Financial Aid Terms and Conditions

1. Financial Aid Notification/ Self Service Banner: New undergraduate students can view their financial aid offer via the Financial Planning Portal within their Applicant Portal. The financial aid offer will also be sent via postal mail. New graduate students will be notified via e-mail to view their financial aid offer through Self Service by logging into the Duquesne online portal.
2. Returning undergraduate and graduate students will receive an e-mail notification to view their Financial Aid offer letter through Self Service by logging into the Duquesne online portal .
3. Duration of Awards: All aid including University scholarships/grants is awarded for the fall and spring terms only, unless otherwise stated.
4. Credit to Accounts: All approved financial aid except for student employment is credited to the student account and deducted from total charges provided that all requirements are met and the student is registered for the minimum number of credits required by the award. No estimated awards are credited to accounts.
5. Additional Aid: The receipt of any scholarship/grant not listed on the Financial Aid Notification or in Financial Aid Self Service may result in an adjustment to the aid package. All outside awards must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. When reporting an award indicate the name, amount, and whether the award is renewable in future years. Notice should come directly from the aid source. All financial aid awards are credited to the student’s account equally between the fall and spring semesters, unless otherwise noted in writing by the University and/or outside organization.  Students are only eligible to receive financial aid up to their cost of attendance. Duquesne University merit scholarships will be reduced after Federal Work Study and Loans if the student is receiving outside funds up to their cost of attendance.
6. Adjustments: The University reserves the right to adjust awards in accordance with University, Federal and State policies. Financial aid awards may be adjusted according to current program funding levels and/or regulations. Federal and state aid awards are estimated amounts packaged to the best of our knowledge and can be cancelled due to any changes with federal or state regulations, including if federal or state programs are discontinued and there are any changes to the appropriation process. Financial aid awards may be adjusted due to typographical and system errors or updates to financial information.
7. Refunds: Credit refunds created by financial aid awards will not be made until actual funds are received and processed for all sources of aid. All refunds are processed by the Student Accounts Office. Should the student later become ineligible for any part of the financial aid package, he/she will be responsible for returning funds to Duquesne University.
8. Enrollment Changes: Certain changes to enrollment status may impact financial aid awards. When a student changes their enrollment (i.e. full-time to part-time, or less than half-time, etc.) their financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. Students are responsible for any balance owed.
9. Withdrawal: Recipients of financial aid who plan to withdraw from the University should arrange an appointment with the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawal. A student’s financial aid award may be adjusted or canceled based upon the student’s official/unofficial withdrawal from the University. Students who withdraw and have federal aid will have a Return of Title IV calculation completed to determine the amount of aid the student has earned based on attendance in the semester.  Students who have not earned all of their federal aid for the term will have funds returned to the Federal Government and the student will be responsible for the balance owed.
10. All financial aid awards are considered final; however, should a family's financial circumstances change dramatically during the academic year, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships should be contacted in writing, outlining and documenting the special circumstances for possible adjustment. Additional forms are required.

Athletic Aid: All financial aid offered by Athletics is considered the primary source of funding and all other institutional scholarships and grants are adjusted accordingly. Students who are admitted to the University and awarded merit or grant aid through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will not be eligible to receive the merit or grant aid if they become an official student athlete on the team roster. 

Athletics is responsible for the financial aid packages for student athletes. Students should choose the option that best matches their interests and goals. Students who later receive additional scholarships regardless of source will receive the higher-level award and have their admission-based scholarships adjusted accordingly, rescinded, or reduced to comply with Federal, State, or institutional policies.

If a full athletic scholarship or the total amount of scholarships exceeds the total amount of tuition, fees and books, students are responsible to claim the untaxed income on their Federal Tax Return. Scholarships are not taxable if they do not exceed expenses incurred for tuition, fees, and books (not including room and board). Students are responsible for determining whether the total amount of all scholarships received is greater than the total mandatory charges. Please consult Publication 970 of the IRS code or a tax professional.

