FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

The University allows departments to assess other educationally related charges to your student account in order to consolidate billing. Some of these charges might include parking permit fees, health center charges, library fees and other miscellaneous charges. Federal Title IV financial aid funds will not automatically pay other educationally related charges; however, if you are a recipient of Federal aid funds, you may voluntarily give the University permission to pay these other educationally related charges from your federal aid funds. Please note, per federal regulations there are some fees that cannot be paid with Federal Title IV financial aid funds, even if you provide authorization in writing, such as, late registration fee, add/drop fee, service fee, installment payment plan fee, late fees, return item fee, and stop payment fee. To authorize Federal aid funds please follow these steps:

1. Students will need to log in to their Student Home Base in LionPATH
2. Click on "My Finances" on top of the page
3. Click on "Permission to Use Federal Aid"
4. Click on "Grant Permission"
5. Follow instructions to submit request

You have the right to rescind your approval by contacting the Bursar's Office. If you rescind your approval, you will not be able to grant permission again for the same semester.

If you are interested in student aid, contact the Office of Student Aid or the student aid representative at your Penn State Campus.

Your Aid Offer is available in LionPATH. The Aid Offer allows you to view your financial aid information for each semester of the academic year. To access it, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Student Home Base in LionPATH
2. Click on "My Finances" on top of the page
3. Click on" Financial Aid" on the left navigation menu 
4. Click on "Financial Aid Award" and select the year you wish you see

Any action required will be listed on your Student Aid Checklist. We encourage you to check your Student Aid Summary often for any updates.

The Master Promissory Note for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan can be completed online or by contacting the Office of Student Aid. Information for completing the MPN.

Federal Regulations require the completion of a Loan Entrance Counseling Session prior to the disbursement of your student loan(s). Entrance counseling provides information that will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower, as well as other tools to assist you with managing your loans.

A hold is placed until the Loan Entrance Counseling is complete. Information on how to complete loan counseling.  

In most cases, you will only need to complete entrance counseling once during your degree.

To complete the entrance counseling requirement:

Click on "Complete Aid Process" at studentaid.gov and select "Complete Entrance Counseling"

Choose your loan type, then log in with your FSA I.D.

Select the school name "PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (THE)", and whether you are completing the entrance counseling as an "undergraduate" or "graduate/professional" student

Progress through the counseling tool until you complete all sections

The Office of Student Aid will be notified within 3-5 business days after you complete entrance counseling.

Your record has been selected for a process called Verification. You will need to provide some additional information to the Office of Student Aid (or the Office of Veterans Affairs) BEFORE your loan can be credited to your student account. Please review your Aid Offer on LionPATH for additional information. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Student Aid.

Your record indicates that you attended another school other than Penn State. Federal Regulations require you to provide a Financial Aid Transcript (FAT) from each institution BEFORE your loan can be credited to your student account. To determine the school(s) that must provide an FAT to Penn State, please contact the Office of Student Aid.

The first step in being considered for financial assistance is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, contact the Office of Student Aid at the Penn State campus nearest you.

The Office of Student Aid website has information on Grants.

If you have a Federal Perkins/University/Primary Care student loan(s), Federal Regulations and school policy require students who are no longer enrolled, or enrolled less than half-time, complete student loan exit counseling. Through this exit counseling, you will be informed of your rights and responsibilities regarding your student loans. Exit interviews provide a complete explanation of repayment, deferment and cancellation privileges.

If you are graduating or your enrollment falls below half-time status, you will receive an e-mail invitation to conduct an Online Exit Interview Session.

If you withdraw or are enrolled less than half-time and do not receive an email invitation to complete exit counseling, please contact Student Financial Services using the Contact Us form in our website and an invitation with instructions will be emailed to you. Paper exit counseling packets are available upon request. Please note, a registration hold will be placed if exit counseling is not completed.

Upon expiration of the grace period, your student loan(s) will enter repayment and begin to accrue interest. Your loan(s) will initially be billed monthly. If you prefer a quarterly repayment plan, contact us at 814-865-6528, option 5.

Only students with loans receive loan statements from Heartland ECSI. Statements are issued on the 10th of each month by Heartland ECSI and payment is due by the first of the following month (example: loan statement generated on July 10th, will be due August 1st). Paper statements are mailed to the address on file, unless you enroll in E-bill to receive your statements electronically. Please note, Authorized Payers (with access to Penn State’s student accounts) do not have access to loan information.

To make a payment please go to our partner's (ECSI) system and log into the web-site as follows:

• Click on the "Sign In or Register" button at the top of the page and enter your EasyPath Profile username and password.
• If you do not have an EasyPath Profile username or password, complete the registration process and your Heartland Key (located on prior correspondence such as a billing statement) to connect to the account to your profile.
• If you have not received your Heartland Key through prior correspondence, you should contact Heartland ECSI Customer Service. 
• Once connected, you will be redirected to your account.
• Click on "Account Tools".
• Available information will include but not limited to making one time or automatic online payments.

