The webinar provided an overview of financial aid at Aquinas College. It discussed the philosophy of financial aid being a means to access higher education and supplement family contributions. It outlined the total yearly costs of attendance and described the different types of merit-based, need-based, and institutional aid available, including how financial need is determined. The application process and components of an award package were explained. Contact information was provided for attendees to ask questions or schedule a campus visit.

1. Aquinas College Webinar: All About Financial Aid
Presented by the Aquinas College Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
Ian Turnbell
Sarah Babish
Martha Martinez

2. PHILOSOPHY OF FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid is a topic to be addressed with sensitivity
Our Finanical Aid and Student Accounts offices are here to provide financial resources and
information that will enable students to maximize their education experience
A means to an end – Financial Aid is providing you access to higher education
Financial aid is not intended to cover all the costs of your college education, rather, it is meant to
supplement your family contribution

3. TUITION AND FEES
Tuition:
$19,950
Required fees:
$600
Total cost: $20,550
Room:
$5,500
Board:
$3,200
Total cost: $29,250 / yr
*This does not include the cost of books, or other student incurred expenses

4. BASICS OF FINANCIAL AID
Merit-based (Academic Scholarships)
Merit-based aid depends on your academic merit and does not depend on the existence of
financial need
Need-based (Loans and Grants)
Need-based aid is awarded based on information from your FAFSA
Special Awards
Institutional awards
Catholic Student Award
Housing grant
Outside awards
These awards will complement your financial aid package
Should be reported to the financial aid office

5. HOW IS FINANCIAL NEED
DETERMINED?
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- A FAFSA is required to receive any type of need-based aid (loans, grants, etc)
A student’s need is calculated by finding the difference between the cost of attendance and a
family’s expected family contribution (EFC)
-What
are the parents able to contribute? (Parent Contribution – PC)
-What
is the student able to contribute? (Student Contribution – SC)

6. TYPES OF AID – FEDERAL / STATE
Federal Aid
PELL Grant
Determined by need, based on FAFSA (EFC and COA)
Maximum of $5,645 per year
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Available to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need
Awarded by the school
Up to $750 per year
Federal Work Study
Eligibility determined by FAFSA
Students work on campus to earn money for college related expenses
Tennessee State Aid
HOPE Scholarship
21 ACT or 3.0 GPA
Up to $4,000 per year (or $6,000 if enrolled full time through the summer)
ASPIRE Award
Meet HOPE requirements
Household adjusted gross income of less than $36,000/year
Award amount – up to $1,500 per year - supplement to the HOPE scholarship
General Assembly Merit Scholarship
Graduate from a TN Public or Private school (recognized by the state as an accredited institution)
3.75 weighted GPA AND 29 ACT score
$1,000 per year

7. TYPES OF LOANS
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized (Stafford Loans)
Subsidized
Available to undergraduates who demonstrate financial need
Government pays interest on the loan until six months after student gradutes or leaves school
Unsubsidized
Not based on need
Student pays all interest, which starts accruing immediately, including while enrolled in school
PLUS Loan – Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students
Parents may borrow up to the full cost of their children’s education, less the amount of any other financial
aid received
Credit check required
Available to parents of dependent children
Personal Loans and/or Private Loans

8. TYPES OF AID - INSTITUTIONAL
President and Vice President’s Scholarships
President’s Scholarship - ACT 28 / SAT 1260 (Critical Reading & Math) and a minimum 3.5 GPA
Award: 100% tuition
Vice President’s Scholarship - ACT 25 / SAT 1140 (Critical Reading & Math) and a minimum 3.2 GPA
Award: 50% tuition
**Two letters of recommendation and a personal interview are required for both of these scholarships
Academic Scholarships
The Provost’s Award for Academic Excellence- $4,000
Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence- $3,000
Distinguished Scholar Award- $2,000
Aquinas Scholar Award - $1,000
Housing Grant - for out of state students – amounts vary
Catholic Student Award - $2,000
Transfer Student Scholarship:
-
Two transfer award levels $1,000 and $2,000 (depends on GPA 2.75 or 3.5)
Students notified of scholarship at time of admission
Students also eligible for Catholic Student Scholarship and Housing Grant

9. APPLICATION PROCESS
1) Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov to be considered for federal and state aid (a
FAFSA is not required for merit based or endowed scholarships, and must be completed each
year)
Tennessee students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA prior to March 1st because of limited
state funding
2) List code 003477 - the FAFSA form requests school codes for your college choices - be sure
to list Aquinas College as your first choice to avoid delays in processing your file
You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR)
You may be selected for Verification
3) Complete the Aquinas College Scholarship Application
4) Students accepting Stafford, PLUS, or Alternative Loans are required to complete a Master
Promissory Note

10. YOUR AWARD PACKAGE
Financial Aid Shopping Sheet – you will receive a
copy of your shopping sheet after you have
been admitted to the college and after you
have submitted your FAFSA
You must accept/decline components of your
award package in the student portal
Student portal is accessible through the Aquinas
College website
This shows your net cost to attend Aquinas

11. PAYING YOUR BILL
In order to pay your bill, you must first log in to the student portal:
http://www.aquinascollege.edu/student-and-faculty-login/
You can either pay your tuition balance in full, or sign up for the Installment Payment Plan
Installment Payment Plan:
¼ of balance plus the $55.00 payment plan fee is due at enrollment (this $55 fee is due each term)
3 additional payments are due on the 1st of the following three months
ECHECK payment has no additional fee
All credit and debit cards are charged a 2.9% user fee
**You may allow payment access to a parent or other third party by adding them on your payment
page under the Parent Pin Box**

12. Q AND A:
Questions?

13. Please contact the Office of Admissions at:
4210 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 297-7545
E-mail Ian: turnbelli@aquinascollege.edu
E-mail Sarah: babishs@aquinascollege.edu
E-mail Martha: martinezm@aquinascollege.edu

14. Interested in visiting? Please complete our campus visit
request form:
http://www.aquinascollege.edu/admissions/visit-aquinascollege/
Or
Contact Anthony Lena, our Campus Visit Coordinator, at
615-297-7545 ext. 428