Undergraduate Day Handbook

The Office of Financial Aid supports the University’s student services, enrollment, and retention goals by providing state, institutional, and federal student aid funds to eligible students. As such, we promote student diversity by assuring access to different funding possibilities.

The Office of Financial Aid assists prospective and enrolled students in obtaining the funds necessary to complete their educational objectives at Lynn University.

The primary purpose of the Office of Financial Aid is to provide financial assistance within its available resources to those students who, without such assistance, would be unable to attend Lynn University. Financial aid funding plays an important role for students and families in financing an education. The application and follow-up procedures are many and often create stress and confusion for students and families. We hope that this handbook will clarify the follow-up procedures necessary to complete the financial aid process.

Financial aid is available to supplement estimated student and family’s resources.  When the Office of Financial Aid receives your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it is individually reviewed to determine your eligibility for financial assistance. Your eligibility for assistance is based on demonstrated need. Demonstrated need can best be defined as the difference between the student budget, and your available financial resources. If there is a difference, then you have shown need for assistance. The Office of Financial Aid will process a financial aid package, which may include a combination of scholarships, grants, loans, and/or employment opportunities. All student financial aid packages are determined on a full-time basis. Your electronic award letter indicates the financial assistance offer. If you are an undergraduate student and enrolled in less than 12 credits during a semester, you must notify the Office of Financial Aid immediately as some of the awards may need to be adjusted.

Lynn University requires all domestic students who receive Federal, and some state aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is also required for the Federal Parent PLUS Loan and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan. The Lynn University school code is:  001505.  FAFSA application is www.studentaid.gov.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that Lynn’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you will receive at Lynn. This number results from the financial information you and your contributor(s) provided on your FAFSA form.

The Financial Aid System Tool (FAST) is the online portal made available to newly accepted students to view their financial aid award. The Workday portal is the primary area to find financial aid information for newly deposited and current students. A copy of your financial assistance award letter will be electronically provided for your review at one of these portals depending on your status. Only currently enrolled or recently deposited students will be able to decline or reduce any or some of the financial assistance. You can accept or decline each item directly on the Workday portal.

Students receiving the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG), Florida Effective Access to Student Education (FL EASE) or other state grant programs are awarded based on full-time enrollment. According to federal and state financial aid regulations, full-time enrollment constitutes 12 credit hours per semester. All other financial aid awards require at least 9 credit hours per semester. Consequently, financial aid awards may be adjusted for less than full-time attendance. Students will be liable for financial obligations arising from reduced financial aid awards.

All renewed awards for the following year are tentative until final spring grades are received and reviewed from the current year.

Institutional scholarships or grants are limited per student. You may receive an award adjustment if you receive an award from more than one Lynn University program.

Any commitment of federal or state funds is tentative and contingent upon legislative appropriation and actual receipt of the funds by Lynn University. The University cannot guarantee substitute awards if any anticipated outside sources of assistance do not materialize.

If your award includes a Federal Pell Grant, the amount shown is an estimate based on your enrollment for each semester. Since the exact amount of the Pell Grant is determined by the number of credit hours you are enrolled in for both semesters, the final award cannot be calculated until you have enrolled for the second semester.

If your award offer includes Federal Work-Study (FWS), it must be understood that the amount shown for this category is the amount of money you expect to earn during the academic year as a result of work performed. This award is not subtracted from your University bill unless prior arrangements have been made with the Office of Financial Aid and you complete a Payroll Deduction Form.

It is the policy of the University to disburse one-half of your financial aid awards (excluding FWS) at the time of each registration period (Fall and Spring semesters). In no instance will a portion of your award be disbursed prior to registration. If you have registered and submitted a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or the Office of Financial Aid has received your need analysis and the requested documents, your account will be credited each semester after the drop/add period of each semester.

Before any federal aid can be disbursed, student must have attended at least 6 credits (half-time).  This may cause a delay in disbursing financial aid.

Students who must take remedial classes may have their financial aid reduced if their credit course load toward their degree is less than 12 hours for the semester. Students receiving Title IV federal financial aid may use their Title IV aid to cover remedial courses up to the 30 credit aggregate limit.  At the current time, Lynn University does not offer any remedial courses.

Dual major students must take courses concurrently in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.  Student cannot complete their first major and then decide to take the additional 30 credits for a second major and receive federal financial aid.  Both majors need to be decided prior to the senior year and courses are to be taken concurrently if the student wishes to have federal financial aid cover through the end of the degree program for both majors.

Per federal regulations, Lynn is required to verify students’ attendance before we disburse certain federal grants and loans, including the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans.  Delays in receiving your federal funds are possible if we are unable to receive attendance confirmation from the Office of the Registrar.

Day Undergraduate                                                         12 credits per semester (Blocks A, B, C & D)

Online                                                                                    6 credits per term

Graduate                                                                           3 credits per term

Graduate Day (Psychology/Music)                                   9 credits per term

Ed.D                                                                                3 credits per term

The following is a list of financial assistance funds, which may be listed on your award letter. Certain types of funding require follow-up on your part. It is important that you complete the follow-up procedures in a timely manner in order to receive the funding.

