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Overview | Admissions
Information | Tuition
& Fees Financial Aid Financial aid, including grants, loans, scholarships, and part-time employment is handled through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Students interested in receiving financial aid should contact this Office well in advance of their expected enrollment. Each student's need for aid will be evaluated on information supplied and in accordance with Financial Aid Policy of the Health Sciences Center. Representatives of the Office are available for consultation with all candidates for admission and students. Although the primary responsibility for financing an education rests with the student and the student's immediate family, it is recognized that many students require additional assistance in order to meet their educational costs. Awards from aid programs funded by the Federal or State government are administered according to laws and guidelines governing those programs. Priority is given to students with the greatest documented need whose completed applications are received by the appropriate deadline.
Fall Enrollment
Spring Enrollment Summer Enrollment
Each school of the Health Sciences Center has established and administers policies on the satisfactory academic progress of its students. These policies include a delineation of the minimum grades which must be achieved to meet the criteria for satisfactory academic progress, a full description of the application of these policies in regard to the various categories of students, a specific definition of the effects of course incompletes, withdrawals, and repetitions on satisfactory academic progress, and an explanation of the appeals process for those students who have been determined as not making satisfactory progress. For a full description of each school's policies consult the appropriate section of this catalog. The Health Sciences Center requires that all work towards a bachelors, graduate, or professional degree be completed in not more than eight calendar years and that all work toward a certificate or an associate degree be completed in not more than five calendar years. Any requests for extension of this policy are subject to approval by the appropriate committee within each school and the dean of that school.
All persons desiring aid must submit an application. Some types of aid, including all federal programs, require a resource analysis; applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and make the results available to the LSUHSC Financial Aid Office. All application materials are available from the Financial Aid Office and a counselor is available to discuss programs and advise on application and awarding procedures.
An applicant will be considered for all the following types of financial aid with a single application (except some programs require their own applications in addition to the general application).
The Federal Pell Grant is designed to assist students in pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The purpose of the program is to provide eligible students with a "foundation" of financial aid to help defray the cost of post-secondary education. Full awards are based on a minimum of 12 semester hours. Students taking between 9-11 hours will be awarded on a three-fourths basis. Those taking 6-8 hours will be awarded on a one-half basis. Graduate students and students enrolled as undergraduates but who already have a baccalaureate degree are not eligible. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is for students with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) provides state and federal grant funding for needy undergraduate students who have not yet received a baccalaureate degree. Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award recipients identified by Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) as maintaining TOPS eligibility receive payment equal to basic allowable fees through the TOPS program. Those who qualify for TOPS Performance and Honors level awards also receive an additional $200 or $400, respectively, per semester. LSU Board of Supervisors Scholarship applications are available in the Student Financial Aid Office. Members of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors, and the LSU System President, select scholarship recipients. Centennial Award: Students who matriculate from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and hold the award, will be continued at the Health Sciences Center as long as they maintain their eligibility as established for the original award (undergraduate study only). Decennial Award: Students who matriculate from the University of New Orleans and hold the award will be continued at the Health Sciences Center as long as they maintain their eligibility as established for the original award (undergraduate study only). Honor Awards: Each participating school makes selection as only one award is made per class, per year, in each professional school. The award is worth $270 per academic year.
The Office offers assistance to students through various long-term loan programs. Repayment of these loans is deferred as long as the borrower is enrolled for at least a half-time course load of study. Qualifications for the loan programs are listed below. Specific information regarding loan terms and repayment/deferment options is available in the Student Financial Aid Office. Federal Perkins Loan: This loan requires evidence of financial need for eligibility. The interest rate is five (5) per cent and does not accrue while the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis. There are provisions for partial cancellation for designated public service. Repayment may be extended for ten years, depending upon the amount borrowed; however, a minimum monthly payment of $40 is required. Nursing Student Loan: Nursing Student Loans provide funds for undergraduate (BSN candidates) and graduate students. The interest rate is five (5) percent and does not accrue while the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis. The major criterion for this program is demonstration of financial need. Repayment may be extended for ten years, depending upon the amount borrowed; however, a minimum monthly payment of $40 is required. Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL): The Health Professions Student Loan program is for students in dentistry. The interest rate on these need-based loans is five (5) percent during the repayment period. Primary Care Loan (PCL): New Orleans Medical students who demonstrate financial need and make a commitment to pursue primary care training and practice may have access to these loans, which are interest free during the in-school and primary care residency periods and feature a five percent interest rate during repayment periods. Significant interest penalties are assessed on borrowers who fail to meet the primary care training and practice requirements stipulated in the loan promissory note. NOTE: Students seeking HPSL or PCL must include parent data on their FAFSA. Federal Stafford Loan Program: These government guaranteed loans feature a subsidized need based component and an unsubsidized non-need based component. The government pays interest on the subsidized component during qualifying in-school, grace and deferment periods. Interest rate is variable with an 8.25% cap. Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS): Parents of undergraduate dependent students can apply for PLUS loans. These loans are non-need based and feature a variable interest rate capped at 9%. Repayment generally begins when the loan is disbursed unless the parent borrower qualifies for deferment. PLUS lenders are required to perform a credit check and may deny the loan based on adverse parent credit history.
Federal College Work-Study Program (FWSP): The FWSP provides employment opportunities for college students who are in need of earnings from part-time employment in order to pursue a course of study. This program enables students to earn money during the academic year and/or Summer to help defray expenses. The Office is responsible for determining the eligibility of all students who apply for work under this program. Job placement, hours of work, and rates of pay are also handled by the Office. Several FWSP positions involve community service in health care delivery and in reading tutoring for primary school children.
