Financial aid programs help defray the cost of your education. These can be state and federal government aid programs and scholarships, private scholarships, loans, grants, and more. The Financial Aid Office at Citizens School of Nursing can help you determine your eligibility for certain programs and assist you with your applications.
Citizens School of Nursing has been preparing nursing students to practice as Registered Nurses (RN) since 1913. With our current partnerships with Portage Learning, students have the benefit of taking nursing courses at a hospital-based diploma nursing program and college level academic courses online. This partnership aids the students in beginning their RN to BS in Nursing program in the future.
A nursing degree is an investment in your future. Review the following topics to research financial opportunities to fund your future investment: Tuition and Fees form for full time RN and part time LPN.
The cost of attendance (COA) is the estimated cost (personal and educational) a student may accrue while attending school. The COA includes the estimate of tuition and fees, cost of room and board (or living expenses), cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses.
The COA is not the dollar amount a student will pay to attend a college or university but a tool to determine what financial aid a student may be eligible to receive. The student’s total financial aid, including scholarships, grants, federal loans, private loans, etc., cannot exceed their COA.
Below is the COA for the 24/25 academic year. The COA is updated on an annual basis and the tuition amounts listed are an average tuition cost per grade level.
|
1st Year |
2nd Year |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Tuition* |
$16,030.00 |
$10,800.00 |
|
Fees |
$2,110.00 |
$985.00 |
|
Books & |
$3,026.00 |
$2,674.00 |
|
Housing |
$8,000.00 |
$8,000.00 |
|
Personal |
$7,000.00 |
$7,000.00 |
|
Transportation |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
|
Loan |
$100.00 |
$100.00 |
|
Total |
$37,466.00 |
$30,759.00 |
*Tuition amounts listed are an average tuition cost per grade level.
Financial aid helps students, and their families afford the costs associated with attending a post-secondary institution. This financial assistance covers educational expenses including, but not limited to, tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and more. There are several types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and student/parent educational loans.
The AHN School of Nursing Financial Aid Office is here to assist you in the process of applying and completing all required documentation for financial aid. Do not hesitate to email or call us with questions, comments, or concerns.
Sarah Loomis
Director of Financial Aid
(412) 330-4766
Sarah.Loomis@ahn.org
Natalia Wassel
Citizens School of Nursing
Student Account Associate and Registration Coordinator, Title IX Coordinator
(412) 330-4766
Natalia.Wassel@ahn.org
A student’s first step in seeing if they are eligible to receive any federal and/or state grants plus federal student loans is to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Below are the steps needed to apply for financial aid:
Step 1: FSA ID. Start by obtaining a Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) for the student and all contributors. The FSA ID is the student's legal electronic signature for all online federal financial aid applications. The student plus all contributors must have an FSA ID. It takes approximately 2-3 days for the FSA ID to be validated; therefore, it is imperative you apply as soon as possible. You cannot create an FSA ID on behalf of someone else and you should not give out your FSA ID to anyone.
Dependent students will need to ensure that all FAFSA contributors create an FSA ID. The dependent and contributors must all use a different email address when applying for their FSA ID and password. If you are not sure if you are a dependent student, check your dependency status.
Here is a guide to creating your FSA ID and who your contributors are:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pitb_aIQBVc
Step 2: Complete the FAFSA. The student can begin completing their FAFSA at studentaid.gov once the student and their contributors FSA ID have been validated.
The information provided on the FAFSA will be used to calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI will determine what type and how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive. Students will want to review their FAFSA information on their FAFSA Submission Summary to ensure their data is correct. Students can correct any FAFSA information via the FAFSA website.
Step 3: State of Pennsylvania Financial Aid. Residents of the state of Pennsylvania have several financial aid opportunities through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These programs are administered through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
To apply for a state grant, link to the application directly from your FAFSA application prior to logging out of the FAFSA or go to the PHEAA State Grant Program website to learn more about grant opportunities.
Some additional Pennsylvania state funded grant options include:
Additional information for each of these grants can be found at: https://www.pheaa.org/
Step 4: Federal Direct Student/Parent Loans. Students who are planning to borrow federal student loans to help cover the cost of a program must complete two forms, a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document you sign promising to repay student loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, it explains the terms and conditions of borrowing a student loan(s).
Entrance counseling ensures that you understand the responsibilities and obligations of borrowing a federal student loan. The Department of Education requires you to complete entrance counseling. Please keep the following in mind when doing so:
Grants are funds that do not need to be repaid. There are federal and state grants which are based on financial need. A student’s grant eligibility is determined once they complete and have a valid FAFSA on file.
The Pell grant is a federal grant applied for by using the FAFSA. The central aid processor will email a Financial Aid Summary. This aid does not have to be repaid. Students must apply each year for continued consideration.
The FSEOG is a small additional grant awarded to students who demonstrate the highest financial need. Students who receive a Pell grant are given priority in the awarding of the FSEOG. Maximum grants are $400 but can be limited by the available funding from the federal government.
All students receiving the PA State grant must earn at least 24 credits during the previous period in which they receive two semesters of grant funding. Students are eligible to receive a maximum of eight (8) semesters of the PA State grant. The current award limit is set by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency each year. Apply annually using the FAFSA by May 1 for continued assistance.
Most scholarships are gifts and don’t have to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded to a student based on guidelines set by the scholarship organization.
