Seton Hall University maintains and administers programs of financial aid funded by the University, federal and state governments, and various industries and foundations. Financial aid may be in the form of a scholarship, grant, loan, employment opportunity or a combination of these. To determine eligibility, the University requires each applicant to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available at www.studentaid.gov. This form is used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal, state and institution financial aid. Students completing the FAFSA must include Seton Hall’s Title IV School Code: 002632. Students requesting financial aid must complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each year. Seton Hall’s renewal financial aid filing deadline date is January 15th for consideration for institutional need-based grants. Limited financial aid funds require that all applications be considered on a first- come, first-served basis.
For students to receive federal/state financial aid they must meet certain eligibility requirements listed below:
Per federal regulations, if you are convicted for any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs, during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving Title IV financial aid funds, this will result in the loss of eligibility for any Title IV aid including, HEA grants such as Pell or SEOG or any loans or work-study assistance. (HEA sec. 484(r)(1)); (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)(1))
A federal grant program of up to $7,395 (maximum grant for the 2023-2024 academic year). The Pell Grant amount is based on the information provided on the FAFSA. When the FAFSA is filed, an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is computed, and a Pell Grant amount is calculated. The Pell Grant amount is listed on the student’s SAR report he or she receives after the FAFSA is filed. This amount is based on full-time registration and contingent on completing all requirements. The Pell Grant will be prorated if a student is not full-time. Students can only receive 12 Full-time semesters of Pell Grant eligibility from all schools attended.
A grant to students from low-income families, on a fund's available basis, not guaranteed from year to year.
Students who demonstrate need may qualify for part-time jobs at the University (maximum 20 hours per week). The federal government contributes the major portion of the funds; the University contributes the remainder. The University also offers Community Service positions under the Federal Work-Study Program. Information is available on the website.
Eligible student veterans may receive monthly payments under the Veterans’ Education Program. Children and spouses of veterans whose death or total and permanent disability was service-connected may be eligible for educational benefits under the War Orphans’ Educational Act of 1956. Details on these programs are available from the nearest Veterans’ Administration Office or Enrollment Services. The Office of Financial Aid certifies eligible veterans and their dependents for education benefit payments. The veteran and/or his or her dependents must first complete an application for benefits on the Veterans Administration (VA) portal. The VA will send the student a Certificate of Eligibility which should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Seton Hall University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Information regarding this program may be found at shu.edu/financial-aid/veterans-benefits
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection SHU adopts the additional provisions for any students using Dept of Veteran Affairs Post 911 (Ch 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending G.I. Bill from the VA. The school will not:
However, to qualify for this provision, students may be required to:
For full-time graduate and undergraduate students who seek a commission in the U.S. Army after receiving their college degrees, scholarships are awarded, in addition to an allocation for books and an annual stipend. Contact ROTC for additional information.
Full-time New Jersey residents may qualify for the TAG grant of up to $14,404 (maximum grant for the 2023-2024 academic year) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the State's deadline and demonstrating financial need. Students are required to complete all outstanding Tasks directly on HESAA’s website. Eligibility is determined by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). HESAA has their own deadlines so students must comply with them. The Tuition Aid Grant requires full-time registration and can only be applied to tuition. More information regarding this award can be found at www.HESAA.org.
This grant, funded by the state, is limited to New Jersey residents accepted into the University’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) as educationally and economically disadvantaged. Awards are up to $3,050 per year (maximum grant for the 2032-2024 academic year). The EOF Grant requires full-time registration unless the student is approved for the part-time EOF Program by the EOP Office.
Awards of $1,000 are available to qualified New Jersey residents attending in-state colleges. Students are nominated by their high schools based on scholastic records and SAT/ACT scores. Awards are renewable for four years. The State of New Jersey has eliminated this program for 2011- 2012, but will honor prior year recipients.
Awards of $1,000 are available to qualified New Jersey residents living in New Jersey’s urban and economically distressed areas. Students are nominated by their high schools based on scholastic records and SAT scores. Awards are renewable for four years. The State of New Jersey has eliminated this program for 2011-2012, but will honor prior year recipients.
This is a federal loan program that provides low interest loans to help needy students finance the costs of post- secondary education. There is a limited pool of money to distribute to students based on available funds from repayment of loans from prior Perkins loan borrowers. This program is no longer awarding new loans to students.
