- If you did not initially list Penn State as one of your college choices on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will need to update the FAFSA to list the Penn State Title IV school code of 003329. You can do this by making corrections to your application online or by calling the Federal Processor at 1-800-443-3243. If you request the change by phone, you will need to have your Student Aid Report (SAR) available.
- If you have a Federal Stafford loan at your other school, please contact the school and request to have the loan canceled. Once the loan has been canceled at the other school, Penn State will be able to process your loan.
- If you are a Pennsylvania resident and have a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grant, you need to contact the PHEAA Grant Division, 1220 N. 7th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102 and tell them that you are going to Penn State Altoona and living either on-campus, off-campus housing, or at home with your parents.
The Penn State Title IV school code is 003329. The code is the same for all Penn State locations.
If you answer that you are interested in loans on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be automatically considered for Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and University Loans. Some loan funds are limited and will be awarded based on the availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA before the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration. Parent PLUS Loans and Alternative Loans must be applied for separately, and eligibility is determined based on the borrower's creditworthiness (and co-borrower, if required).
Federal Grant (Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)) and University Grant (Penn State Tuition Assistance Grant (PSTAG)) eligibility are determined by students submitting the FAFSA. Some federal funds are limited and will be awarded based on availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA before the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration.
Pennsylvania residents are considered for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Grant by submitting the FAFSA before the PHEAA deadline of May 1 and indicating that they are a Pennsylvania resident. Only Pennsylvania residents will be eligible for a Pennsylvania State Grant consideration. PHEAA reserves the right to request verification of residency from any student, if necessary to determine eligibility.
Non-Pennsylvania residents from certain states may receive state grants from their respective states.
f you answer that you are interested in work-study on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be automatically considered for this award. Work-study funds are limited and will be awarded based on the availability at the time the FAFSA is received. Submitting the FAFSA before the University's recommended deadlines is the best way to ensure maximum aid consideration.
You may be eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Pell Grant, PHEAA Grant (if you are a PA resident), SEOG, Work-Study, or Perkins if you take less than twelve credits. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at W113 Smith Building or by phone at 814-949-5055 to discuss your options. Every situation is different and requires an individual review.
You may be eligible to receive financial aid for World Campus courses. To discuss your aid options, you may contact the World Campus directly at 800-252-3592.
You may be eligible to receive financial aid for summer. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at W113 Smith Building or by phone at 814-949-5055 to discuss your options. Every situation is different and requires an individual review.
If you are transferring from another school to Penn State Altoona for the spring semester you need to complete the following steps:
Work-Study positions can be accessed through the Penn State Jobs site. If you are one of the candidates selected, the Supervisor will contact you for an interview. If hired, you will be contacted through email to complete a series of hiring tasks. Once all tasks are completed, you will be instructed to contact the Office of Financial Aid to complete your final onboarding paperwork. To complete this step you will need to bring the required, original employment documents (photocopies cannot be accepted). You may only begin working once all steps have been completed and you have met with a staff member in the Office of Financial Aid.
For emergency loans, contact the Office of Financial Aid, located in room W113 of the Smith Building, to complete a Bernreuter Emergency Loan application. Loans are only available for enrolled students at Penn State Altoona.
Contact Amanda Lynch in room 125 of the Eiche Library by email at [email protected] or by phone at 814-940-3343 to discuss your benefits and pick up the necessary applications. Once you have completed the necessary paperwork, you must return it to Amanda Lynch, along with your DD 214 paper or NOBE. Visit the Veterans Education Benefits page for more information.
