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Lycoming College Financial Matters
Expenses for the Academic Year 2023-2024
The following expenses are effective for the regular fall and spring semesters. The College reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. The fees for each semester are payable approximately three weeks prior to the start of classes for the semester as indicated on the semester bill.
The tuition covers the regular course load of twelve to sixteen credits each semester excluding band, choir, theater practica, and all Lycoming Scholars Seminars. Any credits over 16 will be charged at a rate of $1,460.00 per credit. Students who drop below full-time during the add/drop period will receive an adjustment to tuition, housing, food plans, fees, and financial aid. Students who drop individual course(s) after the add/drop period will not receive any adjustment to tuition, housing, food plans, fees, or financial aid. Resident students must have a food plan at the College. If a standard room is used as a single room, there is an additional charge of $556 per semester. The estimated cost for books and supplies is $1,200 per year, depending on the course of study. Special session (May Term and Summer Session) charges for tuition, housing, and food plans are established during the fall semester.
Students taking MATH 100 may take another 2-credit course concurrently or two credits may be banked for future use. If the credits are banked, the student would be allowed to take up to 18 credits in a subsequent semester with no additional tuition cost. Banked credits may be applied to a regular term or May term 4-credit course; in this case, the student would pay for only the two additional credits. Banked credits from MATH 100 can only be used for official Lycoming College courses.
Members of the Lycoming College Scholars Program may audit a fifth class per semester at no additional charge. Laboratory and other special fees must be paid in full.
* No transcripts will be issued for a student or alumnus whose financial obligation to the college has not been satisfied.
Online Statements and Payment Processing
Lycoming College does not mail paper statements to the student’s home address. A student and their authorized party/parties can access the statements online. Students can access their online statements by logging into Lyco Advisor. Authorized parties can access their student’s online statements by going to the Business Office’s webpage. Bills can also be paid electronically using checking, savings, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Authorized parties will only be able to view their own payment and bank information. Each authorized party is assigned a separate password for added security and privacy.
Student Health Insurance
This insurance is mandatory for all full-time students if they have no other medical insurance coverage or if they fail to verify that they have other medical insurance. In order to waive the cost of this coverage, students must complete the online health insurance waiver by September 30th each year.
Non-Payment of Fees
Lycoming College has the right to withhold future registrations, final grades, transcripts, diplomas, and certifications of withdrawals in good standing if student accounts for previous attendance have not been settled. Unpaid student accounts will be charged interest at the rate of 1% per month on the month-end balance until accounts are paid in full. Should legal collection become necessary, the fees of any collection agency, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 33% of the debt, and all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, will be added to the balance due.
Entry Fees and Deposits
Confirmation/Contingency Deposit — All full-time students who have been notified of their admission to Lycoming College are required to make a $300 Confirmation Deposit to confirm their intention to matriculate. The Deposit is held until Graduation or upon notification submitted to the Registrar’s office at least two weeks prior to the start of each semester that the student is not returning. Any remaining deposit balance will be refunded after all financial obligations to the College have been satisfied.
The Confirmation Deposit is refundable prior to the start of the first semester of attendance if the official withdrawal date is not later than May 1.
Partial Payments
For the convenience of those who find it impossible to follow the regular College schedule of payments, arrangements may be made to make monthly payments using our third-party payment provider. Additional information may be obtained from the Business Office website or by calling the Business or Admissions Office.
Lycoming College Withdrawal Billing Policy
Students wishing to withdraw from the College during the semester should meet with one of the Academic Deans to ensure that student financial and academic records are properly closed. The effective date for calculating adjustments to tuition, fees, room and board shall be the documented last day of attendance at an academically-related activity or the date, as determined by the institution, that the student withdraws due to illness or accident.
Students withdrawing will have their tuition, fees, room and board charges adjusted according to the following schedule:
An administrative fee of $100 will be charged to the student’s account. Please note that there is no adjustment of tuition, fees, room and board after the sixth week of the semester. For freshmen, the adjustment of charges period will be extended into the week that early assessment grades are distributed to students and parents.
A compressed Time of Withdrawal table will apply to the May and Summer terms.
