La Salle University





Financial Aid FAQs

General Information

» What are the deadlines to apply for Aid?
» What are the different types of Aid?
» What is the La Salle overaward policy?
» What is verification?
» What is an independent student?
» Office Hours and Telephone Numbers?
» What is my aid eligibilty in a prerequisite program?
» What is my aid eligibility if I am in the Teacher Certification Program?
» What is my aid eligibilty for a prep course?

Scholarships, Grants, Discounts, and Tax Credits

» What about scholarships for returning students?
» What is the Hope Scholarship/Lifetime Learning Credit?
» What is the PA New Economy Tech Scholarship?
» What about my PHEAA State Grant?
» What is the discount for Catholic School teachers?

Loans and Alternative Payment Options

» How do I receive a Perkins Loan?
» How can I finance my remaining balance?
» Loans for New Jersey Residents?
» How do I consolidate my loans?

Student Jobs On Campus

» How do I apply for Budget jobs?
» » How do I apply for Federal Work Study jobs?

Co-ops and Study Abroad Programs

» How do I get aid for study abroad?
» What if I do a co-op?

Credit Balances: Refunds and Money for Books

» What if I need money for books?
» How do I get my refund and money for books?

Reading Bills: Memos and Credits

» What are those credits and memos on my bill?

Special Circumstances and Academic Progress

» I have special circumstances, what do I do?
» What academic progress must I make?

Employee Tuition Benefits

» What are the employee tuition benefits?
» What are the tuition benefits for employee dependents?
» What is Tuition Exchange?

Accessing Information Online

» How can Brother Luwis answer my aid questions?

 What is an independent student?

How can I qualify to be an independent student?

Federal Financial Aid regulations say that students are automatically considered independent if they meet the following criteria:
  1. They are 24 years of age.
  2. They are married, or enrolled in a graduate or professional course of study.
  3. They are an orphan or a ward of the court .
  4. They have legal dependents (other than a spouse).
  5. They are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Aid Administrators have the authority to make students who do not meet the above criteria independent under special and extreme circumstances using Professional Judgment. Some examples of special and extreme circumstances might be third party documented parental physical or drug abuse or abandonment.

A student might be declared an independent student if the student has demonstrated that he or she has independently supported his or herself for a number of years. Remember there is a difference between being independent as opposed to being dependent on someone else other than a parent.

Because a parent is unwilling to assist a student in the financial aid process, this is not ground for a student to be declared an independent student, as this is an issue between a student and the parent.

A student should submit a letter of appeal with third party documentation to the Office of Student Financial Services. Some examples of third part documentation might be a letter from a high school guidance counselor, clergy, lawyer, or caseworker.