1. Financial Aid College of Nursing

2. What is Financial Aid? Student Financial Aid is intended to help students pay educational expenses while attending a college or university

3. What does Financial Aid Pay For? Understanding “Cost of Attendance” A Student’s Cost of Attendance is a budget composed of the direct educational costs and reasonable living expenses for a student’s program of study.  Examples of expenses are: tuition and fees, living expenses, insurance, books, supplies, etc.  Per the federal guidelines, consumer debts such as credit cards and car payments cannot be included in the Cost of Attendance.

4. What types of Financial Aid are available? Loans-  Federal Direct Stafford loans: 6.8 % fixed interest rate. Repayment begins 6 months after graduation.  Federal Grad Plus loans: 7.9% fixed interest rate. Repayment begins 2 months after graduation. Scholarships- offered through the College of Nursing and external sources. Federal Work Study- part time employment on campus. Pay can be used for incidental expenses

5. Steps to Apply Complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA.  www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov  January 1, 2012 Complete the Loan Request Application.  Review the annual loan limits and budget sheet according to your program.  Stafford Loan  Grad Plus loan Sign the Master Promissory Notes.  The MPN is an agreement between you and the government that you will pay the loans back. First Time Borrower Counseling Explains the agreed terms of borrowing the loans.

6. Scholarship Information Institutional Scholarships are offered by the College of Nursing. There is no specific application to apply other than the FAFSA.  For more information, please visit the College of Nursing website. A link to available scholarships and can be found under the “Students and Applicants” tab.

7. Contact Information Office of Financial Aid Services Harper Student Center 45 Courtenay Drive MSC 176 Charleston, SC 29425-1760 (843) 792-2536 phone (843) 792-6356 fax finaid@musc.edufinaid@musc.edu email MUSC Financial Aid: www.musc.edu/em/financialmanagement

8. Counselor Information Nora Siwarski- Last names A-H Ashley Stuckey- Last names I-Q Tami Cooke-Last names R-Z