Financial Aid Award Information

Transcription

1 Financial Aid Award Information

2 We are pleased to provide this brochure, along with your financial aid Award for the academic year. This booklet contains important information about your financial aid award, policies, rights and responsibilities, costs, and expected and actual aid. We find it answers many commonly asked questions and encourage you to read it carefully. If you have questions that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Robin Thompson Director of Financial Aid, Pitzer College Financial Aid Office 1050 N. Mills Ave Claremont, CA Phone: Fax:

3 How We Determine Financial Need Financial aid is a supplemental resource to help bridge the gap between what a family can contribute and the cost of attendance. Using the information provided on the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE (PROFILE) applications, the Financial Aid Office calculates an expected family contribution (EFC) that is available from income and assets. This amount is subtracted from the total cost of education tuition, fees, room, board, books and personal expenses and, in some cases, travel expenses. The difference between your family contribution and the cost of attendance is your financial need. Your financial aid award meets your full financial need, and is generally composed of grants, scholarships, a student loan and employment funds. Parents Contribution The Financial Aid Office calculates your parents contribution using the FAFSA & PROFILE applications along with your parents 2015 federal tax return and W-2 form(s), and any other supplemental documents you submitted. The calculation takes into consideration taxes paid, reasonable living costs, medical/dental expenses, family size, and the number of children enrolled in undergraduate college programs. A portion of your parents assets is protected as an emergency allowance. The parents contribution is recalculated each year, and we require that dependent students complete the full application process each year in order to renew your financial aid award. Student Contribution We ask that each student receiving financial assistance contribute approximately $900 to $1,850, depending on your year in school, toward the cost of education. This is considered a summer earnings contribution, which is expected as your contribution toward educational expenses from summer earnings. In addition to the summer earnings contribution, you are expected to contribute 25% to 35% of your cash, savings and investments to the overall educational costs, if you have any. Your Budget (Cost of Education) Your budget for the academic year includes full-time tuition, fees, room, board, books and personal expenses. It may also include an allowance for transportation. Your financial aid award will not cover any lab or course fees, course overload fees or any other miscellaneous fees. If you register for more than five courses in any semester, you will be charged an overload fee of $220 per course for which there is no financial aid. Room and Board Your budget includes the cost of a double room ($9,088 per year) and the 16 meal plan ($6,674 per year). If you choose to live in a single room, you will be charged an additional $1,238 per year. Financial aid does not cover this additional charge. There is a reduced charge of $6,128 if you subscribe to the 12 meal plan. If you reduce your meal plan there is no reduction in your financial aid award. If you are approved to live off campus by the Office of Student Affairs you will not be charged for room and board, and there is no reduction in your financial aid award. However, if you are approved to live at home with your parents, there will be a change in your financial aid award because we use a different housing budget for students who live at home. Books and Personal Expenses We estimate that you will spend approximately $2,000 over the course of the academic year on books and personal expenses. You will need approximately $500 during the first week of each semester to purchase books. It is recommended that you plan to arrive on campus with $500 to cover the cost of books and supplies. The bookstore will accept cash, checks (with identification), and most major credit cards. Transportation A transportation allowance has been added to your budget if your permanent home is a significant distance from the campus. It is important to note that this allowance may not cover the actual cost of airfare between your home and Pitzer; the travel budget represents an average budget for transportation for all students and your actual travel costs may be higher or lower depending on the mode of transportation and frequency of your trips to and from school. Transportation allowances range from $150 to $500.

