Financial Aid Services

The mandatory Exit Counseling session for all E/W students who have borrowed through the Federal Stafford Loan program can be completed at www.nslds.ed.gov. Once on the website, click on Exit Counseling. You will need your social security number and your Federal PIN number to sign in. The Exit Counseling session will provide you with important information about repaying your loans as well as your rights and responsibilites. DSON will be notified electronicly when you have successfully completed this requirement.

Please note that NSLDS is the central data base for all your federal student aid and your student loans. NSLDS is a good resource to explore Stafford loan balance and disbursements.

Financial aid is offered to qualified students accepted for admission to the Dixon School of Nursing and submits the required financial aid documents. DSON participates in the following grant and student loan programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
• Veterans Educational Benefits
• Abington Memorial Hospital Women’s Board and Auxiliaries Scholarship
• Federal Direct Stafford loans

In addition, students are encouraged to apply for private and community scholarships.

Search for Scholarships before turning to loans!
Check your options at any of the following websites:
CampusRN.com - Deadline April 1st
Scholarships.com
College Board
FastWeb
Looking Glass Scholarship - Deadline March 16th
This is a scholarship for students with at least one parent with a disability, student must be at least 21 years or younger.
AAMN Foundation/Johnson & Johnson Nursing Scholarship Student Application - Deadline April 1st
supports male students who are seeking a pre-RN licensure or graduate degree in nursing.
Nursing Foundation Scholarship for Veterans and Children of Veterans
Southeastern PA League for Nursing Scholarship - Deadline March 31st
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Health Resources and Services Administration - Nursing Scholarship Program

Campus RN Scholarship
Students can apply directly at: http://www.campusrn.com/register/scholarship.asp
The deadline for applications is April 1st.
Read what the winners of the 2009 Nursing Scholarship have to say at:
http://www.campusrn.com/network/scholarship_winners

Apply for the CampusRN - Pennsylvania Nursing Scholarship
Visit CampusRN to apply for the $2500.00 regional scholarship.

Search Nursing Jobs and Healthcare Jobs
Visit CampusRN to search for thousands of jobs and scholarships.

Information on financial aid opportunities at the Dixon School of Nursing is shared at Information Sessions. Please click here to see our Information Session schedule.

The Financial Aid Information Packet
Students who have accepted the offer of acceptance and DSON receives the student’s acceptance fee, the Financial Aid Office will mail a detailed financial aid packet to the student’s home. The Dixon School of Nursing provides accepted and current students the opportunity to meet with the Coordinator of Student Financial Aid Services to discuss financial aid and walk through the financial aid application process. Claire Tatlow, the Coordinator of Student Financial Aid, is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday at 215-481-5549 or by email at ctatlow@amh.org. The Student Handbook on Financial Aid is distributed annually to enrolled students and is available on line.

Requirements for Financial Aid:

• Submit the 2010-11 FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov
• Submit the 2010-11 DSON Financial Aid and Women’s Board Scholarship Application
• Submit signed copies of 2009 Federal 1040, W-2’s.
• If you are planning to apply for Federal Direct Stafford loans, submit a Master Promissory Note and complete the mandatory Entrance Counseling session at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action
• Complete the 2010-11 DL Stafford Loan request form.

Pennsylvania State Grant for Pennsylvania Resident
The Pennsylvania State Grant Program provides grant awards to eligible Pennsylvania residents in need of financial assistance to help them afford the costs of higher education.

PHEAA administers the PA State Grant Program at no cost to taxpayers, ensuring that every dollar appropriated to the program goes directly to students. State Grant eligibility is calculated in accordance with the federal Need Analysis Formula and Pennsylvania State Grant policies.

The deadline date for consideration is determined by the FAFSA information submitted by May 1.

For more information about the Pennsylvania State Grant program, call 1-800-692-7392 or visit the website at http://www.pheaa.org/stategrants/index.shtml?s=H17

Veterans Benefits
AMH Dixon School of Nursing has a certifying official on campus who submits the certification of enrollment to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs electronically via the VA once website. If you are applying for VA Educational Benefits, you should investigate your options such as what benefits you are eligible for, how much you are entitled to receive, etc.

Go to the GI Bill website (www.gibill.va.gov) and select “What Benefit is Best for Me?”

Remember, the sooner you get the necessary documents to the VA, the soon the VA can begin processing your claim for educational benefits.

