Financial Responsibilities
Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.
File the FAFSA:
The first step in applying for aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You may complete this form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The process is fast and secure and is designed to prevent common errors applicants make.
Federal PIN:
You will need to have a Federal PIN to submit your FAFSA. You can obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. One parent of a dependent student must also apply for a PIN. The PIN is used to sign your FAFSA electronically and later to sign your loan application.
NOTE: A student must sign and return an Enrollment Agreement before financial aid will be processed.
You may also be eligible for federal, state, and agency funding such as:
Federal Pell Grant
Chaffee Grants
PHEAA State Grant
Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal Direct Plus Loan
Programs sponsored through your area CareerLink
WIA
TAA
OVR
WATCH (Work Attributes Toward Careers in Health) Provides a variety of academic and social support services to non-traditional, low income students to enter or move up in the nursing profession. For more information on the WATCH program call 570-523-1155.
Public Assistance
Employer Reimbursement
Military Benefits
Private Scholarships
Federal Pell Grant
The FAFSA is your application for a federal Pell Grant. Once you have complete the FAFSA your Pell eligibility will be determined by the school.
PHEAA State Grant
Students may apply for a PHEAA State grant at www.pheaa.org <http://www.pheaa.org>. Students will be prompted to create an account on Account Access and click on PHEAA Status Notice. To be considered for a PHEAA State grant you must meet the following
criteria:
• Have earned less than a bachelor degree.
• Have financial need as determined by the submission of a FAFSA and a PHEAA status form.
• Graduated from high school or earned a GED.
• Be enrolled in a two year program.
• Be a resident of Pennsylvania for the past year.
Filing Dates. For incoming students, present students, and transfer
students who have not previously applied for or received a PHEAA
grant, the deadline for grant award consideration for the fall term is
August 1. Applications may be filed as early as January 1.
Federal Direct Student Loan
You may complete your student loan application online at www.studentloans.gov. You will be required to complete an “Entrance Quiz” before you complete your MPN (Master Promissory Note). The Entrance Quiz and MPN only need to be completed once during your enrollment at SON. Your federal PIN can be used to sign your application.
Loan Limits for Federal Direct Student Loans
1st year $3500 subsidized $2000 unsubsidized (dependent) $6000 (independent)
2nd year $4500 subsidized $2000 unsubsidized (dependent) $6000 (independent)
3rd year $5500 subsidized $2000 unsubsidized (dependent) $7000 (independent)
Interest Rates and fees
Subsidized 4.5% interest 0.5% fees Unsubsidized 6.8% interest 0.5% fees
Federal Direct Plus Loan
You may complete your student loan application online at www.studentloans.gov. Your federal PIN can be used to sign your application. A parent may borrow the difference between the cost of education minus student financial aid. A parent will be required to do a Parent Plus Pre-Approval before completing the loan application.
Interest Rates and fees
7.9% interest 2.5% fees
Chafee Grants
This grant is sponsored by PHEAA. To be eligible you must have been or are a foster child. Applications are made through your area Department of Public Welfare or by calling PHEAA at 800-692-7392.
Programs at your area CareerLink
You may want to contact your area CareerLink, you may be eligible for funding through the WIA program, TAA program, OVR or Youth program.
WIA- dislocated workers, TAA-trade, OVR- pre-existing disability Youth-students under 23 living on their own
Public Assistance
If you are presently receiving any type of funding through the Department of Public Welfare, you may be eligible for some funding for school. Please work with your area office.
Employer Reimbursement
Some employers will sponsor a student while in school. Please ask your employer about schooling benefits.
Military Benefits
Students that are eligible for military benefits need to submit their certificate of eligibility to the financial aid office. Educational benefits are available to certain veterans who served in the armed forces. For more information about the several types of programs available, you may call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak to a Veterans Benefits Counselor or visit www.gibill.va.gov.
Private Scholarships
Scholarships may become available to students at SON through private means. As scholarships become available the SON office will notify students via email of the scholarship and eligibility requirements. If you are receiving a private scholarship not offered by the school please notify the financial aid office.
2012-2013 Tuition
Tuition for the 2012-2013 current Academic Year is $258.00 per credit. Tuition and other fees are subject to change on an annual basis. Tuition payment must be received within two weeks of the invoice date. All cost for a term must be paid prior to the student beginning a subsequent term. Tuition for the 2013-2014 Academic Year will be announced in the summer of 2013.
Students are responsible for the following additional costs: uniforms, textbooks, equipment, housing and commuter costs, medical and malpractice insurance, CPR certification, child abuse clearance, criminal record check, FBI clearance, NLN achievement exams, and personal expenses.
The graduating student incurs these additional costs: State
Board Licensure (PA), NCLEX Registration, Temporary Practice Permit, graduation uniform, graduation photographs (if desired) and the photograph for the Permanent Record Card, NCLEX readiness tests.
General education courses, designated in the plan of study as college courses, are not included in the tuition cost. These courses may be taken through an accredited college or university. If you decide to take them through the Pennsylvania State University Continuing Education Center in Lewistown, the number is (717) 248-9618.
Bursar Information
Bursar Activities
Tuition
Students may request an invoice anytime after registering for classes each semester. Tuition is paid by the semester term. The Bursar’s office will mail each student an invoice approximately two weeks after the beginning of the term. Payment is expected within two weeks of the invoice date. All cost for a term must be paid prior to the student beginning a subsequent term. Payment may be made in any of the following forms:
_ Cash
_ Check or money order payable to LHSON (Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing)
_ Credit or debit card (VISA or MasterCard)
The school will not issue a transcript until tuition and fees have been paid in full.
Interest Charges
Interest at the rate of one percent per month will be assessed and added to an outstanding balance more than 30 days old.
Returned (NSF) Checks
It is understood that if student’s (parent’s or guardian’s) check is returned to the school for insufficient funds, it will be reprocessed once and a service charge equal to the fee charged by the bank will be added. If said check is returned a second time, student (parent or guardian) must pay in cash or with a money order.
If a student receives more aid than the student owes, a refund will be deposited in the students/parents personal bank account within fourteen days of the credit balance.
Loan Disbursements
Loan proceeds are sent directly to the Bursar’s office at the SON and will be credited to the student’s account. Two or three disbursements will be made for each approved loan. Proceeds cannot be credited to the account until the loan funds are received by the school. Students will be notified when the check has arrived or the loan has been disbursed to the account. The amount of loan proceeds retained by the school will depend on the amount of the loan, the amount owed by the student minus grant, if applicable, and the number of disbursements. If a student account is overpaid, a refund will be given to the student/parent within the time period mandated by Federal law. The student or parent borrower has the right to cancel or reject all or part of the loan up to 14 days following disbursement of the loan. If a student withdraws from school and a Federal loan, student or parent Plus, has been disbursed on behalf of the student, a Federally mandated calculation must be done to determine how much of the loan proceeds may be retained by the student and how much must be returned to the lender by the school. (See Refund Policy.)
Financial Responsibilities
Students are responsible for the following additional costs: uniforms, textbooks, equipment, housing and commuter costs, medical and malpractice insurance, ATI (assessment technologies Institute), CPR certification, child abuse clearance, criminal record check, NLN achievement exams, graduation fees, challenge exam fees (if applicable), and personal expenses. The graduating student incurs these additional costs: State Board Licensure (PA), NCLEX Registration, Temporary Practice Permit, graduation uniform, graduation photographs (if desired).
General education courses taken through Penn State Learning Center, Lewistown, PA, designated in the LHSON plan of study as college courses, will be included in the tuition cost once the student begins LHSON classes.