Seton Hall University participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. The program consists of Federal Direct Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized). Loan proceeds are delivered to the student through the school and are repaid to the loan provider. Before loan proceeds are credited to a student’s account, the promissory note must be electronically signed, and entrance counseling must be completed with the Department of Education. In order to receive a Direct loan students must be at least half time. The Direct Loans are guaranteed if all requirements are met and are not based on credit.
Subsidized Loan – Students must demonstrate remaining need. The principle and the interest are deferred until the student graduates.
Unsubsidized Loan – No remaining need demonstrated, (determined by the FAFSA). The interest is not deferred until graduation. The interest is accruing while the student is in school. Students can choose to pay the interest while attending school or defer these payments and allow the interest to capitalize and start paying all of it after graduation. It will cost the student less money to pay the interest while they are in school instead of allowing it to accrue.
The following limits apply to subsidized Direct loans for Dependent Students. It is possible that part or all of the below subsidized limits can be awarded as Unsubsidized. This is determined by remaining need and the FAFSA results. In addition to the Subsidized Loan amounts below, all students are eligible to receive $2,000 in Unsubsidized Direct Loan funding. Independent students and dependent students whose parents are denied a PLUS loan may borrow additional amounts under the unsubsidized loan program. The amounts are: freshman and sophomores, $4,000; juniors and seniors, $5,000. All are illustrated in the chart below.
In addition to student loans, parents may borrow up to the cost of education less any financial aid the student receives.
Interest is capped at 9 percent and repayment begins 60 days after the second disbursement of the loan unless the deferment option is chosen. All families applying for a PLUS Loan must have a complete FAFSA on file. This can be completed at www.studentaid.gov Interest rates for Federal PLUS loans are set annually by the United States Department of Education. More information about these loan programs may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid or from the United States Department of Education at www.studentaid.gov
Grade Level | Credits | Maximum Subsidized Loan Amount | Maximum Unsubsidized Loan Amount | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freshman | 0-29 cr. | $3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
Sophomore | 30-59 cr. | $4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
Junior | 60-89 cr. | $5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
Senior | 90-120 cr. | $5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
Grade Level | Credits | Maximum Subsidized Loan Amount | Maximum Unsubsidized Loan Amount | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freshman | 0-29 cr. | $3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
Sophomore | 30-59 cr. | $4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
Junior | 60-89 cr. | $5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
Senior | 90-120 cr. | $5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
All University scholarships must be divided equally and disbursed each term and cannot be awarded all in one term.
All students deferring admissions must not engage in inappropriate actions resulting in conduct that would alter your admission status. You must submit final versions of course work in progress if applicable and you must not enroll in another institution of higher learning. If you decide to take courses at another institution, including a community college, please note that your deferral will be invalidated, and you will need to re-apply to Seton Hall as a transfer student and will lose any scholarship you may have been awarded.
University scholarships can only be applied to the undergraduate flat tuition rate and cannot cover fees, room and board, books or any other indirect cost. Seton Hall University flat-rate for Undergraduate students covers 12-18 credits each semester. Beginning with the 2016 incoming freshman class the flat-rate for the first semester will cover up to 19 credits but thereafter will continue to cover up to a maximum of 18 credits only.
Since University scholarships can only cover the flat-rate tuition, these awards may be reduced or eliminated if other aid which only applies to tuition exists such as TAG, tuition exchange, tuition remission or other tuition, only designated scholarship awards. Additionally, these awards cannot apply to graduate courses (even as part of a joint degree program), non-Seton Hall enrollment, summer enrollment or study abroad programs. These awards can also only be used for Fall and Spring and cannot be used in the Summer. This award may be renamed later to recognize the donor supporting these funds.
These awards carry forward annually for three additional years if the student meets the renewal criteria for the award, usually a 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment, earning at least 24 credits per academic year. A review for renewal eligibility is made annually at the end of the academic year, generally in June.
The University scholarship renewal criteria requires students to earn 30 credits per academic year along with a 3.0 GPA. Students will also have available a $1,500 scholarship during the summer. This scholarship can only be utilized if the student takes 6 credits during the summer. It cannot be utilized during any other time and can only go toward Seton Hall undergraduate tuition. Complete details can be found on the student scholarship offer letter.
