Financial Aid

Office of Student Financial Services

The University’s Office of Student Financial Services provides all major financial aid applications and assistance in completing them; assists in resolution of any aid application processing problems; provides complete financial aid advisement concerning financial aid programs; and provides information concerning financial planning, student loans and debt management.

Financial Aid Application Process and Dates

All students requesting financial aid must file:

  1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal FAFSA
    • St. John’sUniversity Federal Code: 002823
    • Deadline Date: March 1
  2. Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Application: for New York State residents/full-time students only, must take 12 credits per semester. (All FAFSA filers will automatically receive a TAP application.)

Remember

  1. In order to ensure that your student loan funds are received on a timely basis, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is recommended that you file electronically by logging on to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
  2. When completing the FAFSA electronically, you must remember to answer the question related to housing plans in Step #6!

    If you will be residing off campus, it is important that you select the corresponding housing code.

Determination of Financial Aid Eligibility
You establish your financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) or the renewal Application.In order to qualify for any federal aid, you need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Enrollment on at least a half-time basis (six credits per semester) with
    matriculated status
  • U.S.citizenship status or eligible non-citizen status must be
    Confirmed
  • Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained
  • Registration with Selective Service if required
  • Demonstrated financial need for need based programs
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan, or owe a repayment on a previous financial aid award received at another institution

Financial Aid Award Letters
Financial Aid Award Letters may offer a combination of aid types, including scholarships and loans, designed to meet your financial need as closely as possible. Most financial aid is awarded based on the information collected from your FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA. Each year, the Office of Financial Aid develops various budgets to help determine your financial need. The budget, or cost of education, comprises the yearly cost figure for tuition and fees, as well as estimates for home maintenance; living expenses; personal expenses; transportation; books and supplies (indirect costs). The actual components of your student budget may be viewed on STJ UIS as of July 1.

Financial Aid Programs 

St. John’s University Law Scholarships
Scholarships are academically based and students are automatically considered by the Admission’s office upon acceptance.

NYS Tuition Assistance Program
Need based grants for New York State residents who are matriculated in a degree program and are full-time students (12 credits per semester) Student’s must meet state need and citizenship requirements.

Graduate/Law Federal Student Loans
Effective for the 2009-2010 Academic Year, St. John’s University will be processing all Federal Stafford and Federal Grad PLUS loans exclusively through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program in which borrowers obtain loan funds directly from the U.S. Department of Education.    

Students, who wish to borrow the federal loans indicated in their Financial Aid Award Offer, need to complete the following simple steps. 

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Process 

Step 1: First time Federal Student Loan borrowers must complete a Federal Student loan Entrance Counseling Session in accordance with federal regulations. Go to: www.dl.ed.gov and click on Entrance Counseling.

  • When searching for the school during entrance counseling please spell the name out as ‘Saint John’s University’

Note: If you have already completed your entrance interview at mappingyourfuture.org you do not have to complete another entrance interview. 

Step 2: Complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.dlenote.ed.gov. Borrowers will need their FAFSA Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you do not have a PIN or cannot recall it, you can request your PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. 

Before completing your student Direct Loan MPN please note the following:

  • St. John’s will automatically be notified that the MPN has been signed and will send a school certification, to the U.S. Department of Education,  for the full value of your federal loans (subsidized/unsubsidized only) as they appear on your Financial Aid Award Letter.
  • If you do not want the full value of your subsidized/unsubsidized loans, please notify the Office of Student Financial Services in writing before you sign your MPN, by completing a Student LoanChange Form. 
  • The Student Loan Change Form can be found at the Office of Student Financial Services web page at www.stjohns.edu.  Please fax the form to 718-990-5742 or mail to:         

St. John’sUniversity8000 Utopia ParkwayQueens, New York, 11439Attn: Loan Department

  • If you are making a loan amount change, please do not sign your MPN until you confirm that a message has been placed on your personal St. John’s UIS financial aid account advising you that your loan change request has been processed and you should complete your MPN.

 Please note: In order for you to receive credit for your loans on your student bill, you must complete the loan process and complete verification if selected. Please log on to your personal account via the University Information System (UIS) to review any outstanding requirements. Go to https://apollo.stjohns.edu.   

Direct Grad PLUS Process 

Step 1:Complete the Direct Grad PLUS Request Form and return it to:                       

St. John’sUniversity8000 Utopia ParkwayQueens, New York, 11439Attn: Loan Department

  • Our Direct Grad PLUS Request Form can be found at the Office of Student Financial Services web page at www.stjohns.edu.
  • All new Direct Grad PLUS Loan borrowers must complete a separate Grad PLUS Entrance Interview at www.dl.ed.gov
  • Upon receipt of the Direct Grad PLUS Request Form, St. John’s will forward borrower’s information to the Department of Education servicer for a credit check.
  •  Upon receipt of credit approval you will receive an email letting you know that you have been approved for the Direct Grad PLUS and will be advised then to complete your Master Promissory Note.

