Undergraduate Pennsylvania Residents
What financial assistance is available to students in this new model?
There are three new initiatives:
- Three years of a discounted tuition rate:
- 7 percent discount in the first year (2016–17),
- 4 percent discount in the second year (2017–18), and
- 1 percent discount in the third year (2018–19);
- the Academic Success Initiative; and
- a Need-Based Grant
Will the per-credit tuition rates for the summer and winter terms be discounted?
Yes, per-credit tuition for summer and winter terms will follow the same discount (7 percent, 4 percent, and 1 percent).
What is the Need-Based Grant? Who qualifies for it?
The Need-Based Grant is available to continuing undergraduate students who domicile in Pennsylvania, who are financially qualified, and who have been enrolled full-time for at least one semester in either of the previous two academic years.
Do I need to apply for the Need-Based Grant?
No, you do not need to apply. However, you must submit a FAFSA each academic year in order to be considered and must meet the qualifications, including maintaining satisfactory academic progress. As always, contact the Office of Financial Aid (724-357-2218) for any questions or concerns about your educational funding.
To qualify for the Need-Based Grant, how does the university define “satisfactory academic progress”?
Students receiving federal student aid must pass at least 67 percent of the credits for which they originally registered within the time frame for degree completion, and have a 2.00 cumulative grade point average to be considered to be maintaining successful academic progress. This is a cumulative measurement and is performed annually. Students who do not meet this requirement are permitted to appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Complete details of IUP’s academic progress requirements are available in the Title IV Financial Aid Sufficient Progress Policy.
Who qualifies for the Academic Success Initiative?
The Academic Success Initiative scholarship is available to continuing undergraduate students who domicile in Pennsylvania, who successfully complete 15 credit hours (earn 15 credits) at IUP in each of the two prior semesters (or 30 credits in the previous year), who have no withdrawals on their record for the previous two semesters, and who have not yet completed 120 credit hours. Students who meet these qualifications and who have a grade point average between 3.0 and 3.49 are eligible for a scholarship equal to the tuition cost of one credit hour; students who meet these qualifications and who have a grade point average of 3.5 or above are eligible for a scholarship equal to the tuition cost of two credit hours.
Do I need to apply for the Academic Success Initiative?
No, students do not need to apply for this funding. A student’s official university records will be used to automatically determine whether a student is eligible for this award; students need not do anything but work hard and do well.
If I qualify for the Need-Based Grant and/or the Academic Success Initiative, will I receive funding each semester?
No. Under each of these programs, the Need-Based Grant and the Academic Success Initiative, a student may receive awards up to the value of 2 credit hours of tuition under each program in one academic year. It is not an award for each semester. However, a student may qualify for both programs and can receive funding through both programs in one academic year.
How much can a student qualify to receive in one annual year?
In addition to the discounted tuition rate for the first three years, a student may receive awards up to the value of 2 credits of tuition under each program in one academic year. It is not an award for each semester.
What terms will be included for calculation of the “successfully completed 15 hours at IUP in each of the two prior semesters (30 hours in a year)”?
This calculation is based on credit hours that a student has earned in fall, winter, and spring terms. Credit hours earned during summer sessions are not included in this calculation.
I am a Pennsylvania resident (domicile in Pennsylvania) undergraduate student entering my senior year of college. Will this tuition plan affect me?
Yes, this tuition pricing flexibility program will be for all resident undergraduate students who domicile in Pennsylvania, including incoming freshmen and continuing students.
When will we know the actual per-credit tuition rate?
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors sets the tuition rate for all 14 member schools at its July meeting.
I am an out-of-state undergraduate student who receives a reduced tuition rate because I live in Maryland. Will this per-credit tuition plan affect me?
No, this per-credit tuition plan affects only undergraduate students who domicile in Pennsylvania.
Currently, the full-time undergraduate tuition rate stayed the same if I was taking 12 or 15 credit hours. What will the tuition cost increase be under this program if I take 15 credits?
