Financial Aid and Assistance

Financial Aid Calculations

Federal and state aid is primarily based upon financial need. Students must apply through the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) to be considered. This requires disclosures of student and family income, assets, savings, family size and any unusual circumstances affecting family finances.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated, per federal regulations, by the U.S. Department of Education and returned to the student (and the University) in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR). The cost of attendance (i.e., tuition, room and board, books, supplies, personal items, travel expenses, etc.) minus the SAI, results in the Student’s UnmetNeed.

(Cost of Attendance) - (Student Aid Index) = Student’s Unmet Need

Students are encouraged to apply for aid as soon as possible. The FAFSA will open for limited users October 2024 and all students December 2024.

Financial Assistance Packages

Only students pursuing their first undergraduate degree are eligible for federal and state grants. Graduate-level students are not eligible for federal or state grants or scholarships, but they are eligible to benefit from additional resources available through the Federal Direct Loan program.

For federal financial aid eligibility, undergraduate students are considered full-time when enrolled in at least 12 credit hours during fall, spring or summer semesters. Professional students are considered fulltime when enrolled in at least ten credit hours during the fall and spring semesters, and when enrolled in at least six credit hours during the summer semester. These enrollment definitions are only used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid.

Federal Pell Grant

(funded by the federal government)

Eligibility is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) figure on the Student Aid Report (SAR) and the number of credit hours for which the student registers each semester. The student must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree to receive this grant.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

(federally funded)

Eligibility is determined based upon exceptional need criteria. Preference is given to Pell Grant recipients. The student must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree and registered as at least a half-time student to receive this grant.

Federal Direct Loan

(federally funded)

Subsidized Federal Direct Loan eligibility is determined on the basis of need. The government subsidizes these loans by paying the interest while the student is in school.

Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan eligibility is determined by the cost of education and available resources. Interest may be accrued or paid, but it is the student’s responsibility. The student must be registered at least half-time to be eligible.

Students are eligible to borrow under the Direct Loan Program as follows:

Undergraduate Levels

First-Year Student
Dependent Eligibility $3,500 Subsidized + $2,000 Unsubsidized
Independent Eligibility $3,500 Subsidized + $6,000 Unsubsidized

Sophomore
Dependent Eligibility $4,500 Subsidized + $2,000 Unsubsidized
Independent Eligibility $4,500 Subsidized + $6,000 Unsubsidized

Junior
Dependent Eligibility $5,500 Subsidized + $2,000 Unsubsidized
Independent Eligibility $5,500 Subsidized + $7,000 Unsubsidized

Senior
Dependent Eligibility $5,500 Subsidized + $2,000 Unsubsidized
Independent Eligibility $5,500 Subsidized + $7,000 Unsubsidized

Professional Levels

P1-P3 Graduate
Eligibility $20,500 Unsubsidized + $12,500*
*Additional Unsubsidized under HEAL limits

P4 Graduate
Eligibility $20,500 Unsubsidized + $16,667*
*Additional Unsubsidized under HEAL limits

Graduate Levels

G1 Graduate
Eligibility $20,500 Unsubsidized

G2 Graduate
Eligibility $20,500 Unsubsidized
 

*Additional unsubsidized Direct Loan eligibility of $12,500 is based on a 9-month enrollment period. Students enrolled in additional months will increase their additional unsubsidized eligibility by $1,389 per month.

Undergraduate dependent students can borrow a maximum of $31,000 while independent students can borrow a maximum of $57,500, of which up to $23,000 may be subsidized loans.

Graduate students who are pursuing a Pharm.D. can borrow a maximum of $224,000 and graduate students who are not pursuing a Pharm.D. can borrow a maximum of $138,500 (both totals include combined graduate and undergraduate Direct Loans of which a maximum of $65,500 can be subsidized).

A student is classified as dependent or independent by the Department of Education based on information provided on the FAFSA.

Students reaching graduate levels are not eligible for federal and state grant assistance.

Federal Direct Parent and Graduate PLUS Loan

(federally funded)

Parent PLUS loans are originated by parents or stepparents of eligible dependent undergraduate children. Graduate PLUS loans are originated by graduate level students. Eligibility is determined on the basis of the cost of education, available resources and borrower’s credit history. Students must be registered at least half-time. Only parents or stepparents of dependent, undergraduate-level students may apply for parent PLUS Loans.