Federal Direct Stafford loan
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 (the Department) rather than a bank or other financial institution.
With Direct Loans, you

• Borrow directly from the federal government and have a single contact-the Direct Loan Servicing Center—for everything related to the repayment of your loans, even if you receive Direct Loans at different schools.
• Have online access to your Direct Loan account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at Direct Loans on the Web at: www.dl.ed.gov.

Eligibility
You also must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and meet general Stafford loan eligibility requirements.

Features & Terms

Annual Loan Limits

These annual loan limits apply to loans disbursed on/after July 1, 2008.

• The most that a student can borrow in subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans annually is equal to the student's cost of attendance minus other estimated financial assistance, without going over the maximum amounts permitted for the student's academic level.
• No co-signer is required. No credit check is required

Student Loan Repayment Process For Federal Stafford Loans
FedLoan Servicing was established to support the United States Department of Education's ability to originate and service student loans owned by the United States government. A not-for-profit agency, FedLoan Servicing is a division of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), one of the largest and most respected student aid providers in the nation.

Fedloan Servicing is in the process of contacting impacted borrowers with a detailed introductory letter. Click this link to learn more about the products and services available from FedLoan Servicing which help to ensure that your borrowers have the right tools to manage their debt and you have access to resources to assist them.

Student Aid Information
New for the academic year 2010-2011, to access the FAFSA on the web the new address is www.fafsa.gov. A FAFSA worksheet can be downloaded from this site to assist the student and/or parent in completing the online FAFSA. Remember, the FAFSA for the academic year 2010-2011 can not be submitted prior to January 1, 2010. Students and/or parents can apply for the Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Number online at www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN serves as an identifier and as an electronic signature. If you submitted a Federal FAFSA in previous years, your PIN will remain the same but you will be required to validate your security questions.
For more information about Federal Student aid application process contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1(800) 4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243), or go to http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov

Student Loan Information
To access all of your student financial aid records, be sure to log into www.NSLDS.ed.gov. You can use this site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will need your Federal PIN number. Click on “Financial Aid Review”, and then key in your social security number, the first two letters of your last name, your date of birth and your PIN. This secure web site displays information on your loans, including outstanding balances and status.

Changes have been made to the Federal Student Loan program for the academic year 2010-2011. The Direct Loan Program is mandatory for all student and parent borrowers as mandated by Congress. For further details about Direct Lending go to www.direct.ed.gov or www.studentloans.gov. For applicant/customer service with the DL Master Promissory Note for Stafford loans or Parent Plus loans, call 1-800-557-7394.

For Parents wishing to borrow from the DL Parent Plus program, please log into the studentloans.gov website using your PIN # and social security number. Only one parent needs to submit the Plus loan application and Master Promissory Note.

Complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application (www.studentloans.gov)
The Direct PLUS Loan Application gives the school information they need to create your Direct PLUS Loan. You should verify with the school's financial aid administration office that this is the process they want you to use; some schools may have their own Direct PLUS Loan Application.

Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Direct PLUS Loans (www.studentloans.gov)
Before your Parent Plus loan can be processed, you must have completed the Plus application and sign a DL Plus Master Promissory Note. For more information, call customer service at 1-800-557-7394.

FedLoan Servicing was established to support the United States Department of Education's ability to originate and service student loans owned by the United States government. A not-for-profit agency, FedLoan Servicing is a division of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), one of the largest and most respected student aid providers in the nation.

Fedloan Servicing is in the process of contacting impacted borrowers with a detailed introductory letter. Click this link to learn more about the products and services available from FedLoan Servicing which help to ensure that your borrowers have the right tools to manage their debt and you have access to resources to assist them.

Policy on Tuition and related Educational Expenses

• Tuition and fees are due prior to the beginning of each term. Institutional fee’s are non refundable. Fee schedule: Intermediate students: $1135, Upper level students: $600, full amount due in Term 1.
• In addition to tuition and fees, the student is responsible for the all expenses listed on the “Estimated Student Expenses for the Dixon School of Nursing 2010-11 Academic Year” - see chart below.
• Commuter costs, medical insurance and personal expenses remain the student’s responsibility.
• The graduating third year student incurs these additional costs: State Board Licensure (PA), NCLEX Registration, Temporary Practice Permit (optimal), graduation photographs (if desired).

Policy on Crediting Financial Aid to the Student’s Account

• Estimated financial aid (scholarships, grants and loans) will be deducted from the student’s tuition and fee’s each term only if the student has submitted all of the necessary applications and documents. Please refer to the financial aid requirements.
• All outside scholarships and/or financial aid assistance must be reported to the Coordinator of Student Financial Aid Services at the Dixon School of Nursing.
• Students who are applying for Federal Direct Student loans must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the Entrance Counseling at http://www.direct.ed.gov/applying.html Federal Direct Stafford loans must be completed by July 1 in order to be deducted from your tuition bill.

