Skip to main content
Penn State Berks
Hotline Give Apply Visit
  • Admission
  • Academics
  • Campus Calendar
  • Information For
    • Future Students
    • Parents & Families
    • Current Students
    • Adult Students
    • Alumni
    • Faculty & Staff
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Berks
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Give Apply Visit
  • This is Penn State
    • Campus Leadership
    • Chancellor's Welcome
    • Penn State Berks at a Glance
    • Our History
  • Academics
    • Baccalaureate Degrees
    • Registrar
    • Course Schedule
    • Academic Advising Center
    • Thun Library
  • Admission
    • First Year Students
    • Visit Us
    • En Español
    • Adult Learners
    • International Students
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarship Eligibility
    • Tuition & Cost Calculator
    • Paying Your Bill
  • Continuing Education
    • Adult Students
    • Services for Organizations
    • Summer Camps
    • Workforce and Professional Development
  • Student Life
    • On-Campus Housing
    • Residence Life
    • Moving In
    • Clubs and Organizations
    • Family and Homecoming Weekend
    • Student Events Calendar
  • Athletics

Find Information For:

  • Future Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Current Students
  • Adult Students
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff

Helpful Links

  • Canvas
  • First Year Seminar
  • LionPATH
  • Driving Directions
  • Educational Equity and Diversity Programs
  • Faculty Directory
  • Staff Directory
  • University Police and Public Safety

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
  2. Tuition and Financial Aid
  3. Financial Aid

Financial Aid Requirements

Financial aid eligibility is governed by federal and state regulations as well as University policy. Generally, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. The student must be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen as identified by the Department of Homeland Security.
  2. The student must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
  3. The student must be accepted as a degree-seeking student without restriction, and must be enrolled in at least six credits (at Penn State, half-time enrollment is six credits per semester).
  4. The student cannot be in default of any prior student loan, or owe a refund on any prior federal or state grant.

The Financial Aid Process

By submitting your student aid application, the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you begin the process known as "need analysis."

The FAFSA collects basic information about your family's income and assets, your household size, and the number of family members attending college. This information is entered into a federal formula developed by the U.S. Congress that estimates your family's "ability to contribute" to your educational expenses. Your "ability to contribute" is called your estimated family contribution (EFC). When your family contribution is subtracted from the school's total cost of attendance (typical expenses incurred for meeting college costs such as tuition, fees, room and board, books, and miscellaneous expenses), your "financial need" is set. This figure determines your eligibility for most student aid programs. Adult learner students and most graduate students follow the same formula, but parent income and asset information is not required.

Because you are asked to report income and asset information, it is necessary for you to keep copies of your federal tax returns accessible. The Office of
Student Aid will notify you if these or any other documents are needed to meet federal verification requirements. Tax returns or other documents may
also be requested by the state grant agency of the state in which you live.

ONLINE APPLICATION

Questions?

If you have any questions, contact the Financial Aid Office at 610-396-6070 or visit 14 Perkins Student Center.

Financial Aid

  • Applying for Financial Aid
  • Financial Aid Info
  • Financial Aid Requirements
  • Outside Scholarships
  • Scholarships and Awards
  • Types of Financial Aid
  • Request Financial Aid Information
  • Contact Financial Aid
Locations of Penn State's campuses throughout Pennsylvania with Penn State Berks highlighted

Penn State Berks

Nestled on 258 beautifully landscaped acres in Berks County and easily accessible from anywhere in eastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram
Give Apply Visit
  • This is Penn State
    • Chancellor's Welcome
    • Penn State Berks at a Glance
    • Campus Leadership
    • Advisory Board
    • Our History
    • Freyberger Gallery
  • Academics
    • Baccalaureate Degrees
    • Registrar
    • Course Schedule
    • Academic Advising Center
    • Thun Library
  • Admissions
    • First Year Students
    • Visit Us
    • En Español
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Adult Students
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarship Eligibility
    • Tuition & Cost Calculator
    • Paying Your Bill
  • Research
    • Undergraduate Research
    • Research in Engineering, Business & Computing
    • Research in Humanities Arts and Social Sciences
    • Research in Science
  • Continuing Education
    • Adult Learner Admissions
    • Practical Nursing Program
  • Resources
    • Canvas
    • First Year Seminar
    • LionPATH
    • Driving Directions
    • Faculty Directory
    • Staff Directory
    • COVID Information
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • University Police and Public Safety
Penn State University
Tulpehocken Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19610 610-396-6000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State