Federal Work-Study

(federally funded)

Eligibility is based on need. Students awarded under this program earn the funds as they work part time. The funds earned, minus taxes, are paid directly to the student.

Access Missouri Grant

(funded by the state of Missouri)

The student must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree, registered as a full-time student, demonstrate need (as determined by the state of Missouri) and reside permanently in Missouri. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required to renew this award. Students at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis are eligible to receive this grant while enrolled as undergraduate students.

Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship (Bright Flight)

(funded by the state of Missouri)

This financial aid is awarded to students with the highest SAT or ACT scores as determined by the state of Missouri. The student must be a resident of Missouri. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required to renew this award. The student must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Students at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis are eligible to receive this grant while enrolled as undergraduate students.

Professional Pharmacy Scholarships

(funded by University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis)

Full-time P1-P4 students who meet professional eligibility requirements may receive scholarships. Professional pharmacy students should complete the institutional application for endowed scholarships annually.

Health Professions Loan

(federally funded)

Eligibility is determined based on exceptional need criteria utilizing the parent and student information. The student must be registered full time in a degree program leading to a Pharm.D. Preference will be given to undergraduate students who have an EFC of less than $ 12,500. Federal guidelines require recipients to provide copies of student and parent tax transcripts - regardless of age and dependency status. A signed promissory note, self-certification form and acknowledgement of truth in lending statements must be on file before funds will be disbursed. Students are also required to complete an online entrance interview each year they borrow.

Private Loan

(funded by private lenders)

Eligibility criteria and interest rates vary from lender to lender. Private loans must be preapproved by the lender before the University certifies the loan.

University Scholarships

(funded by University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis)

New students may be awarded scholarships based on evaluation of students’ academic achievement and financial need. Full-time enrollment as defined by UHSP is required to receive institutional scholarships. University scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semesters only.

Athletic Scholarships

(funded by University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis)

Student athletes may be eligible to receive institutional scholarships for participating in University athletics. Scholarship recipients and amounts will be determined by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Students will complete a Student Athlete Financial Aid Agreement before receiving funds. Athletic scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semester only.

Institutional Aid

(funded by University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis)

Eligibility requirements vary among awards but are generally based on need or academic standing and enrollment at a full-time status as defined by UHSP.

Annual and Endowed Scholarships

(funded by various sources)

Through the generosity of alumni, corporations and friends of the University, annual and endowed scholarships are awarded each year. These scholarships are separate from the University-funded, merit-based institutional scholarships given. To be considered for the annual and endowed scholarships, students must complete an online application in the fall. Students are notified at the start of the application process.

Each year, the University hosts a Scholarship Awards event at which annual and endowed scholarships are celebrated. For the 2022-23 academic year, roughly 190 awards totaling more than $476,500 in scholarship assistance were presented to approximately 160 students. Selection criteria for these largely need-based scholarships may also be based on academic achievement and other qualities such as leadership, professional attitude, community service or employment. In each case, the donor of the scholarship helps set the criteria for the scholarship.

For more information about scholarships and awards, please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement2@uhsp.edu.

External Aid

(funding by external sources - i.e., employers, scholarship foundations, local businesses, etc.)

Eligibility requirements will vary and are established by the entity making the award. Students are required to report all sources of aid to the Office of Financial Aid regardless of aid type (grant or loan). Aid must be reported even if the benefits are paid directly to the student.

Financial Scholarships

Each year, deserving students are selected for annual scholarships by University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. To be eligible for these scholarships, the student must meet specific criteria established for individual awards. Students must complete an online application prior to the conclusion of the fall semester in order to be eligible. Awardees are expected to attend the scholarship awards event to receive their award. The following will disqualify a student from consideration: a severe violation of academic dishonesty or nonacademic probation.

Disbursement of Aid

Pell, FSEOG, Health Profession Loans, Federal Direct Loans, PLUS Loans and institutional aid will automatically be credited to the student’s account.

The following is a list of awards that are not automatically credited to the student’s account: Federal Work-Study, private loans, Missouri state grants and external aid where funds must be disbursed to University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. These awards are applied to students’ accounts upon receipt of funding. Disbursements requiring student or parent signatures will be applied upon receipt of signatures. Federal Work-Study is paid directly to the student, minus taxes, as they earn the wages.