Withdrawing students must also be aware that in addition to the Lycoming College Student Withdrawal Billing Policy, a Federal Return of Title IV Funds must also be calculated for any Pell Grant, SEOG, Stafford Loan, PLUS Loan, or TEACH Grant. The College is required to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for all federal financial aid recipients who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60% attendance point of the semester. Students may have a balance due to the College, Federal Government, or both, if any of all portions of their Title IV aid must be returned. See Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy for further explanation on the return of federal funds.
Any balance due remaining will be billed to the student. Unpaid student account balances will be charged interest at the rate of 1% per month on the month-end balance until the account is paid in full. Should legal collection become necessary, all costs of collection will be added to the balance due.
The Return of Title IV Funds Policy
The federal Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 was amended in 1998, and new regulations were established with regard to Title IV student financial aid programs. Students earn their Title IV federal financial aid by attending class and if they are not enrolled long enough to earn some or all of their aid, the "unearned" portion must be returned to the appropriate Title IV program.
Title IV financial aid programs include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Work-Study (FWS), and TEACH Grant. Federal Work-Study earnings are not affected by Title IV regulations concerning the return of unearned federal financial aid. Only federal grants and federal loans are affected by this policy.
The Return of Unearned Title IV Funds Policy applies if the student withdraws from or ceases attending all classes before the sixty percent point in the term. Completely withdrawing from or ceasing to attend may result in financial aid repayment. Withdrawing may also affect future financial aid eligibility.
Official Withdraws (Dropping all classes):
Students who officially withdraw from all classes prior to completing at least 60% of the semester have not “earned” all of their federal financial aid. A Return to Title IV Funds calculation must be performed within 30 days. This calculation is performed using the R2T4 Tool available through the federal COD website. If the student has received excess funds, the institution must return to the U.S. Department of Education a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of the student's institutional charges multiplied by the percentage of funds that were not earned, or the entire amount of the excess funds. If the return of funds creates a balance due on the student statement of account, the student will be liable for satisfying the outstanding balance.
The institution will return any unearned funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days from the determined date of the student's withdrawal following the order below:
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
- Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grants
- Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
- TEACH Grants
For students enrolled in modules:
A student is considered withdrawn if he/she does not complete all the days in the payment period that the student was scheduled to complete. Lycoming College will track enrollment in each module to determine if a student began enrollment in all scheduled courses. If a student officially drops courses in a later module while still attending a current module, he/she is not considered as withdrawn based on not attending the later module. However, a recalculation of aid based on a change in enrollment status may still be required. Students who provide written confirmation to the Financial Aid Office at the time of ceasing attendance that they plan to attend another course later in the same payment period are not considered to have withdrawn from the term. If the student does not provide written confirmation of plans to return to school later in the same payment period or term, Lycoming College considers the student to have withdrawn and begins the R2T4 process immediately. However, if the student does return to Lycoming College in the same term, even if he/she did not provide written confirmation of plans to do so, the student is not considered to have withdrawn and is eligible to receive the Title IV funds for which the student was eligible before ceasing attendance. Financial Aid will then reverse the R2T4 process and provide additional funds that the student is eligible to receive at the time of return. Institutional funds are not subject to the R2T4 policy.
Unofficial Withdrawals (Stop attending all classes):
For students who stop attending all classes prior to the end of the term without officially withdrawing, a return of federal financial aid will be calculated according to the same guidelines. Students who do not receive any “earned” grades are considered to be unofficial withdrawals. For Title IV purposes, the Return to Title IV calculation will be based upon the mid-point of the term, or the last documented date of attendance in an academically-related activity if that can be determined.
A student who fails all classes in a term may be subject to a Return to Title IV calculation. If a student “earned” at least one F grade (i.e. participated in class until the end of the semester and received an F for poor performance), then no calculation is required. However, if the student failed all classes because of non-attendance at some period in the semester, then a Return to Title IV calculation is required based on the last documented date of attendance. If the last date of attendance cannot be determined, then the 50% point of the term will be used as the withdrawal date, and the unearned aid will be 50%.
