Financial Aid

A period of time used to measure quantity of study. Utica College operates on a fall/spring semester system. Students can also accelerate study or take additional courses during Summer Session and Winter Session through the School of Graduate and Extended Studies.

Aid comes in two forms: gift aid and self-help aid. Gift aid includes grants and scholarships, which are direct awards, and repayment is not required. Self-help aid includes loan, work opportunities, internships and tuition waivers for service to the College. Loans are usually guaranteed and offered at low interest; repayment is usually due after the student leaves college. The College provides work opportunities under the Federal Work-Study Program and the Student Payroll Program. Internships are positions requiring near-professional level skills and require year-round commitment. Internships are generally available only to juniors and seniors. All forms of aid are awarded on an annual basis. Students are responsible for reapplying each year.

Many lenders offer alternative loans to help families pay for college. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Services for details.

You must be one of the following to receive federal student aid:

• U.S. Citizen
• U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island)
• U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

If you do not fall into one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from US Immigration and Naturalization Service showing one of the following designations in order to be eligible:

• Refugee
• Asylum Granted
• Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
• Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
• Conditional Entrant (only valid if issued before April 1, 1980)

If you are in the US on an F1 or F2 student visa only, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only, or G series visas (pertaining to international organizations), you can't get federal student aid.

College grants and scholarships are offered to full-time freshmen upon admission to the College. Grants/scholarships assist students and their families with educational costs. Students who wish to be considered for need-based scholarships must have completed all required financial aid forms.

Collegiate Science and Technology Program is one of the opportunity programs available at Utica College. CSTEP aims to increase the number of underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students enrolled in scientific, technological, health-related, and licensed professions. African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans qualify for the program, as do low-income Asian Americans and Caucasians as defined by the state's income guidelines.

The total amount it will cost a student to go to school (includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation costs, and personal expenses). This is usually expressed as a yearly figure. View our Tuition and Costs page for current information.

Failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed to when promissory note was signed. In some cases, a default can be avoided by submitting a request for deferment, forbearance, or cancellation with the appropriate documentation.

Relying on another for support or aid. If you are considered dependent on your parents, their income and assets as well as your own must be reported when applying for federal student aid. A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student. An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse. Not living with your parents does not automatically classify you as independent.

Course of study that leads to a degree or certificate that meets the US Department of Education's requirements for an eligible program. If you are enrolled at least half time in a program to obtain a professional credential or certification required by a state for employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher you might be eligible for aid.

Endowed scholarships have been established by alumni, friends of the College, and organizations for the purpose of providing support to deserving students. Criteria for receiving named scholarships vary but most require college coursework and an established UC cumulative grade point average and are awarded to returning students.

EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal aid. The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law, and can be found at collegeboard.com or finaid.org.

Programs include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal Work-Study Program. FAFSA is required and UC may have restrictions on certain aid programs based on funding.

Direct loans are available at certain colleges - Utica College is one of these colleges. Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct PLUS (for parents or graduate students) are available.

Federal Work Study program provides jobs for undergraduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.

The total amount of financial aid (federal and non-federal) a student receives.

Cost of attendance of an institution minus estimated family contribution equals financial need.

Form necessary to determine family contribution and offer a financial aid package. All students seeking aid must file this federal form. NOTE: Significant changes were made to the online FAFSA application in 2024. Learn more about the new FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov

At Utica College a full time undergraduate student is one who is registered for 12 or more credit hours per term (semester). A full time graduate student is one who is registered for 9 credit hours or more per term (semester). To be eligible for NYS TAP a graduate student is required to be registered 12 credit hours.

Students without high school diplomas who hold a GED may qualify for financial aid. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services to learn more.

Grants and scholarships.

Utica College holds the distinction of being one of the first colleges to offer HEOP. Established in 1967 by New York State, HEOP is open to state residents regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or physical challenge. To be eligible for HEOP, prospective students must be academically under-prepared, financially disadvantaged, and demonstrate potential for academic success.

Relying on yourself for support or aid. If you are independent, report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse if you are married). Not living with your parents does not automatically classify you as independent. An independent student is one of the following: at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse. (See also: Dependent)

A student who has been accepted and is pursuing a degree at Utica College.

Assistance for residents of New York State (for at least one year before applying for aid) include the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) to name a few. Students may also qualify for a monthly budget plan through the Academic Management Services. Learn more at: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/what-is-financial-aid.html.

An origination fee is a fee paid to government or lender to compensate for administering the loan. This fee is charged usually when the loan is disbursed – take this into consideration when applying for the amount for loan. Orgination fees can be up to 3% of the loan amount.

Since Utica College considers 12 credits full time for undergraduate students, part time students must be enrolled for 6 credits per term (semester). A graduate student is considered full time with 9 credit hours and part time with 5 credit hours per term (semester).

A legal document, the promissory note outlines the terms under which you're borrowing money and an agreement that details how you are going to pay back the loan. Promissory notes are commonly seen with federal direct loan and perkins loan programs, alternative loans, and other loan programs.

Satisfactory academic progress is making good enough grades and completing enough classes (credits, hours etc), to keep moving toward successfully completing a degree or certification in an acceptable time period. Details about how satisfactory academic progress is defined at Utica College is located in the Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog under "Academic Standards" .

Registrations is required by males born on or after January 1, 1960 who are at least 18-years-old, and not currently on active duty in the US Armed Forces. You must register with Selective Service to receive federal student aid. You may register online at www.sss.gov.

Job opportunities (federal work study and institutional employment opportunities for students) and loans.

The SAR report lists your EFC and assists schools in determining the aid you qualify for. Please review this report for accuracy to ensure that you are being considered for all the aid you are eligible for.

Tuition Assistance Program through the state of New York that's available to New York State residents attending a NYS college full-time. Awards range from $500 to $5,000 per year depending on NYS income and the tuition cost at the school of your choice in New York State. An express TAP application is generally sent to the students after the FAFSA has been filed. The award is renewable for up to eight semesters and there is no repayment.