Financial aid is first applied to tuition and fee charges, then to on-campus room and board expenses. If a student receives additional external aid (scholarships or loans) that exceeds these charges, the student should complete and submit a refund request directly to the Business Office. Refunds will be issued to the student based upon the policy of the Business Office. Financial aid cannot exceed cost of attendance as defined earlier in this catalog.

Awards will only be disbursed to students after acceptance through the online financial aid portal: uhsp.edu/netpartner.

Special Circumstances

If a student has special circumstances or the financial situation has changed since completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Professional judgement can also be defined in specific circumstances. The student should contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional information and instruction.

Award Conditions

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis may adjust financial aid to reflect changes to the student’s personal or financial circumstances, registration changes or new resources available. If a change in the aid package is required, the Office of Financial Aid will send a revised financial aid notice to the student.

The student’s financial aid notice is based upon the number of credit hours indicated on the student’s registration report recorded by the Office of the Registrar. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid immediately of any changes in registration, marital status, housing arrangements or any external awards.

Federal tax transcripts must be submitted upon request in order to comply with federal regulations. If the actual IRS data is different from that reported on the aid application, the Office of Financial Aid will revise the award offer accordingly.

Awards from government and private sources are dependent upon receipt of funds from the appropriate agencies. The student is responsible for any reapplication process needed to continue receipt of these funds. The University will not replace funds lost due to nonrenewal of applications. Awards in the financial aid package may vary from year to year depending on financial circumstances and availability of funds.

Eligibility for all federal aid requires students to meet the following criteria:

• The student is a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• The student does not owe a refund on any federal grant or loan.
• The student is not in default on any federal loan or has made satisfactory arrangements to repay any defaulted student loan.
• The student has not borrowed in excess of the federal loan limits, under Title IV programs, at any institution.
• Must have resolved any drug conviction issues.
• Does not have a property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the United States.
• Is not incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution.
• Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as outlined in the satisfactory academic progress for financial aid section of this catalog.
• Must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
• Cannot also be enrolled in elementary or secondary school.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass an approved ability-to-benefit test or have been home-schooled.
• Must meet enrollment status requirements.

Renewing Awards

Undergraduate students are eligible to renew institutional awards through their four undergraduate years. Renewal criteria are:

• First year (renewing awards for sophomore year): Students must achieve a GPA of 2.0 or higher in their initial fall semester and remain in good academic standing (as defined by the Office of the Registrar) for their initial spring semester. Full-time enrollment status must be maintained.
• Sophomore year (renewing awards for junior year): Students who renewed their awards for their sophomore year and achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of their sophomore fall semester receive first priority. Full-time enrollment status must be maintained.
• Junior year (renewing awards for senior year): Students who renewed their awards for their junior year and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of their junior fall semester receive first priority. Full-time enrollment status must be maintained.

Students who do not meet the GPA renewal requirement through the fall semester may appeal the loss of their scholarship to the Office of Financial Aid if their cumulative GPA is at least 2.0 following the subsequent spring semester.

Should a student be found in severe violation of the Academic Honor Code or severe instances of nonacademic misconduct such as suspensions or dismissal, they may be eligible for forfeiture of institutional scholarship or institutional grants awarded by the Office of Financial Aid. Scholarship forfeiture will occur when the Office of Financial Aid receives notification of such a violation from any Dean’s Office.

Financial Aid and Eligibility

Students’ undergraduate and graduate/professional financial aid eligibility is determined by examining enrollment classifications assigned by the Office of the Registrar and the number of credit hours students have completed.

Students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid awards and amounts when they have completed fewer than 72 credit hours of college-level and college-equivalent courses.

Students are eligible for graduate/professional financial aid awards and amounts when they have completed at least 72 credit hours of college-level and college-equivalent courses and are defined as Professional Year (P1-P4) students by the Office of the Registrar.