Post-Withdrawal Disbursement
A post-withdrawal disbursement applies when a student completely withdraws from school and may be eligible to receive grants and or loans that have not yet disbursed. The amount of the disbursement is determined by a required Return of Title IV calculation when a student completely withdraws from school.
A student may not receive any funds as a post-withdrawal disbursement that the school is prohibited from making on or before the date the student withdrew.
Examples of this include:
- If a promissory note for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan has not been signed and submitted by the student before the institution performs the Return to Title IV calculation, the loan is s automatically canceled.
- The institution may provide loan counseling information with the notice of eligibility for a post-withdrawal disbursement. However, the institution will not make the disbursement to the student until the student has completed entrance counseling.
- If the student is a first-year, first-time borrower of a Federal Direct Loan and withdraws before the 30th day of the semester, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is canceled.
If it is determined that a student or parent is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, grant funds will be disbursed first and will be credited to the student's account for current outstanding charges of tuition and fees. For a balance due for charges other than tuition and fees, the institution will seek authorization from the student to deduct those charges from grant proceeds. If a remaining balance exists, the institution will seek the student's or parent’s, if applicable, authorization to pay tuition and fees and other educationally related expenses from loan proceeds. If a credit balance exists after the payment of all charges, the institution will refund those funds to the student or parent (in the case of a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan). Any remaining balance due the institution is the responsibility of the student.
Grant Funds
The institution will notify the student by letter (to the last known address) if grant funds are available after the Return to Title IV calculation has been performed. Within 45 days of determination that a student withdrew, the institution will disburse the eligible grant funds for current charges and, if authorized, other outstanding educationally related charges.
Lycoming Refund Policy
Students wishing to withdraw from the College during the semester should meet with one of the Academic Deans to ensure that student financial and academic records are properly closed. The effective date for calculating adjustments to tuition, fees, housing and food shall be the documented last day of attendance at an academically-related activity.
Students withdrawing will have their tuition, fees, housing, and food charges adjusted according to the following schedule:
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Time of Withdrawal
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Billing Charge Reduced to
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During Week 1
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10% of the original amount
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During Week 2
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20% of the original amount
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During Week 3
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30% of the original amount
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During Week 4
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40% of the original amount
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During Week 5
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50% of the original amount
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During Week 6
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60% of the original amount
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After 6th Week
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No Adjustments Made
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An administrative fee of $100 will be charged to the student’s account. Please note that there is no adjustment of tuition, fees, housing, and food after the sixth week of the semester. For first-year students, the adjustment of charges period will be extended into the week that early assessment grades are distributed to students and parents.
Withdrawing students must also be aware that in addition to the Lycoming College Student Withdrawal Billing Policy, a Federal Return of Title IV Funds must also be calculated for any Pell Grant, SEOG, Stafford Loan, PLUS Loan, or TEACH Grant. The College is required to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for all federal financial aid recipients who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60% attendance point of the semester. Students may have a balance due to the College, Federal Government, or both if any or all portions their Title IV aid must be returned. See the above Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy for further explanation on the return of federal funds.
Any balance due remaining will be billed to the student. Unpaid student account balances will be charged interest at the rate of 1% per month on the month end balance until the account is paid in full. Should legal collection become necessary, all costs of collection will be added to the balance due.
Financial Aid
Lycoming College is committed to helping students and families meet college costs. While some assistance is available to students regardless of need (merit scholarships), the primary purpose of the College’s financial aid program is to help qualified students of limited financial resources attend Lycoming College. Scholarships may be awarded on the basis of merit and/or need, while grants are provided solely on the basis of financial need. Long-term educational loans with favorable interest rates and repayment terms are available, as are part-time employment opportunities.
If a student receives a Tuition Remission Fee Waiver or a Tuition Exchange Scholarship, all Lycoming funded scholarships and awards become honorary. That is, the monetary value of the Lycoming scholarships and awards becomes zero.
Students receiving Lycoming College scholarships or grants cannot receive total scholarship and grant aid from all sources (including Veteran's Benefits) in excess of tuition and fees (and room and board if a resident student). The Lycoming scholarship and/or grant will be reduced to meet this requirement.