Federal Aid

1. Federal Pell Grant: The Pell Grant is a need-based grant offered to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Eligibility is based on a formula established each year by the Federal Government as well as the student’s enrollment status. Lifetime maximum Pell Grant amount = 600%, or the equivalent of six years of full-time enrollment.
2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Offered to enrolled full-time students with exceptional need and is based on available funding levels. Preference is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients in accordance with the guidelines established by the Federal Government and the Financial Aid Office.
3. Federal Work-Study: Federal Work-Study is a need-based program for eligible full-time students. Award amount shown is an estimate of potential earnings and is contingent upon available jobs and actual hours worked. The offer of Federal Work-Study is not a guarantee of employment or earnings. Earnings are paid directly to the student via a paycheck/direct deposit to a bank account (not to the student’s University account), Federal work study cannot be deducted from the student’s account and will not be reflected on billing statements.T he Office of Human Resources is responsible for actual placement of Federal Work Study students in available posit

State Aid

1. State Grant: A State Grant on the award letter is estimated based on projected eligibility and is not an official award. It is assumed the student will apply for the award prior to deadline dates and will meet all requirements of the award including submitting any requested documentation required by the state agency. Students must maintain academic progress to continue eligibility. State Grant awards can be withdrawn if students fail to meet academic progress requirements as outlined by the State Grant agency. Students enrolled in over 50% of online classes per semester may be eligible for State Grant assistance.
2. Veterans Benefits for Chapter 33/Post-9/11: Students who receive less than 100% from Chapter 33/Post-9/11 funding cannot receive non-federal aid (i.e. Academic Scholarship, Duquesne Grant, Tuition Remission, etc.) to exceed the billable tuition and fee charges of the school of enrollment in combination with Chapter 33/Post-9/11 funding. Scholarships are for tuition only.

Merit Scholarship Terms and Conditions 

1. The merit scholarship provides an award annually to the recipient for up to four (4) years, maximum eight (8) semesters, or receipt of bachelor’s degree (whichever occurs first) for undergraduate study at Duquesne University. Semesters exempted through transfer credit and enrolled semesters which were not satisfactory, do count towards your 8 semesters and will be reduced accordingly.  Students who switch majors and extend their enrollment past eight semesters will not be considered for additional terms of scholarships.
2. A minimum cumulative University grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4-point scale) is required for renewal of the award. In addition, a student must be enrolled in at least 12 credits or more each semester to remain eligible for the scholarship.  Scholarships will not be pro-rated if the student is less than full-time. 
3. A student will be given a one semester probationary period without a decrease in their merit-based scholarship(s) if the cumulative GPA is below a 2.0. If the cumulative GPA does not meet the minimum standards after the probationary period, the scholarships will be suspended.
4. Each recipient of the merit scholarship is encouraged to apply for all state and federally funded need-based financial assistance (grants/scholarships) for which he or she might be eligible.
5. Additional awards and grants that are not merit-based, such as, but not limited to, the Room Grant, are offered for one year or one semester only and are not renewable for future academic years, unless specifically stipulated in your award notice.
6. Each recipient of the merit scholarship agrees to allow the use of his or her biographical and academic information in publications of the University, and in keeping with all relevant privacy regulations.
7. The University may adjust awards to comply with federal and state regulations in those instances when the student is eligible for state or federal grants through need-based financial aid programs, or due to federal or state funding source reductions. Also, adjustments may be made to accommodate other scholarship awards. The University will not award scholarship amounts more than actual educational costs at Duquesne, scholarships are awarded for tuition only.
8. Merit scholarships are for tuition only. Some specific scholarships are for standard housing, meals, books or supplies. Scholarships for housing may be considered taxable income. Students who graduate early (in less than eight semesters) may not apply future unused dollars toward earlier semesters’ costs. This scholarship is not applicable to enrollment in Duquesne’s School of Law or any other graduate program.
9. At times, students are awarded Duquesne scholarships that may later be changed to endowment and named or donor -funded scholarships. Named scholarships are those made possible by the generosity of alumni and other Duquesne University friends. In many cases, these donor-funded scholarships either partially or wholly fund and underwrite a general university merit award; therefore they are not an addition to an existing Duquesne scholarship. They are applied upon appropriate matching to the student subsequent to their being awarded general scholarship funds.
10. If selected for a donor-funded scholarship, the recipient agrees to annually write thank you notes, complete an online profile, and attend a Benefactor Luncheon if applicable and if invited, in addition to maintaining a minimum GPA requirement as stated in the scholarship criteria.
11. Merit award disbursements are split equally between fall and spring semesters as merit scholarship packages do not apply to the summer semester.
12. Students who take approved leave of absence or withdraw in good standing from Duquesne and do not attend another University during the academic school year are, if re-admitted to the University, eligible to renew their merit award based on original terms and conditions. Merit award reinstatement following an emergency leave is reviewed on an individual basis. Students who leave Duquesne to attend another University forfeit their merit funds. If you are suspended from Duquesne University, merit awards are not reinstated in the event of your re-entry and any future funds for which you might be eligible will be awarded based on a case-by-case basis.
13. Study-abroad and summer-only classes, if approved by Duquesne University, can be taken at another institution without forfeiting your funds.
14. The University does reserve the right to rescind or revise any financial aid award to ensure accuracy (including but not limited to: typographical, systems malfunction or data entry errors, unverified or incomplete information), and to abide by regulations or funding changes.
15. Students are awarded the highest-level merit scholarship at the time of admission. Scholarships are not re-evaluated each year if the student is excelling academically.  If, at a later date, you qualify for an additional higher-level award from Duquesne, your merit award will be adjusted or superseded so that you will receive the more advantageous offer, but not both.
16. Education majors and Music majors who have received the Leading Teacher Program (LTP)/Education 50% Award or the Music 50% Tuition Award must remain enrolled in the School of Education or the School of Music for their award to be renewed. Education or Music majors who change their academic program and are no longer in the School of Education or School of Music are not eligible for the 50% tuition award and will be evaluated for Duquesne Academic Scholarship. The combination of Duquesne Academic Scholarship and Leading Teacher Program (LTP) 50% Award or Music 50% Tuition Award is limited to 8 semesters of eligibility. Students are not eligible to receive a base merit scholarship and a 50% tuition award if offered in their program/major.
17. Unmet need scholarships include all institutional, federal, state, and private gift aid to determine the dollar amount awarded and the value of the award is determined each year based on FAFSA completion.  This includes the Spirit of Community, Spirit of Potential and Rangos Scholarships.

