International Student Financial Aid

Although the University of Mount Union does not offer full-tuition financial aid to international students, we do offer need-based financial aid and academic merit awards to qualifying students.

International Award
The International Award is given automatically to non-native English speaking applicants who qualify based on a review of a student’s English language proficiency level at the time of acceptance.  To qualify for the International Award, applicants must be admitted as an F-1 degree seeking student and hold a valid I-20 form which will be issued by Mount Union.  The award amounts are the following:

• 45-60 iBT (PB TOEFL scores between 450 and 497) or an IELTS score of 4.5 - $7,500 award
• 61 iBT (PB TOEFL scores at 500 and above) or an IELTS score of 5.0 and above - $10,000 award

Merit-based Awards (Scholarships)
Upon admission, a number of academic merit awards are given automatically to those who qualify based on a review of student's academic credentials such as curriculum, grade point average, ACT/SAT and high school rank. The awards are renewable each year (maximum of eight semesters) as long as the student is full-time (minimum of 12 hours).

Merit Based Scholarship consideration begins with at least:

• 3.0 average on a 4.0 grade point scale
• 970 minimum SAT in the combined areas of Critical Reading and Math
• 20 minimum ACT
• Top 30% or higher class rank

You may be eligible to compete for a higher scholarship if you meet any of the following criteria:

• 1220 SAT or higher in the combined areas of Critical Reading and Math
• 27 ACT or higher

Need-based Financial Aid
Upon admission, need-based financial aid is determined by the income and assets of students and their families. To qualify, students must complete the International Student Financial Aid Application which is available from the University of Mount Union.

Need-based aid is calculated from the information submitted on this form, which primarily looks at the income and assets of the student and his/her parents.

The average need based financial aid award for international students who applied for financial aid and were determined to have financial need is $17,954. This financial aid award generally includes the International Grant and Campus Employment. The financial aid award will also include a scholarship if the student qualifies for an academic merit-based scholarship. Our scholarships range from $3,000 to full tuition based on the student’s academic credentials.

Since the total direct costs for the 2012-2013 Academic Year are $35,130, international students receiving the average financial aid award would pay approximately $17,176 for tuition, fees, standard room and meals. These figures do not include the cost of books, supplies, transportation or personal expenses. The student who qualifies for a partial academic merit-based scholarship could pay less if financial need is demonstrated from the results of the International Student Financial Aid Application.

Which Financial Aid Form Do I File?
Many students have questions concerning the financial aid application process.  We have created a checklist to help students determine which financial aid application is required.

Please complete the International Student Financial Aid Form if you meet the following criteria:

• Citizenship is not from the United States of America
  • If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations)

Please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be an eligible noncitizen
  • (A permanent U.S. resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); • A conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or • The holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee” (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), “Victim of human trafficking,” T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or “Cuban-Haitian Entrant.”)
• Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).

Multiple Grants and Scholarships Policy
The initial institutional merit-based award is offered without regard for financial need. Students who may be eligible for multiple institutional grants and/or scholarships will receive at least the value of the highest grant or scholarship.

It is our policy not to "stack" multiple institutional awards on the basis of merit. Consideration that is given for any portion of a second grant/scholarship or award made up from Mount Union dollars will be based on financial need and will require that the student file the International Student Financial Aid Application.