Students receiving a Presidential, Faculty, Trustee, Dean, Third Century Award, or other Lycoming Scholarship may add only one additional Lycoming-funded scholarship to their financial package. Examples of funded Lycoming scholarships include the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) scholarship, and talent awards in music, theatre, art, creative writing, and film and video arts.
It is important to submit the FAFSA after October 1st, as appropriate income information becomes available, but by May 1. Although applications may be filed later, applicants can only receive consideration for remaining available funds.
To be considered for financial aid, students and families must complete the following steps for each year the student seeks assistance:
- Fully complete and submit the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Returning students should submit the Renewal FAFSA. Go to www.studentaid.gov.
- The College may request federal income tax transcripts and W-2’s from the student and parent(s) to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. Transcripts can be obtained by calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946. The tax transcripts required are for two years preceding the academic year in which the student seeks assistance.
- PA residents can apply for state grant assistance using the FAFSA as well. Non-PA residents should contact the State Grant Agency in their home state to see if additional forms must be filed.
Basic eligibility requirements for all federal programs are available from the Department of Education at www.studentaid.gov. Students are responsible for understanding the basic eligibility requirements.
Enrollment Status for Financial Aid Eligibility
Financial aid eligibility is substantially reduced for students who are charged less than full-time tuition. Credit is earned for some courses which are offered at no charge, including choir, band, theatre practica, and all Lycoming Scholars Seminars. Therefore, these credits are not counted in the full-time tuition calculation. For financial aid purposes, a full-time student is enrolled in 12-16 billable semester hours. A student’s financial aid eligibility is finalized after the end of the college’s published add/drop period.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients
Note: Financial aid programs subject to the following Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements include all Federal Title IV aid (Pell, FSEOG, Work-Study, Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, TEACH Grant) and all Lycoming College grants, scholarships, and loans.
Financial aid recipients are required to be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree requirements. Satisfactory academic progress, as described below, is evaluated annually (end of the spring semester) and cumulatively by the Financial Aid Office. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress may result in the suspension of financial aid eligibility. The Financial Aid Office will notify students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements by mail and/or by email to their Lycoming email account.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility should not be confused with the College’s academic progress policy as determined by the Academic Standards Committee. These are two distinct and totally separate policies that students must be aware of.
Undergraduate students receiving financial aid must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average and make steady progress toward the completion of their degree as described below. The maximum time frame for program completion is defined as 150% of the credits required to complete the degree program as defined by Lycoming College. For example, a typical Bachelor’s degree requires 128 credits: 128 x 150% = 192 credits. Students who attempt more than 192 credits are ineligible for financial aid. Students will be considered in good academic standing if they meet the following standard:
Transfer and/or AP credits accepted by Lycoming College will be included in the progress completion requirement and minimum GPA requirement (if the college transferred in the grade). Students who have not completed their undergraduate degree after 192 attempted hours (including transfer credits) will no longer be eligible for financial aid. The student will be automatically placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students must graduate with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
Examples of Credit Completion Requirements
1. A student who has attempted a total of 24 credits must have successfully completed at least 16* credits (24 x .67 = 16.08).
2. A student who has attempted a total of 56 credits must have successfully completed at least 38* credits (56 x .67 = 37.52).
3. A student’s Lycoming transcript reflects 24 transfer and/or AP credits. If the student has attempted a total of 80 credits of Lycoming coursework, the student must have successfully completed at least 70* credits, including transfer and AP credits ((80 + 24) x 0.67 = 69.68).
*Calculations not resulting in whole numbers are rounded to the nearest whole credit.
Treatment of W, I, X, P, and F Grades and Repeated Coursework
1. Course withdrawals (W) after the drop/add period are not included in the GPA calculation, but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework.
2. Incomplete (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework until the incomplete grade is replaced with a permanent grade and academic progress can be reevaluated.
3. An audit (X) grade is not considered attempted coursework. It is not included in the GPA calculation or completion rate determination.
4. A satisfactory (P) grade is treated as attempted credits earned, but it is not included in the GPA calculation
5. A failing grade (F) is treated as attempted credits not earned; it will be included in the calculation of the GPA and the minimum completion rate.