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant program provides awards to students who qualify on the basis of demonstrated need. Your eligibility is determined by the federal government when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will receive a “Student Aid Report” (SAR) from the federal government. If you did not indicate on your application that a report be sent to Lynn University, then you must update your FAFSA online promptly, so that we can determine the exact amount of your Pell Grant.  Once you have completed the federal verification process, if required, the estimated amount shown on the award letter will become an actual amount or a revision will be made based on the information received in the verification process.  Until we receive the electronic report from the government and have completed the federal verification process, your Pell Grant will remain estimated and will not be disbursed.  This program requires 12 credit hour enrollment each term to receive the full amount estimated. Awards will be pro-rated for less than 12 credit hours.  There is a limit to the total amount of Federal Pell Grants that a student may receive, which is the equivalent of 6 school years.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG is a federal grant program. These need-based funds are awarded to the student by Lynn University. It is for a very high financial need student. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients who have a zero SAI. Early filing of the FAFSA is imperative because of limited funding (March 1 priority deadline).

TEACH Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program provides up to $4,000 per year to eligible students. Due to the Budget Control Act of 2011 (the sequester law), we are required to apply a percentage reduction to each TEACH disbursement. The current reduction amount is 6.2%. This grant is for students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.  High-need subject areas are: bilingual education and English language acquisition, foreign language, mathematics, reading specialist, science, and special education.  Failure to complete the teaching obligations, respond to requests for information, or properly document your teaching service will cause the TEACH Grant to be permanently converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• New students must have attained a 3.25 or higher GPA in high school or have scored above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (SAT, ACT)
• Current students must have a 3.25 or higher GPA to qualify
• Complete FAFSA, TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling and Agreement to Serve
• Be enrolled in one of the following TEACH Grant eligible programs at Lynn University
  • S. Elementary Education
• Exceptional Student Education
  • Ed. Exceptional Student Education
  • S. Biology
  • S. Forensic Science
  • S. Environmental Studies

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)      

The Florida Student Assistance Grant is a need-based grant available to residents of Florida who are enrolled at Lynn University. These grants are awarded for one year but are renewable for up to a total of 8 semesters, or until receipt of the Bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first, within a period of not more than six consecutive years. Funds will be awarded after drop/add in the fall to students who have the highest unmet need. The amount of the grant ranges from $600 to $1,700 per year. This grant, in conjunction with other financial aid, shall not exceed the student’s financial need.  Early filing of the FAFSA is required due to limited funding (March 1 priority deadline).

Eligibility criteria are as follows:

• You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• You must have maintained residency in Florida for a minimum of 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the academic year for which the award is made. If you are dependent, your parents must fit this definition.
• You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester) undergraduate student at Lynn University. In addition, you must maintain a 2.0 G.P.A. and complete 24 credit hours during the previous academic year for summer, fall and spring terms.
• You must submit the FAFSA indicating your desire for your information to be submitted to the state agency. You must demonstrate financial need as determined by the financial aid application (FAFSA) and your SAI must be 5000 or less. Early filing of the FAFSA is required due to limited funding (March 1 priority deadline).

Florida Effective Access to Student Education (FL EASE)

The Florida EASE Grant is a state entitlement program, which provides funds to Florida residents attending Lynn University regardless of financial need. The program is open to undergraduate students who have lived in Florida on a permanent basis for 12 months prior to the first day of classes for the academic term for which the award is made. Dependent students’ parents must fit this definition.

For the purpose of residency, an independent applicant must not be eligible to be claimed as a tax exemption by any person other than a spouse, must be self-supporting for twelve (12) months prior to the first day of classes of the academic term for which assistance is requested, and have the intent, for purposes other than education, that Florida be their legal state of residence. These grants are not repaid. The student should complete the FL EASE application and return it directly to our office. The amount of the FL EASE is approximately $2,000 per academic year.  A student must be enrolled in 12 credit hours each semester.  You must successfully complete 24 credit hours each academic year and obtain a cumulative 2.0 G.P.A. each year in order to renew this grant.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Bright Futures eligible students will receive a fixed cost per credit hour award

• Florida Academic Scholar (FAS) = $212/credit (Fall & Spring only) (subject to change @August 2024
• Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS) =  $159/credit (subject to change @ August 2024)

Full-time students must complete 12 credits each semester for renewal the next year. All students who drop a class after the standard drop/add period or withdraw from a class during the semester will have to pay back the dollar credit given for that course in order to be renewed for the following year. A student who drops or withdraws from a class must successfully complete a number of credits that is equal to the amount for which they were funded.  Bright Futures recipients who do not meet the new credit hour renewal requirements will have the opportunity to restore their award in a subsequent academic year. This applies to students who were funded and did not meet the minimum credit hour renewal requirements at the end of the academic year and thereafter.

Students must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for Bright Futures. A student cannot receive funding for more than 45 credits in one academic year.

Other State Grants

These grants are need-based and amounts vary from state to state. Check with your state agency about application procedures and deadlines.

All state awards will remain estimated and will not be disbursed until official notification is received from the state agency.

Outside Scholarships

In addition to financial aid funds awarded by or administered through the Office of Financial Aid, you may have knowledge of an outside scholarship you will be receiving. You must notify the FA office of all outside scholarships, as they may affect your financial assistance package. Funds should be mailed directly to the Office of Financial Aid. It is your responsibility to apply for or renew any outside scholarships. You may check the reference section in your local library or the Internet for publications and directories on outside scholarships that are available in your areas.  Lynn University also posts a “Scholarship Newsletter” on myLynn on outside scholarships available.

Lynn University Institutional Loan

This loan program is awarded on the basis of financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. The funds for this program are limited. The loan represents money borrowed by the student and must be repaid with interest after leaving school. The current interest rate is 5%. The student must sign an electronic promissory note for this loan and it must be returned to the Office of Financial Aid prior to registration.  Early filing of the FAFSA is required due to limited funding (March 1 priority deadline).

