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College of
Health Sciences

Types of financial aid available

Grants

Geisinger School of Nursing participates in the Federal Pell Grant and Pennsylvania State Grant Program. You are automatically considered for these grants based on information submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to an undergraduate student who has not earned a bachelor’s degree. The maximum amount for the 2024–2025 award year is $7,395 based on full-time enrollment. The grant is adjusted based on need and enrollment. If you’ll be attending part time, your grant will be reduced according to your number of credits.

Note: The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduate students 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. Pennsylvania residents are required to complete a status questionnaire at PHEAA.

The current maximum amount fluctuates annually and is based on enrollment of six credits or greater. The grant is adjusted based on need and enrollment. If you’ll be attending part time, your grant will be reduced according to your number of credits.

A few reciprocal states permit their own state grant funds to be used by students attending schools in Pennsylvania. Delaware, the 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. 

Loans

Geisinger School of Nursing participates in the Federal Direct Loan and private student loan programs to help you 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 doesn't accrue until you're no longer enrolled in college. The interest rate for the 2023–24 academic year is 5.5%.
  • 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 interest rate for the 2023–24 academic year is 5.50%.
  • 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 approval requires a credit check. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. The interest rate for the 2023–24 academic year is 8.05%.

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 (You will only need to complete these requirements once during your tenure at the college):

  • Log into studentaid.gov
    • Choose the Complete Aid Process tab
    • Select “Entrance Counseling”
    • Follow the steps (it will take about 30 minutes to complete)
  • Once entrance counseling is complete, you’ll need to complete a master promissory note:
    • Choose the 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 logs into studentaid.gov:
    • Choose 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 (including their Social Security number and date of birth)
    • Term date should be 07/2023 to 06/2024
    • Loan amount: Enter the amount or choose maximum determined by school (if you choose to enter an amount, you’ll need to add a 4.228% origination fee)
    • Upon completion, you’ll receive an immediate credit decision
    • If approved, complete a Parent Plus master promissory note:
      • Choose 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 cosigner)
    • 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 within 24 hours).

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, 2024, a loan fee of 1.057% applies.
  • For Direct Parent Plus loan first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2024, a loan fee of 4.228% applies.

See more information on federal student loans.

Private loans

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.

GI Bill educational benefits

Learn how to use your GI Bill® benefits and military tuition assistance at Geisinger School of Nursing.

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. If you have borrowed on a federal or private loan to cover off-campus living expenses, you can expect to receive your refund 14 days from the date of disbursement. The bursar’s office offers direct deposit, if desired.

Check out these helpful links as you journey through the financial aid process:

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