2022-2023
FINANCIAL AID
OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID Keely Haynes, Director Christopher Newport Hall First Floor (757) 594-7170 finaid@cnu.edu
Christopher Newport University offers financial assistance to qualified graduate students to help pay for all or part of their college expenses. The University participates in a variety of federal, state and University programs, most of which are administered through the Office of Financial Aid. Types of available aid include scholarships, grants and loans. Although most forms of financial aid are based on financial need, some use criteria other than financial need for eligibility. All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually as soon as possible after October 1.
As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, student must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach:
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for financial aid, graduate students must: Be admitted as a degree-seeking student in an eligible graduate program; Be enrolled at least half-time; Be in good academic standing; Be making satisfactory academic progress; Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; Not owe a refund of a federal grant; Not be in default on a federal student loan.
IMPORTANT: If you do not complete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed (paid to you or on your behalf).
Half-time students must be enrolled in at least five credits in the fall semester or in the spring semester, and a total of at least three credits for all summer sessions combined to receive aid. Annual loan limits are established by the federal government. The total aid received cannot exceed the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, board and miscellaneous expenses as defined by the Office of Financial Aid). FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOAN Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, not to exceed the cost of attendance. Loans made under the Federal Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan program are at a fixed interest rate and are long-term, deferrable loans. With an Unsubsidized Direct Loan, the interest that accrues while the loan is in deferment is the responsibility of the student. These loans are deferred until six months after the student graduates or stops attending half-time. Loan proceeds are sent directly to Christopher Newport and are applied to charges before any refunds are made to the student. TEACH GRANT The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing course work needed to begin a career in teaching. At Christopher Newport, students must be enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program to qualify. Undergraduate-level programs do not qualify.
• In a high-need field • At an elementary school, secondary school or educational service agency that serves students from lowincome families • For at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant
To receive a TEACH Grant at Christopher Newport, you must do the following: • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Be enrolled as a graduate student in the MAT Program • Meet and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 • Receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation (you must complete counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant) • Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve • The TEACH Grant Counseling and the Agreement to Serve must be completed online. If you are considering applying for the TEACH Grant, we strongly urge that you educate yourself on this opportunity before submitting an Agreement to Serve. Read the fine print and make sure you fully understand the strict requirements before committing. It has been reported that about one-third of all TEACH grants disbursed since the program’s inception in 2008 have been converted into capitalized loans. VA TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM The Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program, furnished by the Virginia Department of Education, is crafted to increase the number of elementary and secondary school teachers who have an interest in pursuing studies in one of the critical teacher shortage areas. The list of those areas is updated each year. The list usually includes math, science, foreign language and special education. Teacher education schools must participate. 31
