Apply for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Application Process 

Step 1: Apply for a federal username and password at https://fsaid.ed.gov. Both the student and a parent must apply for separate usernames and passwords.

Step 2: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA can be completed as early as October 1^st. The Federal Government has implemented prior-prior year filing.  This means, you will use your tax information from two years prior to the FAFSA filing year. For example, for the 2020-2021 FAFSA, you will use your 2018 tax information. 

Step 3: Once the FAFSA is complete, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Government. The SAR will contain a number known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC figure is determined by the Federal Government on the following submissions: income (parent and student), assets, tax liabilities, family size and number of members of the household enrolled in college. The EFC is used to determine federal and state eligibility for need-based financial aid.

Step 4: The Office of Financial Aid will send you a Financial Aid Award Package once you are fully accepted to Saint Francis and the office has received your FAFSA.

Please note: May 1st is the FAFSA deadline for Pennsylvania State Grant consideration (PHEAA).  To check state grant status, check pheaa.org. 

Eligibility

In order to receive Saint Francis University Institutional Aid (Institutional merit aid, University grants, Endowed University scholarships, etc.) full-time dependent (as determined by Federal guidelines) undergraduate students are required to do one of the following:

• Live in University owned or operated housing includes Residence Halls, University owned apartments/houses/townhouses, and University operated rentals.
• Commute from primary home of parent or legal guardian as long as the home is within a 40 mile radius of the campus.
• Be registered with the university as a dependent of a current Saint Francis University employee and receiving tuition remission benefits.

In order to receive athletic aid, an undergraduate or graduate student, regardless of dependency status, must reside in University housing unless approved by the Department of Athletics. 

To be eligible for institutional aid, students who commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian or are dependents of a SFU employee and receiving tuition remission benefits must be registered with the Office of Residence Life and approved as a commuter. If a student chooses to live off-campus (private residence, apartment, etc.) they do so with the understanding that they will forfeit Saint Francis University institutional aid. If a student fraudulently reports that they are commuting from home to the Office of Residence Life and are found to be living off-campus, the University reserves the right to revoke institutional aid and disciplinary action may be taken. A Saint Francis University student housing contract is for two semesters. The on-campus housing policy applies to Fall and Spring semesters (Summer is excluded with the exception of Athletic contracts which are subject to their terms and conditions). 

To receive a Financial Aid Package you must first be accepted to Saint Francis University.  Please contact the Graduate Department you are seeking acceptance to for Admissions information. 

• Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or add Saint Francis University's federal school code (003366) at studentaid.gov  for the academic year in which you will be enrolled. 
• Complete Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling for Federal Direct Loan at studentaid.gov. 
• Alternative/Private Loan information can be found at www.elmselect.com.
• Payment plan options available via CashNet. Please visit the Student Finances section on your my.francis.edu portal to enroll. 

To receive a Financial Aid Package you must first be accepted to Saint Francis University.  Please contact the Francis Worldwide Department for Admission information. 

• Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or add Saint Francis University's federal school code (003366) at studentaid.gov  for the academic year in which you will be enrolled. 
• Complete Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling for Federal Direct Loan at studentaid.gov. 
• Alternative/Private Loan information can be found at www.elmselect.com.
• Payment plan options available via CashNet. Please visit the Student Finances section on your my.francis.edu portal to enroll. 

Parent Loan Options – (Federal or Private) in the PARENT’S NAME; approval based on credit 

• Federal Parent PLUS Loan - Note: A valid student Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be on file. 
  
  • To apply, parent logs in to studentaid.gov (with PARENT FSA userID & password) and under ‘Parent Borrowers’ tab, complete:
    • “Apply for PLUS Loan”
    • If approved, complete PLUS MPN (Master Promissory Note)
    • If denied, select ‘Not pursue Plus Loan’ to enable your child to receive an additional $4,000-$5,000 in Unsubsidized loan.
• Private Parent Education Loan - loan from bank in parent or sponsor name paid back after graduation that needs creditworthy applicant; apply on lender’s direct website. 
  • Visit ElmSelect at www.elmselect.com and choose “Saint Francis University” under the school and choose the “Parent Loans” program

• To be eligible for federal and institutional financial aid, students at Saint Francis University must be making satisfactory academic progress towards their degree as defined below. Federal student aid includes Federal PELL Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and Direct PLUS Loan.
• Once degree students have completed two semesters of enrollment, their academic records will be reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether they are making satisfactory academic progress as shown below. During each two semesters (normally one academic year, fall and spring), students will be required to complete a minimum number of credits, depending on the type of program. This review will be done each time final grades are posted.
• Progress is checked two ways depending on when you started full-time enrollment. For example: if you begin the fall semester, your progress will be checked at the end of the spring semester. At this time, you must have maintained satisfactory progress in order to receive aid for the following academic year. If you begin in the spring, your progress will be checked at the end of the following fall semester. At that time, you must have maintained satisfactory progress in order to receive aid for the upcoming spring and fall semesters.
• Any dropped, repeated or failed credits are not counted toward progress. Credits dropped, repeated or failed need to be taken during the summer sessions within the same academic year to ensure continuance of financial aid.
• Credits to be included in total number completed are those for which the student receives a grade of A, B, C, D, or P (credit by examination). Credit for which the student receives a grade of W, WP, WF, or I will not be included, although "I" (Incomplete) grades which result in a determination of unsatisfactory progress may be reviewed upon completion of course work. Incomplete grades not completed within six weeks of the ensuing semester are computed as "Fs." Educational Enrichment courses which are satisfactorily completed will be counted as credit equivalency toward the student's progress. Once students have completed sixty (60) credit hours, a "C" (2.0) average must be maintained for continuance of financial aid.

