2015-2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Financial Information



Tuition and Fees

This schedule of tuition and fees is applicable only to the 2015-16 academic year. Iona College reserves the right to alter its schedule of tuition and fees after due notice as determined by the Board of Trustees.

Tuition rate per credit hour $1,023
Course Audit fee cost of one credit hour
Program/Student Services fee per term $235
Special Sessions fee per session $85

Other Charges (Non -Refundable)

Late payment charge $100
Returned check charge (per returned item) $50
Company Deferment Fee $50/Term

Tuition Payment Policy

A student incurs a legal obligation to pay tuition at the time of registration. The student may only be released from this payment obligation if he/she notifies the College in writing of his/her intention not to attend the registered courses prior to the first day of the term in which the course is offered.

All tuition and fees are payable in full by the stated due date. For all graduate and for returning adult students in the trimester programs, this is at the time web registration closes for the term. In addition to immediate payment via credit card or e-check, payment can take the form of financial aid, enrollment in the College’s automatic payment plan and/or participation in a company deferment program.

Personal checks are welcome and should be made payable to lona College indicating the student’s ID number. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express credit cards are accepted, and payment may be made online 24 hours a day through the student’s Peoplesoft account.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement Policy

lona College will allow a student to defer payment of tuition until 30 days after the grades are due for that term if the student is taking advantage of a tuition-reimbursement program offered by his or her employer. To be eligible for this tuition deferral, the student must comply with the following conditions by the time of course registration:

  1. Provide a letter from the student’s employer clearly stating: (a) the terms of the employer’s tuition reimbursement program, and (b) the student’s eligibility for the program.
  2. Complete and return (to the Office of Student Financial Services) lona College’s employer tuition-reimbursement form.
  3. Pay a $50 company deferment fee.
  4. Pay any tuition, fees or other charges not covered by the employer’s reimbursement policy (e.g., if the employer pays 80 percent of tuition, the remaining 20 percent is due at registration).
  5. Not have a student account balance outstanding from a prior term.

Regardless of participation in this program, the responsibility for tuition payment remains that of the student. lona College reserves the right to deny participation in this program to any student who has been delinquent in his or her tuition payments in the past. Students who participate in the employer tuition-reimbursement program and do not make payment by the deadline (i.e., 30 days after the grades are due for that term), will not be allowed to participate in the program in future terms. For more information please visit our website at http://www.iona.edu/admin/sfs/sa/deferred.cfm.

The Student must renew all Employee Deferment paperwork for each term in which he/she enrolls.

Billing

All billing is accomplished electronically with e-bills delivered to the student’s Iona College e-mail address when charges are initiated or revised. Students are responsible for monitoring their student account in PeopleSoft for charge activity between billing cycles, and to make timely payments as necessary.

Delinquent Accounts

If a student account is delinquent (has a balance outstanding after the due date), the College will not provide the student with a transcript of record, grades, letter of recommendation, or diploma/degree/certificate. In addition, the student will be prevented from registering for future semesters/trimesters until the financial obligation has been settled in full. The College reports delinquent payment status to credit reporting bureaus. The student will be responsible for paying all legal fees, collection costs and charges necessary for the collection of any amounts not paid when due. By registering for courses, a student  incurs a legal obligation to pay for tuition and fees. All or a portion of this obligation may be waived if the student notifies the College in writing of his/her intention not to attend or to withdraw from a course of study in accordance with the College’s refund policy.

Refunds and Repayments of Title IV Funds

(Title IV funds include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants and other Federal awards and loans.)


If a recipient of Title IV funding withdraws before completing 60 percent of the aid payment period (or period of enrollment), the institution must calculate the amount of Title IV aid the student did not earn. The amount of unearned aid equals the difference between Title IV aid that was distributed or could have been distributed for the payment period and the amount of Title IV aid that was earned. For additional information, contact Student Financial Services. For more detailed information on the process and implications of withdrawals, please visit the College website and navigate as follows: Quick Link to Student Financial Services, then select Student Accounts, and then Withdrawals, Drops, and Refunds.

Iona College Refund Policy

Students may apply for a tuition adjustment/credit if the student drops or withdraws from a course prior to or during the refund period. Fees are non-refundable. A drop refers to the student notifying the College (in writing) of his/her intent not to attend a course prior to the start of the term or session. An official drop releases the student from any tuition liability. Notification (in writing) received by the College after the start of the term or session is considered a withdrawal and adjustments/credits in tuition are as follows:

Refund Policy (Tuition Only)

Regular Session (Fall and Spring Semester, Fall, Winter and Spring Trimester)

Receipt of Notification in writing by the College Dean’s Office Percentage of Tuition Credit
Up until the first day of term 100%
1-7 - From the first day of the term to the 7th day of the term 75%
8-14 - From the 8th day of the term to the 14th day of the term 50%
15-21 - From the 15th day of the term to the 21st day of the term 25%

Summer Session

Receipt of Notification in writing by the College Dean’s Office Percentage of Tuition Credit
Up until the first day of session 100%
1-7 - From the first day to the 7th day of the session 50%
8-14 - From the 8th day to the 14th day of the session 25%

Weekend Intersession and Weekend Intensive Sessions

Receipt of Notification in writing by the College Dean’s Office Percentage of Tuition Credit
Up until the first day of course 100%

* Students withdrawing from a course(s) will receive a grade of “W” for the respective course(s). The course(s) will be part of the student’s official record of transcript, but will not be considered in the student’s overall cumulative average.  Students receiving a “W” for a grade will still be liable for the tuition charges associated with that course.

