Financial Aid

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is based on federal guidelines that require each college and university to ensure that student aid applicants are progressing through their academic programs at an acceptable pace while maintaining an acceptable cumulative grade point average.  The policy is separate and apart from other academic policies at the university.  As such, it is entirely possible that a student may be in good academic standing with the University but may not be making SAP for financial aid eligibility. 

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will review the academic records of financial aid recipients at the end of each semester after Academic Standing is finalized but before disbursing aid for the upcoming semester.  Any changes to pace or GPA made to a student’s account after Academic Standing is announced by the Registrar will not be taken into consideration until the following SAP assessment period.  However, officers may use their professional judgement to decide to review a student’s SAP status who reach out to our office because an incomplete grade has been changed to a passing grade.  Only students who meet the minimum satisfactory academic progress standards will have their federal aid disbursed.

A complete copy of the Duquesne University "Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy" for undergraduate and graduate financial aid recipients can be obtained at www.duq.edu/financial-aid/SAP.

Financial Aid staff members are prohibited from accepting gifts, cash or other payments from any lender of student and parent loans or from any guarantee agency. Gifts include, but are not limited to, travel, hotel or motel lodging, entertainment, restaurant meals, office supplies and event tickets.

Exceptions may include such things as newsletters or reprints of articles or presentations designed to inform college officials about relevant issues.

In order to ensure the fair and consistent selection of lenders for student and parent loans, the following additional policies governing the University's relationship with lenders will apply in all cases:

1. No officer, trustee or employee of the University who makes financial aid decisions for the University or who is employed in, supervises or otherwise has responsibility or authority over the University's financial aid office shall receive any remuneration for serving as a member or participant of a student loan advisory board of a Lending Institution or any reimbursement of expenses for such service. Any officer, trustee or employee of the University who serves as a member or participant of a Lending Institution board shall recuse himself or herself from any board discussions regarding the University's financial aid operations.
2. Financial Aid and its staff members will not engage in financial arrangements with lenders that result in a financial benefit to the University or its employees, including revenue sharing, referral fees or stock options.
3. Financial Aid and its employees will not accept any gifts from lenders.
4. Financial Aid and it employees will not accept printing or publication services from lenders at no cost or at a rate below market price.
5. The use of Duquesne University's name, emblem or logo by lenders is prohibited.
6. Financial Aid and its employees will not accept staffing assistance or "call center" services from lenders. Calls to borrowers as part of a lender's normal customer service activities are exempt from this policy.

The Financial Aid Office was established at Duquesne University to coordinate all financial assistance offered to students at the University. That office is charged with responsibility to assure that the principles of financial aid are made operationally effective.

The following operating policies are designed to assure that the Financial Aid Office is effective in carrying out its responsibilities:

1. In accordance with established procedures all students applying for financial assistance must submit appropriate application forms to the Financial Aid Office and complete any other required processes by published deadlines.
2. Students applying for financial assistance are to be given consideration for all of the programs administered by the University for which they are eligible, providing funding is available. The student's aid package may consist of one or more of these programs including scholarship, grants, work and/or loan or any combination that best meets the student's needs.
3. Funds available to the University for financial assistance to students shall be processed through the Financial Aid Office. Nominations of individuals to receive certain designated scholarships athletic awards etc. shall be submitted by the department or agency responsible to the Financial Aid Office.
4. The Financial Aid Office shall maintain adequate records to assure that the aid given to each student is not in excess of the actual amount needed to attend the University.

General Procedures for the Financial Aid Program: The following general operating procedures are designed to assure the smooth functioning of the financial aid program at Duquesne University. Early availability of information about financial aid requests is essential to an orderly operation.

• The priority deadline for student applications for financial aid shall be:

Graduates: May 31

• Students should be aware that funding limits at times may require strict enforcement of deadline dates. Students are to be notified as soon as possible (after receipt of the completed application) of the financial assistance to be offered to them. Written acceptance of the aid offered must be returned to the Financial Aid Office by the student.

The Financial Aid Office shall be responsible for the general processing of all departmental scholarship funds, athletic awards, and all other financial aid funds at Duquesne University. Selection of candidates for certain designated awards are to be made by the appropriate department: however, the selection should be made sufficiently early to permit inclusion of the award in the financial aid package for all students receiving financial aid. Departmental awards made after the students' aid packages have been established may require adjustment to those packages.

At times, scholarships and other funds from outside the University are received directly by offices other than the Financial Aid Office for credit to specific student accounts. Copies of such notices should be sent to the Financial Aid Office for processing.

An individual student file is maintained by the Financial Aid Office for each student receiving assistance of any kind at the University. This record shall indicate the total of the student's needs and the types and amounts of all assistance received.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Eligibility: $20,500 per year, not to exceed Cost of Education

Under the Direct Stafford Loan program requirements of the academic year are defined as Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Therefore, Federal Direct Stafford Loans are limited to an academic year (defined as Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) maximum. If a student has utilized the maximum Stafford Loan during the preceding Fall and Spring, the student will not be eligible for a Summer Stafford loan. If the student did not, they will be eligible for the remaining amount of the above limits.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Eligibility: Based on Cost of Education minus Financial Aid Received

You must be enrolled at least half-time, credit-approved for eligibility (may use co-signer) and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, you are required to first apply for your annual loan maximum eligibility in Stafford loans.

Scholarship and Assistantship Awards

All scholarship and assistantship awards are determined by the individual graduate schools, not by the Financial Aid Office. You should contact the graduate program staff in the school to which you are applying to discuss any questions related to these awards.