Time Frame
Saint Francis expects students enrolled in degree programs to complete all required course work within a given amount of time; therefore, students may receive financial aid for a maximum number of semesters.

• Qualitative Standard - Students must achieve the minimal Grade Point Average as set forth by the University and listed in the section "Academic Policies and Procedures; Academic Dismissal and Probation". Students who fail to attain this standard are only eligible for financial assistance if reinstated by the Committee on Academic Support (CAS).
• Quantitative Standard - Students are expected to progress toward degree requirements at a reasonable pace. Students that attempt 12 or fewer credits per semester must earn 100% of the credits, if you attempt 10 credits you must earn 10 credits and so on. Students that attempt 13-14 credits per semester must earn 90% of the credits (minimum of 12 credits/semester). Students that attempt 15+ credits per semester must earn 80% of the credits (minimum of 12 credits/semester).
• Change of Major - Students who change majors will be allotted the amount of time needed to complete the new program without regard to time spent in previous course work provided the student was making satisfactory progress at the time of change.
• Second Degree - Financial aid for a second degree will be awarded to students only after they present a statement from an advisor indicating the additional courses necessary for the second degree. Financial aid will be awarded for those credits required for the additional degree.
• Transfer Students - Course work transferred to and accepted by Saint Francis University will be included in the evaluation of credits completed toward a degree. Transfer credits earned at other institutions which are applied to the student's program of study at Saint Francis University will be counted as both credits attempted and earned when determining the maximum number of semesters a student may receive financial aid. Transfer credits will be considered at a rate of twelve (12) semester credits equal to one semester.
• Students who have received prior state grant assistance at another institution must submit a copy of their final college transcript to the Registrar's Office at Saint Francis University. Academic progress requirements for the PHEAA State Grant program require the University to verify that you were successfully making academic progress at your prior institution before transferring to Saint Francis University. PHEAA State Grant funds will not be credited to a student's account until the needed transcripts are received and progress has been confirmed.
• Part-time Students - When a student receives financial aid, the government and school will expect that student to make Academic Progress. This means that the student must pass all credits attempted each semester. If a student withdraws from school, drops a class, or repeats a class, financial aid can be affected during the semester that the student is enrolled or in future semesters.
• Termination - At the end of every academic year, a student who fails to meet the requirements set forth for satisfactory academic progress will be notified in writing by the Financial Aid Office that all federal and institutional aid will be terminated.
• Reinstatement - A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may apply for reinstatement through the following procedures:
  • A. A student must attain a level of progress commensurate with the time spent in school (see Standards of Progress).
  • B. If a student takes course work at another school, the student must submit an official transcript to the Registrar's Office and the credits must be accepted by Saint Francis University toward the student's diploma or degree.     
  • C. The student must upon completion of course work notify the Financial Aid Office in writing that he/she wishes to be considered for reinstatement of aid eligibility.
  • D. The Financial Aid Office will notify students in writing after determining whether sufficient progress has been made to merit reinstatement.
• Appeals - Students denied financial aid due to lack of academic progress or because they have exhausted the maximum number of semesters for which they are eligible to receive aid may appeal if extenuating circumstances exist. Academic progress waivers may be granted for medical emergency/illness of student, spouse, or child; death of parent, spouse, child; or other documented extenuating circumstance.
  • All appeals must be made in writing to the Financial Aid Office and accompanied by significant documentation to validate the student's reason for not making satisfactory academic progress and what has changed to allow them to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. The appeal request will be reviewed and the student will be notified in writing of the results of the appeal.
  • It is the policy of the Financial Aid Office to waive a maximum of six (6) credits toward satisfactory academic progress. If the student is still short credits after the waiver is granted, it is the student's responsibility to complete the remaining credits to be considered for reinstatement of aid eligibility. Failure to do so will result in the termination of future financial aid.

The Office of Financial Aid encourages all current and accepted students to visit our Financial Aid portal.

Net Partner Student Portal-    Log into My.Francis portal

• Click “MyBill/FinAid" Icon
• Click on “NetPartner” link located on the top right of page
  1. Students can view/accept/decline awards
  2. View disbursement information
  3. View missing documentation
  4. Download forms

Please do no hesitate to call us at 814-472-3010 or email finaid@francis.edu. Our Office is located in 228 Padua Hall and we are open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.