Financial Aid: Frequently Asked Questions
Helping students and families understand the details of financial aid
Many students and their families have questions and misconceptions about financial aid and paying for college. Please browse through our frequently asked questions below to learn more about financial aid and student accounts at Point Park.
Q: Where can I learn more about the CARES Act?
Q: How can I receive more money for school?
Q: Who should file the FAFSA?
Q: I don't think I will qualify for financial aid. Why should I file an application?
Q: Is the student account billing statement for one semester or for the entire academic year?
Q: Why are financial aid awards missing from my billing statement?
Q: When are financial aid refunds processed?
Q: Can payments be made over the phone or online?
Q: What type of credit cards do you accept?
Q: Does the Student Accounts Office accept post-dated checks?
Q: How can food and housing be adjusted on my billing statement?
Q: Does the semester tuition promissory note need to be completed each semester?
Q: Does the employer reimbursed tuition agreement need to be completed each semester?
Q: What is a student account business hold?
Q: When is a student considered financially cleared?
Q: How do parents or individuals other than students request a copy of the student account billing statement and access the student account online?
Q: How can I receive more money for school?
A: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
A: All students who are interested in receiving money to help pay for the costs involved with college.
Q: I don't think I will qualify for financial aid. Why should I file an application?
A: You won't know if you're eligible to receive financial aid unless you file the FAFSA. The application is free and does not obligate you in any way. Why not file an application?
Q: Is the student account billing statement for one semester or for the entire academic year?
A: The student account billing statements can include more than one semester on a statement. Each line item is identified with the appropriate semester that it applies to. For example, FA10, is a charge or credit on the account for the Fall 2010 semester.
Q: Why are financial aid awards missing from my billing statement?
A: Financial aid will not be applied to your bill if you have not correctly completed and submitted all the necessary forms to the Financial Aid Office. If you are missing documents, please contact Financial Aid at 412-392-3930 or visit their website by clicking on the following link, Financial Aid .If you have not registered for classes, financial aid will not appear on your bill. Also, if you have made schedule changes, aid may need to be adjusted.
If you have completed all of the necessary steps to receive financial aid, the Financial Aid Office updates billing statements twice a week. Within a week of completing all of the necessary requirements, financial aid should be applied to your bill. You can view your account on Point Web.
Q: When are financial aid refunds processed?
A: Financial aid refunds are processed after the appropriate semester's disbursement date. The disbursement date is when Point Park receives the actual financial aid money from the federal government or the bank. By federal law, Point Park University has 10 business days to issue a credit balance generated by federal funds. All refund checks are mailed to the current address on the student account statement. If you would like to change your current address, please click on the following link, Change of Address. More information on refund checks can be found by clicking on the following link, Refunds.
Q: Can payments be made over the phone or online?
A: The Student Accounts Office cannot accept payments over the phone. Students and other individuals can pay online by logging into Point Web or in the Student Financial Services Office (First Floor, Thayer Hall) with a check, cash or money order.
Q: What type of credit cards do you accept?
A: The Student Accounts Office accepts MasterCard, Discover Card and Visa online only. A processing fee of 2.75% is applied to each transaction.
Q: Does the Student Accounts Office accept post-dated checks?
A: The Student Accounts Office does not accept post-dated checks. If a post-dated check is received by mail, it will be returned by mail.
Q: How can food and housing be adjusted on my billing statement?
A: Food and housing changes must be made with the Campus Life Office. Once changes to contracts are official, the Campus Life Office notifies the Student Accounts Office and the change is reflected on the student account billing statement. For more information on this process, please contact Campus Life at 412-392-3824.
Q: Does the semester tuition promissory note need to be completed each semester?
A: Yes. The semester payment plan covers only one semester at a time. Students are required to complete a new agreement and pay the application fee each semester that they would like to participate in the plan. More information on payment plans can be found by clicking on the following link, Payment Plans.
Q: Does the employer reimbursed tuition agreement need to be completed each semester?
A: Yes. The employer reimbursement agreement covers only one semester at a time. Students are required to complete a new agreement and pay the application fee each semester that they would like to participate in the plan. More information on employer reimbursement can be found by clicking on the following link, Employer Reimbursement.
Q: What is a student account business hold?
A: A business hold is placed on an account when a past due balance is owed. Business holds prevent students from registering for future semesters and receiving official transcripts. If you have a business hold on your account, please contact student accounts immediately to discuss payment options.
Q: When is a student considered financially cleared?
A: A student is considered financially cleared when payment by the tuition due date is made in full, a payment plan is set up or by a company billing verification.
Q: How do parents or individuals other than students request a copy of the student account billing statement and access the student account online?
A: For parents or other individuals to view the student account online, they must be set up by the student as an authorized payer. Parents and other third parties making payments cannot set themselves up as authorized payers. Students must set up authorized payers through Point Web.
For parents or other individuals to call the office on behalf of the student and receive information, a Release of Information Request must be on file. For students to complete this form, they must add the name (s) of who will have access to the student account.
For information on these topics or if you have questions, please contact the Office of Student Accounts by email at studentaccounts@pointpark.edu or by phone, 412-392-3424.