Financial Aid
Financial Aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships may be used to offset educational expenses. If your charges exceed your financial aid, you must pay the balance by the due date to avoid forfeiture of your schedule.
Applying for Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for need-based Federal and State financial aid programs. The FAFSA can be filed electronically at https://studentaid.gov, and it must be filed each school year for which assistance is needed. For more information, call 1-800-4FEDAID.
The earlier you file your application, the sooner you will receive notice of your eligibility for financial aid. List Kean University on the FAFSA [the Federal ID number is 002622] in order for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services to receive the information. Kean University’s priority filing deadline is published each year.
Federal Programs
Federal Direct Loans
This program provides loans up to $20,500 for graduate and professional students. Interest rates are set by the Federal Government on July 1 of each year. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program to receive a Direct Stafford Loan. Funds come directly from the Federal Government and are unsubsidized, i.e., accrued interest is the responsibility of the student, even while enrolled in school.
Repayment of the Direct Loan(s) begins six months after the date the borrower graduates, withdraws from school or ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The program offers various repayment plans to assist the borrower in repaying the loan.
PLUS Loans for Graduate Students
Students matriculated in a program leading to a masters or doctoral degree are eligible to borrow under the PLUS Loan Program up to their cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance. The terms and conditions applicable to Parent PLUS Loans also apply to Graduate/Professional PLUS Loans.
Applicants for Graduate PLUS loans must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have applied for their maximum eligibility under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program.
For more information about the Graduate PLUS, visit https://studentaid.gov.
TEACH Grant
Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants to students who intend to teach in a high-need field at an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If the student does not teach in a high-need field upon graduation, the grant is changed to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, accruing interest from date of first payment of the Teach Grant. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional eligibility criteria.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program
The FWSP provides part-time and summer jobs both on campus and in off-campus agencies, for students who demonstrate financial need. Students must be matriculated and complete the FAFSA.
Within the limitations of individual financial need and employment funding, students may work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session or up to 30 hours during school breaks and holidays. Anyone interested in acquiring a position should contact the Human Resources Office. Positions are limited.
Unemployment Tuition Waiver
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A: 64-13.1 et seq. or 18A: 64A-23.1, the State of New Jersey created a program to allow certain unemployed individuals to attend a public institution of higher education in this state tuition-free on a space-available basis. Additionally, individuals who qualify for this program may have certain fees waived or reduced. To apply for this benefit, individuals must obtain certification from the NJ Department of Labor, Division of Workforce that they qualify for this benefit. Additionally, individuals must verify their past presence in the labor market for at least two years and their unemployed status or receipt of a layoff notice as proof of eligibility or an employability development plan from the Division of Employment Services.
Students are only eligible to register for classes on the LAST day of add/drop on a space-available basis. (No overloads will be accepted).
Students who register for classes prior to that date will forfeit their right to participate in the NJ Tuition Benefit for Unemployed Individuals for that semester. Matriculated students are required to use Federal and State grant funds to cover program costs. Matriculated students are subject to Kean University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid and cannot be in default on a student loan to participate in the program.
Students who qualify for the NJ Tuition Benefit for Unemployed Program will receive a waiver administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services that will cover tuition and certain fees, minus any Federal or and State grants that the student may be eligible to receive. The maximum amount of tuition and fees that Kean University will waive is based on the flat rate charge for undergraduate students. The maximum number of credits enrolled for the semester is 19 for undergraduate students and 15 for graduate students. Students that are eligible for Federal and State grants that exceed their cost for tuition and applicable fees do not qualify for the NJ Tuition Benefit for Unemployed Program.
Individuals who gain employment during the semester the tuition waiver is in effect shall be eligible to continue for that semester as a participant of the program. This does not apply to students who become employed prior to the certification of a waiver.
PROGRAM EXEMPTIONS
- Customized courses that are underwritten by specific employers are exempt from eligibility under the tuition waiver program. Cougar Dollars and all other Kean University promotions are excluded from eligibility under the tuition waiver program.
- Students are only eligible to register for classes on the last day of Add/Drop on a space-available basis. Students cannot drop classes and re-register for the same course on the last day of Add/Drop.
- Matriculated students are required to use grant aid to cover program costs.
- Matriculating and non-matriculating students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to seeking participation in the program.
- The student must be making satisfactory academic progress towards a degree and cannot be in default on a student loan to participate in the program.
- Students must submit their tuition waiver within five (5) days of their registration.
- Additional information can be accessed at https://www.kean.edu/offices/financial-aid/unemployment-tuition-waiver
Related Financial Aid Policies - Verification
The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects applications for Verification, a process which involves “validating” certain FAFSA information by having a student and parent(s) supply an IRS tax return transcript and/or other documents. If you are a first-time student to the University and have been selected for verification, your award(s) will be estimated and will not be final or credited to your student account until the verification process is completed. In some cases, awards will be adjusted if differences are found between the FAFSA information and verification documents.
Continuing students will not receive a financial aid package until all requested documents are submitted and verification has been completed.
Reduction of Federal Financial Aid Due to Withdrawal from the University
Federal regulations require the University to adjust Federal Student Aid awards when a student withdraws from classes before 60 percent of the semester has been completed. When adjustment of funds is necessary, a student may be required to return some or all of the federal funds awarded. The calculation of reduction in Federal funds is done within 30 days of a student’s date of official withdrawal from the University.
The Federal funds applicable to graduate students under this procedure include: Direct Loan(s), TEACH Grant, and Graduate PLUS Loans.
Unofficial Withdrawal
Federal policy requires students who have been awarded any type of Federal Student Aid (FSA) to fulfill their academic requirements. If a student fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course he or she enrolled in for a semester, the Office of Financial Aid must assume for FSA purposes that the student has unofficially withdrawn, unless it can be documented that the student did complete the term. For example, a student receives all "F" and/or "U" and/or "W" grades for a term. The Office of Financial Aid is required to determine if the student "unofficially withdrew" from the University. An "unofficial withdrawal" occurs when a student stops attending all classes and stops participating in any academic activities beyond the date he/she last attended classes.
Depending on the date of the student's "unofficial withdrawal", it may be necessary for the University and/or the student to return some or all of the financial aid the student received during the term.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid
Academic Progress Policy
Academic progress toward a program of study is required for all graduate students receiving financial aid from federal and state sources. Students must meet both a qualitative and quantitative standard to maintain eligibility for financial aid. In general, graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average and complete credits requirements are evaluated at the end of spring semester. Additionally, students must not exceed the maximum time frame established by the specific graduate program. The entire Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is available on the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services website.
Students classified as not making satisfactory academic progress will be notified and be given the opportunity to appeal the decision with the SAP Committee, for consideration of any extenuating circumstances that affected their academic progress.
Please contact the office with any questions by calling, e-mailing finaid@kean.edu or visiting the website: http://www.kean.edu/offices/financial-aid.