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Types of aid

Grants

Geisinger School of Nursing participates in the Federal Pell Grant and Pennsylvania State Grant Program. Students are automatically considered for these grants based on information submitted on your FAFSA. 

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor’s degree. The current maximum amount for the 2023-2024 award year is $7,395 based on full time enrollment. The grant is adjusted based on need and enrollment. If you will be attending part time, your grant will be reduced based on the number of credits you are enrolled. 

Please note: The Federal Pell Grant is available to an undergraduate student for a maximum of six years. For more information on the Federal Pell Grant, visit Understanding Your Pell Grant. 

Pennsylvania State Grant Program

The Pennsylvania State Grant Program* is awarded to an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor’s degree and filed their FAFSA no later than May 1. First time Pennsylvania State Grant applicants are required to complete a Status Questionnaire at PHEAA. 

The current maximum amount fluctuates annually and is based on full time enrollment. The grant is adjusted based on need and enrollment. If you will be attending part time, your grant will be reduced based on the number of credits you are enrolled in. 

There are a few reciprocal states that permit its own state grant funds to be used by students attending schools in Pennsylvania. Residents of Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia offer support to students attending Pennsylvania schools. For more information about your state’s reciprocity agreement, contact your state agency.

*Disclaimer: The Geisinger School of Nursing is in the process of applying for Pennsylvania State Grant eligibility.  You may not receive information until the application has been approved. 

GI Bill educational benefits 

To apply for GI Bill educational benefits, Chapter 30, Chapter 33, Chapter 35, and Chapters 1606 and 1607, Veterans Affairs requires a completed VA FORM 22-1990. For Chapter 31, complete VA FORM 28-1905.

The forms can be completed online at VA.gov.

Need help? Contact the VA certifying official, Edward Lahart at ejlahart@geisinger.edu.

You'll also need to submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class. We follow the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 as outlined below.

On December 31, 2018, the President signed into law the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. It contains a provision (Section 103) that takes effect on August 1, 2019, and potentially impacts your institution’s tuition and fee policies.

VA educational benefits addendum information sheet
VA addendum sheet 2022

As of August 1, 2019, for any student using Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill or Ch. 31 Voc-Rehab benefits, even if the VA has not yet paid tuition and fees, no institution (public, private, for profit, not for profit), can have a policy in effect that:

  • Prevents enrolling
  • Assesses a late penalty fee
  • Requires securing alternative or additional funding
  • Denies access to any school resources (access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities) that are available to other students that have paid

Loans

Geisinger School of Nursing participates in the Federal Direct Loan and private student loan programs to help our students bridge the gap between the financial aid you have already received for college and the total cost of attendance. 

Federal Direct Loan

The Federal Direct Loan is offered by the U.S. Department of Education. The type of loan is based on financial need. This is a low-interest loan, and the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. 

You may be eligible for the following loan types:

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is for eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs. Interest does not accrue on this loan until you are no longer enrolled in college. The current interest rate for this loan for the 2022-23 academic award year is 4.99%.
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is for eligible undergraduate students to help cover the costs. This loan is not based on need and accrues interest for the date of disbursement. The current interest rate for this loan for the 2022-23 academic award year is 4.99%.
  • Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan is for eligible parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but it is approval requires a credit check. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. The current interest rate for this loan for the 2022-23 academic award year is 7.54%.

Note: Interest rates are subject to change. Changes to interest rates will be available after July 1 of each new academic award year. 

Instructions on applying for these loans are below:

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (Students will only need to complete these requirements once during their tenure at the college):

  • Log into studentaid.gov
    • Under Complete Aid Process tab
    • Select “Entrance Counseling”
    • Follow the steps, it will take about 30 minutes to complete
  • Once entrance counseling is complete, you will need to complete a master promissory note:
    • Under Complete Aid Process tab
    • Complete a master promissory note (MPN)
    • Select “I am an undergraduate student”
    • Select “MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan”

Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan (Parent will apply annually):

  • Parent will log into studentaid.gov:
    • Under the Apply for Aid Tab 
    • Select “Apply for a Parent Plus Loan.” (If you have a credit freeze, you will need to lift it from Transunion and Equifax before you can complete the application).
    • Enter your child’s information (You will need the Social Security number and date of birth).
    • Term date should be 07/2023 to 06/2024
    • Loan amount: You can either enter the amount or you can choose maximum determined by school. Reminder: You will need to add a 4.228% origination fee if you choose to enter an amount.
    • Once you complete the application, you should receive an immediate credit decision.
    • If approved, you will need to complete a Parent Plus master promissory note:
      • Under Complete Aid Process tab
      • Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
      • Select the MPN titled “I am a Parent of an Undergraduate Student” 
  • If denied, you can seek an 
    • Endorser (a co-signor)
    • Appeal

Information on how to add an endorser or appeal the credit decision will be available under your denial notice on the web page. 

Once you complete the above documents, the college will be notified electronically (typically 24 hours).

Private loan

If interested in borrowing on a private loan (provided by banks, credit unions and other lenders), you can compare loan details, interest rates, repayment terms and eligibility requirements for various private student loan lenders at ELM Select. In the search box type Geisinger College of Health Sciences and click on the Undergraduate tab.  

Financial aid disbursement

Financial aid will be disbursed to Geisinger School of Nursing at the beginning of each semester. One half of the approved amount, less loan fees, if applicable, will be sent to the college for the fall semester and one half of the approved amount will be sent for the spring semester. For students who have borrowed on a federal or private loan to cover off campus living expenses, can expect to receive their refund 14 days from the date of disbursement. The bursar’s office offers direct deposit for students who are interested.

Loan origination fees

This is a mandatory fee charged by the U.S. Department of Education for all Federal Direct Loan borrowers. The loan origination fee is a percentage of the amount of each loan you receive and is subtracted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive. 

Keep these fees in mind when calculating and accepting your financial aid award packages. The amount that is reflected in your award letter does not have the origination fees taken out and represents the amount that you have borrowed and not the credit that will be applied to your school account. 

The following required loan origination fees are taken out of the amount of your loan after you accept your financial aid award package:

  • For Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2023, a loan fee of 1.057% applies.
  • For Direct Parent Plus loan first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2023, a loan fee of 4.228% applies. 

For additional information on federal student loans, visit this site.

Here are additional helpful links as you journey through the financial aid process:

Disclaimer: The Lewistown School of Nursing Diploma Program is in the process of merging into an Associate’s Degree of Nursing Program and federal funding is pending approval by the Department of Education until the merger is complete.