Undergraduate Eligibility Criteria 

In order to qualify for financial aid an undergraduate student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen per federal regulations.
• Be admitted to the University.
• Not have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent - some forms of aid, however are offered to post-undergraduate students as specifically noted under the section titled “Bachelor’s Degree Holders.”
• Not have received aid for the maximum number of allowable semesters (eight).
• Not have defaulted on a previous federal loan.
• Be matriculated in a program that terminates in a degree or certificate.
• Be enrolled as a full-time student. (A full-time undergraduate student is one who is registered for at least 12 credits per semester. The University offers some types of financial aid to part-time students. For undergraduates, part time is defined as 6-11.5 credits. Some forms of aid are offered to less than full-time students as specifically noted under “Part-Time Students.”
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the University.
• Apply for financial aid by the indicated deadline using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the analysis of the (FAFSA).

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Deadlines

Deadlines are necessary to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to be considered for financial aid given the fact that the University must determine how to distribute available funds to the many students who wish to be considered for aid before those funds can be allocated. Deadlines are also in place to ensure that the University will receive and communicate the necessary information in time to allow the students to make informed decisions regarding their enrollment and related financial plans.

Students who miss the filing deadlines may receive less financial aid than students who apply on time. Late applicants may not be able to register for or attend classes if their late application results in outstanding balances.
All eligible students are considered for financial assistance regardless of filing date, depending upon availability of funds. However, University-administered funds will not be used to replace federal or state grants or loans for which a student may have been eligible but for which he/she failed to apply successfully.

New Students
The University of the Arts’ postmark deadline for submission of the FAFSA is March 1.
All students who plan to attend the University during the Fall or Spring semesters must file the FAFSA by the above deadline. Incoming students are considered on a rolling, funds-available basis after the March 1 deadline. Applicants are advised to submit all application materials by March 1 or as soon as possible. Some sources of funding (as above) are limited and will not be available to otherwise eligible but late applicants.

Currently Enrolled Students
The University of the Arts’ postmark deadline for submission of the FAFSA is March 15.
As noted above, all students who plan to attend the University during the Fall or Spring semesters must file the FAFSA by the March 15. Incomplete applications and applications submitted after March 15 will be considered only after on-time applications have been awarded. Some types of aid (University Grants, Scholarships, SEOG Grants, Perkins Loans, Federal Work Study, and PHEAA Grants) are awarded on an on-time basis and may not be available to otherwise eligible but late applicants.

Pennsylvania Undergraduate Students
PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) State Grant Deadline
PHEAA’s deadline for receipt of the completed FAFSA application is May 1 for the following year. Applications received after that date may render a student ineligible for PHEAA Grants as well as the other types of aid specified above.

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Duration of Eligibility

Students are not permitted to delay graduation once degree requirements have been met in pursuit of additional coursework or to continue their eligibility for financial aid.
Students can exhaust their eligibility for financial aid by failing or withdrawing from courses due to the impact of such actions on adequate progress towards completion of the degree, or the student’s GPA. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their academic advisor to plan a program that will encourage their continued academic success in a timely manner and to contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions regarding their status.

Under federal and University guidelines, undergraduate students may continue to receive financial aid for only eight semesters, or until the first baccalaureate degree or its equivalent has been earned.

Students may not receive undergraduate grants to complete minors, double degrees, or teacher certification programs that extend beyond eight semesters if the other requirements for the completion of the undergraduate degree have been met.