Undergraduate Financial Aid

Undergraduate Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid is the assistance students receive from federal, state, institutional, and private sources to help finance their University educations. Financial aid may take the form of scholarships and grants (gift aid that does not require repayment), student loans, or student employment. Financial aid may be based on financial need and/or merit. Schools use information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine a student’s need.

Once a student has completed the financial aid application process and is found eligible for need-based and/or merit based aid, she will receive a financial aid package detailing the combination of sources used to provide financial assistance. It is our hope that the financial assistance offered through Chatham University, combined with family resources, will provide the funding necessary for all qualified students to obtain a Chatham education.

To be considered for need-based financial aid at Chatham, a student must meet certain minimum requirements:

• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at Chatham on at least a half-time basis, which is 6 or more credits.
• Be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen (with appropriate U.S. government documentation).
• Maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress.”
• Demonstrate financial need.

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships
In recognition of the academic achievements of our students, Chatham University offers a comprehensive merit scholarship program. Scholarships are awarded to full-time undergraduate students (including transfers and international students) without regard to financial need. All applicants are considered. Applicants may contact the Office of Admissions for full details.

Grants

• Federal Pell Grants are available to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
• Pennsylvania State Grants (PHEAA) are available to undergraduate Pennsylvania residents with demonstrated financial need.
• Other State Grants are offered by some states offer grants for their residents to use toward educational costs outside the home state. Students in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Washington, DC should contact their state agencies for more information about these programs.
• Chatham Grants and Endowed Scholarships are funds made available by Chatham University and are awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The amounts of these awards vary. Chatham aid is available for eight terms of full-time study.

Federal Student Employment Program
The Federal Student Employment Program (formerly called work-study) is provided through federal funds and available to students with demonstrated financial need. Students employed under this program work approximately 13 – 16 hours per week in various jobs on campus or in off-campus community service positions. If you have questions about the program, see our answers to frequently asked questions. For information about job opportunities, contact Chatham's Career Development office.

Student Loan Programs
Federal loans are available to United States citizens and permanent residents only.

• The Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan is awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need. Repayment and interest charges begin 6 months after graduation or cessation of at least half-time enrollment. For details, see Additional Information about Stafford Loans. Students must file a Master Promissory Note to receive these funds. Students are free to choose any lender, but we have some lenders that we recommend. For information on these lenders, and why they were selected, please read the preferred lender criteria. For more information on Federal Stafford loans and to apply, please review the following.
• The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to all students who have been denied or show reduced eligibility for the need-based Federal Subsidized Student Loan. The Unsubsidized Stafford loan also provides additional loan eligibility to independent students. To apply for both Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans, complete one application on-line by following these steps. While repayment beings 6 months after graduation or cessation of at least half-time enrollment, the student must make interest payments or have the interest capitalized during in-school, grace or deferment periods. For details, see Additional Information about Stafford Loans. Students must file a Master Promissory Note to receive these funds. Students are free to choose any lender, but we have some lenders that we recommend. For information on these lenders, and why they were selected, please read the preferred lender criteria. For more information on Federal Stafford loans and to apply, please review the following.
• The Federal PLUS Loan is loan borrowed by a parent on the student’s behalf. The parent must be credit-approved for the loan. This loan currently has a fixed interest rate of 8.5%, and the parent is able to defer the loan, while the student is enrolled at least part-time. Parents are free to choose any lender, but we have some lenders that we recommend. For more information on these lenders, and why they were selected, please read the preferred lender criteria. For more information on Federal PLUS loans and to apply, please review the following.

Which loan is right for me?

Please note that the majority of Stafford Loans are delivered to Chatham University through electronic funds transfer. In some cases where students choose a lender that is not on our Preferred Lender list, Stafford and/or PLUS loan funds may come in the form of a check, which requires a student or parent signature. All other forms of Student Financial Aid are disbursed to Chatham University via electronic funds transfer or check.

Other Non-Federal/Private Loans, sometimes called Alternative Loans, are available to all students to help fill the gap that sometimes exists between the cost of a Chatham education and a financial aid award. Private loan programs vary and are available from many lenders. These programs usually require credit worthiness or a co-signer. Students and parents can apply by following these steps. Details are available about interest payments on alternative loans. Students are free to choose any lender, but we have some lenders that we recommend. For information on these lenders, and why they were selected, please read the preferred lender criteria. For more information on Federal Stafford loans and to apply, please review the following.

For International Students
Financial aid for international students at Chatham is available to eligible students in the form of scholarships (aid that does not require repayment).

• For more information, applicants may contact the international admissions counselor at the Office of Admissions.

Questions?
If you have questions about financial aid options, please contact the financial aid office at: 412-365-2797 or send us an e-mail.