Academic Catalog

Aid Programs

Ithaca College Scholarships and Grants

Ithaca College need-based scholarships and grants are available only to graduate students in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Students must file a FAFSA annually by March 1st to be considered. Graduate students in the Entertainment M.B.A. program are automatically considered for any available Ithaca College M.B.A. scholarships and a FAFSA may be required.

Federal Programs

Detailed information on Federal Direct Loans may be found on the Federal Student Aid loans website.

FEDERAL DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOan

Application Procedures

When a Direct Unsubsidized loan is offered, students must accept the offer through Homer Connect in order for it to be applied to the student's account. New borrowers are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), which is valid for 10 years. Repeat borrowers who have used the Master Promissory Note do not need to complete another promissory note. New borrowers must also complete Entrance Counseling the first time they accept the loan. The MPN and Entrance Counseling are both required for first-time borrowers in order for the loan to disburse. 

Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards

Eligibility criteria, amount limits, and associated fees can be found on the FSA website.

At Ithaca College, funds may not be disbursed until after the drop/add period has passed for the given semester. Funds are posted to the student account and used to cover any balance on the account before any excess can be refunded to the student. 

Responsibilities of Borrowers

The student must continue to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and file a FAFSA for each academic year in order to maintain eligibility. Repayment begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. Deferment options may be available, and students should contact their loan servicer for more information. Additional details regarding the loan repayment process can be found on the FSA website. 

Federal Direct graduate PLUS Loan

Application Procedures

Borrowers must complete a Direct PLUS loan application for Graduate/Professional students on the Federal Student Aid website. Borrowers will receive an instant credit decision from the US Department of Education, and Ithaca College will be notified of the completed request within 72 hours. Approved PLUS loans will be certified and added to student’s financial aid as applicable. 

Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards

Borrowers must be graduate students and qualify for the limited exceptions as established in the OBBBA. Additional eligibility criteria, amount limits, and associated fees can be found on the FSA website. 

Responsibilities of Borrowers

The student must continue to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and file a FAFSA and new loan application for each academic year. Repayment for Graduate PLUS loans begins six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need. The program encourages community service work and work related to your field of study. To receive funds, you will need to be awarded work-study and secure a job. The funds you earn are not applied directly to your tuition.

Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards

The applicant must:

  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
  • be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or first-professional program as a matriculated student at an institution participating in the federal campus-based programs;
  • not be in default or refund status for any federal Title IV aid at any institution; and
  • demonstrate financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students are responsible for seeking out and applying for the job of their choosing. Available listings can be found on the Student Employment website. The level of salary for FWS positions must be at least the minimum wage. The maximum salary allowed depends on the nature of the job and the student's qualifications.

Veterans Administration Benefits

Many programs of educational assistance benefits are available to those who have served on active duty in the military and to their families. Complete information on veterans’ benefits may be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, or at a local veterans affairs office.

Education Programs

Forms, information, and assistance in applying for benefits are available at all VA offices. Applicants approved for benefits by the Veterans Administration must process papers through the Ithaca College Registrar's office.

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB)
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least 2 years on active duty, find out if you qualify for the MGIB-AD program. Review the categories on the VA website referenced above to see if you qualify.

Chapter 31: Vocational Readiness and Employment
You may receive Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) services to help with job training, education, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.

Chapter 32: Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Veterans eligible for assistance under Chapter 32 must have entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 (post-Vietnam) and enrolled and contributed to VEAP before April 1, 1987.

Chapter 33: The Post-9/11 GI Bill (GI Bill®)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Among other things, this bill provides funds to expand veterans’ education benefits for those who have at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001.

Ithaca College is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. If you qualify, your school will contribute a certain amount toward your extra tuition and fees through a grant, scholarship, or similar program. VA will match the contribution.

Fry Scholarship - If you’re the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces or the Selected Reserve who died on or after September 11, 2001, you may be eligible for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship)

Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve
The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit. Find out if you qualify.

More benefit information is available on the Office of the Registrar's website https://www.ithaca.edu/academics/registrar/veterans-services

Refund Procedure

Students attending Ithaca College who are receiving federal Title IV financial aid (e.g., Federal Direct loans) are required to return the portion of unearned aid if they withdraw, do not register, or otherwise fail to complete the period of enrollment for which the Title IV aid was provided. The return of funds does not apply to any student whose date of withdrawal is beyond the 60 percent enrollment period for which the student has been charged. The last date of attendance is determined by the date the student began the College's withdrawal process, the student's last date of recorded attendance, or the midpoint of the semester for a student who leaves without notifying the College.

To determine the percentage of aid earned, divide the number of calendar days completed by the total calendar days in the enrollment period (excluding scheduled breaks of five days or more AND days that the student is on an approved leave of absence).

Federal financial aid is returned to the program from which it was disbursed based on the percentage of unearned aid. To determine the percentage of unearned aid, subtract the percentage of aid earned from 100. The percentage of unearned aid is then multiplied by the amount of aid disbursed toward allowable institutional charges (e.g., tuition and room and dining if living on campus).

There may be certain college or program fees that are non-refundable.  In addition, special refund procedures may apply in graduate programs where a block system for coursework is used or during summer/ winter sessions. Please contact Student Financial Services for more information.

A refund schedule of tuition, room, and dining charges based on a 15-week semester is provided below.

1st week 100%
2nd week 85%
3rd week 70%
4th week 60%
5th week 50%
6th week 40%
7th week 30%
8th week 15%
9th week 0%

Please note that the above refund policy also applies to the return of institutional aid. In the case of any student for whom it is determined that a return must be made to programs based on prorated charges, those funds will be returned in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct PLUS, Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG funds, and other Title IV aid programs. Finally, if no institutional, state or private financial aid refund is required, a refund will be made to the student.

More detailed information, including examples of refund and repayment calculations, is available on the Student Financial Services website.

Special Considerations

Students who take a leave of absence, withdraw, or are on a continuation leave and are also Title IV aid recipients should be aware of the following:

  • The grace period for federal loans begins from the student's last date of attendance as determined by the College. A student who is on an approved leave of absence will be considered to be in school for purposes of repayment of federal loans. Should the student not return from an approved leave of absence, the last date of attendance will be considered the date the approved leave of absence began.
  • When a student withdraws from the College, the last date of attendance will be determined as outlined above.
  • A student who is provided a continuation leave will be reported as withdrawn, since federal regulations do not allow for the period of study to be interrupted for more than 180 days, excluding standard periods of non-enrollment.

Before being granted approval for withdrawal, leave of absence, or a continuation leave, all students who are federal loan recipients are advised to seek counsel from the Office of Student Financial Services to discuss the consequences of their changed status on loan programs.

Any federal aid recipient who is taking a leave of absence or withdrawing within the ninth week should be aware that a return of federal aid may be required even though full tuition and room and dining charges will be incurred.

Individuals who attend programs recognized by the College as affiliated study abroad programs are subject to the following refund policy:

  • A student who withdraws after the start of the program will be subject to the Ithaca College refund policies outlined above.
  • A student who withdraws from the program prior to the actual start date of the program will be refunded based on the policies assessed by the affiliate organization.
  • The student will be responsible for paying any remaining fees, charges, or withdrawal penalties assessed by the affiliate organization.
  • No financial aid is available to cover these charges.

Other Resources and Information

For more information about current resources, please review the Ithaca College Student Financial Services website. 

The following websites may also provide useful financial aid information: