better (a minimum of a 2.8 GPA is required in the freshman year). This change will help more students to retain their scholarships.
- ***VERY IMPORTANT*** In the Eligibility Requirements and Criteria section, we have included an explanation of the new Course and Program of Study (CPoS) process and what this means for your enrollment status and financial aid eligibility. This is the thing that many students have heard about over the past year related to how many credits they are taking, how many of those credits count toward their degree requirements, and how their aid must be adjusted based on less than full-time enrollment. It is very important that every student review this information.
Contents
Satisfactory Academic Progress-Undergraduate Students
Satisfactory Academic Progress-Graduate Students
- Cost of Attendance
- Financial Need/Overaward Policy
- Disbursement, Refund, and Repayment Information
- Return of Title IV Funds/Institutional Refund Policy
- Where to Apply for a Loan/Grant from Your State
- Statements of Financial Aid Environment
- Statements Concerning Institutional Aid
- Statements Concerning Taxability of Scholarships and Grants
- Summer School
- Statement Concerning Messiah University's April 1 Priority Deadline
- Statement Concerning Special Circumstances and Application Data Changes/Adjustments
- Statement Concerning Dependency Status
- Student/Parent Responsibility
- Federal Work-Study Community Service
- Military Benefits and Institutional Aid Policy
Information Found in Other Publications
- Description of All Financial Aid Programs
- Procedures and Forms for Applying for Financial Aid
- Eligibility Requirements and Criteria
- Loan Terms and Student Employment Terms
- Description of Academic Programs
- Accrediting Agencies
- Persons Designated to Disseminate Consumer Information
- Special Facilities and Services for Handicapped Students
- Equity in Athletics Report
- Requirements for Withdrawing from the Institution
- Medical Leave of Absence
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- Higher Education Act Consumer Information Web Page