Endowed Funds: The University receives funds from generous donors that are used to pay for all or a portion of a student's Duquesne institutional aid. Endowed scholarships can replace previously awarded academic merit or need based awards and are used to underwrite all or a portion of institutional aid if awarded. These funds have specific eligibility requirements and may be awarded to students after the term has started once eligibility is determined.

Room Awards: Room Awards may be taxable. On Campus Room awards cannot be combined with any other University housing discounts and the amount will not exceed the value of an undergraduate standard double room. The awards are for one semester or one academic year only and are non-renewable.  Awards are only for eligible students who apply for and are assigned to campus housing. On Campus Room Awards cannot be combined with other University housing discounts. Your award will be canceled if you do not reside in Duquesne University housing or affiliated campus housing. On-campus housing is guaranteed for the freshman and sophomore years only. Room Awards are not transferable to off-campus housing and may be taxable.  Please consult with a tax professional and refer to IRS Education Guide 970.

University Discounts: Students receiving a university discount on tuition are not eligible for any other Duquesne funded aid.

Tuition Remission: Students receiving tuition remission as an employee benefit are not eligible for any other Duquesne funded aid. Refer to TAP 13 Policy for full details

Tuition Exchange: Students receiving tuition exchange are only eligible for the fall/spring semesters and can receive a maximum of 8 semesters. Students in a program that requires more than 8 semesters of full-time study will be responsible for tuition for the additional semesters.

Clergy Discount: Cannot be combined with other University awards. Students may only use the discount for one degree.

Catholic High School Graduate Discounts: Graduates of a Roman Catholic High School in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, or Altoona-Johnstown are given an award equal to 10% of the Basic Tuition Rate at the time of acceptance. Students must enroll full-time in the fall term immediately following high school graduation. The award amount remains the same for eight terms of full-time study or until undergraduate degree requirements are met. This award cannot be combined with other discounts. Students must continue to be enrolled full-time for both regular terms of each academic year following initial enrollment. Dropping below full-time status renders student ineligible for that term.

1. Institutional Loans: Institutional loans, including Nursing and Health Professions loans are awarded based on demonstrated need and available funding. Nursing loans are available to dependent full-time first year undergraduate Nursing students; Health Profession Loans are available to dependent full-time undergraduate Pharmacy students.
   