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is awarded based on financial need. The federal government pays the interest on subsidized loans while a student is attending at least half-time. If the Subsidized loan has been recommended as part of your financial aid award, there are a number of steps that need to be taken to apply for the loan. You must accept the loan on your Workday portal.  You must also complete the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at www.studentaid.gov.  In order for the anticipated amount of your loan to be credited to your tuition account, please complete all the required loan documents prior to August 1^st, which is  the fall semester payment due date.  Missing or incomplete loan documents will delay disbursement of your loan funds and you will be responsible to pay for the difference on your tuition bill.  If you choose not to accept the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, decline the loan on your Workday portal.  New borrowers on or after July1, 2013, may receive Federal Direct Subsidized Loans for an aggregate of 150 percent of the student’s educational program.  Once the student has reached the 150% limit, the student may borrow additional funds through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program. Direct Loans are subject to an origination fee that changes each year on October 1st. The fee reduces the amount of funds that are credited to your account.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan

This loan program is identical to the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan program requirements, except that the loan is not based on financial need and the federal government will not pay the interest. Students may wish to make the interest payments while in school or defer interest payments until graduation. Deferred interest will accrue and will be capitalized (become principal) upon graduation.  Dependent undergraduate students are eligible for up to $2,000 per year.  For independent students, the maximum eligibility is $6,000 for first and second year students, and $7,000 for third or fourth year students. Dependent students may be eligible for additional Stafford Unsubsidized Loan funds if their parent is denied for the Federal Direct PLUS loan. Direct Loans are subject to an origination fee that changes each year on October 1^st. The fee reduces the amount of funds that are credited to your account.

You may complete the loan entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note online at www.studentaid.gov

To accept the loan login to your Workday at Lynn and select Finances. Under Financial Aid Box-select Accept/Decline Awards and select the appropriate Award Year.

Student Loan Ombudsman

The FSA Student Loan Ombudsman Group is available to help federal student loan borrowers who need assistance with a loan dispute. The Loan Ombudsman Group should only be contacted when the borrower has already attempted to resolve their loan dispute with their financial aid office or loan servicer. The easiest way to contact the Loan Ombudsman Group is via on-line assistance at https://studentaid.gov/feedback-ombudsman/disputes/prepare  or by phone 877-557-2575 or by mail at:  US Department of Education Office of Federal Aid, P.O. Box 1854 Monticello, KY 46233.

Entrance Loan Counseling

For a first-time loan borrower, loan entrance counseling is required prior to receiving the first disbursement of a Federal Direct Loan.  Prior to orientation, you may do the entrance counseling online at  www.studentaid.gov.

Entrance counseling is required prior to a loan application being certified by Lynn University. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits each term to maintain loan eligibility.

Exit Loan Counseling

When a student graduates, withdraws, drops below 6 credits a semester, or transfers to another university, the student must complete exit loan counseling with the Office of Financial Aid or online at www.studentaid.gov. This is mandated by federal regulations and students who do not complete exit counseling may have records, grades, and/or cap and gown held until this process is completed. Students must conduct the exit loan counseling within 30 days from the last day they attended their classes or no earlier than 6 weeks prior to the end of the term he/she will complete.

Exit loan counseling will require you to complete forms that will give you information about the repayment of your loan, amount of debt, estimated monthly payment, and deferment options. Your rights and your responsibilities as a borrower will be reviewed again with you. Exit counseling can be completed online at www.studentaid.gov.

Loan Eligibility Requirements

Total Credit Hours Completed (includes transfer hours accepted)

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

 The Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is a program sponsored by the federal government. Parents can borrow up to the cost of attendance less any financial aid eligibility per year for each dependent student.  Repayment generally begins 60 days after the 2^nd disbursement.  In case of a student withdrawal prior to the spring semester, the spring disbursement will be cancelled. If a parent is denied a Parent PLUS loan, the student may be eligible to apply for an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan for either $4,000 or $5,000 depending on the student’s grade level. Direct Loans are subject to an origination fee that changes each year on October 1^st. The fee reduces the amount of funds that are credited to your account.

Approval of the loan is based on credit criteria as determined by the Department of Education.  A parent cannot have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done).  Adverse credit conditions include but are not limited to:

• Bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 11, or 12 within the past 5 years).
  Note: Department Policy does not consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy as adverse credit.
• Voluntary surrender within the last 5 years.
• Repossession within the last 5 years.
• Foreclosure proceedings started.
• Foreclosure within the last 5 years.
• Deed in lieu of foreclosure.
• Accounts currently 90 days or more delinquent.
• Collection accounts (open or closed) that have been placed in collection during the two years preceding the date of the credit report with a balance greater than zero.
• Charge off/write-off accounts (open or closed) that have been charged off during the two years preceding the date of the credit report with a balance greater than zero.
• Wage garnishment within the last 5 years.
• Defaulted loan that has claim paid.
• Lease or contract terminated by default.
• County/State/Federal tax lien, within the past 5 years.

 The parent must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen in order to apply.

Some parents will be required to complete PLUS Credit Counseling prior to the first disbursement of the loan if they are approved for the loan with a cosigner.  The PLUS Counseling can be completed at www.studentaid.gov.

A parent can apply for the loan online at www.studentaid.gov.

Private loans

You may choose to apply for a private loan in addition to a Federal Direct Loan. These loans are based on credit and may require a co-signer or a co-borrower. Interest rates are variable. Information on alternative loan options is available online at www.credible.com/lynn .  All private loan lenders will require you to complete and return an Application & Solicitation Disclosure prior to disbursing your funds to the university.  The Disclosure contains specific details about your loan, including your interest rate & fees, examples of loan costs once you enter repayment, federal loan alternatives and repayment deferral options.  Most private loan lenders have the capability for you to do this online on their portal.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work Study is a form of need-based federal financial aid. A student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible. Students must have a 2.0 gpa and be in good standing with the student conduct office. 