If you prefer not to pay online, our office accepts various forms of payment which include personal checks, bank checks, certified checks, and money orders.

Checks and money orders should be made payable to Penn State. Include the appropriate portion of your billing statement with your check and remit to the following address:

Penn State
Student Financial Services
108 Shields Building
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802

A payment-free period during which no principal or interest accrues.

Your loan is from a revolving fund, which means that as you repay your loan(s), Penn State is able to lend funds to other students.

NO. You may prepay your loan(s) without being charged penalty fees.

Yes. It is your responsibility to notify Student Financial Services if you change your name, address and/or telephone number. Regardless of other departments within the University that you may notify, you must also notify this office at:

Penn State
Office of the Bursar
Attn.: Student Financial Services
103 Shields Building
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802
Fax: 814-865-6535

A deferment is a payment-free period during which principal and interest do not accrue.  The Deferment section of the Bursar's website has information, forms and instructions.

Yes. You must complete exit counseling with Student Financial Services during your last semester of enrollment at Penn State as at least a half-time student. Information on how to defer your loan payment(s) while enrolled at another institution.

A loan consolidation combines your federally funded student loans into a single loan. The new loan reduces your number of payments to worry about each month while also reducing your payment amount with a longer repayment period. More information regarding consolidations is provided in our website. 

If you are interested in loan consolidation, contact your Federal Direct Loan Servicer to see if you are eligible for consolidation. Additional information concerning student loan consolidations and the application process is provided at the Federal Direct Consolidation Loans Information Center or by telephone at 1-800-557-7392.

The following actions may occur on a loan in default;

• Assessment of a $5.00 per month fee.
• Placement of a hold that may prevent future registration.
• Delinquency reported to a national credit bureau. Credit ratings remain on the Credit Bureau records for approximately seven years following the date of first delinquency. Delinquencies may affect your ability to obtain future loans and employment.
• Ineligibility for future Title IV financial aid until the loan is out of default.
• Placement of the loan with a licensed collection agency. Collection fees charged by the agency can be up to 30% of your loan balance if placed with a collection agency for the first time or 40% for subsequent collection efforts and/or litigation.

Please call 814-865-6528, option 5, or click on the  "Contact "link at the top of this page.

Outside scholarships are available to students who are willing to take the time to look for them. Outside scholarships are awarded for many different reasons. The qualifications may be a specific major, a geographical area, or a special talent.

There are many sources for outside scholarships. The Office of Student Aid's website has information on outside scholarships. 

Most application deadlines are in the spring, so it is best to begin searching for a scholarship(s) in December, January or February, before the upcoming academic year. Scholarships awarded in the spring (March through June) are for the upcoming school year.

Please mail or fax a copy of the award letter to:

Penn State
Office of the Bursar
Attn.: External Awards
109 Shields Building
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802
Fax: 814-865-6535

It is suggested that the award letter include the scholarship name, award amount, time period of award (i.e. fall semester, spring semester, academic year, etc.), any enrollment requirements (i.e. full-time or degree seeking), student's name and Penn State ID number.

Any information missing from the award letter may be added by the student.

Students must keep in mind that each organization handles their scholarships differently, but here are some general guidelines:

• Scholarship funds are disbursed into students' accounts when the funds are received.
• If the student is given the money directly, please mail the check to:

Penn State University
Attention: External Awards
109 Shields Building
664 Curtin Road
University Park, PA 16802

• If the check is mailed directly to Penn State and is made payable only to Penn State, the money will be disbursed into the student's account.
• If the check is made payable to both Penn State and the student, the student will be notified by e-mail to endorse the check. Once the check has been endorsed and received by Penn State, the funds will be disbursed into the student's account.

Funds are disbursed at the beginning of the enrollment period or approximately three to five working days after they are received, whichever is later. Keep in mind that a student must be registered and in compliance with all regulations associated with the scholarship before disbursement will occur.

If the student also receives Federal or State Financial Aid, the University will determine if the student's total aid package falls within the ranges specified by Federal and State Regulations.

If the student's total aid is not within the mandated range, the Federal and/or State aid will be reduced accordingly.

Please note, the awarding and disbursement of financial aid is managed by the Office of Student Aid.

Awards will be applied to the current semester unless otherwise specified by the scholarship sponsor.

The recipient of a University Scholarship is selected by Penn State.

An Outside Scholarship or External Award is a scholarship that is awarded by an organization not affiliated with Penn State (i.e. professional organizations, clubs, high schools, etc.) and the awarding organization selects the recipient.