Gannon University Scholarship & Financial Aid 2016 by Gannon University

SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID

an affordable college

EDUCATION EDUCATION

At Gannon University, we are committed to offering you the best financial assistance package possible. We want your Gannon education to be exceptional and affordable. More than 90 percent of Gannon students qualify for financial assistance. We offer a variety of scholarships, grants and awards that recognize academic and athletic accomplishments, outstanding talents and demonstrated need. As you begin exploring college costs, it’s important to understand the financial aid and scholarship process and the options available to you. Please know that we are here to assist you every step of the way.

financing your college

EVA AND FAFSA: GET TO KNOW THESE FORMS Early Version Award (EVA) Gannon University’s EVA application determines your estimated financial aid award very early in the admissions process. You can complete this form at the same time as your application for admission. After you are accepted to Gannon, we will send you an estimate of your financial aid, which may include federal and state grants, loans, Gannon scholarships, and/or student employment. This process gives you and your family an early indication of your financial assistance package and enables you to start planning sooner so you can take advantage of all financing opportunities. We believe the more information you know about the process and what you are eligible for, the better.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The FAFSA is the form used by Gannon and almost all colleges and universities as an application for federal, state and university student financial aid. It determines state grant eligibility, as well as eligibility for the federal government’s Pell Grant Program and the Federal Direct Student Loan. File online at fafsa.ed.gov. Gannon’s FAFSA code is 003266. Include this code on your FAFSA to have your information sent directly to us. Your FAFSA can be filed after October 1 of your senior year and is required to be on file before any of your need-based financial aid can be finalized.

Over $37 million in financial aid awarded annually

003266 FAFSA CODE

the financial aid

PROCESS STEP 1

Apply for outside scholarships. Some resources include: finaid.org, high school guidance office, local newspapers, Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and student or parent employers, clubs and organizations.

STEP 2 Complete and return the Gannon University Financial Aid Early Version Award (EVA) application. The EVA is included in your Admissions Application Packet and is available to print on our website at gannon.edu/FinancialAid. We recommend you complete this application at the same time you complete your application for admission. After you’ve been accepted to Gannon and your EVA is filed, you will receive a letter with estimated amounts of all financial aid for which you are eligible.

STEP 3 Apply online for a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm. The student (and one parent of a dependent student) must secure a FSA ID, which serves as your electronic signature when filing the FAFSA.

STEP 4 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be submitted after October 1 of your senior year in high school. File online at fafsa.ed.gov. Gannon’s FAFSA code is 003266. Include this code on your FAFSA to have your information sent directly to us. The recommended filing date for the FAFSA is on or before March 15 of the year you plan to enroll at Gannon. For Pennsylvania residents, the deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant is May 1 of the year you plan to enroll.

STEP 5 Complete the Federal Direct Student Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Loan Counseling. While eligibility for a student loan may be indicated on an award letter, securing those funds still requires the completion of a Master Promissory Note. Go to studentloans.gov to complete the application. Your FSA ID is your electronic signature for the MPN. We recommend you submit the MPN by May 15 of the year you plan to enroll at Gannon. Students obtaining a Federal Student Loan are required to complete entrance counseling, also available online at studentloans.gov.

who should apply for

FINANCIAL AID? We’re asked this question all the time. Our short answer: Everyone.

We advise all students, no matter their income level, to complete the EVA and the FAFSA forms so they can be considered for every available resource. While income is an important part of financial strength, many other factors are examined when determining the amount and type of financial assistance you will receive, such as family size, number of siblings in college and assets.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID NEED BASED GRANTS PROGRAM

AMOUNT

Pennsylvania State Grant

$508-$4,340 Pa. residents; need-based according to state formula $602-$5,815 Need-based according to federal formula Varies Need-based

File FAFSA* prior to May 1st File FAFSA File FAFSA

$500-$4,000 Pell eligible; need-based reserved for continuing students

File FAFSA

Federal Pell Grant University Grant Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

HOW AWARD IS DETERMINED

HOW TO APPLY

LOANS PROGRAM

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

AMOUNT

Federal Direct Student Loan (subsidized)

Undergraduate students with financial need

$3,500-$5,500 Fixed, 3.76%

Federal Direct Student Loan (unsubsidized) Federal Perkins Loan/BSN Nursing Loan

Students without financial need Students with greatest need (limited number available) Parents borrowing for a dependent student