If a student is awarded Federal Work Study, the student must do the following:

1. Apply online via lynn.edu/studentjobs
2. Submit a resume, application and profile
3. Complete all hiring forms: University Policies, I-9, Direct Deposit, W-4 and Background check.  All can be

completed on line or in the Employee Services Office.

Jobs are available in almost every department on campus. Students usually work 8-12 hours per week. The pay rate is $13.00 per hour for all positions.  Off Campus Community Service positions pay $15.00 per hour.

All student employees are paid bi-weekly by direct deposit for hours worked. EARNINGS ARE NOT CREDITED TO THE STUDENT’S ACCOUNT. Student employment earnings are to be used to assist students in meeting their responsibilities for payment of educational costs including the student’s tuition bill, books, supplies and personal expenses. Funds from a Federal Work-Study award cannot be used as payment for expenses at registration since the funds have not yet been earned.

All first time student employees at Lynn University must comply with the Immigration Control and Reform Act of 1986 by presenting documents which establish your identity and work authorization, as specified by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The student will need to present items to Employee Services to confirm identity which can include items such as a picture Driver’s License, Social Security card, passport, etc.

Community Service Federal Work Study

Students can elect to apply for off-campus jobs in a community service position. Jobs available include elementary reading tutors in local schools. The pay rate is $15 per hour and having your own transportation is required.

All students receiving Title IV financial aid, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study, Federal TEACH, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, and any State Grants, will be required to sign an authorization statement. This states that if any credit is created due to the receipt of any of these funds, that the student and parent authorize the university to hold it on the student account. If at any time a student would like a refund of the excess funds, a Request for Refund Form must be completed online on the Lynn website so a refund can be processed.

Any student account that has a credit balance on the account is eligible to have a refund processed.   Families may choose to have the credit placed toward a future term or request that it be sent to their bank account.  All refunds will be processed electronically.

Day Undergraduate students must be enrolled in 6 credits for Block A in order to  have financial aid programs disburse in the first drop/add period for the semester.

Once requested, refunds normally require two to four weeks for approval and processing, from the time the credit is available on the account.

Students must complete a Refund Request form for each refund.  The form must be completed online on myLynn.

Attendance in classes is required before federal financial aid is disbursed.

International students should only pay the amount due to their student account.  Excess payments that exceed tuition, room and board costs for the current terms will be applied to a future semester to cover anticipated tuition and related fees.  Therefore, any credit balance refund will only be for a maximum amount that is estimated for books, room and board costs for the current term. (This is to comply with the Financial Record Keeping and

Reporting of Currency and Foreign Transactions Act of 1970 (31 U.S.C. 5311 et seq.)

Credit Balance Refund schedule

Term Dates                                          Refund Request Online    Financial Aid                     Estimated Date                                                         

                                                             Submission Date By        Disbursement Date          Refunds Begin                             

Day Terms

Fall         A   08/25/24 – 09/21/24               08/26/24                      09/03/24                                09/10/24

               B   09/22/24 – 10/19/24               09/15/24                      09/20/24                                09/24/24

               C   10/20/24 – 11/16/24               10/23/24                      10/28/24                                10/29/24

               D   11/17/24 – 12/14/24               11/16/24                      11/21/24                                11/26/24

Spring    A   01/05/25 – 02/01/25               01/10/25                      01/15/25                                01/21/25

               B   02/02/25 – 03/01/25               02/02/25                      02/06/25                                02/11/25

               C   03/09/25 – 04/05/25               03/08/25                      03/13/25                                03/18/25

               D   04/06/25 – 05/03/25               04/05/25                      04/10/25                                04/15/25

Summer     05/04/25 – 05/31/25                05/07/25                      05/12/25                                05/13/25

Every year, the Department of Education selects a percentage of all FAFSA applications to be verified. Office of Financial Aid has partnered with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, aka KHEAA, to assist us in the FAFSA verification process.. Our partnership with KHEAA Verify allows us to use their highly efficient and effective automated verification tool to streamline the process.  KHEAA  Verify will perform all of the verification duties for our students once they receive the required documents from the student and/or family.  By using KHEAA Verify to complete the verification process for us, it allows us more time to work with our students one-on-one and it will improve  our turn-around time in getting your aid accepted and disbursed to your account.

Students and parents of dependent students will begin the process at http://www.kheaaverifty.com/lynn; please follow the steps for new students and parents to create your MyKHEAA User ID and password.  Returning students can use their existing KHEAA login information.  You will be able to complete the required verification worksheet and upload & submit the required tax forms electronically once you are logged in.

Any financial aid awards shall be void if and when incorrect information is revealed on the student admissions application, the need analysis form or the Student Aid Report.

All students are required to pay an enrollment deposit for their first semester. Estimated financial aid cannot be used to pay the enrollment deposit. The enrollment deposit is non-refundable after May 1, 2024 for new students enrolling in the 2024-2025 academic year.  The enrollment deposit fee is applied as a credit towards the tuition bill for the first semester.