   Repayment begins after enrollment ceases at a 5% interest rate and generally extends over a 10-year period. University Loans are: Alcoa, Gaston, Gulf, Heinz, Powers, and Kerschgens. Interest and repayment terms vary – see promissory note for details.
    
   If Nursing Loan or Health Profession Loan eligibility is listed on the Financial Aid Notification/Self Service Banner, a Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling must be completed if the student wishes to borrow from these loan programs. The loan will be processed for the amount listed on the Financial Aid Notification/Self Service Banner unless the student declines or accepts a lesser loan amount. Loans are subject to cancellation if a promissory note and/or entrance counseling is not submitted.
    
   Loan funds will not be disbursed to the student account without a completed promissory note and entrance counseling. All Institutional loan borrowers must complete a series of online disclosure statements with ECSI, the loan servicer for Duquesne University.  An email with information regarding completion of your Promissory Note, Entrance Counseling, and disclosures will be sent to your Duquesne e-mail address from webmaster@ecsi.net, This email includes a PIN number to access your records for completion of the documentation for your loan.
2. Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans: Federal loans are borrowed in the student’s name in which eligibility is determined each academic year by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Both loans have a fixed interest rate which is set July 1 each year. Subsidized loans do not accumulate interest while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time. Unsubsidized loans do accumulate interest while the student is enrolled in school. Interest on the unsubsidized loan begins to accrue after the loan has been disbursed. Students may choose to pay the interest while enrolled.
    
   New Federal Loan Borrowers:  New borrowers must complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling to borrow Federal Direct Loans. Both can be completed on Federal Student Aid's website. Students who want to borrow federal loans are required to accept their loans on the Self-Service portal each academic year.  The accepted loan amounts will be processed on the student’s behalf. Students may also reduce or cancel their loans on the Self-Service portal. After the loans are disbursed, students have 14 days to cancel all or a portion of their loans by notifying the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships in writing.
3. Federal Direct Parent Plus Loans: Federal Direct PLUS loans are available to creditworthy parents of dependent, undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time. Apply online via Federal Student Aid.

1. Annual FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required for consideration of Federal, State, and University need-based aid. It is the student’s responsibility to complete and submit the FAFSA prior to the published deadline dates. Please visit the Financial Aid Application page for links and other information regarding Financial Aid. The priority filing deadline is May 1.
2. Academic Awards: Students must be enrolled full-time to continue to receive any Duquesne merit scholarships. Students who meet renewal requirements and have not exceeded the number of eligible semesters will have their awards renewed automatically. Students with unmet need scholarships (Spirit of Community, Spirit of Potential and Rangos Scholarship) will have unmet need recalculated each academic year upon receipt of the FAFSA. All federal, state, outside grants and scholarships are included in calculation of unmet need scholarships. Unmet need is calculated using the student’s cost of attendance and includes base room and board.
3. Education majors and Music majors who have received the Leading Teacher Program (LTP)/Education 50% Award or the Music 50% Tuition Award must remain enrolled in the School of Education or the School of Music for their award to be renewed. Education or Music majors who change their academic program and are no longer in the School of Education or School of Music are not eligible for the 50% tuition award and will be evaluated for Duquesne Academic Scholarship. The combination of Duquesne Academic Scholarship and Leading Teacher Program (LTP) 50% Award or Music 50% Tuition Award is limited to 8 semesters of eligibility.
4. 1. Federal Verification: If selected for verification, students (and parents, if applicable) must submit additional information as requested such as U.S. Federal Income Tax Returns or Transcripts, IRS verification of non-filing letter, W-2s, and/or a completed Household Information Worksheet.
   2. Duquesne Grant: In addition to demonstrated need, students must be enrolled full-time, and must not have exceeded the number of eligible semesters to receive the Duquesne Grant. The FAFSA is required for renewal each year. Students are required to have need each academic year for the Duquesne Grant to be renewed.
   3. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): All students must demonstrate progress towards the completion of their degree to remain eligible for financial aid. Please refer to the Duquesne University SAP page for a complete description.

Please note: All financial aid is awarded based on financial need and/or merit as determined from the information provided by the applicant in admission and/or financial aid application materials. Financial aid awards are subject to adjustments or cancellations due to changes in laws, regulations, appropriations, changes in financial situation, verification, discovery of data errors, system errors, changes in enrollment status, failure to disclose previous enrollment, and other changes where adjustments may be necessary.