Graduate Student Aid and Your Bill

The Office of Student Finance establishes separate accounts for students. Students are billed for tuition and fees based on their enrollment for the semester. Those who live on campus are also billed for their room charges. Students who enroll for a meal plan will also be charged. The office also assists students with questions or concerns regarding their tuition, fees, and related costs. Also available through LORA , the student account is maintained by and billing statements are generated by the friendly staff of Student Finance. Interest -free monthly payment plans are also administered through this office

Paperless Billing (e-Bills) -- Go Green!

Opt to receive all Loyola billing statements electronically.

 

The Bursar's Office assists students with financial deposits to tuition or departmental accounts. The Office accepts credit card and e-check payments. The office also assists students in managing their Loyola Express Card account.

Cost of Attendance for the Academic Year

The "Cost of Attendance" ("COA") or the "Cost of Education" figure noted represents an estimate of what it will cost a full-time undergraduate student to attend Loyola . This figure includes the cost of tuition and fees and allowances for room , board, books, transportation, and a miscellaneous expense allowance.  This may not reflect a student's comprehensive cost of living.

How Aid is Applied to Your Bill

Federal Direct  and Grad PLUS Loans

If you receive a Federal Direct Loan or Graduate PLUS Loan,  the Department of Education will send the funds directly to Loyola each semester for one-half the amount borrowed minus loan origination and insurance fees. Students applying for their first Federal student loan are required by law to attend an entrance interview session before receiving the loan proceeds. Sessions are scheduled during the fall and spring orientation. Students can also complete this requirement online.

Non-traditional Programs

For students in Evening and Online Programs,  proposed legislation in Congress as well as concern over the potential misuse of the federal aid funds by students in online programs , have led to changes in how federal loan funds are disbursed over the course of the semester. Multiple disbursements each semester have been mandated to insure that students continue to be actively pursuing their degree requirements. 

Students enrolled in the online Masters in Criminal Justice Program will receive disbursements at the start of each term to cover tuition and fees due for that term as well as a standard allowance for books. We must document that students continue to actively participate in their online programs in order to  be eligible for additional funds for living expenses. Therefore, students who begin the MSCJA Program starting in January 2012 AND who choose to borrow additional funds for living expenses will receive those funds after registration and after we can document actual academic participation in the program for a set length of time.

Students enrolled in online non-traditional programs are not eligible for federal student loan funds until they successfully complete their first class and officially begin their second class for the semester. The Student Finance Office will not release any "excess aid" back to the student UNTIL he/she officially begins the second class for the semester.

NOTE: Institutions must refer applicants who are suspected of having engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with Title IV programs to the Department of Education’s (ED’s) Office of Inspector General (OIG). The regulations require only that the institution refer the suspected case for investigation, not that it reach a firm conclusion about the propriety of the applicant’s conduct.

Institutional Scholarships

Once you accept your financial aid offer, any scholarship funds offered through your Graduate Division will be credited directly to your account as soon as you confirm your registration.

Refund Policies

Do you have a refund coming because the total amount of your processed aid exceeds the charges on your bill

If a student's federal aid for the semester exceeds charges for tuition and fees and on-campus room and board for the semester, you can choose to leave the money on your account to pay future charges OR you can request a  refund check to the student or  and electronic refund directly to your bank account.

When a student withdraws from the University before the end of the semester, refunds are calculated according to the University Refund Policy and the Federal Financial Aid Refund Policy.

 

Responsible Borrowing

Care should be exercised in deciding what to borrow. After you have calculated your estimated total student loan indebtedness, use an online calculator to establish your REQUIRED monthly payments. Then, use the calculators at TrueCareers.com to estimate the average starting salary and the cost of living in various cities.

Make sure you understand the total cost involved in borrowing student loans and the impact the choices you make now will have on your life after graduation. Ideally, you want your monthly student loan payments to be less that 8% of your monthly income after you graduate. Student loan payments between 8% and 10% of income are considered average these days. However, depending on your starting salary, this amount of debt could be a burden.

Updated August 12, 2012