For benefit certification purposes, any student receiving VA benefits must submit to the Office of Financial Aid a copy of their DD 214, Certificate of Eligibility, and Application for Benefits (www.vets.gov or benefits.va.gov/gibill) showing the type of benefit eligibility. You must report enrollment status changes to the Office Financial Aid and to your case manager. Please be aware that you may be liable to repay the VA for course load reductions unless you can establish acceptable mitigating circumstances causing the reduction. Financial Aid will evaluate each Veteran/Veteran dependents’ credits each semester and report them to the Veterans Administration.  If a veteran/veteran dependent withdraws, it will count towards his/her benefits eligibility.  If a veteran/veteran dependent drops a course they will not receive payment.  Financial Aid will monitor all VA students’ academic records.  Please see VA website for further information on policies and procedures. 

If a student withdraws from Lynn University prior to the completion of 60% of the term and if Active Duty Tuition Assistance (TA) funds have been used to pay all or any portion of the charges, the TA will be pro-rated and returned to TA.  Unearned TA funds will be returned to TA based on the number of calendar days not attended.  Any withdrawals after 60% of the term will be considered as fully earned.

Lynn University is a participant of the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program), which is a provision of the Post – 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The institution is in agreement with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses, and VA will match the same amount as the institution.  For the 2024-2025  academic year, Lynn University‘s commitment to the Yellow Ribbon program is capped at $13,000 for day undergraduate program, which means the Veterans Administration (VA) will also commit to $13,000. The Ch. 33 benefits will already cover $27,120, so in total the VA benefits can pay is up to $53,120 Any excess costs beyond $53,120 will be borne by the student.

Lynn University complies with the Executive Order 13607 Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Service Member, Veterans, Spouses, and other family members.  Any new student that expects to receive veteran’s benefits must meet with the VA certifying Officer to review the financial costs and academic plan prior to enrollment of their first year.

Be sure all prior academic transcripts are received and reviewed by our Transfer Advisor, as your credit hours accepted may change your Federal Direct loan amount eligibility.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid – Day, Online and Graduate Divisions

Financial aid is awarded contingent upon the recipient maintaining satisfactory academic standing and progress (SAP) toward a degree.  Students on federal financial aid (Title IV) will be evaluated annually, both qualitatively and quantitatively, at the end of the spring semester for Day Division students and at the end of the Spring II term for Online and Graduate Division students. To assess the quality of a student’s work, Lynn University uses the Fixed Standard which indicates that all students must meet their degree GPA requirement at the end of Spring/Spring II.  Associate’s/bachelor’s students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, master’s degree students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and doctoral students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25. For the quantitative measure, a student must complete his/her degree within a specific time frame, as shown below.

Students receiving Title IV funding must complete their degrees within a maximum time frame as shown below.   The maximum timeframe is 150% of the published length of the program, measured in credit hours:

Associate Degree (60 credits hours required)

Maximum timeframe: 90 credit hours

Bachelor Degree (120 credit hours required)

Maximum timeframe: 180 credit hours

Master’s Degree (36 credit hours required)

Maximum timeframe: 54 credit hours

Ed.D. (51 credit hours required)

Maximum timeframe: 76.5 credit hours

Each Title IV recipient must meet a specific measurement of academic progress within the specified time frame as follows:

Associate Degree/Bachelor Degree

Full-time: 20 credits (annually)

Part-time: 10 credits (annually)

Master’s Degree

Full-time: 24 credits (annually)

Part-time: 12 credits (annually)

Ed.D.

Full-time: 12 credits (annually)

Part-time: 6 credits (annually)

A course that receives a grade of “W” for a course withdrawal or a grade of an “I” for an incomplete or a falling grade of a “F” or an “NP” for Not Pass will be evaluated as a non-completed course. These non-completed courses will jeopardize the student’s ability to be able to meet the Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid.

In order to improve their knowledge of a subject and cumulative grade point average, students may elect to repeat a course in which they have earned a less than satisfactory grade, especially a “D” or an “F.” The higher grade will be the grade that contributes toward the cumulative grade point average. Lynn University does allow repetition of a course in a student’s enrollment status for a term as long as student has never passed the course.  Students can retake a passed course once to improve the initial grade and receive Title IV funds.  In situations where the course needed to be repeated is no longer available or offered, a similar course may be substituted with the approval of the dean of the college. A course in which a grade of “F” was earned at Lynn University can be repeated only at Lynn University.  The repeated course is only counted once in the SAP calculation.

Transfer courses that are completed at another approved university or program while the student is receiving Title IV aid from Lynn University will be counted towards the student’s completion rate.  Transfer courses that were completed at another school prior to the student being enrolled as a matriculating student at Lynn University, and that apply to the student’s current degree program, will be counted towards their overall completion rate.  Although credits transfer in from other institutions, grades do not.  Transfer courses are listed on the transcript with a grade of T, CP or CC.  A student’s Lynn grade point average is based solely on courses completed at Lynn University.

A student requesting academic forgiveness at Lynn University due to a change in their major, specialization or minor is allowed to discount up to two courses in the abandoned program, but they are not eligible to change their federal status for meeting the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid. Therefore, eligibility for federal student aid must include all courses attempted and taken in evaluating the student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility.

Courses taken during any of the summer terms are treated as a trailer to the current academic year and those courses are counted towards a students’ cumulative GPA and degree progression during the SAP review process. Therefore, SAP review will be evaluated at the end of the summer term

If a student takes courses that count towards their current program during a period of enrollment in which the student did not receive federal student aid, those courses still count in the student’s progress towards degree evaluation.

In summary, all students must meet both criteria; the grade point average requirement and degree time frame completion, in order to continue to receive financial assistance. In essence, at least 67% of the cumulative courses attempted must be completed with a 2.0 or above cumulative grade point average for the associate/ bachelor’s program, 3.0 or above cumulative grade point average for the master’s program and 3.25 or above cumulative grade point average for the doctoral program.

