FINANCIAL AID
Consumer Information: The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 1965 revised 2008 (HEOA) requires post-secondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs to disclose information from various administrative areas to students. This information may be viewed online at the following address in compliance with federal law: https://www.sanignaciouniversity.edu/en/consumer-information.
General Information: The The Financial Aid Department at San Ignacio University aids students who need financial aid to pay tuition expenses at the University. The Financial Aid Department has established procedures that ensure fair and consistent treatment of all applicants.
San Ignacio University believes that the primary responsibility for educational costs rests with a student and his/her family. However, financial aid is available to meet the difference between a student's resources and his/her actual needs. SIU examines the total cost associated with attending the University, including, but not limited to, tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, personal expenses, and allowable travel expenses.
San Ignacio University uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to document and collect information used in determining a student's eligibility for financial aid. The information a student supplies on the FAFSA is confidential. FAFSA instructions to complete on the web may be obtained in the Financial Services Department or going to https://studentaid.gov/ San Ignacio University code 042169.
San Ignacio University maintains a full-time Financial Aid Coordinator to meet student needs. Students are encouraged to make appointments with the Financial Aid Coordinator to ensure they obtain the funding needed for their university investment. The United States Department of Education has determined that San Ignacio University is an institution eligible to participate in Federal Title IV financial aid programs.
The University has the following institutional and Federal aid programs available to students who qualify (subject to availability of funds). The amount of aid a student receives at SIU is based on the cost of attendance, Student aid index (SAI), enrollment intensity, and length of attendance within an academic year.
There are four types of financial aid offered by San Ignacio University.
GRANTS: Grants are supplied by the federal government, state government, or the institution, to meet the cost of the student’s education. Grants are generally based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is no repayment obligation tied to grants. The Pell Grant is available to degreeseeking undergraduate students who have never received a baccalaureate degree.
The Pell Grant Program is the largest of the Federal Student Aid grant programs and provides a “foundation” of financial aid to which assistance from other federal and nonfederal sources may be added. The Pell Grant is available year-round.
The maximum annual Pell Grant for the award year may change from year to year according to Congressional appropriation. Pell Grant eligibility is based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) which is determined from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The amount of Pell Grant that is disbursed varies in accordance with a student’s enrollment intensity (I.e., Full time, part time, 3/4 time or below half time.). A student Pell Award cannot exceed their Cost of attendance (COA). If it exceeds COA, reduce the scheduled Pell award to COA (not round' truncate cents).
Determining Schedule Pell Award Amount: Subtract the student's SAI from the maximum Pell Grant amount, then round the result to the nearest $5 to determine the student's scheduled Pell Award. If this calculation results in an amount less than the minimum Pell Grant, the student is ineligible for the Pell Grant. Formula = Max Pell – Student Aid Index (SAI).
| Grant Award |
2025- 2026 Academic Year |
Year Application Process and Criteria |
| Federal Pell Grant |
Maximum Pell is $7,395.00/year Min Pell $740.00/Yr. (which is 10% of the Max Pell) |
Need-based, complete the FAFSA. Students must be enrolled full-time to receive the maximum amount of Pell Grant. Awards are prorated and adjusted according to enrollment and attendance. SAI can be as low as -1500 |
| Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant (State of Florida) |
$2,000 |
The student is a Florida resident of Hispanic origin minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0; Priority is for need-based; complete the FAFSA and Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application. Graduates may apply. Must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit. |
| The Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant (State of Florida) |
Minimum award of $200, maximum award of $2,413 per year, determined by the University |
Need-based, complete the FAFSA renewable for up to 9 terms based on satisfactory academic progress and continued need. Must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit. |
| Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant |
Up to $6,895.00 (the amount equal to the Pell Grant) |
The student is not eligible for Pell Grant but whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and died because of service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. Must be 24 years of age or under or enrolled in college at the time of the parent or guardian’s death |
STATE SCHOLARSHIPS: State scholarships are generally merit-based or awarded according to a specific set of qualifying criteria. There is no repayment obligation tied to scholarships.
