Financial Aid

Because financing a college education can be a challenging task, Springfield College offers financial aid services through the Office of Financial Aid and at each instructional campus to help students make the best decisions on how to finance their education.

Financial aid policy at Springfield College is based on the following guidelines: Students must be accepted into a degree program to receive financial assistance. Springfield College makes admissions decisions without regard for the student’s ability to pay educational expenses. College grant funds are awarded primarily on the basis of financial need. State and federal funds are awarded and disbursed subject to the program regulations of the awarding agency. Eligibility based on financial need is determined by estimating cost of attendance and subtracting family contribution as calculated by federal, state and/or College regulations. Students are advised that eligibility for funding is not the same as availability of funds. The College does not meet full need for all eligible students.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Financial aid forms and information will be sent to all applicants for admission. Students are expected to take responsibility for the financial aid application process, which must be completed for each year assistance is needed. The financial aid award year begins with the September term. Students may contact campus staff and the Office of Financial Aid for assistance. All data submitted in the application process is subject to verification.

All applicants for need-based financial aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA is available in paper format or can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Each applicant must also submit the Springfield College Financial Aid Application and the appropriate tax returns.

Students who submit only the FAFSA will be reviewed for federal aid eligibility only if the file was not selected for verification and there is no conflicting information. Files with FAFSA only will be reviewed after the midpoint of the term.

Academic Progress and Financial Aid Eligibility

Recipients of financial aid (including most loan programs) must make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Satisfactory progress is defined by the College and is reviewed each term. The evaluation consists of a review of quantitative progress (credit hours earned per year) and qualitative achievement (cumulative index). Financial aid is not available for repeated coursework.

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain a grade point average for all Springfield College coursework attempted that meets the satisfactory progress standard of the School of Human Services. All students are expected to complete 75 percent of coursework attempted. This completion standard applies to cumulative coursework.

The Office of Financial Aid will place a student on financial aid suspension for failure to meet the standard. While on financial aid suspension, a student loses all eligibility for College, federal and state assistance, including student/parent loans. The Office of Financial Aid may grant a term of financial aid probation if there are documented circumstances affecting the student’s ability to maintain good academic standing. Requests for financial aid probation must be made in writing to the instructional campus. Other documentation may be requested. If a term of financial aid probation is awarded, the student will be advised of the conditions of that probation. Failure to agree to or to meet those conditions will result in a loss of financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Policy and Services

All information in a student’s file is considered confidential. Disclosure of family financial information is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The financial aid staff cannot discuss details of the student’s application with persons other than the student and/or responsible parent. If other individuals acting on behalf of the student are to have access to this information, a confidential release form, available upon request, must be on file with the Office of Financial Aid.

Unless otherwise noted in the student’s award letter, aid is awarded on the basis of full-time enrollment (12 credits per term for undergraduate students). Aid awards are subject to adjustment or cancellation if the student does not enroll full time. Financial aid will be disbursed by term.

The total financial assistance a student receives cannot exceed educational cost of attendance as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Students are required to advise the Office of Financial Aid of outside agency and/or scholarship aid. If there is a gap between calculated eligibility and the amount of aid in the student’s financial aid package, outside aid will be allowed to fill that unmet need. If full eligibility has been funded, outside aid will first reduce the self-help component (work study and loans) of the financial aid package. An award can be canceled during the academic year for failure to meet the academic requirements of the College, for conduct inconsistent with the standards of the College, for failure to enroll, or if incorrect information was provided in the application process.

An application for financial assistance must be completed for each academic year. Renewal of awards is contingent upon continued demonstration of financial need, eligibility, and availability of funds. Students who received College funds in the prior academic year will be given preference in the renewal process. The College does not guarantee the availability of funds to meet the need of all eligible students.

Failure to provide requested documentation may result in denial of assistance. Students are expected to take responsibility for completing the financial aid process. Changes in enrollment, financial, marital or residential status should be promptly reported to the Office of Financial Aid.

The financial aid award shall be void if and when incorrect or inconsistent information is revealed on forms or other documentation submitted in the application process. All awards are subject to verification. Cases of fraud will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Students who are in default on prior educational loans are not eligible for assistance until the default is cleared or the loan is rehabilitated. Students receiving tuition remission/tuition waivers are not eligible for Springfield College grants.

The College advises donors of the names of students who are recipients of College grants funded by their gifts to the College.

All financial aid, including disbursements from one of the federal Family Education Loan programs (Stafford/Plus), must be credited directly to the student’s account in the College’s Business Office. Credit balances (more aid than charges) will be refunded to the student according to the schedule published by the Business Office. These refunds must be used for education-related expenses only.

The annual publication “Financing Your Springfield College Education” details the available programs and the policies governing the awarding and disbursement of funds. This publication is sent to each student receiving a financial aid decision.