Types of Aid

Lebanon Valley College is committed to making your college education affordable. This past year, more than $52 million was awarded to our 1,600 students, and 100 percent of our 2023 incoming class received financial support. 

Once accepted, Lebanon Valley College students may be considered for both merit and need-based aid. Merit aid is based on the strength of your admission application; need-­based aid requires that you also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

 

There are three ways that LVC will award aid to undergraduate students:
1. Institutional Merit-based Scholarships
  • Students complete the LVC or Common Application and learn of their merit scholarship in their acceptance letter. Scholarships are only awarded to admitted students. 
  • LVC has a merit scholarship guarantee! 
  • LVC is 100% need blind when awarding merit scholarships.
  • Filing the FAFSA is not required for students who wish to be considered exclusively for an institutional merit scholarship. Students must notify the Financial Aid Office that they do not plan to file the FAFSA, at finaid@lvc.edu or 717-867-6126.
2. Need-based Aid
  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for all students who wish to be considered for federal, state, and institutional grants, student and parent loans, and work-study.
  • Not sure what FAFSA Simplification means to your bottom line? Visit the Federal Student Aid Estimator to learn more. 
  • Completing the FAFSA Simplification determines eligibility for federal, state, and additional institutional aid. 
  • Departmental scholarships range from $1,000–$5,000 annually and are need-based. FAFSA is required to be eligible for these awards.
  • Institutional aid will be electronically credited to the student’s account in the Business Office, provided that all requirements have been met, at the time the first bill of each semester is mailed.

The 2024–25 disbursement dates for federal and state grants and loans are:

  • Summer – July 2, 2024. This date could be earlier based on summer enrollment and if living expenses are requested. Contact the office.
  • Fall semester – August 21, 2024
  • Spring semester – January 8, 2025

All students receiving any federal, state, or institutional scholarships, grants, loans, and/ or work-study must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Pell Grant (for full- and part-time undergraduates)

  • Need-based grant from the federal government.
  • Amount awarded between $692 and $6,895 for 2022-23 depending on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA and enrollment per semester. The EFC range to be eligible for a Pell Grant is 0 to 6026.

 

SEOG Grant – Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

  • Need-based grant from the federal government.
  • Amount awarded between $100 and $4,000 depending on your EFC as determined by the FAFSA and availability of funds.
  • This grant is awarded to students demonstrating the greatest financial need. Due to the limited allocation that LVC receives from the federal government, not all students who demonstrate maximum financial need will qualify.
  • This grant helps to supplement the LVC Need-Based Grant program and is not awarded as an additional aid. If in a subsequent year, you are no longer eligible for SEOG, you will be awarded LVC Need-Based Grant in the equivalent amount.

 

Pennsylvania State Grant (for full- and part-time undergraduate Pennsylvania residents)

  • Need-based grant administered by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
  • Maximum conditional award for 2022-23 for full-time enrollment – $5,750, regardless of online or in-person classes. The amount will be finalized after the PA state budget is passed.
  • The FAFSA is the application and must be submitted by May 1 prior to the academic year the student will enroll.
  • Need-based awards
  • Amounts vary
  • If you live in one of the states listed above, contact the higher education agency in your state for more information.
  • Need-based award
  • Your FAFSA serves as the application for an LVC Grant; there is no separate application. Eligibility and amount of award will be determined by the institution based on the merit scholarship awarded by LVC, other federal and state grants received, and your financial need. Notification of the award will be made via the financial aid offer. Eligibility requires continued financial need, as demonstrated using federal methodology (the FAFSA) on an annual basis.

Reduction Due to Sequestration

A student who is eligible to receive the full TEACH Grant for 2022–23 with a first disbursement prior to Oct. 1, 2022, will receive $3,772 for the academic year.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program provides grants to students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.

  • In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan. You must repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). You will be charged interest from the date the grant was disbursed.
  • If you are an incoming student, you must have a high school cumulative grade point average or the equivalent of 3.25 or higher. If you are a current student, you must have a college cumulative grade point average of 3.25. GPA is reviewed at the end of each semester.
  • For more information about the TEACH Grant, please review the Federal Student Aid website.
  • Eligible students are required to complete initial entrance counseling for the first year and subsequent counseling for each year thereafter. In addition, students must complete an Agreement to Serve or Repay each year. LVC will be notified electronically.
  • Recipients who graduate or become ineligible must complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling.