$2,000-$5,500 Fixed, 3.76%

File FAFSA* prior to May 1st File FAFSA

$500-$3,000

Fixed, 5.0%

File FAFSA

Up to the cost of education less aid received Up to the cost of education less aid received

Fixed, 6.31%

File FAFSA and Master Promissory Note

Variable, tied into Prime or LIBOR rate

Contact local lender or Gannon Financial Aid Office

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

Alternative Educational Loans

Students with a creditworthy co-signer

INTEREST

HOW TO APPLY

EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Federal Work Study Program (FWSP)

Students with financial $2,300 need

Federal Off-Campus Work Pa. residents with Study Program financial need

*Free Application for Federal Student Aid

AMOUNT TYPE OF WORK HOW TO APPLY

$2,300

Part-time, on-campus opportunities

File FAFSA and the Gannon Work Study Application

Part-time File FAFSA and community service the Gannon OffCampus Work Study Application

Gannon University

INSTITUTIONAL AID

Gannon University has a wide variety of merit-based, need-based and athletic financial awards. Our generous merit-based scholarship program recognizes a student’s outstanding performance in the classroom. Students accepted to Gannon will receive notification of academic and merit awards they qualify for with their acceptance letter from the Gannon University Admissions Office. Students who apply for financial aid at Gannon University are automatically considered for Gannon’s need-based grants. Student-athletes should contact Gannon’s athletic office for information on scholarships in their chosen sport.

EDUCATION financing your college

In most cases, you do not have to complete a scholarship application to be considered for Gannon awards. However, achievement-based scholarship competitions for some majors do require completion of an additional application, as do the Schuster arts and music awards. Please review the list of Gannon scholarship opportunities on the following page to see which may be applicable to you.

SCHUSTER let’s talk about

Patron of the Arts Scholarship

Annually, the Schuster family and Gannon University are proud to offer 10 scholarships to qualified students who make the arts an integral part of their lives. Some students demonstrate commitment to the arts actively by composing, performing or creating. William Schuster created an endowment for these scholarships in loving memory of his wife Frances, who was deeply committed to the arts. Students who are awarded a scholarship receive $2,500 annually, with the total value of $10,000 earned over four years at Gannon. Full-time enrollment at Gannon and your participation of 50 hours a year at a community arts organization are required to ensure renewal of the Schuster Patron of the Arts Scholarship.

Memorial Music Award The Schuster Memorial Music Award was endowed by William Schuster to encourage musicians to continue their creation of music at the college level as they pursue more than 60 undergraduate degrees offered at Gannon. The scholarship rewards qualified students for their music ability with $1,000 awarded annually, a total value of $4,000 earned over four years at Gannon.

STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AND RECEIVE BOTH SCHOLARSHIPS. For questions regarding these scholarships, please call the Office of Admissions at 1-800-GANNON-U (1-800-426-6668) or visit gannon.edu/admissions.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS ACADEMIC AND MERIT SCHOLARSHIP/AWARDS Gannon University Scholarship/Awards*

$5,000-Full Tuition

All students who are accepted to the University qualify for a Gannon scholarship/award. The amount awarded is based on academic merit as well as SAT/ACT scores. Students who perform exceptionally well may have the opportunity to increase their scholarship/award amount and receive either the Presidential or Founders Scholarship.

Presidential Scholarship*

Full Tuition

Eligible candidates must apply and be accepted to the University by December 15, 2016. The top 10 percent of accepted students by this date will be invited to compete in a scholarship contest with the ability to earn a full tuition scholarship. Details of the scholarship contest are included with students’ acceptance letters.

Founders Scholarship*

Initial Award Increased by $1,500

All students who are invited and choose to participate in the above mentioned contest will have their Admissions merit award increased by $1,500. Up to the top 10 participants in the scholarship contest will receive full tuition scholarships. Details of the scholarship contest are included with students’ acceptance letters.

Catholic Forensic League of the Diocese of Erie

$200-Varies

Based on placement in competitions

Academic Sports League

$500-$2,000

Based on years of participation

DIOCESAN-RELATED AWARDS (ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA) Diocesan High School Grant*

$1,500

Awarded to graduates from the Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Diocesan Parish Grant

$1,000

Awarded to active members of a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.

$500-$3,000