Scholarship awards will be disbursed based on criteria associated with that particular award. If there are no stipulations, awards will be disbursed at the discretion of the director of the School of Nursing. Students of the Citizens School of Nursing may be eligible for the following awards:
Ann Miller Seybold Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. Ann Miller Seybold graduated from Citizens School of Nursing in 1932. Upon her death in 2009, the school of nursing was notified that it was a charitable remainder beneficiary of a trust belonging to Mrs. Seybold and her late husband, Raymond C. Seybold. The trust is to be used to benefit “needy and worthy students.” Applicants must have a current FAFSA on file and have a minimum of a 2.75 QPA. Applicants must complete an application and an essay. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate(s) for the scholarship.
AVH Auxiliary Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. The AVH Auxiliary Scholarship is awarded to a second-year Citizens School of Nursing student. The applicants must have a current FAFSA on file and a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.0 for the spring semester. Applicants must complete the application form, which includes an essay. The AVH Auxiliary Committee will review all essay submissions and pick the top two candidates.
Bajwa Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. The Bajwa Scholarship was funded and launched by Dr. Surinder Bajwa and Dr. Jagdeep Bajwa. The Bajwa scholarship is to be given to Citizens School of Nursing students to support and produce nurses who are prepared to practice in today’s health care environment. The scholarship is intended to fund academically worthy and financially needy students. Four scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to four second-year nursing students. Applicants must complete the application and write an essay to apply. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate(s) for the scholarship.
Helen Rosko Ellison Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. The Helen Rosko Ellison Scholarship is given to Citizens School of Nursing by Debra and George Ellison and their family, in celebration of the life and nursing career of George Ellison’s mother, Helen Rosko Ellison. The scholarship is intended to fund academically worthy and financially needy students. Applicants must have a current FAFSA on file and have a minimum of a 2.75 QPA. Applicants must complete an application and an essay. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate(s) for the scholarship.
Jennifer L. Salatka Memorial Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. Dr. and Mrs. Casper launched the fund for the Jennifer L. Salatka Memorial Scholarship. The funds are to be awarded to two second-year Citizens School of Nursing students to provide resources to students with financial burdens knowing that we are approaching a critical moment — a shortage in nurses. Two scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to second-year nursing students. Initial selection will be based on financial need and academic achievement (minimum 2.75 GPA required to apply). Applicant must complete the application and write an essay to apply. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate for the scholarship.
Lois Eileen Neubert Nursing Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. All first-year Citizens School of Nursing students enrolled during the fall semester can apply for the scholarship. Eligible candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have a current FAFSA on file. Applicants will need to submit an application and an essay to be considered for the scholarship. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate for the scholarship.
Terry and Janey Serafini Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. The purpose of scholarships is to provide resources to students with financial burdens knowing that we are approaching a critical moment — a shortage in nurses. The Serafini Scholarship is given to Citizens School of Nursing by Terry and Janet Serafini with the wish to support and produce nurses prepared to practice in today’s health care environment with the knowledge that this scholarship helps candidates in need. The scholarship is intended to fund academically worthy and financially needy students. Four scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to four second-year nursing students. Applicants must complete the application and write an essay to apply. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidates for the scholarship.
Dr. and Mrs. Srinivasan Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at Citizens School of Nursing. Dr. and Mrs. Srinivasan donated funds for the Srinivasan scholarship. The funds are to be awarded to Citizens School of Nursing students to support and produce nurses who are prepared to practice in today’s health care environment. The scholarship is intended to fund academically worthy and financially needy students. Four scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to second-year nursing students. Initial selection will be based on financial need and academic achievement (minimum 2.75 GPA required to apply). Applicants must complete the application and write an essay to apply. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidates for the scholarship.
Outside scholarships are offered through private agencies and organizations and are not affiliated with AHN Schools of Nursing. Criteria for these scholarships often include academic performance, financial need, underrepresented groups, volunteerism, heritage, community affiliations, or other unique factors important to the sponsoring individual or organization.
You’re encouraged to apply to as many external scholarships as you like. Be aware — you should never pay for searching for free scholarship funds. Please review all scholarship information and materials carefully before submitting an application.
AHN Schools of Nursing does not endorse, recommend, or have any views or opinions as expressed by the external websites listed below. In addition, the Financial Aid Office cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information at any external links or particular deadlines. However, we are always here to answer your questions as we partner with you to create an affordable plan for your education.
You may be eligible for scholarships from the following organizations:
Loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid with interest. Repayment can often be deferred as long as a student remains enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). There are several types of loans available to help students and/or parents fund their education.
Initially, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete the FAFSA online.
Use the code 006534 to fill out the FAFSA.
Yes. In order to receive consideration for as many programs as possible, all students should file a FAFSA annually.
The only way to determine your eligibility for financial aid is to submit a FAFSA.
Many variables are considered, such as family size, number of family members in college, age of older parent, savings, investments, income, and assets.
The parent you live with should complete the FAFSA. If the parent you live with has remarried, the information of that parent and their new spouse (stepparent) must be used.
If your family’s financial circumstances have changed due to death of a parent, divorce, or separation or loss of employment, contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation.
Citizens School of Nursing has received funds from the CARES Act, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Learn more about these funds and view our quarterly reports and monthly statements by visiting CSON CARES Act HEERF Reports.
Our Net Price Calculator can help you estimate your cost to attend the first year at Citizens School of Nursing, based on the most recent data available for expenses and financial aid.
Net Price Calculator https://www.ahn.org/health-care-professionals/education/nursing/schools/citizens-school/financial-aid/citizens-school-of-nursing-net-price-calculator
Reach out today to learn more or to attend an information session.
Tuition amounts listed are an average tuition cost per grade level.