| Scholarship Award |
2025-2026 |
Application Process Criteria |
| Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Fund |
|
•Be a Florida resident •US citizen or eligible noncitizens. •Be of Hispanic culture (born in or having a natural parent who was born in either Mexico or a Hispanic country of the Caribbean, Central or South America, regardless of race). •GPA requirements: ◦Undergraduate scholarships: Have earned a 3.0 minimum unweighted cumulative GPA by the fall term of senior year in high school. ◦Graduatelevel scholarship: 3.0 institutional cumulative GPA for undergraduate college work. •Enroll as a degree-seeking: ◦Undergraduate: for a minimum of 12 credit hours of study each term. ◦Graduate: for a minimum of 9 credit hours of study each term. •Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made. |
|
|
Academic Merit awards - Complete the Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) during his/her last year in high school prior to graduation – can be completed online. Must meet academic requirements set by the Florida Legislature, which may change annually. Must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Florida Academic Scholar Florida Medallion Scholar Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar |
$76 or $101 per credit hour |
|
|
|
Dependent children or un-remarried spouses of Florida veterans or service members who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty OR who have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having service-connected 100% permanent and total disabilities; Complete the Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application by April 1 and ensure that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs certifies the applicant’s eligibility by April 1. Must complete the Florida Residency Affidavit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida Scholarship for Children/Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans |
$4,272 ($2,136 per term for 12+ credits) $3,204 ($1,602 per term for 9- 11 credits) $2,136 ($ 1,068 per term for 6- 8 credits |
|
|
|
All Students with disabilities should be encouraged to apply for VR services. Students who have an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) Students who have a 504 Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vocational Rehabilitation School Work Program |
Varies per Applicant |
|
FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS: San Ignacio University participates in the federal Direct Loan program for federal Stafford and PLUS loans. Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student's education after high school. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, though the entity the student deal with, the student loan servicer can be a private business such as a bank.
Direct Subsidized Loan: Undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need are eligible for the Direct Subsidized Loan. The federal government will pay the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time (minimum of six credit hours) in a degree-seeking program. The repayment of the loan principal begins six months after the student leaves school or is enrolled less than half-time (fewer than six credit hours). Interest will begin to accrue at the time the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time and at a fixed rate.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Students who do not demonstrate financial need, in whole or in part, are eligible for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Graduate students are eligible for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Under this program, students are responsible for paying all interest on the loan, including interest that accrues while the student is in school. Repayment of the interest on the unsubsidized loan begins within 60 days after disbursement unless interest capitalization is requested. Students whose parents are unwilling to provide information to complete the FAFSA can apply for unsubsidized loans with the proper supporting documentation.
All loans must be repaid by the borrower and should therefore be used as a last option for university financial aid. Loan(s) will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.
| Year: 2025-2026 |
Dependent Students (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) |
Independent Students (and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) |
| Graduate or Professional Students' Annual Loan Limit |
Not Applicable (all graduate and professional students are considered independent) |
$20,500 (unsubsidized only) |
| Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit |
$31,000—No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$138,500 for graduate or professional students, no more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. |
2025-2026 Interest Rates for Direct Loans
| Loan Type |
Borrower Type |
July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026 |
| Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans |
Undergraduate |
6.39% |
| Direct Unsubsidized Loans |
Graduate and Professional Students |
7.94% |
| Direct PLUS Loans |
Parents and Graduates or Professional Students |
8.94% |
Federal Sequestration Impacts Loan Fees: Most federal student loans have loan fees thatare a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan fee is deducted from eachloan disbursement the student receives. Even though this means the money thestudent receives will be less than the amount the student borrowed, the studentis still responsible for repaying the entire amount of the borrowed loan.
The chart below shows the current loan fees forFederal Direct Loans.
| Loan Fees for Federal Loans First Disbursed Between October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026 |
| Federal Direct Loan Fees Federal PLUS Loan Fees |
A fee of 1.057% is deducted from the gross disbursement amount
A fee of 4.228% is deducted from the gross disbursement amount. |
Entrance Counseling for Direct Loan Borrower: Provides an overview of the Direct Loan Program. Includes informationabout the types of Direct Loans available, the costs of borrowing, eligibility,and repayment.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which the students promise to repay their loan(s)and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It alsoexplains the terms and conditions of the loan(s); for instance, it will includeinformation on how interest is calculated, when interest is charged, availablerepayment plans, and deferment and cancellation provisions.
Enrollment Intensity - The percentage of full-time enrollment atwhich a student is enrolled is rounded to the nearest whole percent. Forexample, if full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours and a student is enrolledin 7 credit hours, the enrollment intensity would be calculated as follows:
Enrollment intensity = (7 / 12) * 100% ≈ 58%
Therefore, the student's enrollment intensitywould be approximately 58%.
| Credit Hours |
Enrollment category (Old) |
Enrollment Intensity (New) |
| 12 (or more) |
Full- Time |
100% |
| 11 |
Three- Quarter Time |
92% |
| 10 |
|
83% |
| 9 |
|
75% |
| 8 |
Half Time |
67% |
| 7 |
|
58% |
| 6 |
|
50% |
| 5 |
Less- Than Half Time |
42% |
| 4 |
|
33% |
| 3 |
|
25% |
| 2 |
|
17% |
| 1 |
|
8% |
It is mandatory for all financial aid recipientsto contact the Financial Aid Office before dropping a class. Dropping a classcould lead to the cancellation of specific grants or loans and may require thestudent to repay these funds to the program.
