Award Letters
Enrollment Status
Application Deadline
Eligible Programs of Study
Determining Eligibility
Cost of Education
Expected Family Contribution
Reporting Other Financial Aid
Right to Refuse a Loan
Grant Disbursement
Loan Disbursements
Alternative Loan Checks
Paying the Balance Due on your Student Account
Refunds
What if there is not enough financial aid?

Award Letters

When the Financial Aid Office receives your qualified FAFSA application, they create an official notification of aid eligibility called an award letter. When you receive your award letter via e-mail, review the information carefully. You do not need to take any action unless:

• your eligibility assumptions are incorrect,
• your address is incorrect,
• you do not want all the aid offered, or
• you have been awarded aid by someone other than John Tyler and that information is not listed on the award letter.

Report updates or changes, except address changes, to the Financial Aid Office using your award letter. When making changes in Federal Stafford Loan amounts, remember that the amount reflected on the award letter will be disbursed less any applicable fees which your lender and/or guarantor may charge.

If you enroll for fewer than 12 credit hours, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate your eligibility after each semester's add/drop period, unless you request recalculation earlier. If you enroll for more than 12 credit hours, your eligibility will not change.

Enrollment Status

John Tyler calculates financial aid eligibility based on the number of credits in which you enroll.  Calculations are based on the following guidelines:

Application Deadlines

In order to be considered for most financial aid, you must follow a specific application procedure and adhere to the processing deadlines established by the Financial Aid Office. 

Eligible Programs of Study

To receive financial aid, you must be admitted to and enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program at John Tyler. Most need-based grant eligibility ceases when a student obtains a bachelor's degree. If you have already earned a bachelor's degree, a Federal Stafford Loan will be the only federal or state aid we can offer you.  The State and Federal Aid Programs Table also lists program-specific requirements as they relate to your eligibility.

Certificate programs containing less than 16 credits are not eligible for state or federal aid.

Determining Eligibility

All qualified students are eligible for some type of aid. A qualified student is one who meets all the academic and enrollment criteria. Aid amounts are determined by financial need, enrollment status and availability of aid.

Need-based eligibility is the cost of your education minus your expected family contribution.  Your need-based eligibility is based on your family’s financial resources.   

For information on aid programs for each type of eligibility, please see the State and Federal Aid Programs Table.

Cost of Education

When computing financial aid eligibility, the first figure used in the equation is the cost of education. The Financial Aid Office determines the estimated amount it will cost you to attend the College for a standard academic year. You should determine your own approximate cost of education based on your program of study. The tuition and fees page can be used a guide for this purpose.

The cost of education consists of 'direct' and 'indirect' expenses. Direct educational expenses are tuition, fees, books and supplies. Indirect educational expenses are projected living expenses (including transportation) and child care.

Tuition and fees are based upon the factors below.

• Domicile (in-state or out-of-state)
• Enrollment period (academic year or semester)
• Enrollment level (full-time, part-time)

The average book and supply allowance is based on an amount recommended by each academic department. Based on full-time enrollment, a minimum $400 per semester allowance is budgeted for books and supplies.

There are two living expense allowance categories:

• living with family or relatives or
• living off campus, not with relatives

These allowances include amounts for rent, meals, personal maintenance, health care, clothing, recreation, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.

The living expenses of your spouse and/or dependents (if applicable) are taken into account on the FAFSA when calculating your expected family contribution and therefore cannot be included in the determination of the cost of education. However, dependent child care expenses are permitted if documented, in writing, to the Financial Aid Office.  The same is true for the education-related expenses of students with disabilities. Reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs may also be included in the calculation.

When your personal cost of education exceeds your resources, you should review your estimated expenses to determine which expenses are critical. If you can find no way to reduce your expenses, consult with a counselor in the Financial Aid Office.

Expected Family Contribution

A federally mandated formula calculates the expected family contribution from information on your FAFSA, such as taxed and untaxed income, family size, number of dependents in college, savings and investments. The expected family contribution is always computed from a base-year income. For example, for 2009-10 the base year is 2008 calendar-year income. If there has been a significant change in your family's income or resources since the base calendar year, you can complete a financial aid appeal for a possible adjustment to your expected family contribution.

If you enroll for fewer credit hours than reported on your FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate eligibility after each semester's add/drop period, unless you request recalculation earlier. If you enroll for more credit hours than indicated on your FAFSA, you may request that your eligibility be recalculated after the add/drop period.

Reporting Other Financial Aid

You must report all scholarships and financial aid received from outside sources to the Financial Aid Office on the award letter or in writing.

Right to Refuse a Loan

You have the right to refuse Federal Stafford Loans offered to you by John Tyler even after you have signed the promissory note. We will notify you, in writing, of this entitlement close to the date of the loan disbursement. You must submit your refusal in writing to the Financial Aid Office.   If you have outstanding charges at the time of refusal, you must pay them in full at that time.

Grant Disbursements

The Financial Aid Office authorizes eligibility for financial aid to be directly credited (or disbursed) to your college account. The Business Office determines college charges and then coordinates disbursement with the Office of Treasury Services for State Aid Programs. Academic year disbursement usually begins after the first two weeks of classes. Any remaining amounts may be eligible for pickup approximately the sixth week of classes.  Notices will be posted around both campuses when grant refund checks are available at the Business Office.

Loan Disbursements

Most student and parent loans are disbursed as a direct credit to your college account approximately 30 days after the start of the semester.  Loan disbursements will have applicable guarantee and origination fees deducted from the approved loan amount.  First-time borrowers at John Tyler must fulfill their debt counseling obligation before any monies are disbursed.  Letters will be mailed to students when the loan refund checks are available at the Business Office.

Alternative Loan Checks

Alternative loan program disbursements are made by a check made co-payable to you and the College or by electronic fund transfer.  You must endorse the co-payable loan check(s) at the Financial Aid Office or the Business Office before the loan can be disbursed.

Paying the Balance Due on your Student Account

When financial aid awards are not enough to satisfy the balance due on your student account, you must pay the remaining amount with personal funds by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday of the week your register. Federal Work-Study amounts may not be deducted from the balance due since this money must be earned in a work-study job and will be disbursed in the form of a paycheck on a bi-weekly basis once the semester begins.

Refunds

When financial aid exceeds college charges for tuition and fees, a refund will be available from the Business Office. These refunds are usually available approximately the sixth week of classes. Students at the Midlothian Campus who want their refund checks sent to Midlothian, must fill out the proper form at the Midlothian Business Office.  Notices will be posted around both campuses when grant refund checks are available at the Business Office.  Letters will be mailed to students when loan refund checks are available at the Business Office.

What If There Is Not Enough Financial Aid?

First, make sure that all non-educational costs are necessary and reasonable. Re-evaluate your financial resources and be certain you consider all sources of money.

Parents of undergraduate dependent students may be eligible to borrow under the Federal PLUS Loan. If your parents decide to apply for a Federal PLUS Loan, they should obtain an application from a local bank, complete the borrower and student section, and submit the form to the Financial Aid Office. Parents may borrow the difference between the cost of education and other financial aid received. If your parent is denied the loan, you may borrow an additional $4,000 in Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan funds for that academic year.