The majority of PSU students use some form of financial assistance to help cover the cost of their education. Between grants and loans, scholarships and work study programs, there are many options available to develop a financial plan.
PSU Nursing students are required to attend the Nursing program year round, beginning with the Winterim term which is a 2 credit hour course. Most Federal aid programs require a minimum of 6 credit hours to access federal aid programs (exception for PELL eligible students enrolled for a minimum of 3 credit hours).
It is also important to remember that there are annual maximum limits for most federal and institutional programs regardless of how many terms a student is enrolled during an academic year.
For students who will be enrolled each year beginning with the summer term, maximum eligibility will be identified for the summer, fall and spring terms. Federal funding starts July 1; therefore, disbursement of funds will not available to student’s accounts until after July 1 of each academic year.
Options for resources during the Winterin would be through Alternative Loans from lenders who allow for less than half-time enrollment.
How to Apply
The first step in qualifying for financial assistance is completing and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which serves as an application for all federal – and most state – student aid programs. More guidance can be found on our How to Apply webpage.
Be sure to include the Plymouth State University school code (002591) on your FAFSA. PSU’s priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is March 1. Prompt submission assures consideration for maximum available financial aid. The information reported on the FAFSA is used to determine the expected family contribution (EFC). Financial aid eligibility is determined by subtracting the EFC from the total estimated educational expenses.
Financial Aid awards are developed using information from the FAFSA and any supplemental documents. The foundation for all financial aid packages is contributions from student and family income and assets. PSU identifies students aid eligibility indicating the amount of financial aid for which they are eligible and sources from which the aid may be received. More information can be found on ou Terms of Award webpage.
Please be aware that students are unable to access any federal aid:
- if enrolled in less than 6 credit hours during a term (unless PELL Grant eligible and enrolled a minimum of 3 credit hours)
- to retake a course which has previously been passed at PSU
- to audit a course at PSU
Grants
Grants are financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Specific criteria must be met in order to qualify. Annual maximum LIMITS are awarded based on the number of terms a student is enrolled. Students who are enrolled and receive aid at a different institution during the same academic year and then transfer to PSU will have less eligibility if they have received funds from the school from which they transfered. This can occur when a student enrolls during a summer term at one school and subsequently transfers to PSU for the fall and/or spring terms.
Federal Pell Grants:
Grants for undergraduate students (who have not earned a prior bachelor’s degree) Actual amounts of the grant are based on the number of hours enrolled and the Federal Pell Grant regulations.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG):
Grants for undergraduate students (who have not earned a prior bachelor’s degree) who show exceptional need. The federal government provides the school with a limited pool of money. When the funds are exhausted, no more funds are awarded for the year.
PSU Grants/Scholarships:
PSU Grants, PSU Merit Scholarships and PSU Endowed Scholarships are available to those who file by the FAFSA priority deadline of March 1, meet need-based eligibility criteria or are receiving merit awards through the admissions process.
Private Scholarships:
Private foundations, civic organizations and others are a great resource for additional scholarship monies. Some scholarships that are available specifically for nursing students are:
- Alice & Samuel Yarnold Scholarship Trust
Eligibility: Majoring in nursing, medicine, or social work, financial need, must be a resident of New Hampshire
Application: For more information and an application, visit the Financial Aid Office or contact-
Alice & Samuel Yarnold
c/o Stephen H. Roberts, Trustee
180 Locust Street
Dover, NH 03820 - Aspiring Nursing Scholarship
Eligibility: currently enrolled or accepted students in a US Accredited nursing program
Application: Online - Concord Hospital Trust Scholarship Fund
Eligibility: resident within the Concord Hospital service area for at least one year OR have graduate from a high school within the Concord Hospital service area, must be accepted into a nursing or health care program.