VERIFICATION PROCESS
The verification process is the confirmationthrough documentation that the information provided on a student's FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is correct. The federal governmentrequires universities to verify or confirm the data reported by students andtheir parent(s) on the FAFSA. The verification process ensures that eligiblestudents receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled and preventsineligible students from receiving financial aid to which they are not entitled.
Selection for Verification Process
- Students applying for Financial Aid may beselected for verification either by the federal processor or by the FinancialAid Office. If the student is selected for verification by the federalprocessor, there will be an asterisk next to the student Aid Index (SAI) on theStudent Aid Report (SAR). Students will also be informed of having beenselected for verification in the SAR acknowledgment email, which will beincluded with the SAR documents.
- If students areselected for verification by the FA, they will be notified by email.Notification will inform the students of this selection and instruct them tocontact our Financial Aid Officer and review the listing of the requirements.Students can be selected for verification at any time during the academic year,so it is very important that students check their email on a regular basis.
Why are students selected for verification? The main reasons for being selected for verification include the randomselection of students. The FAFSA they submitted was incomplete, their FAFSAcontains estimated information, or the data provided on the FAFSA isinconsistent. Verification is a federal regulation. Students who are selectedfor verification are not being punished; rather, verification preventsineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information andensures that eligible students receive all the aid for which they are qualified.
What do students selected for verification have to submit, and where do they send it? Once students are selected for verification, all requirements will bereviewed with their Financial Aid Officer:
- Dependent Students
1. Copy of student's and parent's federal incometax transcript (for the tax year prior to the current aid year)
2. Dependent verification worksheet
3. Parent asset worksheet (if business income,investments, and/or rental property is listed on tax transcripts)
- Independent Students
i. Student's (and spouses, if applicable)federal income tax transcript
ii. Independent verification worksheet.
Additional documentation may be requested. Ifadditional documents are requested, an email will be sent to the students, andit is their responsibility to check their requirements and submit alldocumentation to the Financial Aid Officer by the due date given to them.
What happens once the student submits the documentation? Once the student submits the documents to theFinancial Aid Office, he/she can continue to check the status of the documentswith the Financial Aid Officer. The status will go from "Unsatisfied"to "Documents Received and Not Yet Reviewed." Once the documents arereviewed, the status will be updated to the appropriate status: "ReceivedIncomplete" or "Received/Reviewed or Processed." If therequirement is incomplete, the student will receive an email explaining whatwas incomplete and how it can be resolved. It is important that the studentchecks the status of the requirements so he/she can make sure all verificationdocuments have been "Received/Reviewed or processed."
Students who submit documents to our office mustallow two to three business days for the status to be updated. Multiple copiesof documents are not needed if sufficient processing time is allowed. Oncereceipt of all required documents, the verification process begins. This cantake anywhere between six to eight weeks during the months of May throughAugust. After the verification process is complete, the student will receive anemail informing them of the revised award package. This will only occur if theoffice of Financial Aid makes a change to the student financial aid package(based on the additional documents requested).
What if the student does not want to complete the verification process? The verification process is a federal regulationand must be completed for a student to receive federal aid, as well as anystate and San Ignacio Institutional aid. If the student does not wish tocomplete the verification process and therefore does not receive financial aid,he/she must notify our office via email so we can update the student status.
Impactof a Leave of Absence on Financial Aid
Leave of Absences: Students on authorized leave of absence are responsible for notifyingthe Office of Financial Aid of their current enrollment status. In compliancewith federal regulations, for Federal financial aid purposes, a leave ofabsence is treated the same as a withdrawal. Students considering taking aleave of absence should be aware of the following:
- In accordance with financial aid regulations, aleave of absence cannot exceed 180 days. If the leave of absence exceeds 180days, the grace period for student loans will expire, and the student’s loan(s)will go into repayment status.
- Students on authorized leave of absence will berequired to complete exit counseling if they have federal student loans.
- While onauthorized leave of absence, students are not eligible to receive furtherdisbursements.
- Students will not be charged additional costs intheir student accounts. · Uponreturn to school, each student is responsible for notifying the Office ofFinancial Aid Office so that their lender, guaranty agency, and NationalStudent Loan Data System (NSLDS) can be notified of their current enrollmentstatus.
- Students that fail to return on the scheduleddate from the leave of absence will be treated as a withdrawal and will bebilled for any amount due to the University because of Title IV funds that werereturned on their behalf, as per the regulations concerning the return ofunearned funds. For more information regarding this, please refer to theFinancial Aid section of this catalog.
