How Aid is Determined for Students Receiving Military Benefits

I. Definitions

1. Direct Costs: Educational costs such as tuition, fees, housing and food that are billed directly to students.
2. Gift Aid: Financial assistance such as scholarships and grants that students receive. These are funds that do not need to be repaid.
3. Institutional Aid: Financial assistance provided to students directly from Seton Hill University.
4. Title IV Funds: Financial assistance provided to students directly from the U.S. Department of Education. Title IV Funds include the Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplement Equal Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Federal Direct Student Loans. 
5. Total Financial Assistance: The total amount of financial aid awarded to students which includes all forms of financial assistance including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.

II. Determining Institutional Aid for Students Receiving Military Education Benefits

Seton Hill University will use Veterans Benefits from the U.S. Department of Defense as estimated financial assistance (EFA) when determining the amount of Institutional Aid to be awarded to students. Per the U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance on Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits for Purposes of the Title IV Student Assistance Programs, Title IV Funds are excluded from EFA. Likewise, Seton Hill University will exclude Title IV Funds when determining Institutional Aid. 

Seton Hill University will include all other Gift Aid when determining Institutional Aid for veterans, which includes state, local, and private funds. The amount of Institutional Aid to be awarded will be limited to Direct Costs. Direct Costs include tuition, required course fees, housing, and food costs. Seton Hill University seeks to maximize financial aid opportunities for all students. Thus, in cases where a student's Total Financial Assistance exceed Direct Costs, Seton Hill University will reduce other forms of Institutional Aid.

III. Example

Direct Costs – Veterans Benefits – other Gift Aid (excluding Title IV Funds) = Eligible Institutional Aid Amount

A student has Direct Costs of $10,000. The student has Veterans Benefits of $5,000, a State Grant of $500, and a Federal Grant of $1,000. To determine the amount of Institutional Aid, subtract the Veterans Benefits amount and all gift aid excluding the Federal Grant of $1,000 (Title IV Fund) from the student’s Direct Costs.

*The eligible Institutional Aid amount may not exceed the total amount offered to students upon admission to Seton Hill University.

In this case, the student would get the full amount of the Federal Grant of $1,000 as a refund.