Financial aid uses the following credit status to determine enrollment status for loan eligibility:

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

In accordance with Federal regulations (34CFR 668.32(f)), the Office of Financial Aid conducts evaluations of satisfactory academic progress to determine students’ eligibility for continued receipt of Title IV financial aid (Pell grants, FSEOG, Direct Loans). The financial aid evaluation of satisfactory academic progression is based on the University’s academic probation and dismissal policies. The academic probation and dismissal policies are applicable to all students pursuing degrees at the University, regardless of their eligibility for Title IV financial aid. Academic performance is monitored by a team of members from the Office of the Deans, the Office of the Registrar and the Academic Status Committee. Students are required to maintain good academic standing while meeting appropriate academic benchmarks designated for their specific levels of study.

Students will be making satisfactory academic progress as long as they are permitted to continue pursuit of their declared degree program without being placed on academic probation or becoming eligible for dismissal from the University. Satisfactory progress is measured following each period of enrollment, including summer terms.

Financial Aid Warning

When a student fails to meet the academic good standing requirements, the appropriate Office of the Dean places the student on academic probation and recommends specific terms and timeframes for improvement. A student placed on their first academic probation is also be placed on financial aid warning.

Students on financial aid warning are eligible to receive Title IV funds for the period of enrollment to which their academic probation applies. Failure to satisfy the terms to return to good academic standing as stated by the appropriate Office of the Dean results in students being placed on financial aid suspension until they return to good academic standing.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students eligible for academic dismissal from the University as determined by the academic probation and dismissal policies and the appropriate Office of the Dean are placed on financial aid suspension. The Offices of the Deans and Financial Aid notify the student of a suspension in writing.

Suspension results when a student fails to correct deficiencies during a probationary period. Students placed on financial aid suspension are not eligible to receive Title IV funds. Financial aid suspension will be lifted for students allowed to continue in their declared degree program once they resume standards of good academic standing according to the academic probation and dismissal policies.

Notification of Financial Aid Status

Students placed on financial aid warning or suspension receive a letter from the appropriate Office of the Dean and Financial Aid detailing the reasons for and consequences of the financial aid status. The letter also cites the stipulations listed in their Academic Probation letter as conditions for resuming satisfactory progress.

Financial Aid Appeals

Any student who can demonstrate that failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress is due to extenuating circumstances may file an appeal in writing to the office of the appropriate dean or the office of financial aid. Appropriate documentation must be submitted to support the appeal. Extenuating circumstances generally involve personal matters that significantly impact the student’s academic performance.

The office of financial aid will consult with the appropriate Office of the Dean, the and the Office of the Registrar before deciding if the appeal will be approved. Failure to provide supporting documentation may result in a delay or denial of an appeal. All financial aid will be placed on hold while appeals are pending. Inquiries into the reinstatement of aid may be directed to the office of financial aid.

Financial aid suspensions will be considered separately from academic decisions.

Financial Aid Probation

Students removed from suspension by appeal agree will be placed on financial aid probation for the semesters specified. The student is notified in writing. Students on probation may receive Title IV financial aid during the probationary period of enrollment but may be placed on suspension during subsequent periods if satisfactory academic progress is not resumed.

Students Repeating an Academic Year

If students are required to repeat an academic year, they continue to be eligible to receive federal student aid for the repeat period as long as they are not on financial aid suspension and remain within the maximum timeframe allowed for their level of student (undergraduate or graduate). The student will meet with a financial aid officer to discuss their enrollment status and federal aid eligibility.

Maximum Time Frame

Students must complete their degree programs in 150% of the scheduled program length of time. Students pursuing professional pharmacy degree program must complete their degree program within six years to remain eligible for Title IV financial aid.

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete their degree program in six years to remain eligible for Title IV funds.

Students pursuing a graduate degree must complete their degree program in three years to remain eligible for Title IV funds.

Quantitative Evaluation, Incomplete Grades, Course Withdrawals and Course Repetitions

Students may continue receiving federal student aid in semesters immediately following those in which an incomplete grade or course withdrawal (W) is received, as long as the student is not otherwise eligible for financial aid suspension and is still on pace to graduate within the maximum time frame.

Students must have successfully completed (passed) at least 67% of the total credit hours that they have attempted at the time of evaluation. Courses from which students withdraw earning a W on their transcript are counted as hours attempted, though they are not used in grade point average calculations.