- Some leave of absence (extended for more than180 days) authorized by the institution may not meet the conditions to be anapproved leave of absence for Title IV purposes. In these cases, the Office ofFinancial Aid will treat the student as a withdrawal for Title IV purposes.
Benefits for Veterans
HELPING OUR HEROES
At San Ignacio University, we believe it is important to show our gratitude towards those who have sacrificed to keep our nation safe. We support our veterans’ educational efforts and seek to make getting VA Benefits and using them for higher learning as easy and as helpful as possible.
SIU is approved to offer G.I. Bill® educational benefits by the FL State Approving Agency. These benefits included are listed below.
If you know you are eligible for one of these benefits, please review the appropriate benefit located below to apply to use this benefit. If you are unsure of your eligibility or entitlement, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (888) 442-4551. For questions regarding usage of your VA benefits at San Ignacio University please contact one of our School Certifying Officials (SCOs) at 305-629-2929 x4015.
Process for Veteran Benefits
1. Apply for educational benefits on www.va.gov. The students will receive a Certification of Eligibility (COE), a written notification of the Department of Veteran Affairs of the U.S.A. about the eligibility to receive educational benefits for veterans.
2. Submit your COE and the Release Certification or Release of Active Duty (Form: DD-214) to SIU's financial aid office.
3. Veterans are responsible to guarantee that all application requirements have been approved by VA. To ensure the status of the application process, veterans can contact the Admission Coordinator.
4. The Veteran Certification Officer from SIU will send an electronic enrollment certification to the Department of Veteran Affairs once the applicant's forms have been received and the enrollment on SIU's classes have been confirmed. Veterans will receive an e-mail confirmation once the enrollment certification has been summited.
5. Veterans will receive an award letter by the Department of Veteran Affairs once their eligibility is confirmed.
Veterans deserve to use the educational benefits they earned and we, at San Ignacio University, are pleased and honored to help them use those benefits.
We welcome you to our university and we hope that you benefit significantly from your studies.
Benefits
Chapter 30-Montgomery Gi Bill® (MGIB)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. This benefit can be used for degree and certification programs, flight training, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, and remote courses. Remediation, deficiency and actualization courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are paid for 10 years after release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Visit the GI Bill® website for a more detailed description of Chapter 30 benefits.
Chapter 31-Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
This benefit is designed to help veterans with a service-related disability to obtain the chosen service and to maintain employment. A service-related disability classification is required as part of the eligibility requirements. Veterans must apply for vocational rehabilitation through the county's Veterans Services Office. They will receive guidance from the DVA Division of Vocational Counseling and Rehabilitation regarding application and admission requirements.
Visit GI Bill® for more information on benefits from Chapter 31.
Please note that the case manager must provide VA Form 1905 to the university to process your benefits.
Locate a Vocational Rehabilitation Center
Chapter 33: GI Bill® prior to September 11
GI Bill® prior to September 11, received Chapter 33, offers the following benefits to veterans:
Tuition and annual fees of $ 23,671.94. Please note that this amount is subject to change based on VA annual allowances.
Housing allowance
Funding for books and supplies up to $ 1,000 per year.
Chapter 35- Survivors and Dependents Assistance (DEA)
Visit the GI Bill® website for a more detailed description of Chapter 35 benefits.
Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® for the Selected Reserve (MGIB – SR)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Veterans may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Benefit entitlement ends 14 years from the date of eligibility for the program, or on the day the service member has left the selected reserve. The VA pays a monthly stipend based on the number of credits taken in the academic program.
Visit the GI Bill® website for a more detailed description of Chapter 1606 benefits.
Chapter 1607- Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP)
REAP is an educational benefit programs of the Department of Defense of the U.S.A. designed to provide educational assistance to reserve members called or ordered to active duty in response to war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President of the United States and/or Congress. The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security will determine who is eligible for the program. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will administer the program and pay benefits from funds contributed by the Department of Defense. The VA pays a percentage of the Montgomery GI Law based on the total length of active-duty service and the number of credits taken in the academic program.
Visit the GI Bill® website for a more detailed description of Chapter 1607 benefits.
Important Avoid Delays and Overpayments
Notify immediately to the FA office at SIU if you are changing your credit hours or if you are withdrawing from the school. If you do not do it, you may causa delays or overpayments.
What forms do I need to submit to SIU?
Click here for more information about documents and forms.
For more information, contact the VA Certification Officer at SIU.
VA Certifying Official
305-629-2929 x4015
Email: flagardere@sanignaciouniversity.edu
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:30 am - 6:30 pm EST
VA Isakson and Roe Section 1018Department of Veterans Affairs of the United States of America (VA)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has assigned SIU to the Muskogee Regional Processing Office.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Muskogee Regional Processing Office
P.O. Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888
888-GI-Bill-1
