Read this before you drop a course
The decision about whether or not to drop a course is an academic issue. However, you need to understand the financial implications of your decision. By dropping a course after the semester begins, you may fall below the minimum credit expectation for satisfactory academic progress, which you must maintain to remain eligible for student aid. Read more »
Spring 2010 financial aid refunds
Financial aid funds for spring semester disburse to your student account around the first day of classes and continuing daily thereafter, as long as you confirmed your spring registration on the tuition bill on eLion. Keep in mind that your Bursar Account may show a balance due until all of your aid is fully disbursed. Any remaining balance after your student account has been paid in full will be refunded to you by the Office of the Bursar according to Penn State's refund policy. To monitor the status of your refund online, select the "Bursar Account" option on eLion.
Apply for 2010-11 student aid
The Office of Student Aid encourages all students to apply for financial aid. The 2010-2011 FAFSA is available now. To ensure full consideration for aid, we recommend you apply for aid online by the following dates:
- New students: February 15, 2010
- Current students: April 15, 2010
If you haven't already applied for aid for spring 2010 and summer 2010, complete the 2009-10 FAFSA now. Penn State's Federal School Code is 003329.
CashCourse for financial literacy
With help from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), CashCourse, a Web site that provides financial literacy information is available for Penn State students.
PLUS Loan request form for spring 2010 available now
The PLUS Loan request form for spring 2010 is available on eLion. If you are interested in requesting a Parent PLUS Loan or a Graduate PLUS Loan to pay for this semester, please follow the instructions outlined under "Step 2" of the Loans section of our site. Read more »
Is your federal loan ready for disbursement this spring?
New federal student loan borrowers are required to: (1) complete Loan Entrance Counseling on eLion and (2) sign a Direct Loan MPN. As long as new borrowers complete these two steps and complete/confirm their registration on the tuition bill on eLion, their loan(s) will be ready for disbursement.
Looking for a job on campus?
Only 1 percent of students who apply for aid at Penn State are awarded federal Work-Study funds each year due to the limited funding we receive. However, there are many other part-time employment opportunities at the University available to students regardless of whether or not they were awarded Work-Study aid. See job listings »
PLUS Loan request form still available
It's not too late for graduate students and parents of undergraduate students to request a PLUS Loan for 2009-10 on eLion. For more information about how to apply for a PLUS Loan, please visit the loan section of our Web site.
Parent PLUS Loan tutorial
Want to learn how to apply for a federal Parent PLUS Loan at Penn State? Watch this 5-minute Parent PLUS Loan online tutorial 
for step-by-step instructions on how to complete this loan process.
Paying for college
If the aid sources listed on your Student Aid Summary are not enough to cover your educational costs, explore these financing strategies to learn about tactics for meeting the difference between the aid you will receive and your estimated costs for attending Penn State.