Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Tuition, Fees, Room and Board

Student Expenses for 2023-2024

The following chart summarizes student expenses for the 2023-24 academic year, which officially begins with the Summer Session, 2023. Students are referred to the course descriptions in this bulletin for laboratory and other fees associated with specific courses. Inquiries about particular charges should be addressed to the Bursar’s Office.

Financial Aid

At Wilkes University, financial assistance is a vehicle to help all students achieve their educational goals. Although the student and family are primarily responsible for financing the educational process, we’re here to offer additional resources to make a Wilkes University education affordable. There are various scholarship and need-based University funds in addition to assistance from the Federal Department of Education and in some cases, the state of Pennsylvania. If it is your first time applying for financial aid or you’ve worked with us before, it is our pleasure to help you in any way we can. Please note the information included in this bulletin is just a basic guide and www.wilkes.edu includes more information regarding the Office of Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid Application Procedure

At Wilkes University, we ask students and families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they are interested in being considered for any of the following programs:

1. Wilkes University need- based grants
2. Federal grant programs
3. PA state grant programs
4. Federal work-study
5. Federal student loan programs

Completing the FAFSA
Typically, you must meet the following requirements before applying for financial aid through the Department of Education (studentaid.gov):

• Looking to enter or continue education in a degree-seeking program
• Be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Register with Selective Service, if a male at least 18 years of age
• Not be in default on a loan made under any Title IV, HEA loan program or owe a repayment on any Title IV funds
• Be registered for the appropriate number of credits for the semester in which you are applying for financial aid
• Have a valid social security number or alien registration card

Note: Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal or state financial assistance.

Students can begin to the file the FAFSA on or after October 1 proceeding the year they are seeking financial aid. For example, students looking to attend for the 2022-2023 academic year could file the FAFSA on or after October 1, 2021.

Financial Aid for Part-time Students

The federal Pell Grant, PA. State Grant, federal Direct Student Loan, and the federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Direct PLUS Loan) are available to part-time students. Interested students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the appropriate loan applications in order to apply for these programs. In addition to financial need, eligibility is based on enrollment status. Except for the federal Pell Grant program, students must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for financial aid. In addition, there are various private educational loans available to part-time students. Contact the Student Financial Services Office for more information.

Financial Aid for Pharmacy Students in Years Five and Six

Years five and six of the Pharmacy program entail coursework that is considered to be at the post-baccalaureate level. For financial aid purposes, this means that in years five and six of the program, you are identified as a “professional or graduate level student”. Students enrolled at this level of study in the Pharmacy program are independent for financial aid purposes and only qualify for financial aid available to graduate and professional students. Typically, this financial aid includes the federal unsubsidized Direct Loan (with an annual loan maximum of $33,000), Graduate Direct PLUS Loan (after the student has used his/her unsubsidized loan eligibility for the year), and private loans. Currently enrolled fifth and sixth year Pharmacy students do not qualify for any federal, state, or institutional grants or scholarships. However, effective with the class entering their freshman year at the University in the fall of 2022, academically successful Pharmacy students will retain 30% of their merit-based scholarship, per year, in the final two years of the professional program.

Financial Aid for Students Seeking a Second Degree

Students seeking a second degree may be eligible for the federal Direct Loan program. In addition, if enrolled on a full time basis, students seeking a second degree may qualify for Wilkes University need-based grants.

In many cases, seeking a second degree does not mean a student is now independent for financial aid purposes. A particular section of the FAFSA determines dependency status for aid purposes. Additional information is available from the Office of Student Financial Services.

Scholarships

Students who are offered Wilkes University scholarships will be eligible to receive them each academic year provided the student is making satisfactory academic progress. They are divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters (unless otherwise stated) and are not available at the graduate level for non-Pharmacy students. Students who will complete their undergraduate degree in less than 4 years (or 8 academic semesters which are comprised of fall and spring) will then forfeit the remainder of any scholarships funds offered during the admission and/or financial aid process. Scholarships will not exceed ½ of the annual amount offered when it is allocated in one semester.

Grants

• All students applying for federal, state, and Wilkes grants must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• The FAFSA must be submitted for each academic year that the student would like to be considered for grants.
• For a complete listing of grants offered through the federal and state governments and by Wilkes University, please visit www.wilkes.edu.

