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 West Penn School of Nursing can help you determine your eligibility for certain programs and assist you with your applications.
West Penn School of Nursing has been preparing nursing students to practice as Registered Nurses (RN) since 1886. With our current partnership with Penn West – Clarion, student 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 in the future.
A nursing degree is an investment in your future. Review the following topics to research financial aid opportunities to fund your future investment: Tuition and Fees form.
The cost of attendance (COA) is the estimated cost (personal and education) 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.
|
1st Year |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
2nd Year |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuition* |
$16,030.00 |
$18,280.00 |
$10,800.00 |
$10,800.00 |
|
Fees |
$2,110.00 |
$2,153.00 |
$958.00 |
$985.00 |
|
Books & |
$3,026.00 |
$3,026.00 |
$2,674.00 |
$2,674.00 |
|
Housing |
$4,200.00 |
$4,000.00 |
$4,000.00 |
$4,000.00 |
|
Personal |
$7,000.00 |
$7,000.00 |
$7,000.00 |
$7,000.00 |
|
Transportation |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
|
Loan |
$100.00 |
$100.00 |
$100.00 |
$100.00 |
|
Total |
$33,666.00 |
$35,759.00 |
$26,759.00 |
$26,759.00 |
*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.
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) 578-5530
Sarah.Loomis@ahn.org
Rosanna Sarantinoudis
West Penn Hospital School of Nursing
Student Account Associate and Registration Coordinator
Title IX Coordinator
(412) 578-5537
Rosanna.Sarantinoudis@ahn.org
A students first step in seeing if they are eligible to receive any federal and/or state aid is to complete their Free Application for Federal State 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) at studentaid.gov. The FSA ID is the students legal electronic signature for all online federal financial aid applications. The students 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 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:
Step 4: Federal Direct Student/Parent Loans. Students who are planning to borrow 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 West Penn Hospital School of Nursing may be eligible for the following awards:
Beckel Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. All second-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing student(s) who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 may be eligible for the M. Jane Beckel Scholarship. The Financial Aid and Student Account Office review financial need for student with required GPA. List is provided to faculty to vote. The student with the most votes receives the scholarship.
Doris Tannehill Weyand Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. All first-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing student(s) enrolled during the spring term can apply for the scholarship. Eligible candidates must be resident of a rural county of Pennsylvania (Somerset, Fayette, Cambria, or Bedford) and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and will be notified by the Financial Aid Office. The eligible student must submit an essay to apply. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate for the scholarship.
Gearhart Scholarship — The Gearhart trust was originated as a charitable remainder trust by John I. Gearhart in 1973. The Gearhart trust provides scholarship assistance for the students at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing and for the nurses at West Penn Hospital. The scholarship is to be awarded by the scholarship committee. Funds will be awarded in the following order, first to Neighborhood Learning Alliance students and then to the incoming class in the form of a merit scholarship. Allotments, number of students, and amounts of the scholarship differ each year, depending on enrollment.
H.B. Davis Scholarship — The H.B. Davis scholarship is for second-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing students who have at least a 3.0 GPA. The Financial Aid Office will reach out to the students who are eligible to apply. To apply for the scholarship, the eligible student(s) will need to write an essay detailing an example where they have demonstrated their leadership abilities in a school, work, or personal experience. The scholarship committee will review all essay submissions and pick the best candidate for the scholarship.
Karen Jones Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. All second-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing student(s) may be eligible for the $500 Karen Jones Scholarship. The recipient is nominated by faculty based on their demonstration of a “superior” level of caring, empathy, accountability, nursing knowledge, and nursing skills. The student with the most votes will receive the scholarship.
Kathryn Dinardo Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. A first-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing student may be eligible for the $1,000 Kathryn Dinardo Scholarship. The recipient is nominated by faculty based on their clinical excellence, professionalism, accountability, caring and compassion, IPR skills, and ability to manage clients’ care completely. The student with the most votes will receive the scholarship.
Mary Hartley Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. Mary Hartley awards two scholarships of $6,000 each to two second-year West Penn Hospital School of Nursing students. Faculty nominate candidates for the scholarship based off outstanding clinical skills. The nominated students then submit an essay that is reviewed by Mary Hartley and the scholarship committee.
West Penn Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship — Available to students enrolled at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing. The West Penn Hospital School of Nursing Alumni annually award one scholarship of $1,000 to a first-year student based on academic achievement, essay, and financial need:
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 006583 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.
West Penn Hospital 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 WPHSON CARES Act HEERF Reports.
West Penn School of Nursing Net Price Calculator can help you estimate your cost to attend the first year at West Penn Hospital 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/west-penn-hospital/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.
