Palmer College of Chiropractic

Academic Programs

D.C. Financial Aid Policies

When students apply for aid under any of the U.S. Department of Education programs, they should become familiar with all the rules, requirements, obligations and deadlines that apply.

Federal regulations require all applicants for financial aid to complete a needs analysis. The needs analysis application used at Palmer College is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Completion of the FAFSA is the first step for students who plan to apply for financial aid.

Each aid program falls into one of three categories: grants, loans or employment. Grants are outright gifts of money. Loans must be repaid with interest. Employment allows students to work and to earn money for educational needs.

To apply for federal aid, students must be U.S. citizens, or national or permanent residents of the United States, the Northern Mariana Islands or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Students must be in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and be able to provide documentation of intent to become permanent residents. If students are in the United States on an F1 or F2 student status only, they are not eligible for federal student aid.

All federal aid programs set limits on the total amount of aid students may receive and the number of years they can receive it. It is important to know these limitations to plan the financing of the educational costs not covered by financial aid.

When a student transfers to Palmer from another college, financial aid does not transfer. The student must check with a financial planning officer at Palmer to determine the necessary steps to start the financial aid process at Palmer College.

If a student withdraws, refunds will first be made to programs in the order listed:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford loans
3. Federal PLUS loans
4. Federal Perkins loans
5. Federal Pell Grants
6. Federal SEOG program
7. State Aid
8. Institutional Aid
9. Student

Refunds per program will be determined by the percentage of tuition charge contributed by that source according to that program’s regulations. No refunds will be disbursed to a student until the aid program funds have been repaid.

Students must not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan), Family Education Program or Direct Loan Program to receive federal aid. Also, students must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or any other federal program. Aid received from any federal program must be used only for educational expenses. Before students receive awards, they must sign a Statement of Educational Purpose verifying the money will be used only for educational purposes. These include payments for tuition, books, room and board, supplies, food and other items directly related to attendance at Palmer College.

The definition of a graduate student is a student who has completed the equivalent of 90 semester hours at a federally approved institution.

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