Financial Aid

Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the following rights and responsibilities:

Access to complete information regarding tuition, fees, payment, and refund policies.
Confidentiality of all personal and family financial information.
Reconsideration of student aid eligibility if student and parent situation warrants it through an appeal to Student Financial Services.
To advise Student Financial Services of any additional financial aid received that is not indicated on the Mercyhurst Financial Aid Offer Letter.
To follow application filing deadlines and to submit all required documentation for verification of financial and other information pertaining to the financial aid application process within 30 days of the request.
To give Student Financial Services permission to relay pertinent financial, academic, and other information to donors of aid upon request.
To maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). (Refer to SAP Policy that follows).
To comply with the rules governing the types of financial assistance the student receives.

Financial Aid Application Procedures and Deadlines

To apply for federal and institutional (Mercyhurst) financial aid, a student must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.

Students can submit the FAFSA electronically via studentaid.gov. To file electronically, a student (and parent if student is a dependent) will need a U.S. Department of Education FSA ID. The FSA ID serves as a student’s and/or parent’s electronic signature. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243 for additional information about the FAFSA or visit studentaid.gov.

Although students can file the FAFSA anytime after Oct. 1 for the following academic year in which they plan to attend, Mercyhurst’s priority deadline to file the FAFSA is March 15 of that year, to ensure full consideration for federal and institutional scholarships, grants, and loans. Be sure to include Mercyhurst’s institutional code, 003297, in the university choice section of the FAFSA.

Students may still file the FAFSA after the March 15 deadline, but they risk not receiving aid from some programs. In addition to the processed FAFSA, Student Financial Services must receive all requested documentation within 30 days of the request but no later than 30 days before the end of the semester or award period. This deadline allows processing and authorization of disbursements within timeframes defined by regulations pertaining to federal aid programs.

Students attending a course(s) in Summer Session must file a separate Summer Financial Aid Application two weeks prior to the end of the summer session they are attending to receive summer financial aid, including Federal Direct Loans. The link to the form is available on the Student Hub after April 15.

Failure to apply or to submit required documentation by the indicated deadlines might result in a loss of financial aid eligibility for all student aid programs.