Helpful Resources:
Why Fill Out a FAFSA? (PDF)
What is a Stafford Loan? (PDF)

Policy on Tuition Refund

• The following fees are non-refundable: Application fee, Acceptance fee, and Institutional fees.
• Withdrawal is determined by the last day of student attendance. Intention to withdraw from the School must be addressed in writing to the Director of Nursing Education/Chair Dixon School of Nursing or the Coordinator of Student Support Services and Special Initiatives. For guidance through the withdrawal process, the student may contact the Coordinator of Student Support Services and Special Initiatives at 215 481-5507.
• The student is charged for class regardless of attendance of the student.
• If a student begins a term and then withdraws at any time, regardless of the reason, tuition refund will be processed according to the Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing Handbook under Refund Policy and Procedures. In addition to the DSON Institutional refund policy, DSON also follows the guidelines of the Federal Title IV Return of Funds Policy.
• The Dixon School of Nursing defines attendance per week as follows:
  • A week of class (day option) usually consists of five (5) days, but may be less due to holidays, faculty in-services or cancelled classes due to inclement weather conditions.
  • A week of class (Evening/Weekend option) usually consists of two (2) evenings (i.e. Tuesday and Thursday) and scheduled weekends (i.e. Saturday and Sunday), but may vary due to holidays, faculty in-services or cancelled classes due to inclement weather conditions.

  Please note: Preparation for clinical is considered the day/evening prior to the clinical experience.

Estimated Student Expenses for the Dixon School of Nursing 2010-11 Academic Year

Costs	Estimated Amount	Key Dates	Comments
Application Fee	$75.00 (non-refundable)	Applications accepted up until January 15th for each enrollment class.	Fee expected at time of application
Acceptance Fee	$250.00 (non-refundable)	Required by: December for Early decision March for Regular decision	Fee due within one month of admission offer
Tuition	$9,000 per year (3 terms per year)	Tuition statements are mailed to students and estimated financial aid awards are credited to the students account in late July.	Tuition and fees are required to be paid in full prior to the beginning of each term. Students repeating a term a will be required to self-pay the tuition for that term only.
Institutional Fees	$1,135 2nd year $600 3rd year (non-refundable)	Tuition and fees are billed together and a statement is sent out in mid-June with the amount due.	Tuition and fees are billed per term, 3 times in an academic year. All outstanding balances must be paid in full prior to the start of class.
Textbooks	$400- $550 2nd year $350- $450 3rd year	Book list will be distributed by Faculty prior to orientation (2nd year)	Course Syllabus includes book list; Books are to be purchased prior to 1st day of class. Enrolled students notified by faculty through the Blackboard system.
Uniforms/jacket/shoes	$150- $200 (2nd year only)	May-August	Information mailed to student regarding this required purchase.
Nurse Pack Kit	Included in 2nd yr. Institutional fee	August	School orders and has delivered to DSON
Criminal Check	$10.00/yr	July/August	Processed by AMH. Form and payment submitted at N100 session
Child Abuse Clearance Check	$10.00/yr	April/July	Forms provided to incoming student.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support Class	$75.00 plus face mask $15.00	Prior to orientation for 2nd year. 3rd year must have current card.	Certified for two years.
Stethoscope	$40.00	Prior to orientation	Must be a dual head (with a bell and diaphragm)
Graduation Fees	Included in school fee for 3rd year students only.
Technology: Handheld Device	Pending	Required for August/September enrollment	Details provided to students at N100

Application and Acceptance Fees
When filing an application for admission to the School of Nursing, each applicant pays an application fee. An electronic payment (through the Bursar tab), check or money order made payable to the Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing should be forwarded with the completed application. No refund is made after the application is filed. An acceptance fee ($250) is required after notification of acceptance in order to reserve a place in the class. An electronic payment (through the Bursar tab), check or money order made payable to the Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing should be forwarded by deadline provided. This fee is non-refundable and is not credited to future tuition payments.

The Abington Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and School of Radiologic Technology are equal opportunity institutions. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status in their educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and other institutionally administered programs.

THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ITS CURRICULUM, EDUCATION POLICIES, AND EXPENSES AT ANY TIME. REASONABLE NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN. THESE CHANGES WILL BE COMMUNICATED VERBALLY AND IN WRITING.