A student who does not meet one or both of the criteria will lose their eligibility for federal student aid for the upcoming academic year (fall & spring), however, the student may appeal these standards if there has been undue hardship (i.e., medical, death, divorce or other special circumstances).

Students that do not meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by both qualitative and quantitative measures by the conclusion of the spring semester or spring II term will have an opportunity to appeal their circumstances.   Students will be notified via e-mail (Lynn University e-mail address & personal e-mail address, if provided) if they did not meet the SAP requirements.  If the student chooses to complete the appeal process, they can request an appeal in person at the Student Financial Services Office or by contacting our office via phone or e-mail.  The appeal form must be completed by the student, their parent if they are a dependent student, and their academic advisor. The appeal must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office for review by the Financial Aid Committee. The appeal must include an explanation of why the student failed to make SAP and what has changed in their personal situation that will allow them to meet SAP requirements by the next evaluation period.  The appeal must be provided with supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving the federal financial aid termination e-mail notification.   The appeal form also requires the student to complete an academic plan with their advisor for the following semester.  An academic plan is for one semester only.  It must indicate which courses the student is required to take and the minimum grade expectations for each course which will enable the student to increase their GPA and meet academic progress towards their degree.  The academic plan must be completed with the academic advisor prior to submitting the appeal to our office.

If the Appeals Committee approves the student’s request for reinstatement, the student will be notified via e-mail that their federal financial aid has been reinstated for one probationary semester.  They will also receive a hard copy of their approved appeal form via U.S. mail.

Financial aid probation lasts for one semester.  Academic progress will be reviewed after the final grades and cumulative GPA are calculated for the probationary semester/term.   Students who met the academic progress requirements during their probationary period (including students who successfully met the requirements of their academic plan) will be notified via e-mail that they have regained eligibility for federal student aid and are no longer on a probationary status.  If a student requires an additional semester/s in order to meet the SAP requirements, they can submit a new academic plan for the upcoming semester.  If approved, their progress will be evaluated again upon completion of the payment period.

If a student fails to complete their probationary semester successfully, their federal financial aid will be terminated. The student will be eligible for reinstatement of Title IV aid once all satisfactory academic progress standards (course completion and GPA requirement) are met; their eligibility will be reviewed during the next SAP review period which is at the end of spring/spring II.

Students that do not file an appeal, or who have their appeal denied, will be eligible for reinstatement of Title IV aid once all satisfactory academic progress standards (course completion and GPA requirements) are met; their eligibility will be reviewed during the next SAP review period which is at the end of spring/spring II.

The Standards of Academic progress apply to the following programs:

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)

Federal Parent Loan for undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

Federal Work Study program

Federal TEACH Grant

In addition, specific financial aid programs require the following cumulative GPA for renewals:

Presidential Scholarship, Top Achiever’s Scholarship, and Academic Achievement Scholarship

3.5 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester

Dean’s Scholarship, 

3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester

Lynn Academic Scholarship, Transfer Scholarship,  Merit Scholarship,  Academic Grant, Knight Award 

2.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester

Lynn University Grant,  

2.75 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester

Music Scholarship

2.75 cumulative grade point average, a B or better in Applied Music Instrument lessons, and fulfill requirements set forth in the Conservatory Student Handbook

Athletic Scholarship

2.0  cumulative grade point average each semester

Florida Effective Access to Student Education (FL EASE)

A renewal student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and have completed 24 credit hours during two semesters (fall and spring). A student is eligible for one probationary year if he or she earns 24 credit hours but falls below a 2.0 cumulative grade point average after the end of the spring semester.

Florida Bright Futures

3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the spring semester for Bright Futures Academic and 2.75 cumulative grade point average for Bright Futures Medallion.  In addition, student must complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester if they were funded for full-time enrollment; 9 credits for three-quarter time enrollment and 6 credits for half-time enrollment.

Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)

A renewal student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and have completed 24 credit hours during two semesters (fall and spring).  Must meet the need based eligibility requirement and the institutional FAFSA priority deadline.

Veterans Benefits

Students who fail to achieve the desired level of academic performance after two consecutive semesters of academic probation will be terminated for Veterans Administration pay purposes. 

If a student is unable to meet the above requirements, he or she must contact the Office of Financial Aid to investigate if other arrangements are possible.

Students requesting an academic bankruptcy at Lynn University are not eligible to change their federal status for standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid. The federal guidelines prohibit the concept of academic bankruptcy. Therefore, the financial aid office must always include all courses attempted and taken in evaluating the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility.

The academic forgiveness policy may only be used once in a student’s college career.  However, a student requesting an academic forgiveness at Lynn University is not eligible to change their federal status for the Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid.  Therefore, the financial aid must always include all courses attempted and taken in evaluating the student’s satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility.

The forgiveness policy allows a student who has changed his or her major, specialization or minor to discount up to two courses in the abandoned program. The transcript will reflect the student’s complete record with an added notation of “Academic Forgiveness Declared” by the selected course(s); however, the grade(s) will not be calculated in the cumulative GPA. Neither the grades nor the credits will be counted toward graduation requirements. A forgiveness policy form is available in the registrar’s office and will need the signature of the dean of the school of the newly chosen program, as well as registrar approval.

Federal financial aid funds can be paid for only one repetition of a previously passed course.  Passing grades are “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” and “P”.  A student may repeat a failed course until passed and use federal financial funds.