6. The most recent course grade for a repeated course will be included in the calculation of the GPA and every repeated attempt will be included in the completion rate determination.
Financial Aid Suspension
Important - Please Note: A successful appeal of academic suspension is unrelated to financial aid suspension and does not result in reinstatement of a student’s financial aid eligibility. Appealing one’s financial aid suspension status is a separate process.
Students who fail to successfully complete the minimum credit completion rate or fail to complete their program within the maximum time frame or fail to meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement will have their financial aid eligibility suspended.
Reinstatement of Aid after Financial Aid Suspension
Reinstatement of financial aid after a student is placed on Financial Aid Suspension is achieved as follows:
- The student submits a written letter of appeal (see Appeal Process below) in accordance with the appeals process, and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the appeal. The student is then placed on financial aid probation, allowing an additional semester in order to bring the academic requirements up to minimum standards set forth in the appeal response letter sent to the student.
- The student attends Lycoming College during the Suspension semester, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student aid, and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards. The student must notify the Financial Aid Office if they plan to attend Lycoming College without the assistance of financial aid; or
- The student attends summer school to eliminate the deficiency in credits and/or GPA. The student must notify the Financial Aid Office if they are planning to take classes during the summer to eliminate the deficiency.
Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension cannot merely skip a semester to regain eligibility. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters for students on Financial Aid Suspension. If an appeal is granted and the student subsequently fails to attain the minimum standards after one semester or fails to meet the individualized requirements that were specified by the appeals committee in their written response to the student appeal, eligibility for financial assistance will be canceled automatically for future semesters. No further appeals will be accepted and students will have to pay full charges on their own, bringing their academic requirements up to minimum standards, before regaining financial aid eligibility.
Appeal Process
The appeal letter must address:
1. The extenuating circumstance(s) as to why satisfactory academic progress was not made.
2. What has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation (i.e. after the probationary semester if an appeal is granted)?
Extenuating circumstances can include, but are not limited to: illness or injury, death of a family member, family difficulties, financial difficulties, etc.
Appeals of Financial Aid Suspension must be made in writing by the date specified in the Suspension notification letter. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing to the student’s Lycoming College email account within 5 working days of their decision. All decisions made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee are final and not subject to further review.
Appeals may be emailed to Finaid@lycoming.edu, or mailed to:
Lycoming College
Office of Financial Aid
Attn: Financial Aid Appeal Committee
One College Place
Williamsport, PA 17701-5192
Federal Grants
Pell Grants are made available by the federal government. Eligibility is based upon a federal formula. These grants may be available for up to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants may be awarded to students with exceptional financial need. Priority must be given to Pell Grant recipients. Funds are provided by the federal government. Funds are limited.
State Grants
Pennsylvania State Grants may be available for PA residents meeting domicile and financial requirements of the program. Eligibility is determined by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). These grants are available for a maximum of 8 semesters. Non-PA residents should contact the State Grant Agency in their home state for availability of funds to students attending out-of-state colleges.
Loan Programs
Federal Direct Stafford Loan allows eligible First-Year Students to borrow a maximum of $5,500 annually. Eligible Sophomores may borrow up to a maximum of $6,500 annually. Eligible Juniors and Seniors may borrow up to a maximum of $7,500 annually. Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov to find the prevailing interest rate. Students may be eligible for at least a partial federal interest subsidy depending upon financial need. Go to www.studentaid.gov for interest rates, to complete entrance counseling and to electronically sign a Master Promissory Note.
Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a loan that parents may take out on behalf of their dependent student. The amount a parent may borrow for one year is equal to the cost of education for one year minus any financial aid the student is eligible for in that year. Go to www.studentaid.gov to apply and for interest rate information.
Employment Opportunities
Federal College Work-Study Program Awards provide work opportunities on campus for qualified students. Students get paid for work performed in the previous pay period. Based on documented need and awarded by the Financial Aid Office. Funding is limited. The student assumes full responsibility for locating a job. Returning students who wish to work the following year must have their name submitted to the Financial Aid Office by their supervisor before the end of the Spring semester.
Students also have the opportunity to seek work-study employment off-campus in the Community Service program. Interested students can get additional information in the Financial Aid Office.