 Step 2: Complete the Direct Grad PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.dlenote.ed.gov upon notification of credit approval. 

It is important to remember the following: 

  • Only borrow what you need: think about repayment obligations before you take out a student loan.
  • When you sign a promissory note, you are agreeing to repay the loan according to the terms of the note.
  • The interest rate for Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans for graduate/law students disbursed on or after July 1st 2009 is 6.8%.
  • The interest rate for Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans disbursed on or after July 1st 2006 is 7.9%.
  • For the Federal Direct Subsidized Loans you will not be charged interest until you begin repayment. Repayment begins six months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time (including leaves of absence).
  • For the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans the government will not pay interest while a student is in school as it does for the Subsidized Direct Loan. Interest accrues, and must be paid or capitalized, during periods of in-school enrollment and/or deferment.
  • For Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans as of July 1, 2009 an origination fee of 1.5% of the total loan will be assessed and an up-front rebate of 1.0% will automatically be awarded. The net disbursement will reflect these adjustments. To keep this up-front rebate, you must make your first 12 payments on time once you go into repayment status. Your loan funds will be disbursed in two installments and applied to your student account.
  • Your repayment period varies from 10 to 25 years depending on which repayment plan you choose. You can prepay your student loans at any time without a penalty.
  • You have the right to cancel all or part of your loan up through 45 days after disbursement.
  • For more information on Direct Loans visit http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan.
  •  The U.S. Department of Education's National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) provides borrowers access to information on all student loans and/or federal grant amounts, including information on loan status, outstanding balances, and disbursements. Go to www.nslds.ed.gov

Verification Process
Federal law requires that a certain percentage of all financial aid applicants – as well as many applicants with conflicting or incomplete information – be verified. Therefore, the Office of Student Financial Services may find it necessary to ask you for additional information. If you are selected for verification, you will be notified and may be asked to submit any or all of the following:

  • A copy of your signed federal income tax return. If married and filing separately, your spouse’s federal tax return also must be submitted.
  • A statement from the Social Security Administration confirming the amount of your Social Security Benefits
  • If your status as a resident alien or eligible non-citizen is not confirmed by the Federal Processor, you will be required to submit a photocopy of your Alien Registration Card or other acceptable documentation.
  • An Income and Expense Breakdown and/or Verification Worksheet

After receiving all of the necessary information, the Office of Student Financial Services will review your documents and notify you of your financial aid eligibility.

Office of Student Financial Services
Bent Hall – Carnesecca Plaza Entrance
Phone: (718) 990-2000 or (888) 9STJOHNS

studentfinancialserv@stjohns.edu or financialaid@stjohns.edu

Office hours
Mondays: 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays-Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed Friday July 3rd

Beginning August 3rd-Office hours will change to:Mondays: 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

 

Employer Tuition Reimbursement Program

Submit a signed letter on company letterhead stating exactly what the employer will pay (i.e., tuition and fees, etc.). The letter must specify your name, student ID, and the semester being covered. The letter should be submitted prior to the issuance of your tuition bill.

The dollar amount provided by your employer will be deducted from your tuition bill.

Mail in the bottom portion of the bill with a check or money order for the remaining amount due, in order to complete the registration process. If the amount is zero, the bottom portion of the bill must still be mailed to complete the registration process.

A 'paid' receipt will be sent to you, along with your class schedule.

Note: If you wish to submit a letter from your employer after the issuance of your tuition bill, you must see Mrs. Verrone in the Office of Student Financial Services (ext. 5322) to have the dollar amount deducted from your bill. You must then complete registration at the Office of Student Financial Services.

Note: If your employer reimburses you after the semester is completed, it is your responsibility to submit your grades and any necessary paperwork as soon as the semester is over in order to ensure that reimbursement is received promptly. Payment to St. John's for deducted dollar amounts is expected no later than February 28th for the Fall, June 30th for the Spring and October 1st for the summer. Checks or money orders should be made payable to St. John's University and submitted to Mrs. Mary Verrone in the Office of Student Financial Services.

Note: If you drop courses during a semester and your employer will not cover these charges, you are responsible for all charges incurred. In these cases, payment should be made directly to the Bursar's Office.

Important
These procedures must be adhered to each semester:

A new letter from your employer is required each semester/summer session. After two warnings for late payment, no future company letters will be accepted.