Students in their last semester who are not full-time may have their scholarship awards prorated based on the number of undergraduate credits for which the student is registered. This will not cover graduate level courses, even if they are part of a joint degree program.
Students who formally defer their admission and have received a scholarship offer will have the scholarship offered to them at the point of original admission deferred. This means the award amounts and terms will remain intact. Deferrals only remain valid for one academic year and only if the student does not pursue coursework at any other institution of higher learning. Once a student enrolls at another institution the deferment of both admission and scholarship are null and void and the student must reapply and be reassessed for admission and scholarship as a transfer student.
In addition, the University offers several other scholarship opportunities for incoming students. Information about these scholarships can be found at shu.edu/scholarships/. Specific details about terms and conditions of these awards are provided to recipients in their scholarship award letter.
Students that do not meet the criteria for renewal of a University scholarship will have the opportunity to appeal. Students are made aware of their status by the Financial Aid Office at the end of the Spring semester. At that time, a link to the appeal form is provided and students can complete and submit. The appeal will be reviewed by a committee and all decisions are sent out soon thereafter. If a student is denied the appeal, they cannot appeal again at this time but will have the opportunity to re-appeal the following spring and the committee will reconsider based upon the most current academic information. Awards are not reinstated unless the student appeals. Awards are not made retroactively.
Starting with the Incoming class of 2019-2020 The renewal criteria at the end of the first year is a 2.7, the following years would require a 3.0.
Starting with the Incoming class of 2022-2023, The renewal criteria for all students receiving University scholarships is 2.5.
Institutional need-based grant programs are for undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor degree. Second degree and/or graduate students are not eligible for institutional need-based grant programs.
Need-based grants from Seton Hall University can only apply to undergraduate tuition and cannot cover fees, room and board, books or any other indirect cost and may be reduced accordingly. Students who receive full tuition merit- based scholarships and/or tuition remission and/or tuition exchange are not eligible to receive Seton Hall need-based grants. Students must be enrolled full-time and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress rules to maintain this award. In addition, renewal is not guaranteed; students must re-file the FAFSA annually no later than January 15th to determine eligibility. Students in their last semester who are not full- time may have their need-based grant prorated based on the number of undergraduate credits for which the student is registered. This award may be renamed later to recognize the donor supporting these funds.
In addition to the Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program, the University funds several campus jobs that are not based on financial need. Information is available from the website.
Seton Hall University scholarships and need-based grants cannot be used to cover all course work in joint degree programs. These awards are only available for four years and can only cover Seton Hall tuition for full-time undergraduate study at Seton Hall. Students who are taking at least 12 credits of undergraduate coursework at Seton Hall each semester are considered full-time.
These awards cannot cover any graduate level study at Seton Hall or any coursework taken at a partner institution, even as part of a joint degree program. Please note that undergraduate coursework has course numbers beginning with the number 5 or lower. Any course number starting with a 6 or greater is considered graduate level.
If in your senior year, you are taking a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses or courses offered at Seton Hall and a partner institution as part of a joint degree program and you drop below 12 Seton Hall undergraduate credits, Seton Hall University Scholarships and need-based grants will be prorated to cover undergraduate courses at Seton Hall in your senior year and you will be charged separately for graduate level courses toward which no scholarship funds can be applied. If you are taking coursework at a partner institution, you will be billed directly by the partner institution for these courses and no scholarship funds can be applied.
Seton Hall University employees and eligible dependents may qualify for tuition remission benefits in accordance with policies established by the Department of Human Resources. Tuition remission can only cover tuition costs and cannot be used to cover course fees, technology fees, University fees, room and board or any other fees. Tuition Remission must be applied for each semester employees, employees spouse, or dependents want to use the benefit. In order to receive tuition remission, students must file the FAFSA annually and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Tuition remission cannot be combined with any other form of tuition-only assistance from Seton Hall, such as University scholarships or need-based grants. Tuition remission may be reduced by NJ State Tuition Assistance Grants (TAG).