Scholarships offered by persons or organizations that determine the recipient and amount, but require the funds to be handled through the Health Sciences Center, are welcome. Any questions concerning such a program in which any applicant is interested should be discussed with the counselor for the appropriate school. Veterans Benefits: The Veterans Administration officer for the Health Sciences Center is the Registrar who certifies enrollment and academic load of veterans. The Veterans Administration determines the amount. Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation Program: provides fee payments and other support to eligible participants. Information is available through local state vocational rehabilitation offices. Service Oriented Scholarships and Loans, such as the National Health Service Corps and Military scholarships, and the Louisiana Medical Student Tuition Payment Program, provide extensive funding in exchange for future service or practice commitments. Additional information regarding these programs is available in the Student Financial Aid Office.
Short-term loans for use in emergency situations relating to education are available through the Office of Student Affairs of each school in the Health Sciences Center. Processing time for checks is two working days following loan approval.
Loan or Grant checks may be disbursed to registered students only. (1) Registered students may have their loan amount credited to their account if the check is jointly payable at three (3) weeks before the beginning of classes. The balance due the student or checks made payable to the student only may not be disbursed until 10 days prior to the beginning of classes. Second (Spring) loan disbursements for medical and dental students are available the latter of the calendar midpoint of the academic year or the date the student successfully completed half of the course work for the academic year. (2) Entering students may pick up their checks at registration. All funds are disbursed by the Health Sciences Center Business Offices in New Orleans and Shreveport.
1. Submit an application for admission. 2. Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and designate LSUHSC as a data recipient. 3. If accepted for admission, complete the Fact Sheet and send to the Office. 4. If selected for verification, complete and submit a verification worksheet along with relevant IRS forms. 5. Promptly submit relevant loan application forms and any documents requested by the Financial Aid Office. 6. After the applicant has been formally accepted for admission and the financial aid file is complete, the Office will process the application for aid. 7. The applicant will receive notification of awards from the Office.
Students may appeal decisions made concerning their initial and continuing eligibility for financial assistance through the following appeal mechanism: 1. The Student Financial Aid Counselor 2. The Director of the Office 3. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (New Orleans), or The Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs and Reimbursements (Shreveport) Information contained above, under the heading "TYPES OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE", constitutes fulfillment by The LSU System of requirements of the United States Department of Education, Student Consumer Information Provisions, P.L. 94-475.
Students wishing to register and request a deferment of fees must meet the following requirements: 1. Have applied for financial aid with a completed application prior to the registration date; 2. The funds have not arrived; 3. Obtain statement from financial aid to the above (This statement is available on the registration line.); or 4. Special circumstance approved by the administration.
In cases of student full withdrawal during the first 60% of the term, semester, or billing period, the U.S. Department of Education requires the return of a portion of Title IV funds (Federal Stafford loans, Federal Perkins loans, PLUS, Federal Pell Grant, and SEOG). The percentage of such funds considered "earned" by the student is determined by dividing the number of days prior to withdrawal by the total number of days in the term, semester or billing period, with the results expressed as a percentage rounded to the second decimal point. The remaining percentage is considered "unearned". The unearned percentage is applied first to applicable fees. The school returns this percentage to the federal aid programs. If this percentage of fees exceeds Title IV aid, the amount in excess of Title IV aid is generally returned first to other aid programs, with any remaining excess returned to the student. If the Title IV aid exceeds the amount of applicable fees, the unearned percentage is applied to the funds in excess of fees. The student repays unearned loan funds in excess of applicable fees on the normal repayment schedule. However, the student is responsible for repaying 50% of the calculated unearned grant funds not attributable to the returned applicable fees. Unearned funds are attributed to Title IV programs in the following order: 1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans; 2. Subsidized Federal Stafford loans; 3. Perkins loans; 4. Federal PLUS loans; 5. Federal Pell Grant; 6. Federal Supplemental Grants (FSEOG); and, 7. Other applicable Title IV Aid. Withdrawal date is the day the student begins the official Termination of Enrollment process or otherwise officially notifies their school's Student Affairs Office of their intent to withdraw. For unofficial withdrawals, the latter of the50% point in the enrollment period or the last documented date of a student's educational activity (such as an exam, lab assignment, or academic advisement appointment) is used. The first day of a leave of absence is considered the withdrawal date for financial aid purposes, unless the student is granted a special exemption based on the nature and length of the leave and their ability to return during the same academic period and resume studies without incurring any additional financial liability. Return of Title IV FundsExample Jane receives a $500 subsidized Federal Stafford disbursement and a $1000 Federal Pell grant for her 113 day long Spring semester. Her applicable fees are $1000. She signs her Termination of Enrollment form on the 33rd day of the semester and is considered in attendance for 33 days. Therefore, 29.2 percent of her Title IV aid, $438, is considered earned, while 70.8%, $1,062, is considered unearned. The school must return 70.8% of Jane's applicable fees, $708, to her Title IV aid. The school first attributes the return to Jane's Stafford disbursement, fully repaying the $500 to the lender, thus reducing Jane's student loan debt. The school then returns $208 to the Federal Pell Grant program. Jane is not off the hook yet; she still has $354 in unearned Title IV funds attributable to her Federal Pell Grant. However, federal regulations give Jane a break. She is responsible to return only half of this amount, $177, to the Federal Pell Grant program; she must return this amount or make satisfactory repayment arrangements with the U.S. Department of Education before she can receive any further Title IV student aid from any institution.
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