Lycoming Campus Employment Program is similar to Federal Work-Study except that it is not based on financial need, and students are paid with institutional funds only. A limited number of jobs are available. Funding is limited.
Other Job Opportunities are frequently available with local business firms or persons. Contact the Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences for information on these opportunities.
Other Aid Sources
Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Stipends and Scholarships are available for qualified students. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
United Methodist Scholarships may be available to full-time degree-seeking applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better, are active in Christian activities, and who are active, full members of a United Methodist church. Demonstrated financial need is also required. Annual application is required. The funds are provided by the United Methodist Church. Contact umhefscholarships@umhef.org for more information and applications. Renewal requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.
United Methodist Student Loans are available on a very limited basis to students who are members of the United Methodist Church. Contact The Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 871, Nashville, TN 37202 for more information.
Non-college Aid Opportunities are often available through family employers or labor unions, business firms, fraternal and religious organizations, and secondary schools. Parents should contact employers or organizations of which they are members for information on financial aid resources.
Veterans Benefits
Lycoming College is approved by the Pennsylvania State Approving Agency for VA educational benefits to train veterans and other eligible persons for approved programs and courses required for those programs. We are a proud Yellow Ribbon partner.
Lycoming welcomes all veterans, their eligible dependents, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and active duty personnel. We thank you for your service and are pleased that you are considering Lycoming College to further your career.
The Department of Veteran's Affairs determines a student's eligibility for education assistance benefits. To apply for veteran's benefits, please contact the Veteran's Affairs Education Department at 1-888-GI BILL 1 (1-888-442-4551). They will be able to assist you with all questions. Apply for GI Bill® benefits: www.gibill.va.gov or at vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp. Below is a listing of the Chapters and forms needed.
- Chapter 30, 33 and 1606 - VA form 22-1990
- Chapter 33 Dependent - VA Form 22-1990E
- Chapter 35 and Fry scholarship - VA Form 22-5490
Chapter 35 (qualified dependents of deceased or disabled veterans) students need a copy of their birth certificate and the veteran's Social Security number in order to apply for benefits.
All Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill) and Chapter 1606 (National Guard and Reserves) must verify their enrollment on the last day of each month, and up to two weeks afterwards, by phone if your enrollment has not changed during the month, 1-877-823-2378 or at www.gibill.va.gov and follow the link to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) program.
The Montgomery GI Bill®
The Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)-Active Duty program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. The Montgomery GI Bill© (Chapter 1606)-Selected Reserve Program may be available to you if you are a member of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. Students may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, or apprenticeship/on-the-job training. Remedial, refresher, and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.
Eligibility for this program is determined by the selected reserve components. The student is normally responsible for paying tuition and fees at the time of registration; however, a tuition deferment for up to 60 days is an option for students using these benefits. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information or to apply. The VA makes the payments to the student for this program upon verification of enrollment certification which must be completed each semester. The student may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Their benefit enrollment entitlement ends 10 years from the date of eligibility for the program or on the day the individual left the selected reserve component. The following documents are needed to apply for the Montgomery GI Bill© benefits:
- Copy of DD-214 for Active Duty Program
- Letter of eligibility form Selected Reserve Unit for Selected Reserve Program
- VA Form 22-1990 (Application for Veterans’ Educational Benefits) or VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Place of Training or Program) if students have previously used VA benefits at another institution or have not attended for one semester
- All prior academic transcripts
- Military transcripts (these can be requested online for each military branch)
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® is a program developed by the VA that went into effect August 1, 2009. This program is for individuals who serve at least 90 aggregate days (or at least 30 continuous days with a discharge due to a service-connected disability) of active duty from 9/11/2001 to the present. Veterans applying for this program may be eligible for a housing allowance and books/supplies stipend in addition to payments covering tuition and fees up to the highest undergraduate rate for a public institution of higher learning in the state. To check your eligibility and get further information on this program, please visit http://www.gibill.va.gov or contact the VA at 1-888-4551. Required documents for Chapter 33 benefits are the same as those listed above for the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30).