All refund requests must be made on line on the lynn.edu website by the student and financial responsible party. Student under 24 years of age will be required to obtain parental authorization for any refund request over $100. The request cannot be made any earlier than the last day of add/drop of the semester.  Any Title IV financial aid refunds will be processed within 14 days of the refund request or within 14 days of when the funds are credited to the account, whichever is later. Students should set up their banking information in Workday. When the refund is processed, an email notification will be sent by the Refund System that the information was sent to our bank and you should receive your funds within 3 days in your bank. All disbursed financial aid must first go to any outstanding charges on the account.

If you have received an outside scholarship or other form of assistance not listed on the official financial aid award (this includes Tuition Reimbursement), you should contact the Office of Financial Aid immediately. An over-award may result if you fail to disclose this information. A revised financial aid award will be issued if an over-award occurs, reducing some type of aid.

A student who receives financial assistance awards or scholarships from outside sources may not receive funding from such sources that, in combination with university assistance, exceed the direct cost of tuition and fees as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.

Lynn-Approved Semester and Year-Long Program

Students participating on a Lynn Approved semester or year-long program will be billed directly by Lynn University.  Student will be charged Lynn fees including tuition, room and board (when applicable) for the academic year or semester.  Lynn University will handle payments to program providers on behalf of the students.  Lynn University will cover tuition and mandatory academic fees, room and board (when applicable), medical insurance and any other mandatory fees.  Student is responsible for any refundable fees, airfare, books, required visas and personal expenses.  Student will be billed directly by Lynn University Student Accounts as if they were attending the semester or academic year on Lynn University’s campus. 

Student receiving financial aid may use some of their aid to offset the cost of the program.   Student must make an appointment with their financial aid counselor to review their financial aid package and discuss how it will be applied to the Lynn-Approved Program.  There is a limit on how much institutional scholarship is allowed to be applied towards the student abroad costs.

There are no institutional programs available for the summer terms. The programs available for the summer terms are Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, private loan programs, and Florida Bright Futures. Students must be in at least 6 credits for the summer and if the maximum loan limit has been used up for the year then the students must be intending to return for the Fall semester for at least 6 credits to obtain a loan or the loan will be pro-rated.

Financial aid awards are not automatically renewable.

Financial aid must be applied for each year. You may continue to receive financial assistance if you show continued evidence of financial need, scholastic achievement, and personal responsibility. Students who wish to continue financial assistance must apply each year online through www.studentaid.gov.   The new FAFSA application opens on October 1st. A new application must be submitted each academic year by March 1st for priority awarding.

The specific amounts awarded to you in each aid category can usually be expected to change each year. Changes may occur for many reasons including increases or decreases in your family’s ability to contribute, aid received from outside sources, the family assuming more responsibility of the student’s education, or increased demand for financial aid funds.

Your eligibility is based on the best information we have available.  During the course of the academic year, we may find it necessary to revise your award package.  For example, after we prepare your initial award package, we may be notified that you are receiving another form of financial assistance, such as a scholarship.  When we are informed of this fact, we will update your award package with this additional aid.  Other possible reasons for revised awards include, but are not limited to, notification of other state awards, notification of employment or changes to your financial data on the FAFSA.

A monthly payment plan is available for those parents and/or students who wish to make monthly payments on the university costs. Monthly payment plans begin May 1, 2024 and must be completed by April 1, 2025.

Enrollment will be available on the Student Finances Portal.  All users need to be set up by the student to allow access to this site. Enrollment fee of $35 per semester and the first payment needs to be made upon enrollment.  Payments can be made by credit card or checking and students  can set up auto debits for each month.

Interested parents and/or students may contact the Student Accounts office if they need assistance with online enrollment. Instructions on how to enroll in the Installment Monthly Plan can be found under the Student Finances tab in myLynn.

If you receive a scholarship at Lynn University you should carefully read the information enclosed with the scholarship notification letter. Students are not allowed to combine institutional programs. The student may lose an institutional scholarship or grant program if he/she accepts a second type of institutional program. Some institutional scholarships require that you live on-campus. If you become a commuter, then your scholarship or grant will be reduced by the housing award. Please review your scholarship letter and electronic award letter carefully to know if this affects you.

There are private loan programs available for international students. The amount that can be borrowed is up to the cost of attendance at our university. Students will need to obtain a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as a co-signer. Students may  apply  for private loans at www.credible.com/lynn.

International students that receive scholarships for their education at a U.S. university may be liable for paying taxes to the U.S. Government if they meet certain criteria:

If the student is from a treaty country, they will usually be exempt for a period not exceeding 5 years. The amount of the award that is not exempt has a withholding of 14%.

Currently, the countries that do have a reciprocal scholarship tax treaty with the United States are: Bangladesh, China, Commonwealth of Independent States, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine and Venezuela.  Countries are subject to change.   

Students from any other country will have 14 percent taxes withheld and billed to their school account.  If the student is from a non-treaty country, any room and board will be taxed at the 14 percent rate. Every international student can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Applications are available at the Office of Student Financial Services.  Students must pay the taxes to Lynn University within 30 days or they will be penalized by the IRS and have to pay additional interest charges. All international students will be required to file an IRS form 8843 and 1040NR with the IRS and submit a W-7 form to IRS by April 15, 2025.

These tax forms are available on line at:  https://fnis.thomsonreuters.com/lynn/. Any student who does not comply with the filing of the tax returns will not have his/her scholarships renewed. The student may contact an international student advisor for more information.

The Foreign National information System (FNIS) is available to all Lynn University international students.  They can utilize the site for all their required US tax forms and obtain  information on how their tax fee was calculated.

