All matriculated (pursuing a degree, certificate, or diploma) students are encouraged to apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. By completing this application, the student has applied for federal programs that include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work Study. After the FAFSA is submitted, there is a link to select to complete the PA State Grant Application. Processing time for the FAFSA is generally 3 to 5 days. All students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA by April 1st to ensure full consideration and to complete all necessary financial aid steps prior to the upcoming year's tuition due date. The Financial Aid Office, will notify students via college assigned email if additional information is needed or if their Financial Aid Offer is ready for review. Missing documents and Financial Aid offers can be found by logging into myPeak and selecting the Financial Aid Student Portal.
Students earn their aid by going to classes and doing the work. Grades/attendance are checked after drop/add period and at the end of the semester, then aid adjustments are made accordingly for students who never attended or stopped attending. In addition, Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress requires students to maintain a 2.0 GPA, 67% successful completion of all attempted credits and program completion within a 150% timeframe. This progress is checked at the end of each semester. Students not making progress will be placed on financial aid "warning" status; however, remain aid eligible. Students not making progress during a subsequent semester will be placed on financial aid "suspension" status and are not aid eligible; however, they will have the opportunity to a one-time appeal process if they had experienced extenuating circumstances.
College scholarship opportunities are available to students who complete the FAFSA and meet individual scholarship criteria. Complete the Pennsylvania Highlands Foundation Scholarship Application and essay by the deadline noted on the website. Scholarship eligibility requirements are referenced in the College Catalog and Financial Aid page (www.pennhighlands.edu).
FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES
- PA State Grant - All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college; business/trade/ technical school; hospital school of nursing; designated Pennsylvania open-admission institution; or nontransferable two-year program: August 1, (date FAFSA received). All other applicants: May 1, (date FAFSA received).