Generally, second degree-seeking undergraduate students may be eligible for Federal Direct Loans. Second degree- seeking undergraduate students are not eligible to receive grants, such as Pell, SEOG, New Jersey TAG, SHU Need and the Seton Hall Institutional Scholarships and Grants. Second degree-seeking undergraduate students should apply for financial aid by following the same procedures as other undergraduate students. Second degree-seeking undergraduate students must have declared majors different from the major in which they have already earned a degree. Second degree-seeking undecided majors are considered undeclared for financial aid purposes and are not eligible for aid.
The University has a website with a searchable database of scholarships and grant opportunities to assist students. Students would apply online through PirateNet using their shortname and password. Search Blackbaud Awards Management to access the platform. Students are encouraged to utilize this database to find additional scholarship opportunities.
All forms of financial aid – federal, state and institutional – are subject to set academic progress. Students who do not meet the condition of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) may lose their aid eligibility. In addition to the requirements above, the Higher Education Amendments require colleges and universities to define and enforce standards of academic progress. In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, students must conform to the standards of academic progress.
Satisfactory academic progress requirements at Seton Hall provide a maximum time frame for completion of a degree, a graduated credit accumulation over time, as well as a quality mechanism. These minimum standards require students to demonstrate that they are actively pursuing their degrees.
Policies are subject to periodic revision due to federal legislative and regulatory requirements, as well as federal review. The full policy can be found on the Financial Aid website.
To be considered for any federal, state or University financial aid based on need, a student must complete the FAFSA. The federal government will then process the information and send it to the colleges indicated and to the appropriate state agencies. Students should make sure that Seton Hall University is listed on the FAFSA (use Federal ID number 002632).
Students will be awarded aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Need is determined by taking the difference between total college costs (tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation and personal expenses) and the federally calculated ability of the family to contribute to these costs.
Except for limited scholarship funds, student financial aid at Seton Hall is awarded based on need and academic achievement.
Awards are made without reference to racial or ethnic origin, gender, age or physical disability. Awards are made singly or in a “package” (a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and employment). In “packaging” a student with a variety of funding, the University first estimates grants from federal and state programs not directly administered by the University, such as Pell grants, TAG and EOF grants, and outside scholarships. If eligible, students are then awarded the maximum Direct Loan. If the student has remaining need, he or she may be awarded a SHU Need-Based Grant.
The amount of these awards depends on the funding level for each program, as well as the total number of eligible applicants in each award year. Federal PLUS and/or alternative loans may be awarded to cover any remaining gaps between financial aid, family resources and the total cost of attendance.
Beginning in Fall 2012, students are now limited to 12 semesters (or 600%) of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. More information concerning this and how to determine your Pell Grant percentage can be found on the Financial Aid office website.
A new provision to the Direct Loan requirements limits a first-time borrower’s eligibility for Direct Subsidized Loans to a period not to exceed 150 percent of the length of the borrower’s educational program. Under certain conditions, the provision also causes first-time borrowers who have exceeded the 150 percent limit to lose the interest subsidy on their Direct Subsidized Loans. Only first-time borrowers on or after July 1, 2013 are subject to the new provision. Generally, a first-time borrower is one who did not have an outstanding balance of principal or interest on a Direct Loan or on a FFEL Program Loan on July 1, 2013. These students may still be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized loans if they have not reached the Aggregate Loan Limit for their program.
Different types of federal student loans are available to assist in financing a student’s education. They are the Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Loan (both subsidized and unsubsidized), and the Parent Loan (PLUS). Before incurring any loan, students should know the terms and conditions of the loan, as well as their rights and responsibilities as student borrowers. A loan is money that is borrowed and paid back with interest. The specific sum of money borrowed is called the principal. Interest is a percentage of the principal that the student pays as a fee for borrowing. Students usually pay back the loan in monthly installments until the entire amount of the loan (principal and interest) is repaid. In some cases, a student may postpone or defer payment of the loan, but a deferment must be approved by the loan provider. If a student fails to repay the loan (or defaults), the government may penalize the student and may withhold money from paychecks and tax refunds. In addition, the student will be ineligible to receive future federal aid and his or her credit rating will be negatively affected. The exact terms and conditions of a student loan may be obtained from the loan provider. While federal student loan programs differ in some ways, a student’s rights and responsibilities as a borrower are basically the same for all programs. These rights and responsibilities are specified in federally mandated Entrance Counseling at www.studentaid.gov.
