1. When do I apply for Student Aid for Penn State Altoona?
2. What is Penn State Altoona's Title IV school code?
3. How do I apply for Loans?
4. How do I apply for Federal and/or University funded Grants?
5. How do I apply for State Grants?
6. How do I apply for the Federal Work-Study award?
7. Do I get financial aid when I go less than full-time (less than 12 credits)?
8. Can I get financial aid for World Campus (web-based) courses?
9. Can I get student aid for summer enrollment?
10. I am transferring to Penn State Altoona from another school this spring semester. How do I transfer my financial aid to Penn State Altoona?
11. I just received a Federal Work-Study award. How do I find Federal Work-Study employment at Penn State Altoona?
12. How do I get an emergency loan?
13. I am a veteran. Where do I apply for my veterans benefits?
14. What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?
15. What will happen to my financial aid if I fall below full time during the course of a semester (less than 12 credits)?

1. Penn State Altoona's recommended Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) completion dates:

   Incoming Freshmen: February 15

   Continuing Students: April 1

2. The Penn State University Title IV school code is 003329. The code is the same for all Penn State locations.

3. If you answer that you are interested in loans on the Free Application for Student Aid (FASFA), you will be automatically considered for Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans and University Loans. Some loan funds are limited and will be awarded based on the availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA prior to the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration. Parent PLUS Loans and Alternative Loans must be applied for separately and eligibility is determined based on creditworthiness of borrower (and co-borrower, if required).

4. Federal Grant (Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)) and University Grant (Penn State Tuition Assistance Grant (PSTAG)) eligibility is determined by students submitting the FAFSA. Some federal funds are limited and will be awarded based on availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA prior to the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration.

5. Pennsylvania residents are considered for The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Grant by submitting the FAFSA prior to the PHEAA deadline of May 1 and indicating that they are a Pennsylvania resident. Only Pennsylvania residents will be eligible for a Pennsylvania State Grant consideration. PHEAA reserves the right to request verification of residency from any student, if necessary to determine eligibility.

   Non-Pennsylvania residents from certain states may receive state grants from their respective states. Please access

   our list of state grants for out-of-state students.

6. If you answer that you are interested in work-study on the Free Application for Student Aid (FASFA), you will be automatically considered for this award. Work-study funds are limited and will be awarded based on the availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA prior to the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration.

7. You may be eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Pell Grant, PHEAA Grant (if you are a PA resident), SEOG, Work-Study or Perkins if you take less than 12 credits. Please contact the Student Aid Office at W113 Smith Building or by phone at 1-800-848-9843 (menu option 4) to discuss your options. Every situation is different and requires an individual review.

8. You may be eligible to receive financial aid for World Campus courses. To discuss your aid options, you may contact the World Campus directly at 1-800-252-3592.
 

9. You may be eligible to receive financial aid for summer. Please contact the Student Aid Office at W113 Smith Building or by phone at 1-800-848-9843 (menu option 4) to discuss your options. Every situation is different and requires an individual review.
 

10. If you are transferring from another school to Penn State Altoona for the spring semester you need to complete the following steps:

1. If you had not initially listed Penn State as one of your college choices on the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), you will need to update the FAFSA to list the Penn State Title IV school code of 003329. This can be done by making corrections to your application on-line or by calling the Federal Processor at 1-800-443-3243. You will need to have your Student Aid Report (SAR) available if requesting the change by phone.
   
   
2. If you have a Federal Stafford loan at your other school, please contact the school and request that the loan be cancelled. Once the loan has been cancelled at the other school, Penn State will be able to process your loan.
   
   
3. If you are a Pennsylvania resident and have a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grant, you need to contact the PHEAA Grant Division, 1220 N. 7th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102 and tell them that you are going to Penn State Altoona and living either on-campus, off-campus housing, or at home with your parents.
   

11. Work-Study positions can be accessed through your eLion account. The list describes each position and how to contact the Supervisor for an interview. If hired, your Supervisor will provide you with an Employment Agreement that you will need to bring to the Student Aid Office at W113 Smith Building, along with two forms of identification (acceptable forms of ID described below) and your checking or savings account information.

1. a US passport or an original social security card or original certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county or municipal authority and
   
   
2. a driver's license or school ID with a photograph or a voter's registration card or a U.S. Military card or a selective service record.
   
   
3. You will need to bring a voided check or your savings account number with the Bank's Routing Transit Number.

12. For emergency loans, contact the Office of Student Aid, W113 Smith Building to complete a Bernreuter Emergency Loan application. Loans are only available for enrolled students at Penn State Altoona.

13.  If you are a veteran, you need to contact Jean Lasinski, C122 Smith Bldg, Penn State Altoona to discuss your benefits and pick up the necessary applications. Once you have completed the necessary paperwork, you will need to return them to Jean Lasinski, along with your DD 214 paper or NOBE.

Copyright © 2005-07 Penn State Altoona; Student Aid David Pearlman, D.Ed., Director of Student Aid W113 Smith Building, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601-3760 Phone: (814) 949-5055; E-mail: StuAidAltoona@psu.edu Site Index | Faculty & Staff Directory | Privacy and Legal Statements | Copyright