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA-Chapter 35)
Dependents’ Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. The following documents are needed to apply for DEA benefits:
- Copy of DD-214 for qualifying veteran
- Copy of marriage certificate for spouse and birth certificate for children
- VA Form 22-5490 (Application for Dependent and Survivor Educational Benefits) or VA Form 22-5495 (Request for Change of Place of Training or Program) if students have previously used VA benefits at another institution or have not attended for one semester
- All prior academic transcripts
Current members of the military should speak with their Educational Service Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service branch prior to enrollment.
Students eligible for financial benefits from the Veterans Administration must give the Registrar's Office, Long Hall 109, to submit the following paperwork:
Students seeking veteran’s education benefits should contact our VA Certifying Official at least six weeks prior to their registration period. All benefit recipients (excluding Chapter 31, Chapter 33, and 1606) are normally required to pay their educational costs up front; however, a tuition deferment for up to 60 days is an option for students using these benefits. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information or to apply. Certification of enrollment is made by a VA Certifying Official once the student notifies the verifying official that they have finalized their schedule for the semester. Funding from the Veteran’s Administration will be paid directly to students by the Veteran’s Administration Office.
The Department of Veteran Affairs requires that students who receive veteran’s benefits make due progress toward the completion of a degree or certificate in order to continue receiving benefits. Students receiving VA benefits must maintain all requirements listed in the Lycoming College 2023-2024 catalog.
Certification Requirements
- Students must follow a Lycoming College degree plan. Only courses that apply to their declared degree plan at Lycoming College will be approved for benefits.
- Students must provide an official transcript from all previously attended post-secondary schools by the end of the first semester. This includes non-accredited institutions and the student’s military transcript (if not a spouse/dependent).
- Students must notify the Lycoming College Veterans Affairs Certifying Official upon registration each semester in order to request certification. Certification is not automatic.
- Students should allow 4-6 weeks for processing paperwork by the College Veteran Services representative and additional processing time for the VA Regional Office.
Note: Please refer to https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill or call 1-888-GIBILL for additional requirements, updates, information, and other resources for your educational benefits.
Eligible veterans receive monthly payments for their entitlement based on the coursework for which they enroll. Students should make certain that each course meets the requirements for graduation in the veteran’s declared degree program or completion of a certificate program. A course for audit credit will not be certified for payment. Please note that the following is also reviewed by the Veteran’s Administration:
- All withdrawals, enforced withdrawals, and reductions in class loads will be reported to the Veteran’s Administration Office and may result in a debt to the VA, Lycoming College, or both.
- Repeats of classes where Ds or above were earned will not be covered for veteran’s benefits.
VA Delayed Payment Policy
Lycoming College strives to ensure that students will not be penalized by any undue delay in payment from the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with our values and guidance set out in the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, section 3679(e) of Title 38, United States Code as amended.
We allow students using VA educational benefits that pay tuition directly to the college (Post-9/11 GI Bill©) to attend their course of study without further payment requirements from the date they submit documentation of their eligibility for benefits to 90 days after the student’s tuition and fees are certified or until the VA makes payment, whichever comes first. “Documentation of eligibility” is defined as a signed VA 28-1905 form for Vocational Rehabilitation, a certificate of eligibility or eBenefits printout for Post-9/11 GI Bill©, and a “new student packet” for both types of beneficiaries (available on our website or in the Financial Aid Office) to ensure accurate certification.
It is our practice to “hold” these students’ classes without further expectation of payment once documentation of eligibility is received, count the full amount of their eligible tuition and fees “paid” once the student’s information is certified to the VA and reported to our Business Office, and ensure that payment is made by the Department of Veterans Affairs on the back end through our weekly and monthly reconciliation processes. We will not impose any penalties or denial of services on a student – such as late fees or denial of access to classes, libraries, or institutional facilities – on the basis of delayed VA payments, nor will we require students to borrow loan funds to cover tuition and fee costs we know will eventually be paid by the VA. (Please note that it is still possible for these students to incur late fees, but only on the basis of waiting until the late registration period to enroll, not as a consequence of delayed payment by the VA.)
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
For questions or information, contact Lycoming College’s Veteran Affairs Certifying Official at (570) 321-4145 or email gunn@lycoming.edu