Private/Outside Scholarships

If the student anticipates receipt of a private/outside scholarship that is not already listed on the invoice and/or the financial aid information on the student portal, the student should provide the information to the Bursar’s Office immediately. Please note that Wilkes University reserves the right to adjust Wilkes University funds based upon the amount of the scholarship regardless of the timing of the notification.

Loans

• All students applying for federal loans must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• For a complete listing of all the federal loan programs, please visit www.wilkes.edu or studentaid.gov for more information.

Private Educational Loans

If you already have a relationship with a bank or lending agency, please feel free to explore that option. Students and families who wish to explore alternative loan options can do so at www.elmselect.com. Wilkes University does not endorse any particular outside lender but does provide information through Elm Select of lenders that families have used in the past plus other companies that can offer financial assistance.

Student Employment

• All students applying for federal and state work-study programs must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA).
• When a student participates in the federal or state work-study program, he/she will receive a paycheck for hours work. These funds are not deducted from the student’s balance due to the University.
• For all student employment opportunities available, please visit www.wilkes.edu.

Veterans’ Assistance (VA) Programs

Interested persons should contact the Student Financial Services Office and/or their local VA Office to obtain information concerning GI Education Assistance, Veterans Education Programs, Veterans Rehabilitation, Veteran Educational Loans, the Veteran Work-Study Program, and other sources of veterans’ assistance. Wilkes University is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For details about this special program, go to: https://wilkes.edu/admissions/financial-aid/yellow-ribbon-program-for-veterans

Withdrawal – Return of Financial Aid Funds

The Return to Title IV Funds (R2T4) policy applies to any student who receives federal financial aid, begins classes, and subsequently either withdraws from the courses the student was scheduled to complete or receives all failing grades because the student ceases enrollment at some point during the semester but neglects to complete the formal withdrawal process (known as an unearned “F”) during a semester or payment period. When a student withdraws from his/her courses for any reason including medical withdrawals, he/she may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds the student was originally scheduled to receive. Wilkes University follows the federally prescribed policies and procedures for calculating whether the student has earned all or a portion of their federal financial aid.

Once the amount of the federal funds to be returned to the Department of Education has been calculated, the funds will be returned in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Direct Loans
• Subsidized Direct Loans
• Nursing Loans
• PLUS Loans (Parent)
• Pell Grant
• Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Pennsylvania and other state grants will be adjusted in accordance with the agency’s stated guidelines.

Wilkes University grant and scholarship funds will be adjusted based on the percentage of reduction of tuition received by a student when withdrawing from the University.

Please note that students who receive a refund of financial aid prior to withdrawing from the University may owe a repayment of federal financial aid funds received. Students will be contacted by the Office of Student Accounts in such situations and will be given30 days to repay the funds to the University. Students who fail to return the unearned portion of federal financial aid funds given to them will become ineligible for continued receipt of financial aid until such time as there payment is made.

Payment Options

Payment Options

Wilkes requires that all students obtain financial clearance no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester by doing one of the following:

1. Pay your bill in full
2. Have a financial aid award that covers your balance
3. Enroll in the online payment plan
4. Have a third-party payor or an employer tuition deferment form submitted.

Payments can be made in the following manners:

1. Cash, Credit Card or Check Payment can be made at the Bursar’s Office located in Miller Hall during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm) or payments may be mailed to:
   Wilkes University - Student Lockbox
   P.O. Box 824696
   Philadelphia, PA 19182-4696
2. Electronic Check and Credit Card Payments can also be made on the student portal at portal.wilkes.edu. Enter your user name and password. Select “Student Services” and follow the remaining prompts. A password should be assigned by the time the bill is due; if, however, a password has not been issued, please call the Help Desk at 1-800-WILKES-U ext 4357.

Wilkes University accepts credit or debit cards with MasterCard, Discover, Visa, American Express.

Financial aid shown on the tuition bill will be applied to the account balance.

Promissory Notes for Federal-, Perkins loan, Wilkes Nursing Loan, Rulison Evans Loan , and Blue and Gold Loan are signed electronically at www.signmyloan.com. You will be notified by e-mail when the Promissory Notes are available for signature.

Please Note: Students who fail to pay all indebtedness to the University shall not be permitted to receive any degree, certificate, transcript or grades.