4 Your Financial Aid Award Most financial aid award packages combine three types of aid: scholarship and grant funds (no repayment required), loan funds (funds that you must repay after you graduate), and work funds (earnings while you are in school). Financial aid packages are awarded for an entire academic year. If family financial circumstances change substantially during the course of the year, you may submit an appeal to review the change to your family s financial circumstances. We will make every effort to help you, subject to available funds and eligibility. Scholarship awards from outside organizations or foundations are coordinated with your need-based financial aid package. Outside awards do not replace the family contribution; financial aid and outside scholarships are secondary resources that help bridge the gap between the family contribution and the cost of education. If you receive an outside scholarship, it will first replace your need-based loan. If the award exceeds the amount of your loan, federal work-study is replaced next. If total outside scholarships replace both loan and work, then your Pitzer Scholarship will be reduced. Cal Grants are not considered outside scholarships, and replace the need-based Pitzer Scholarship. All grant or scholarship funds are credited to your student account and are divided equally between the first and second semester. It is your responsibility to ensure your outside scholarship is processed; if the scholarship organization requires enrollment verification or a copy of your transcript, it is your responsibility to request and send it to the organization. You must also ensure that your outside scholarship checks are received by the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner. Outside scholarships will appear as a pending credit to your student account until October 15. If the Financial Aid Office has not received the scholarship check by then, it will be removed from your student account, and it may create a balance due to the College. All types of loans are initially entered on your student account as pending financial aid and are divided equally between the first and second semester. They do not become actual aid until you have completed all of the required paperwork and our office has received the loan funds. Pitzer Scholarship Pitzer Scholarship funds are derived from gifts, endowment, and the current budget of the College and are awarded to students on the basis of financial need. Cal Grant These are grant funds awarded to California residents by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). It is the responsibility of every California resident applying for financial aid from Pitzer College to apply for a Cal Grant. We expect Cal Grant A awards for the year to range between $9,084 and $9,223, depending upon state funding. If you are awarded both a Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B by CSAC, you may choose to receive only one of these grants. Normally, during your first year your Cal Grant B is $1,656, which is an allowance for books and supplies. In subsequent years you would then be eligible for the book allowance plus $9,084 to help with tuition expenses. If you choose to accept the Cal Grant B, the College will revise your award to account for the alternate grant. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) The funds for this grant are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to Pitzer, which provides matching funds, to assist students with substantial financial need. Awards generally range from $200 to $4,000. Federal Pell Grant These awards, administered by the U.S. Department of Education to participating institutions, provide a financial aid foundation for students with high need. For the academic year, awards may range from $590 to $5,815. The amount of the award is based on a determination of your federal financial aid eligibility, the cost of attending Pitzer and a payment schedule issued to all approved educational institutions by the U.S. Department of Education. Trustee Scholarship The Trustee Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that is awarded at the time of admission. The Trustee Scholarship is a $5,000 annual scholarship that is renewable for up to four years. To be eligible for renewal of the Trustee Scholarship, a student must be in good academic standing, enrolled at least half time and making satisfactory academic progress. Students must maintain a 2.0 minimum, cumulative GPA. Academic Achievement Scholarship The Academic Achievement Scholarship is a one-time merit scholarship that is awarded to entering first-year students. The amount of the award can vary from year to year, based on funding availability.