Using the current 2016–17 undergraduate tuition rates, students who domicile in Pennsylvania and take 12 to 15 credits would pay the full-time tuition rate of $3,624. Under the per-credit tuition pricing pilot, 2017–18 tuition for 12 credits for undergraduate students who domicile in Pennsylvania would be $3,480 (4 percent discount), and tuition for 15 credits would be $4,350. This does not include any additional support a student receives from the Need-Based Grant or Academic Success Initiative, should you qualify for these program. The Board of Governors will set new tuition rates for 2017–18 in July 2017, and these numbers will be updated appropriately.
I am a Pennsylvania resident (domicile in Pennsylvania) student taking a combination of undergraduate and graduate course work. How will my tuition costs be calculated?
Tuition is assessed based on each student’s level. If a student is still an undergraduate student and has not yet received his or her first degree, that student will be charged tuition based on the undergraduate per-credit rate. If a student has received his or her undergraduate degree and achieved graduate status, all tuition costs will be charged on the graduate per-credit basis.
Does this new per-credit pricing change the way I’m billed for fees?
Most fees will be charged as they have been in the past. For example, the technology fee and instructional fees will be capped at the full-time undergraduate rate, regardless of whether a student is taking 12 credits or 18 credits.
I’m a dual enrollment student. Will this tuition charge per credit hour affect what I pay for tuition?
Yes. Your tuition charge will reflect the new per-credit tuition charge.
What if I already receive a tuition waiver because my parent works at IUP? Will I be eligible for the Need-Based Grant or the Academic Success Incentive?
You will be eligible for the Academic Success Initiative award if you meet the criteria for that award. You will not be eligible for the Need-Based Grant.
When will I know if I’m going to receive one of the awards?
You will receive notification of the award(s) from the Office of Financial Aid around mid-June.
If I want to repeat a class because I received a “D” or “F” grade, will I have to pay for it again?
Yes, if you are an undergraduate student who domiciles in Pennsylvania, you will be assessed the per-credit tuition rate for the course in the term for which you repeat the class.
Yes, if you are an undergraduate student who domiciles in Pennsylvania, you will be assessed the per-credit tuition rate for the course.
I am part of the Pennsylvania TAP program. What will happen to my TAP dollars?
The Pennsylvania TAP Commission will do a conversion based on IUP’s per-credit tuition rate.
What office do I call for more information about my bill?
Students and families can contact the Office of the Bursar via e-mail at bursars-office@iup.edu or by telephone at (724) 357-2207.
Students who are required (music majors) or choose to take music ensemble credits will have to pay more—correct?
Not necessarily. Starting in fall 2016, the Music Department may, at their discretion, allow students to enroll in 0-credit ensembles should the student’s credit load for the semester be 12 credits or greater. If there is no credit earned with the ensemble, the student does not pay, but will be recognized as participating in the ensemble in terms of academic requirements for the major.
I am an incoming resident freshman. Will I qualify for the IUP Grant?
Not at this time, but you are encouraged to do well and remain registered so that you meet the requirements and may be considered for the awards in your sophomore year.
- IUP Grant: enrolled full-time for at least one semester in either of the previous two academic years, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
If you withdraw from a class under the tuition per-credit model, how much money do you get back?
Under the per-credit pilot, if you withdraw from a class within the drop-add period, you will be refunded the actual cost of the class. In other words, if you need to drop a class during the drop-add period, you will not be charged for that class. However, if you withdraw from a class after drop-add (not a total withdrawal), there is no refund.
Does the pilot program, when it restricts credits to 120, mean credits earned and transferred to IUP? Or does it mean only credits earned at IUP count toward the 120 limit?
Credits not earned at IUP count toward meeting the 30-hour credit requirement for the Academic Success Initiative, and they also count toward the 120-credit limit for the Academic Success Initiative.