As borrowers, students have the right to be provided with clear and concise information about the terms and conditions of student loans. The following list describes students’ rights regarding financial aid:
Loan Balance at Repayment | Interest Rate of 6.8% | Maximum Interest of 8.25% |
---|---|---|
$2625 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
$5500 | $63.20 | $67.46 |
$10000 | $115.08 | $122.65 |
$15000 | $172.62 | $183.98 |
$22625 | $260.37 | $277.50 |
Students must meet and maintain certain eligibility requirements to be considered for on-campus employment. A comprehensive explanation of the terms and conditions of employment is listed in the Seton Hall University Student Employment Handbook, available in Financial Aid. Generally, a student must be enrolled and matriculated at Seton Hall and be making progress toward a degree as defined by the University. Students also must be given an official work assignment before any work is performed. Students eligible for a Federal Work-Study Award must:
Disbursement of financial aid is done in different ways depending on the type of aid. Federal and State aid cannot be disbursed until the student's attendance has been confirmed in all classes. After the Add/Drop period of every semester, professors will confirm that they have begun attendance in their classes for which they are registered. Once the confirmation is made, and all other requirements have been fulfilled, aid can be disbursed. University aid is disbursed based on registration and scholarship requirements being met.
Student employment, whether federally or institutionally funded, is disbursed in a paycheck that goes directly to the student for the hours worked during a specific pay period. Students are paid once every two weeks. All students must receive Approval to work from the Financial Aid Office before starting work.
New Jersey State Grants are disbursed electronically into the computer system at Seton Hall. After proper certification, the student’s account is credited for the specific award for which he or she is eligible, determined by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA).
The remainder of financial aid programs are disbursed through Seton Hall’s computer system. Reports generated through the system identify students who meet all requirements for disbursement. Requirements include completion of verification if required, certifications on file and promissory note completion (Federal Direct Student Loans and Perkins). If a student meets the requirements, his or her account is updated from the financial aid records to the student account with credit for each award for which the student is eligible. The disbursement program is run for both the current term and any previous terms in which adjustments need to be made. Contact the Office of Financial Aid in Bayley Hall for more information, (800) 222-7183 or Financialaid@shu.edu.
Students receiving Title IV federal financial aid, who terminate enrollment or stop attending all classes during a term for which payment has been received before completing more than 60 percent of the enrollment period, are subject to specific federal regulations. The amount of Title IV aid that a student must repay is determined via the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV funds as specified in Section 484B of the Higher Education Act. This law also specified the order of return of the Title IV funds to the programs from which they were awarded.
A repayment may be required when aid has been disbursed to a student from financial aid funds in excess of the amount of aid the student earned during the term. The amount of Title IV aid is determined by multiplying the total Title IV aid (other than FWS) for which the student qualified by the percentage of time during the term that the student was enrolled. If less aid was disbursed than was earned, the student may receive a late disbursement for the difference. If more aid was disbursed than was earned, the amount of Title IV aid that must be returned (i.e., that was unearned) is determined by subtracting the earned amount from the amount actually disbursed.
The responsibility for returning unearned aid is allocated between the University and the student according to the portion of disbursed aid that could have been used to cover University charges and the portion that could have been disbursed directly to the student once University charges were covered. Seton Hall University will distribute the unearned aid back to the Title IV programs as specified by law. The student will be billed for the amount the student owes to the Title IV Programs and any amount due to the University resulting from the return of Title IV funds used to cover University charges. The Return of Title IV calculation is separate from the University Refund Policy. The University does not have a policy of mandatory attendance. In the case of unofficial withdrawals, the mid-point of the semester will be used to determine federal refunds in line with the return to Title IV policies.
The Department of Education has implemented new regulations governing repeated coursework. The regulations have been implemented to improve the pace of graduation for students, which in turn should reduce loan indebtedness and preserve grant funding levels. The full Repeat Coursework Policy can be found on the Financial Aid Office website. Any time a course is repeated, associated charges (tuition and fees) will be applied.
Additional information can be found online.
To eliminate unfair, deceptive, and abusive marketing aimed at Service members, Seton Hall University agrees to:
Seton Hall University will refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics such as making multiple unsolicited contacts (3 or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, or engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing Service member enrollments.
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