If you are interested in receiving the TEACH Grant at LVC, please contact the Office of Financial Aid, at 717-867-6126 or finaid@lvc.edu to determine your eligibility and complete the necessary paperwork.

This state agency provides a variety of services for individuals with physical disabilities, mental/nervous/emotional disorders, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, learning disabilities, and other conditions. Potential OVR clients undergo diagnostic testing to determine eligibility for services. This diagnostic process takes time and should occur well in advance of a student’s enrollment date. Services may include financial support for higher education. Students must complete the FAFSA. Awards are based on a formula that considers the cost of attendance, the Expected Family Contribution, the Pell Grant, and the PA State Grant. If you feel you may qualify for these services, please contact the Pennsylvania OVR District Office that serves your county.

 Similar services may be available to students residing in other states.

This federally-funded program offers grants to Pennsylvania undergraduate students aging out of foster care who are attending an eligible postsecondary institution.

PHEAA administers the Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee) Program on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services as authorized under the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and amended by the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001.

Visit PHEAA’s website for additional information and to apply.

The FosterEd program provides a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees charged by Lebanon Valley College for youth who are or were in foster care. This program is funded by Lebanon Valley College and administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

The point of contact at LVC for this program is Gina Messenger, financial aid systems administrator, messenge@lvc.edu, or 717-867-6125. 

To be considered for a Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver, you must:

  • Be a Pennsylvania resident
  • Have not reached the age of 26 by July 1 of the upcoming academic year for which the FosterEd waiver is received
  • Have received a high school diploma or received a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma
  • Be eligible for services under Pennsylvania’s John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. You still qualify for the waiver even if you do not receive funding through the Chafee program.
  • Be identified as a youth who is or was in foster care, or was discharged from foster care on or after attaining age 16, OR has exited foster care on or after age 16 to adoption or permanent legal guardianship
  • Be enrolled as an undergraduate, at least half time in a postsecondary institution that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV student assistance programs
  • Demonstrate financial need for the PA Chafee Education and Training Grant (as determined by the postsecondary institution)
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress for federal and institutional financial aid
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on other Federal Student Aid
  • Have not received the FosterEd waiver for 5 years (consecutive or not), defined as 10 semesters or the equivalent for undergraduate study
  • File a 2022-23 FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Students who intend to transfer to a different institution during the current academic year should notify PHEAA via email to FosterEd@pheaa.org or by calling 1-800-692-7392.

To receive the waiver, you must:

  1. File the FAFSA
  2. Enroll at Lebanon Valley College
  3. You must apply for and be eligible for the Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG).
  4. Mail or fax your completed Chafee ETG application by May 1, 2022, to:

PHEAA State Grant and Special Programs
P.O. Box 8157
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8157
Fax: (717) 720-3786

Students who wish to appeal their eligibility determination can do so by emailing FosterEd@pheaa.org.

Visit PHEAA’s website for additional information.

Together with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers this tuition assistance program for dependents (spouses and children) of PA Guard Members who enter into an additional 6-year service commitment with the PA National Guard.

To be considered for the MFEP, you must be:

A Guard Member:

  • Someone who completed an initial service obligation, on or after July 1, 2019, in the Pennsylvania National Guard and be eligible to reenlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of 6 years

A Family Member:

  • Someone who is a spouse or child of a Pennsylvania National Guard member who meets the above criteria and has assigned the benefit to the family member
  • Someone who is enrolled in a degree or certificate-granting program of study at an approved Pennsylvania institution

To apply:

  • If you are a spouse or child of a PA National Guard member that has re-enlisted in an additional 6-year contract, please have the Service Member contact their unit for more information.
  • If you are not a Service Member of the Pennsylvania National Guard and want more information, go to the Pennsylvania National Guard website.

Visit PHEAA’s website for additional information.

3. Other Scholarships/Grants
  • Visit Incentive $4,000 for any student who visits campus by May 1, 2024, and enrolls in Fall, 2024 ($1,000 per year for four years) 
  • Honors Program – by invitation only. Students will receive an additional $1,000 grant for four years ($4,000) 
  • Music Scholarships – for majors and non-majors. 
  • Institutional Scholarships – (by invitation only) 
  • Outside scholarships Students are encouraged to seek outside scholarships. Here are tips to stand out from the crowd! 
  • Federal Work-Study (for full-time students, both undergraduate and graduate)

Loans

Explore federal, parent, and private loan options after scholarships and grants are deducted. Please note that all loans must be repaid.