There’s help and HOPE.
Mercer’s Office of Student Financial Planning has consistently provided attractive financial aid packages to a large percentage of students. Financial assistance is available to help pay a student’s tuition in addition to other educational expenses. Financial aid may include scholarships, grants, loans and part-time employment. Here is a list of some of the assistance available:

Pell Grants*
Federal need-based grants up to $4050 are available to qualified students seeking their first bachelor’s degree. Completion of the FAFSA serves as application for the Pell Grant.

HOPE Scholarships*
Georgia Residents who have a cumulative 3.0 HOPE GPA at the end of the term in which 30, 60 or 90 semester hours are attempted and at the end of each Spring semester may qualify for a HOPE Scholarship. Full-time students receive $3000 per year and part-time students receive $1500 per year. A HOPE Scholarship Eligibility Review is performed for all students once they have been fully admitted to the University.

Georgia Tuition Equalization Grants*
Full-time, degree-seeking students who are Georgia residents may qualify for a Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant. The maximum annual award for the 2005-2006 year is expected to be $900. Application information is mailed to students at the beginning of their first term of full-time enrollment.

Back to School Scholarship for Women*
Female students may compete for the $500 Back to School Scholarship for Women if they are at least twenty-five years of age, in good academic standing, enrolled for a minimum of six hours per semester and are not Pell Grant eligible. Applicants must submit an essay concerning their personal pursuit of a college degree. Applications are available from the Financial Planning Office or may be downloaded here.

Promise Teacher Service Cancelable Loans*
Service cancelable loans are available to qualified juniors and seniors who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and who have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program. A limited number of these $3000 loans are available. Additional program information and 2005-2006 applications are available online at www.gsfc.org. You can also link to the applications from the Financial Aid Form page of this web site.

Student Loans*
Low interest rate need based and non-need based loans are available to students who enroll at least half-time (six hours). The maximum amount that students may borrow per academic year is $2625 for freshmen, $3500 for sophomores, and $5500 for juniors and seniors. If you meet certain criteria set forth by the government, you may qualify as an independent student, and may be eligible to borrow an additional $4000 or $5000 dollars. Students are not required to repay the principal portion of their student loans until six months after they graduate, withdraw from school, or drop to less than half-time enrollment. Repayment of the interest depends on the type of student loan awarded. To apply for a student loan, students should complete a FAFSA and a Mercer Application for Financial Aid. Go to the Financial Aid Forms page for application links.

Work Study*
A limited number of part-time employment opportunities are available to students who are interested in working on campus or in a community service job off-campus. Students must demonstrate financial need per the FAFSA in order to be eligible for the Work Study program. Interested students should contact their Center Coordinator regarding employment opportunities.

Mercer One Flexible Billing Options
Mercer’s tuition billing office, Mercer One, offers such programs as:

• A monthly payment plan to help students pay any expenses financial aid doesn’t cover;
• An employer tuition reimbursement program;
• Third party billing;
• A $200 tuition deposit for students to begin classes while their financial aid application is being processed. (Students must have their financial aid award by mid-term or they will have to pay the remaining balance.)

* You can also see the Regional Academic Center Catalog for additional eligibility requirements and information regarding each type of financial assistance.