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Financial Need/Costs

Students must demonstrate "financial need" to qualify for assistance from "need-based" programs.  They do not necessarily have to be from a low-income family.  "Need" is the difference between the cost of attending Bloomsburg University and what the student and/or family can contribute as calculated by a financial aid formula that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

When estimating how much students and their families may be able to contribute, a need analysis considers the student's and family's income and assets, including savings; the student's and family's ages and need for retirement income; the number of children or other dependents in the household; and the number of family members in college.  Students are expected to contribute something from their savings and earnings.

The student expense budget is the total cost of attending college.  This figure is used to determine each student's financial need.  The expense budget depends upon whether students live at home, in a campus residence hall, or off campus.  These estimated annual (fall/spring semesters) costs are subject to change without notice and are dependent upon the action of the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education and the Bloomsburg University Council of Trustees.

In addition to the costs for tuition, fees, room, and board, students will incur costs for books, supplies, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses.  Bloomsburg University expects that these annual expenses will be approximately $5,260.

Students who withdraw from Bloomsburg University prior to the end of the fifth week of the semester may be due a refund of money paid to the university.  This refund policy has been established in accordance with regulations governing the State System of Higher Education.  A copy of this policy is sent to students with their university bill and is also available upon request from the Bloomsburg University Business Office.

If a student receives financial aid funds from the Federal Title IV Aid Programs and the student withdraws from Bloomsburg University, a portion of these funds may need to be returned to the federal government as follows:

• If a student withdraws before completing 60 percent of the semester, the student is only entitled to financial aid based on the percentage of time that was completed.
• A student who withdraws from the university after 60 percent of the semester has been completed is entitled to 100 percent of the federal financial aid that was awarded to the student.
• The student should note that PHEAA may still require a reduction of the PHEAA State Grant if a student's charges are reduced as a result of a withdrawal from one or more classes or a complete withdrawal from Bloomsburg University.
• If a student who has borrowed from the Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Perkins Loan programs withdraws from Bloomsburg University, the student must repay these loans according to the terms of the promissory note.
• Financial aid funds that must be returned as a result of a withdrawal must be done in the following order:

1.  Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
2.  Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
3.  Federal Perkins Loan
4.  Federal PLUS Loan
5.  Federal Pell Grant
6.  Federal ACG Grant
7.  National SMART Grant
8.  Federal SEOG Grant

• Federal Work-Study Program Funds are not subject to these refund provisions.
• If federal financial aid funds have already been credited to the student's account and the student withdraws from Bloomsburg University before completing the time needed to "earn the financial aid", these funds may be withdrawn from the student's account, thus leaving an outstanding balance to the university.
• If financial aid funds are given to a student to be used for non-institutional costs of education (i.e. an off-campus apartment, food, books, etc.), a portion of these funds may also need to be returned to satisfy the overpayment.
• Any student who is receiving federal financial aid and is contemplating withdrawal from the university should contact the Office of Financial Aid or the Bloomsburg University Business Office to determine how the federal refund policy governing financial aid will affect them.