5 Loans Loans are regarded as a means of enabling you to invest some of your future earnings in your education. The average federal loan indebtedness of those students who have received financial aid for four years at Pitzer, and who graduated in May 2015, was approximately $21,951. An educational loan is a financial obligation that you must repay. William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan The Federal Direct Loan program provides long-term, low-interest loans to students. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education. Annual base-loan limits for dependent students are $3,500 for first-year students, $4,500 for sophomores and $5,500 for juniors and seniors. In addition, any student may borrow an additional $2,000 Federal Direct unsubsidized loan. If a parent has applied for a Federal PLUS loan and has been denied due to negative credit history, students are eligible to borrow an additional unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan. First- and second-year students may borrow an additional $4,000 unsubsidized loan and third- and fourth-year students may have access to an additional $5,000 unsubsidized loan. Total Federal Direct Loan indebtedness for undergraduate students may not exceed $31,000. The interest rate is fixed at 3.76% for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. All Federal Direct Loans are subject to an origination fee of 1.068% if disbursed before October 1, For loans disbursed on or after October 1, 2016, the origination fee will be 1.069%. These fees are deducted from the loan before the funds are issued. Repayment of the principal and interest begins six months after you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment (two classes). Once you have left school and have begun repaying your loan, student borrowers have many different repayment options. These options can make repaying your loans more manageable based on your earnings. In addition, students who enter into graduate school may elect to defer payment on educational debt until after graduation. While there is flexibility regarding the amount you pay monthly and the length of your repayment, educational loans are not subject to discharge with the exception of death or permanent disability of the borrower. If you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan as part of your financial aid package, you will receive information about completing a Master Promissory Note (MPN) with your finalized award letter. All first-time borrowers must also complete an entrance interview online at www. mappingyourfuture.org or All borrowers need to complete the Federal Direct Loan Request Form, entrance counseling and MPN no later than July 15. If you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan as part of your financial aid award, your loan may be accepted for the full amount offered, decreased or declined. If you choose to decrease or decline the Federal Direct Loan awarded in your package, no compensation can be made in either grant or employment allotments. All Federal Direct borrowers are required to complete an exit interview at the time of graduation or withdrawal from the College. You may do this by going to signing in and clicking on exit counseling. Federal Perkins Loans The Federal Perkins Loan program provides long-term, low-interest loans to students through Pitzer College. These loans are allocated by the Financial Aid Office to students with financial need and may range up to a maximum of $5,500 per year. The interest rate on these loans is 5% and no interest is charged while you are in school. Repayment of the principal and interest begins nine months after you cease to be enrolled at least halftime. All loans must be repaid within 10 years. Deferment and cancellation privileges are detailed in the promissory note. If you are offered a Perkins Loan, we encourage you to review the terms carefully. If you have been awarded a Federal Perkins Loan, instructions for completing your loan paperwork will be included with your financial aid award letter. Previous Federal Perkins Loan borrowers with an outstanding balance on the Perkins Loan from Pitzer College may be eligible to borrow from this fund only after they have been awarded all Federal Direct Subsidized Loans that they are eligible for and have remaining federal need. Previous Federal Perkins Loan borrowers will need to complete the following: (1) Federal Perkins Loan Request Form, (2) Federal Perkins Loan Rights and Responsibilities Forms and (3) Perkins Loan Entrance Counseling. To complete the entrance counseling session online visit New Federal Perkins Loan borrowers who have not previously borrowed a Perkins Loan from Pitzer College may be eligible to borrow from this fund only after they have been awarded all Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans that they are eligible for, and have remaining federal need. First time Federal Perkins Loan borrowers will need to complete the following: (1) Federal Perkins Loan Request Form, (2) Federal Perkins Loan Rights and Responsibilities Forms, (3) Personal Information Form, (4) Federal Perkins Master Promissory Note and (5) Perkins Loan Entrance Counseling. To complete the entrance counseling session online visit

6 Your Federal Perkins Loan may be accepted for the full amount offered, decreased, or declined in full. It may not be increased over the amount of the original award without the approval of the Financial Aid Office. If you choose to decrease or decline the Federal Perkins Loan awarded to you, no compensation can be made in scholarship. If you borrow a Federal Perkins Loan, you are required to complete an exit interview at the time you graduate or withdraw from the College. Pitzer College Loan The Pitzer College Loan program provides long-term, no-interest loans to students who have graduated from a California high school, are permanent residents or U.S. citizens and meet other income qualifications. These loans are administered by the Financial Aid Office. To be eligible for renewal of the Pitzer College Loan, the student must be in good academic standing, making satisfactory academic progress and be enrolled full time. This loan is limited to eight academic semesters. No interest is charged on these loans and repayment of the principal begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at Pitzer College. All loans must be repaid within 10 years. There are no deferment or cancellation privileges. If you have been awarded a Pitzer College Loan, you will receive information about how to complete the loan application materials in June. The Pitzer College Loan funding is limited, and provided on a first-come, firstserve basis. All loan applications should be on file with the Financial Aid Office no later than July 15. Your Pitzer College Loan may be accepted for the full amount offered, decreased or declined in full. It may not be increased over the amount of the original award without the approval of the Financial Aid Office. If you choose to decrease or decline the Pitzer College Loan awarded to you, no compensation can be made in either grant or employment funds. If you borrow a Pitzer College Loan, you are required to attend an exit interview at the time you graduate or withdraw from the College. Emergency Student Loan Fund: Short-term, no-interest emergency student loans are available to students faced with unexpected emergencies. Traditional and transfer students may borrow up to $500 for 30 days if they are able to verify their ability to repay the loan. Repayment is expected within 30 days. Students who need a short-term emergency student loan should contact the Financial Aid Office. A student need not receive financial aid to qualify for an emergency student loan. The funds that make these loans possible represent Pitzer College s portion of a gift to the Independent Colleges of Southern California made by First Interstate Bank of California. Federal Work-Study This form of financial aid provides a job opportunity to you. You will receive notification via this summer with instructions to complete your new hire paperwork electronically so that you will be able to begin working when you arrive on campus in the fall. All new student employees must provide documentation verifying eligibility to work in the United States. This is generally a current, non-expired passport; however, students may use other documentation such as the combination of a photo ID (driver s license or state issued ID) along with your original Social Security card or birth certificate. Please be sure to bring original identification to complete the hiring process with you to school. You may not begin working until they are submitted with your new hire paperwork. International students who have been awarded workstudy will need to apply for a Social Security number upon arriving in the US in order to work on campus. The international student adviser, Todd Sasaki, will assist international students in applying for a Social Security number and obtaining an on-campus job. During the first week of the fall semester a list of job openings will be available online through Claremont CONNECT In general, students work between six and twelve hours per week during the academic year. If you choose to work on campus, you will be paid every two weeks depending on the number of hours you work. Your paycheck is yours to spend as necessary. Most students will use student earnings to pay for books, supplies and other personal expenses, but students may choose to use work-study funding to help contribute to tuition charges. Work-study funds are earned, therefore do not subtract work-study funds that are itemized on your financial aid award from total charges on your bill when determining how much you will be responsible to pay the College each semester. If you wish to decline the work opportunity, please indicate in the proper space on your award acceptance sheet. If you choose to decline the work portion of your package, no compensation can be made through grant or scholarship funds. Reapplying for Financial Aid Each year, you and your family need to reapply for financial aid. We review your financial need annually and make adjustments to reflect changes in your financial need and the cost of attending Pitzer each year. Pitzer College is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of our continuing students. You need to be aware that Pitzer requires you to assume larger loans and

7 increased employment that is, greater self-help as you progress toward your degree. For example, for the academic year, the loan and work-study levels are: Loan Work-Study First Year $3,500 $2,460 Sophomores $4,000 $2,680 Juniors $4,750 $2,900 Seniors $5,000 $3,130 Study Abroad If you participate in a Pitzer-sponsored or Pitzerapproved study abroad program, eligible students will be considered for financial aid. Students are assessed a Comprehensive Fee that is the equivalent of tuition, fees, a double room and 16 meal plan, and will receive financial aid assistance to meet their demonstrated financial need. While students are abroad they are not allocated Federal Work-Study funds during the semester(s) that they are away. Instead, Federal Work-Study funds are replaced with additional study abroad grant assistance because students are not able to hold traditional, campus-based jobs while away from the College. Students are also charged a Study Abroad Travel Fee for the semester they are abroad to cover the cost of traveling to and from their program location. The Study Abroad Office will work with the student to book travel and the Financial Aid Office will provide assistance with the travel fee in the form of a grant. Summer Study Abroad Pitzer College offers a summer study abroad program: Pitzer Summer Health Program in Costa Rica. If a student elects to participate, is a recipient of financial aid and meets eligibility requirements, the student may receive financial aid to assist with the cost of the program, including tuition, fees, room and board. When a student receives aid for a summer study abroad program, the student uses the equivalent of half a semester of financial aid (two courses during the summer session). The student is expected to enroll half time (not more than two courses) upon returning from the summer study abroad program for one semester, as each student is limited to only eight semesters of institutional financial aid for entering first-year students and a pro-rated equivalent for transfer students. Summer Session Pitzer College offers a six-week summer session where students have the option to enrich their education in a rigorous academic atmosphere. Financial aid is available to students who received need-based financial aid during the spring semester proceeding the summer session. Students are eligible for financial aid to assist with tuition costs for up to two courses during the summer. Students who enroll in more than two courses will be responsible for tuition costs for the additional classes. Room and board costs are not covered through financial aid, but students may borrow educational loans to assist with living expenses if the student meets eligibility requirements and has remaining loan eligibility from the school year. Financial aid is not available for independent study courses during the summer term. During the summer, Pitzer does not have a consortia agreement in place with the other Claremont Colleges, and as a result, financial aid is only available to Pitzer students who enroll in classes at Pitzer College. Financial aid is not available for summer courses taken at any other college. Satisfactory Academic Progress A student who enters Pitzer as a first-year student is eligible for a maximum of eight semesters of financial aid, should financial need continue. Normally, a student completes four courses each semester. Transfer student eligibility is based on class standing at the time of admission; it is equal to the number of courses or semesters a student will progress at regular pace to complete the requirements of a bachelor s degree. Transfer students with junior class standing must complete a minimum of 16 courses in four semesters. Each full-time student receiving financial aid must complete a minimum of six courses at the end of two semesters; a total of 14 courses after four semesters; a total of 22 courses after six semesters; and a total of 32 courses at the end of eight semesters to receive the bachelor s degree. Your financial aid award is granted on the condition that you register as a full-time student (three courses or more each semester). However, as mentioned above, a student normally completes four courses each semester. You must maintain satisfactory progress as defined by the College s Academic Standards Committee to remain eligible for financial aid in subsequent years. A student making satisfactory progress as outlined above who does not maintain a 2.00 GPA will be placed on contract by the College s Academic Standards Committee. The comprehensive Satisfactory Academic Progress policy can be found in the Course Catalog. Refund Policy A student who withdraws or takes a leave of absence after the first day of the semester may receive credit against