Pricing Schedule

Tuition & Fees

Refund Schedule

Circumstances

Cancellation of Enrollment

Time of Withdrawal

On or before the first day of classes

Tuition and Fees

The University will cancel 100% of the tuition charges and fees, less a deposit of $300, if written notice of cancellation is received by Student Services and the Office of the Registrar on or before the first day of classes. Failure to submit proper written notification will result in the assessment of full charges.

Time of Withdrawal

Policy guidelines for refunds processed after the first day of classes are as follows.

Tuition and Fees

Students who withdraw from Wilkes University will be entitled to an adjustment of tuition according to the following schedule:

Refund Schedule*(for concensed terms)

*All fees charged by the university are non-refundable

Room and Board

Room

Fees and Deposits The student shall pay the full cost of housing, dining, and deposits upon the receipt of an invoice from the University. For current and resuming students, we are not currently charging a housing deposit. For entering first year and transfer students, your housing deposit is included in your overall admissions deposit; no additional deposit is required with this agreement.

Refund Policy Cancellations are governed by the terms as outlined in the Student Handbook. Failure of the student to occupy the reserved residence hall by the first day of classes of either semester without prior written notification to the University will result in forfeiture of the room without refund of the housing deposit. All refunds of housing and dining charges are governed by the Refund Policy as defined in the current Student Handbook.

Reflecting the Wilkes University Refund policy, students will be entitled to a full refund if they withdraw or are approved to cancel their housing contracts before or during the first week of classes. Students will receive a 75% refund in their second week of classes,50% in their third week, and 25% refund of room and board charges at their fourth week. Students are responsible for the full room and board charges at the fifth week of classes and beyond. The Director of Residence Life or her designee can make exceptions refunding any unused portion of paid rental fees for students called into active military service or who withdrawal for reasons beyond their control.

Board

All resident students are required to participate in one of the Colonel Dining Plans below. The dining plan is for the sole and exclusive use of the student who contracts for the service. The student’s official photo identification card is the only acceptable method used to gain access to the dining facilities. Meal Plan options are based on the food service provider. Please refer to Dining Services for additional information.

• First year resident students (students who have not previously been enrolled full-time in college or have earned fewer than 24 credits) must choose the Colonel Gold, Colonel Gold Plus, or Colonel Gold Premier plans only.
• Sophomore & Junior resident students may choose between Colonel Gold, Gold Plus, Gold Premier, Blue, Blue Plus, or Blue Premier plans.
• Senior resident students (90+ credits) may choose among any Colonel plan or the Senior Value Plan.

Dining plan changes to Fall semester contracts are not permitted after August 1. Dining plan changes for Spring semester are permitted only during the official dining plan change period of October 1 through November 15.

Dining plan selections are contracted for the full academic year, with the exceptions for change requests noted above. Unused Dining/Flex Dollars will be carried over from the Fall semester to the Spring semester, but will not be carried over to the next academic year. At the end of the Spring Semester all unused swipes/Dining/Flex dollars will be eliminated and are not refunded. Dining plan cancellations will follow the same refund schedule as housing assignments.

Refunds

Military Leave Refund Policy

A student in the military reserves who is called into active status on an emergency basis and cannot complete course work for a given semester

1. will receive an automatic late withdrawal in each course with full tuition and fee refund if call-up is within the first 12 weeks of the semester; and
2. may elect to receive an incomplete in each course or receive a W in each course with a full tuition and fee refund, if call-up is during the thirteenth or fourteenth week of the semester. Ordinarily, the incompletes are to be finished during the semester the student returns to classes.

Room and board charges will be adjusted according to the refund schedule. The student should present his or her orders to the Office of Student Affairs. If the student does not yet have written orders, he or she will have 60 days in which to present the orders. A family member or friend may bring a copy of the orders in the student’s absence. If this deadline is not met, a grade of “0.000” will be recorded for each course in which the student remains enrolled, and he or she will not be eligible to receive a refund.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

The University complies with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (38 USC 3679(e)), and will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the VA under chapter 31 or 33 veteran educational assistance entitlement.

All Covered Individuals (anyone who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits) are requested to provide a written request of use of these entitlements and will be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website e-Benefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes). The Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits is required to be submitted no later than the first day of courses for which an individual wishes to use the individual’s entitlement to education assistance in order to provide proper and timely certification and disbursement of VA funding. Additionally, all covered individuals will be required to provide any and all additional information necessary to complete the proper certification of enrollment by the institution within 10 days of notice.

This policy does not prevent the University from requiring that the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement be satisfied.

‘GI Bill®’ is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.