Application: Online - Edwina Foye Award for Outstanding Graduate Student
Eligibility: Must be pursuing a career in health and demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and personal accomplishments, must have be a resident of one of the following communities (Portsmouth, North Hampton, Greenland, Rye, Newington, New Castle, New Hampshire; or, Kittery, Eliot, or York, Maine for a minimum of two (2) years
Application: Online - Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Memorial Scholarship Fund
Eligibility: Graduate or undergraduate students pursuing a degree in public health or science
Application: Online - Koster Insurance Health Careers Scholarship Program
Eligibility: Entering Junior or Senior year of undergraduate study, full time, preparing for a career in health care, financial need, minimum 3.0 GPA
Application: Online - Medicare Supplemental Insurance Therapy Professional Scholarship
Eligibility: at least 17 years of age, US citizen, 3.0 GPA, interest in physical, massage, recreational, or occupational therapy or psychology professions and attending a related program, undergraduate, graduate, or accredited training program
Application: Online - Nursing Education Scholarship
Eligibility: at least 17 years of age, US citizen, cumulative 3.0 GPA, accepted to and attending a full-time medicine related program at an accredited institution of learning.
Application: Online - NursingHomeAbuse.net Awareness and Prevention ScholarshipEligibility: US citizen, receiving aid at an accredited post-seconday institution, getting a degree in nursing, social work or psychology
Application: Online - Providian Medical Scholarship
Eligibility: 16 or older, attending a US college or university, GPA of 3.0 or higher, medical or veterinary students preferred but open to ALL majors
Application: Online - Safety & Health Council of Northern New England Past Presidents Scholarship
Eligibility: Currently enrolled degree candidate with a safety, health or environmental studies related major. Resident of NH or ME.
Application: Email safety@shcnne.org or call 800-369-0040 - Steven Cutter Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student
Eligibility: Must be pursuing a career in health and demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and personal accomplishments, must have be a resident of one of the following communities (Portsmouth, North Hampton, Greenland, Rye, Newington, New Castle, New Hampshire; or, Kittery, Eliot, or York, Maine) for a minimum of two (2) years
Application: Online
Loans
Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid, but generally not until a student graduates, enrolls less than half time, or stops attending school. Qualification may be based on need and in some cases a credit check may be required. Annual maximum limits for Federal Direct Loans are awarded based on the number of terms a student is enrolled. Students who are enrolled and receive loans at a different institution during the same academic year and then transfer to PSU will have less Federal Direct Loan eligibility if they have received funds from the school they transfer. This can occur when a student enrolls during a summer term at one school and subsequently transfers to PSU for the fall and/or spring terms. Federal loans require at least half-time enrollment (6 credit hours or more per fall/spring terms).
Federal Direct Loan Program
Student loans are available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program to help pay for college expenses. These are low interest rate loans that must be repaid. There are maximum aggregate limits for all Direct Loans. Students who have borrowed from prior schools will have all funds borrowed included in their aggregate borrowing limits. Aggregate loan limits cannot be exceeded. Dependent undergraduate students are eligible for up to $31,000 (no more than $23,000 of which may be subsidized). Independent undergraduate students and dependent students whose parents are ineligible for a Federal PLUS Loan are eligible for up to $57,500 (no more than $23,000 of which may be subsidized).
Federal Direct (Parent)PLUS
The Federal Direct PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loan is an optional federal loan program for parent(s) who wish to access additional resources beyond what a student is eligible to receive. This credit-based parent loan option may cover up to the total Cost of Attendance (COA) as defined by PSU, minus student aid. The interest rate for a Federal Direct PLUS is a fixed 7.9%. There are fees associated with this loan and the parent is responsible for repayment. In-school deferments may be available by contacting the Direct Loan Servicer after the PLUS loan proceeds have been disbursed to the student’s bill.
Alternative Loans
After exhausting all federal and family resources, some students may need to apply for an alternative student loan to pay for educational expenses. Federal regulations now require additional steps to be taken during the loan application process. To assist you through this process, we recommend that you: (1) start the application process early, (2) complete and return requests from your lender in a timely manner, and (3) check the status of your loan with your lender frequently. Due to these new requirements, the time required to process your loan will be extended, so – APPLY EARLY!
Direct Loans | Federal Direct Plus Loans| Alternative Loans
PSU Policies
Students must be aware that PSU is required (by the federal government) to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This process most commonly impacts students who:
1. have attended other schools and/or
2. already have bachelor degrees and/or
3. have changed majors.
Students must also be aware that any withdraws from classes or school will impact future eligibility.
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