Shippensburg University Financial Aid Possibilities

Hi guys, I'm applying to Shippensburg University this year and wondering about the financial aid there. What options for financial support do they offer? Do they approach it on a need or merit basis, or both? Any info would be super helpful.

Shippensburg University offers both need-based and merit-based financial aid for its students.

For need-based financial aid, they analyze an applicant's financial situation through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The latter helps to determine the applicant's eligibility for state and federal aid, which can be in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs. Remember, the FAFSA now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine your financial need, which can be as low as negative $1,500. The main difference between the SAI and the older EFC model is that the SAI is not divided based on the number of students in college within a family.

Merit-based financial aid, on the other hand, comes usually in form of scholarships and awards, which are granted based on the applicant's academic or extracurricular achievements, among other things. These scholarships do not require you to demonstrate financial need, and they do not need to be repaid.

Shippensburg University offers a wide variety of scholarships, ranging from academic merit scholarships to departmental scholarships that are awarded based on major or special skill. For example, the Raider Success Scholarship awards Pennsylvania residents who are incoming first-year students, based solely on high school GPA, not financial need. This award is renewable for up to 4 years.

Remember, each of these scholarships and grants has its own specific eligibility criteria and application process, so it's worth spending some time researching the details on Shippensburg University's website.

Lastly, it's always a good idea to use the net price calculator on the university's financial aid website to get a more personalized estimate of what you can expect in terms of financial aid package. This can help ensure there are no surprises as far as costs go.