8 the semester s fees, as described in the Pitzer College Catalog. For students receiving financial aid, Pitzer College uses the refund policies mandated by federal regulation. Following these regulations, a portion of any refund must be returned to the programs from which the student was aided in the order listed: Direct Loan, PLUS Loan, Perkins Loan, Pell Grant, SEOG. Whether a refund will result from the credits received will depend on the payments that have been made and the amount of financial aid that has been received by the student. A detailed explanation of the refund policy is described in the Course Catalog. Change in Enrollment Your eligibility for financial aid and the amount of your award may change if you drop below full-time enrollment status. Enrollment in three or more courses is considered full time, and fewer than three courses is considered less than full time. Students who plan to enroll in fewer than three courses in a semester must schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to understand how this may impact financial aid eligibility. Students may change their course enrollment during the first two weeks of the semester. After the last day to add courses, September 13 for fall 2016 and January 31 for spring 2017, the Financial Aid Office will review the number of courses each student is enrolled in. Students will be notified if their course load requires a change to their financial aid award. Financial aid will not make any changes to the financial aid award after these published dates. If a student adds a course after the published date, they will not be eligible for additional financial aid to cover the additional costs. Your Rights and Responsibilities You have the right to: Have full information about the types of aid available to you and the requirements and deadlines. Know what portion of your financial aid must be repaid and what portion is grant or scholarship assistance. Privacy. All records and data submitted with your application for financial aid are treated as confidential, subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information. Appeal any financial aid award or other decision of the Financial Aid Office that does not fall under the jurisdiction of federal or state regulations. You have the responsibility to: Read and understand all forms you are required to sign. You should keep copies for your records Cost Information Total Budget for Student Living On/Off Campus: Total Budget for Student Living Off Campus with Parents: $50,160 Tuition* $50,160 Tuition* $270 Student Activities Fee* $270 Student Activities Fee* $9,088 Room (Double)* $4,896 Housing & Food Expenses $6, Meal Plan* $1,326 Transportation $66,192 TOTAL* $56,652 TOTAL* $1,000 Books $1,000 Books $1,000 Personal Expenses $68,192 $58,652 $1,000 Personal Expenses *These are expenses for which you are billed by the Student Accounts Office. If you choose to enroll in the College s Student Medical Insurance, you will be billed for it in full at the start of the fall semester. This charge must be paid by the end of the fall semester. Students may borrow a loan to cover the cost if there is remaining loan eligibility. In addition, if a student drops a class after the published date, their financial aid will not be adjusted to reflect a reduced level of course work. Provide truthful and correct information. If funds are advanced based on falsified data, you will be obligated to repay all money received and may be subject to criminal fraud prosecution. Understand the application process and apply for financial aid each year on time by submitting the required forms by the posted deadlines. Report all new or increased resources, such as outside scholarships, grants, tuition remission or VA benefits to the Financial Aid Office in writing. Notify the Financial Aid Office and your student loan servicer of any name change, change of address, graduation, transfer, withdrawal or other change in enrollment status. Complete an entrance interview before borrowing a student loan for the first time. Complete an exit interview before graduating, transferring or withdrawing from Pitzer.

9 Computing the Amount You Need to Pay A full-time student, living in a double room and participating in the 16 meal plan, will be billed by Pitzer as follows: Semester Year Tuition $25,080 $50,160 Fees $135 $270 Room $4,544 $9,088 Board $3,337 $6,674 Total $33,096 $66,192 To calculate how much you will owe to the College, use the following worksheet. (Please note: if you live in a single room, or off campus, or participate in a different meal plan, or take the student medical insurance, your charges will be different from those shown.) Amount billed by the College (academic year) SUBTRACT financial aid which we credit to your account Total Scholarship and Grants (i.e., Pitzer Scholarship, Cal Grant, Federal Pell, Federal SEOG, other scholarships or grants) Total Loans (i.e., Federal Perkins, Federal Direct, Federal PLUS, Pitzer College Loan) DO NOT SUBTRACT your Federal Work-Study* $66,192 Paying Your Bill The first bill of the academic year, reflecting charges for tuition, fees, room and board for the fall semester will be available online on the first business day of August, via our partner CASHNet. For balances owed to Pitzer College, families have the option of paying in full by August 20, or enrolling in the Pitzer College Monthly Payment Plan. Additional information regarding the CASHNet online billing system and the payment plan will be made available to students and families in early June from the Office of Student Accounts. Please note: If you elect to enroll in the College s student medical insurance, you will be billed for the full year of coverage at the beginning of the fall semester. This additional charge must be paid in full during the fall semester. We show expected financial assistance aid on your student account so that your balance due will reflect all of the aid for which you are eligible. However, if you do not complete the requirements for the aid in a timely manner, the pending aid will be removed from your account and your balance due will increase by that amount. Some types of scholarship or grant aid are entered on your student account as actual aid. This means that we have received all of the necessary paperwork from you to credit your account with the final financial aid. All types of loans are initially entered on your student account as pending financial aid. They do not become actual aid until you have completed all of required paperwork and the funds have been disbursed. Your Federal Work-Study allocation does not appear as a credit (either as actual or pending aid) on your student account. You are paid directly by check for hours that you work on a bi-weekly basis. Balance Due Divide by 2 = The balance due each semester *Your Federal Work-Study allocation is not credited to your account and therefore is not subtracted from the charges. This amount does not include any expenses for books, personal expenses or transportation. Remember that you will need approximately $500 for books and supplies at the beginning of each semester.

10 Financial Aid Award Checklist Review your financial aid award and this booklet carefully. Returning students should review any messages on the financial aid portal: Sign your acceptance letter, indicating any aid you do not wish to accept, and return to the Financial Aid Office within 10 days. Complete all loan paperwork and return to the Financial Aid Office by July 15, or within 10 days of receipt of your award. Notify the Financial Aid Office in writing of any outside awards, tuition remission or veteran benefits not listed on the award letter. Be sure to include the name of the funding, the amount and whether it is renewable for subsequent years. Keep a copy of all financial aid award information and loan documents for your records.

11 Notes Pitzer College Financial Aid Office adheres to the letter and spirit of the Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). Pitzer College admits students of any race, color, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, creed, handicap and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, handicap or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and other college-administered programs or employment policies.

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