Under current IRS regulation any U.S. citizen receiving scholarships or grants that exceed tuition, fees, books and supplies must report the amount as taxable income on their income tax return.

A 1098 T, Tuition Statement is available for all students each calendar year by January 30.  This statement will provide all amounts paid for tuition and total scholarships received.

If you have had your financial circumstances change, you must notify the Financial Aid Office. Circumstance changes include but not limited to are: death of a parent or spouse, loss of income, excessive medical/dental expenses, divorce/separation, loss of employment, or disability of student, parent, or spouse.

The student may request a medical Leave of Absence from study in an undergraduate degree program at Lynn University.  The student must receive approval from the Dean of Students.  Each student may request up to one year of leave.  Students receiving federal financial aid will be treated as a “withdrawal” for funds recalculations and funds will be returned to the appropriate agencies, if applicable.  For financial aid purposes, the Lynn LOA does not meet the federal definition of eligibility and therefore the institutional Leave of Absence will be considered as a withdrawal from the University.  This may cause a financial obligation to be due to Lynn upon exiting the University and for the student to go into repayment of their student loans. 

Return of Title IV Funds Policy (R2T4)

Title IV funds affected by this policy include: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan  and TEACH Grant. Title IV funds are awarded to a student under the assumption the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws or stops attending all of his or her classes for a two week period, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive. 

The university is required to calculate a “Return to Title IV Refund Calculation” (R2T4) if the student has stopped attending or withdrawn prior to completion of 60 percent of the term. 

If Title IV financial aid has been used to pay for all or any portion of these charges, financial aid program funds will be reimbursed to the appropriate agency in accordance with a formula required by federal regulations. Unearned Title IV funds will be returned to the Title IV Programs based on the number of days not attended.

A student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement if the R2T4 calculation shows that the student was eligible for aid that the school was unable to disburse prior to their withdrawal.  To be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, the university must have received a valid FAFSA with an official SAI prior to the student’s withdraw date.    The university must notify the student that they are eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement within 30 days from the date of determination that the student withdrew.   The disbursement must be completed within 180 days of the withdraw date.  Title IV grant funds must be disbursed before Title IV loan funds.  Title IV grant funds have to be disbursed no later than 45 days after the date the student withdrew.  The university can disburse Title IV grant funds without the student’s permission for current charges but written authorization from the student is required if the post-withdrawal disbursement is for non-current charges or if the funds to be disbursed are Title IV loans.

When a return of unearned Title IV funds is required, the university must return the lesser of:

• the student’s institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage, or
• the entire amount of excess funds.

The order of refunds will be:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal SEOG
• Federal TEACH Grant
• Other Title IV aid programs

The university is required to return unearned Title IV funds within 45 days of the date the university determined the student withdrew.

R2T4 requirements are separate from Lynn University’s refund policy.  Therefore, this policy may result in a financial obligation that is payable to the university at the time of a student’s withdrawal or when the school determines the student has stopped attending classes.

Example: Student received a Direct Subsidized Loan for $1,732, a Direct Unsubsidized Loan for $990 and a Direct Parent PLUS for $18,152 during the fall semester. Student attended almost four weeks into the semester and then withdrew from all of their classes for personal reasons.  Based on the student’s last day of attendance, the R2T4 calculation determines that the student attended for 26 days and earned 26.5 percent of their federal student aid for the payment period. The student is eligible for $5,532 of the aid that was disbursed (26.5% x $20,874) and the school is required to return the difference of $15,342: $1,732 Direct Subsidized Loan, $990 Direct Unsubsidized Loan and $12,620 Direct Parent PLUS Loan. The student will owe this amount to the university as charges would not be adjusted after 25 days into the semester, per the schools refund policy.

Withdrawal Refund Policy

Withdrawal from the university is a formal procedure that requires submission of a Request for Withdrawal form available in the Student Success Office.  If the student received or was eligible for federal student aid, an R2T4 calculation is required if the student did not complete at least 60 percent of the period of enrollment.  For official withdrawals, the university will use the date the student submitted the completed Request for Withdrawal as the date the student withdrew.

If a student stops attending all of their registered courses for a period of two weeks, and we are not able to confirm that the students intends on resuming their courses in the foreseeable future, an R2T4 calculation will be done to determine if a student earned all of the federal student aid that they received or were eligible for during the period of enrollment.  The student If a student stops attending all of their registered courses for a period of two weeks, and we are not able to confirm that the is considered to be an unofficial withdrawal from the university and federal student aid may need to be refunded in accordance with federal regulations.  The student will not be officially withdrawn from their courses.  For unofficial withdrawals, the university will use the student’s last date of attendance as an academically related activity as the withdrawal date.

All students withdrawing must report to the Office of Financial Aid for an exit loan interview.

If a student withdraws anytime during a semester, ALL Lynn University grants and scholarship funds will be pro-rated based on the amount of weeks they actually attended the University.  This policy may result in a student having a financial obligation to the University which is payable at the time of a student’s withdrawal.

Calculation of Refundable Amounts for Day Program

The table below is based on accounts paid in FULL.   

Room Charges

Prior to Aug. 1, 2024 for Fall   2024                                                 100 %

Prior to Dec.  1,  2024  for Spring   2025                                         100 %

Prior to May. 1, 2025 for Summer 2025                                       100 %

After the above dates                                                                         NO REFUND

Refund

The refund amount will be reduced by any financial aid that is cancelled due to the withdrawal. Refund checks will be mailed to the permanent home address on file within four to six weeks of the withdrawal date. Any remaining balance due after the refund adjustment is the obligation of the parent/student.