Financial Aid Fund Terms and Conditions

Merit scholarships are offered in recognition of a student's academic record. These scholarships will be renewed automatically from year to year for undergraduate students as long as a student achieves a 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of the freshman year and a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of their sophomore and junior years. 

It is Muhlenberg College policy that merit scholarships do not increase.  It is a fixed amount for each semester (ie, the student can not receive a full year amount in just one semester) that the student is a full-time traditional undergraduate student (at least 3 course units per semester). A student is eligible for a maximum of 8 undergraduate semesters.

Any unused merit due to withdrawal, early graduation or moving to a graduate school program is forfeited.  Merit scholarships are distributed proportionately over all undergraduate billable charges.  Billable charges are defined as Tuition and mandatory fees, room and meal plans.

Muhlenberg offers four Honors Programs which provide for an enriched academic experience. Each program carries an annual $5,000 scholarship, which is renewable for up to eight semesters. Students have the opportunity to be selected for a Merit Scholarship and an Honors program.

Financial Need is not a condition for receiving this scholarship. 

In order to maintain honors program scholarship and receive honors program designation at graduation, students must be an undergraduate student, make academic progress in accordance with program GPA specifications, continually meet standards of good campus citizenship, and all honors program requirements. 

It is Muhlenberg College policy that Honors Program scholarships do not increase.  This scholarship is distributed proportionately over all UNDERGRADUATE billable charges.  Billable charges are defined as Tuition and mandatory fees, room and meal plans.

The Muhlenberg College Community Scholarship is awarded to students who offer the promise of real contributions to their community—talented students who can make a difference in the world. This scholarship will be automatically renewed each year for a total of up to eight semesters at Muhlenberg provided you are a full-time student in good academic standing.

The Muhlenberg College Grant is a need-based grant offered to students who display exceptional financial need, continue to make satisfactory academic progress, and show promise in the areas of campus contributions and college citizenship. Students are required to complete the FAFSA annually to potentially be eligible for the grants. These funds do NOT need to be repaid to the college.

Restricted and endowed scholarships from Muhlenberg College are based on a student's financial need and status as an undergraduate student.  The funds are provided by donors to Muhlenberg College. These funds are distributed proportionately over all the undergraduate billable charges.  Billable charges are defined as Tuition, mandatory fees, room and meal plans.  In exceptional circumstances including but not limited to unexpected changes in Cost of Attendance or billable charges, the College reserves the right to modify the scholarship.

In order to renew a need-based restricted/endowed scholarship, you must be an undergraduate student, complete the need-based financial aid process each year by our stated deadlines, and meet the requirements (if any) for the scholarship.  In addition, after each academic year is completed, a student will be checked for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need where interest does not accrue, it is paid by the Federal Government. The current fixed interest rate for the 2023-24 academic year is 5.49%. The current origination fee for the 2023-24 academic year is 1.057%. This fee is charged to the loan be the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2024-25 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in May 2024.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans are loans made available to eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need. Interest will start accruing at the time of disbursement and continue during the time period the student is registered at least half time. The current fixed interest rate for the 2023-24 academic year is 5.49% for undergraduate students and 7.05% for graduate students. The current origination fee for the 2023-24 academic year is 1.057%. This fee is charged to the loan be the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2024-25 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in May 2024.

Direct Parent PLUS Loans are loans made available to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers of a Parent PLUS loan can request up to a student’s Cost of Attendance minus the student’s current aid offer. The current fixed interest rate for the 2023-24 academic year is 8.05%. The current origination fee for the 2023-24 academic year is 4.228%. This fee is charged to the loan by the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2024-25 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in May 2024.

Muhlenberg College offers two types of Student Employment opportunities through a student's financial aid offer, Federal Work-Study (CWS) and Muhlenberg College Employment (MCE).  The purpose of the Student Employment Program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop professional skills and experience while simultaneously earning supplemental funds to assist them with some of their college expenses.

The Pennsylvania (PA) State Grant is issued through PHEAA to qualified undergraduate students that are residents of Pennsylvania and attending a school within the state, who demonstrate financial need with a Student Aid Index (SAI) within their guidelines.  Awards are estimated and are based on the amount of program funds appropriated by the state budget.

Individual states have their own state grant process and may not participate with schools that are not located within their state. If a student’s home state is offering them a grant, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Federal Pell Grant is provided by the federal government to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) below a threshold designated by the US Department of Education, based on the amount of program funds appropriated by Congress. Unlike a Federal Direct Loan, the Pell grant is aid that does NOT have to be repaid.

You must complete a FAFSA annually for renewal consideration.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is provided by the federal government to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. It is reserved for students who receive Pell Grants and may range from $100-$4,000 per year.

Students must complete a FAFSA annually for renewal consideration.

The Undergraduate Tuition Exchange Program is a scholarship program that awards partial tuition to dependents of eligible employees who apply for and are accepted for admission at schools participating in the Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program. Muhlenberg College is considered the “Export” school and the institutions the dependent child applies to are considered the “Import” schools. Decisions on Tuition Exchange scholarships are not made by Muhlenberg – they are made by the Import institutions. For more information, please contact Human Resources and visit: www.tuitionexchange.org.

The Tuition Exchange Room Credit is given to Tuition Exchange eligible students who are living in Muhlenberg College owned campus housing.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (also known as The Post 9/11 GI Bill®) to make additional funds available to qualified veterans.

Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) under the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® may receive this supplemental funding. Beginning with the 2022-2023 Academic Year, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® will pay up to $26,281.37. per academic year for tuition and fee expenses at a private university.

The Tuition Remission Program is a scholarship program that awards full tuition to dependents of eligible employees, who apply to Muhlenberg College for an undergraduate degree program and are accepted for admission. Tuition remission covers the student’s tuition at 100%. Items such as housing, meals, books, and fees are not included under the program.

All students are eligible for Talent Scholarship consideration.  Muhlenberg College offer Talent Scholarships in Art, Dance, Film Studies, Music, and Theatre.  The scholarships range from $1,000-$2,000 a year.

Regardless of need, dependents of Lutheran pastors of the ELCA and clergy of other denominations with whom the ELCA shares full communion and who are under call for service to the church are eligible for ministerial grants.

First time borrowers of a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan are required to complete Federal Student Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note.

If a student decides to accept a student loan(s), the Office of Financial Aid will reach contact the student in June to complete the Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note.  Please wait to hear from our office before completing these steps to ensure they are not completed too early.