Cost and Financial Aid -
Undergraduate, Direct Entry Professional and Transfer Students

 Funding Opportunities (pdf)

Merit awards are provided to first-time freshmen by the Admissions Office based on their academic achievement in high school and performance on standardized tests.  Scholarships are for undergraduate coursework only.

Notes:

• All students are automatically reviewed at the time of admission for merit awards and can qualify for one merit award.
• A student’s eligibility is calculated by a formula that weighs the SAT/ACT and the GPA equally at 50% each. Use the net price calculator to find out your merit award eligibility.
• Merit awards are renewable for the duration of your undergraduate coursework and are applicable to tuition.
• Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for these awards.

Scholarship for eligible Philadelphia high school students.  More information.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

This grant is awarded based on financial need to students who reside in on-campus housing. The amount of the grant may vary based on financial need.

Athletic grants are determined by the Athletic Department. Athletic awards are contingent upon the requirements and standards of that office. Please contact the Athletic Department with questions regarding this award. This is a non-need based program.

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grant amounts are determined by the Department of Education based on the Expected Family Contribution from your FAFSA and full or part-time enrollment at the University. Pell Grants may only be used towards the student’s first undergraduate degree. You can learn more by visiting studentaid.ed.gov.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Students must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant in order to be considered for the Federal SEOG. Federal SEOG awards are processed by the Financial Aid Office. Awards are determined for students through a combination of significant need as demonstrated on the FAFSA form and the availability of funds. These funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. See studentaid.ed.gov for more information.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA Grant)

PHEAA State Grants are awarded by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to eligible Pennsylvania residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Awards are based upon demonstrated financial need as determined by PHEAA from the information submitted on the FAFSA, and full or part-time enrollment. Deadline for consideration is May 1 annually. Visit pheaa.org to learn more about this grant.

If you are from a state other than Pennsylvania, please check with the Office of Higher Education in your state for information regarding out-of-state use of grants. The following states allow their grants to be used out-of-state:

• Delaware
• Maryland
• Ohio
• West Virginia
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• New Hampshire
• Vermont
• Maine
• Wisconsin
• Alaska

Check with your State's Office of Higher Education for more information and to apply.
**New Jersey and New York do NOT allow their grants to be used out of state.

The Federal Work-Study Program at University of the Sciences is designed to stimulate and promote the part-time employment of students who with demonstrated financial need, based on the FAFSA.

Students who are awarded FWS may work up to 20 hours per week for the University or approved off-campus employers. This award will not be deducted from a student's bill, as students receive this award in the form of an employee paycheck.

A Student Worker Authorization Form must be submitted each year, as of July 1st, prior to the student beginning to work. Students must complete and submit all regularly required payroll forms and documentation to the Payroll Office.

A list of currently available positions is available on the portal (quick-links) for current students.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

Federal subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans are loans in the student's name, and do not require a credit check or cosigner. You must have financial need to receive a subsidized Federal Direct Loan, and interest does not accrue on a subsidized loan while you are enrolled at least half-time. Financial need is not a requirement to obtain an unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, on which interest does accrue while the student is enrolled.

• The interest rate for 2019-20 is fixed 4.53%
• The FAFSA must be submitted each year to borrow Federal Direct Loans
• Origination fee for all Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans is 1.062%
• First time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) AND Loan Entrance Counseling at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
• Each year, the Department of Education will reset the fixed interest rate based on current market interest rates
• The standard repayment term is ten years, but many repayment options are offered by the Department of Education, including extended, graduated and income-based repayment. Learn more by visiting: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans.
• Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

Federal Direct Loan Annual Limits

The maximum amount a student may borrow annually is based on the student's dependency status and grade level.

Dependent Undergraduates

Independent Undergraduates
(and dependent undergraduates whose parents are unable to borrow through the Federal PLUS Program)

Please note: The Combined Total includes the subsidized eligibility portion; therefore, if an independent undergraduate second year student is eligible for $10,500 total, s/he would be eligible for $6,000 unsubsidized. If a dependent undergraduate second year student was eligible for $6,500 total, s/he would be eligible for $2,000 unsubsidized.

Students in direct-entry professional programs (combined bachelor's/doctorate programs) may borrow at the graduate level during their fifth and sixth years. Please see the graduate loan information for more details.

The PLUS Loan allows parents of dependent students to borrow funds to assist students in paying for their education. PLUS loan borrowers must pass a credit check, which is performed during the application process.. Parents can apply by logging in to studentloans.gov.

• The interest rate for 2019-20 is fixed 7.08%
• The maximum amount that a parent may borrow is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid (including loans) received. Students whose parents apply for a Parent PLUS Loan must complete a FAFSA.
• Origination fee for the Parent PLUS Loan is 4.276%
• First time PLUS Loan borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at The Department of Education’s website.
• PLUS Loan borrowers who borrow with an Endorser or based on a credit appeal must also complete PLUS Counseling at studentloans.gov
• Each year, the Department of Education will reset the fixed interest rate based on current market interest rates
• Repayment can be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time, but deferment must be requested by the borrower. Interest will accrue during deferment.
• Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

If parents are denied for the Federal PLUS Loan for credit reasons, the student may be eligible for additional funds under the unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan program.

The Federal Health Professions Loan is a low-interest (5% fixed rate) subsidized federal loan for dependent pharmacy students. No interest or principal payments are due until one year after a student graduates or drops below half-time status. A Promissory Note must be completed each year by the student. This loan is awarded by the Financial Aid Office and eligibility is determined based on a combination of significant need as demonstrated on the FAFSA and the availability of funds.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

The Federal Loan for Disadvantaged Students is a low-interest (5% fixed rate) subsidized federal loan for dependent pharmacy students. No interest or principal payments are due until one year after a student graduates or drops below half-time status. A Promissory Note must be completed each year by the student. This loan is awarded by the Financial Aid Office and eligibility is determined based on a combination of exceptional need as demonstrated on the FAFSA form, specific parameters determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, and the availability of funds.

Students must complete a FAFSA each year so eligibility can be determined. Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for this award.

Alternative Loans are designed to assist students and their families who need additional educational financing beyond awarded financial aid, or who are not eligible for federal grant and loan funding. Loan approval is generally based on creditworthiness and ability to repay. The primary borrower for alternative loans is normally the student; however, most dependent students will need a cosigner. Some alternative loans allow the parent or other interested borrower to borrow on behalf of the student.

The interest on most alternative loans accrues while the student is in school. However, it may be able to be deferred until after graduation or when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time. As with any loan, careful consideration should be made in determining amounts to be borrowed, as the loan must be repaid.

For information about other Alternative Loans, see our Private Educational Loan List, also found under Forms.