Credit hours transferred from another institution that are accepted toward a student’s degree program count toward a student’s attempted and completed credit hours in the quantitative evaluation. Students failing to achieve these benchmarks may be permitted to continue pursuit of their declared degree program, but eligibility to receive Title IV aid is affected. Students attempting more than 1.5 times the total credit hours required to complete their degree program will be subject to financial aid suspension. For example, students must complete the 120 credit hours required to earn a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences in no more than 180 attempted credit hours.

Students may receive federal student aid for a passed course taken a second time (first repeat of passed course). After enrolling in a passed course twice, students will no longer have the course’s credit hours calculated for student enrollment status for federal financial aid eligibility. Students may receive federal student aid for repeated failed courses until a passing grade is earned.

All incomplete grades must be resolved in accordance with academic policies listed in the Academic Records portion of this Academic Catalog. Unresolved incomplete grades converted to failing grades result in a new review of students’ satisfactory academic progress from the previous enrollment period.

Financial Aid Verification Policy

Verification is the process of checking the accuracy of the information supplied by financial aid applicants on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The verification requirements delineated in this policy statement apply to all applicants for federal student aid under the following programs:

• The Federal Pell Grant Program
• The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program
• The Federal Work-Study Program
• The Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan Program

For verification purposes, the University defines a financial aid applicant as an enrolled student who is eligible to receive a federal financial aid award. Aid is not to be disbursed from any of the federal programs until verification processing is complete.

Verification Selection

It is University policy to verify all applicants selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS) and all Health Professions Loan recipients not selected by the CPS. The University also reserves the right to select additional applications for verification. UHSP follows U.S. Department of Education guidelines on verification selection and completion.

Notification of Selection

The student’s federal Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates whether the student’s file has been selected for verification. The SAR is typically accessed via a link sent to the student by the Department of Education after the student files their FAFSA. If the student is selected for verification, there will be an asterisk* next to their Student Aid Index (SAI) figure on their SAR.

The student receives notification via email from the Office of Financial Aid alerting them of their selection and detailing the additional documentation they are required to submit before their financial aid awards are considered official and disbursable. This statement is sent when the Office of Financial Aid sends notification of the student’s award package which typically occurs within weeks of their FAFSA submission.

Verification Documentation

The University encourages all eligible FAFSA filers to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import financial information from the IRS into the FAFSA to ensure accuracy and reduce documents that must be submitted to satisfy verification selection.

Dependent students selected for verification must submit a Federal Dependent Verification Worksheet signed by the student and a parent. Parent and student tax return transcripts may be obtained from irs.gov for selected students who do not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Signed copies of tax returns may be submitted in place of tax return transcripts. Individuals reporting income, but not required to file a federal tax return must submit copies of all federal W-2s received the reported tax year.

Independent students selected for verification must submit a Federal Independent Verification Worksheet signed by the student and their spouse (when applicable). Student and spouse (when applicable) tax return transcripts must be obtained from irs.gov for selected students who do not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Signed copies of tax returns may be submitted in place of tax return transcripts. Individuals reporting income, but not required to file a federal tax return must submit copies of all federal W-2s received the reported tax year.

Verification Submission Deadlines

The University strongly recommends all verification documents be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid within three weeks of the University’s notification of selection. The official submission deadline for Pell grants, regulated by the U.S. Department of Education, will be followed at the University and can be located in the Federal Register. No federal, state and institutional aid will be disbursed until all required verification submissions are received by the Office of Financial Aid.

Applicant Correction and Notification Procedures

The Office of Financial Aid will electronically submit to the Central Processor System corrections to the FAFSA data resulting from verification. The Central Processor System will then send an SAR Information Acknowledgment to the applicant as notification of these corrections. Applicants will also be notified of award changes resulting from verification by the receipt of an updated award notification from the Office of Financial Aid.

Verification Items

Students are classified by the U.S. Department of Education into three verification groups. Items verified are directed by this classification. All Health Professions Loan recipients not selected for verification will be subject to the V1 Standard Verification Group classification.

Financial Aid Standard Verification Group

*Parents in college are not included.

V1 - Standard Verification Group
V5 - Aggregate Verification Group

High school completion status
Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose
All items listed in the V1 group

Individuals reporting income, but not required to file a federal tax return must submit copies of all federal W-2s received the reported tax year.