Tuition Insurance Plan

Iona College is pleased to offer an optional Tuition Insurance Plan as an option for Graduate students. We recommend that you avoid the risk of losing the college funds you worked so hard to secure. If you withdraw from classes due to medical or mental health reasons, this plan will return:
90% of your insured term tuition or tuition, room and board charges.

Please visit www.iona.edu/tuitionInsurance for complete details.

Financial Aid

The financial aid program at lona College assists students who would be unable to pursue an education without some economic assistance. Matriculated students either accepted for admission or in attendance who demonstrate financial need and academic potential are eligible to be considered for financial aid. Financial need is the difference between the total cost of attendance (which includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, transportation and a minimal amount for personal expenses) and the resources that the student can be expected to provide. This need is computed by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Application Procedures

lona attempts to assist the largest possible number of qualified students with its limited resources.

Students seeking financial aid consideration are required to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) within 30 days of their acceptance to Iona. An official FAFSA must be filed by the required deadline. Please note that a “rejected” FAFSA is not considered an “official” FAFSA.

Ongoing an “official” FAFSA must be filed by April 15 for all continuing students. Students who do not have an official FAFSA on file by the required deadline will not receive their Iona academic awards.

Students enrolled at least half-time as matriculated students in an approved degree program may qualify for federal aid. Students wishing to defer payments of tuition based on anticipated financial aid are encouraged to file the necessary forms as early as possible, but no later than six to eight weeks prior to registration.

Estimates of federal aid may be deducted from the amount owed to the College only if you have a financial aid package on PeopleSoft.

Since eligibility criteria change annually and because processing may take a few weeks, applicants are encouraged to file all applications as early as possible, and are urged not to determine that they are ineligible for a program without applying and receiving official notification from the administering agency or from lona College.

Awarded on a yearly basis, financial aid is not automatically renewed. Annual reapplication is required by the deadlines established and published each year by Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid is awarded in two forms: “gift” aid (scholarship and grants) and loans. Students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and who are enrolled for at least six credits in a degree program are eligible to apply for consideration.

Verification

Some financial aid applicants are selected by the US Department of Education to verify the accuracy of information provided on the FAFSA. If you have been selected for verification, your offer of assistance is tentative, pending the completion of the verification process. If you are a returning student, you will not receive a financial aid award email notification until the verification process is complete.

This year there is a link between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and your FAFSA information. Many students will be able to utilize a new IRS Data Retrieval Tool to allow the IRS to send your tax return data directly to the FAFSA. Not all students will have this option and there is no way to predetermine if you will be able to do this. However, based on answers you complete during the submission of your FASFA, you may be given this option and we recommend you use it if provided the opportunity. You will want to file your taxes early in the season and before submitting the FAFSA in order to use this option

If you are not able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or choose not to, your application will be selected by the Department of Education for verification of your FAFSA data.  You will be required to obtain an official Tax Transcript of your 2014 tax return. Since Iona College does not yet know who will be selected for verification, we are recommending you wait to request the IRS Tax Transcript until Iona College notifies you that it will be required. You will receive a notice via your Iona email account. Please note:  photocopies of tax returns (1040s) no longer meet the Federal verification requirement, however, additional documents such as tax schedules and w2’s will still be required.

Upon receipt of the required materials, we will finalize the review of your application for financial aid. If the required documentation is not received by August 1, your Iona funds will not be renewed.

Should the verified financial information differ from the original information provided on the FAFSA, your aid may be adjusted. Please be sure to respond to requests for follow-up documentation in a timely manner to avoid delays in applying your financial aid as a credit to your student account.

To determine if you are selected for verification and are required to submit this documentation, please review your Student Aid Report (SAR).  In the upper right hand corner, you will see your EFC. If there is an asterisk (*) next to the EFC number, then you have been selected for verification by the Federal Government. For any student selected for verification, there is also a paragraph in the SAR that explains you have been selected for verification. The SAR will be sent to you after you have completed your FAFSA.

Iona College Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Graduate Students

Federal regulations (Sections 668.16(e).668.32(f) and 668.34) require that schools monitor the academic progress of each applicant for federal financial assistance and that the school certify that the applicant is making satisfactory academic progress toward earning his/her degree. This determination of progress must be made at least once a year and before the financial aid office disburses any federal aid funds for the subsequent semester.

To be eligible for financial aid at Iona College, students must maintain SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS, based on federal and institutional requirements. This consists of three parts:

  • An annual number of credits completed by the end of spring semester.
  • Degree programs must be completed within a maximum time frame, 150% of the average credits to complete the degree program.
  • A minimum grade point average (GPA) as established by the College.

In order to begin to or continue to be eligible for financial aid, students must meet ALL three requirements. After reviewing the full policy below, students should contact a financial aid counselor if unsure of the credits required for maintaining or reinstating eligibility.

Annual Credit Requirement

Graduate students must successfully complete 67% of the credits attempted in summer, fall, winter and spring semesters. To determine if you have met the annual requirement, total all of your attempted credits for the summer, fall, winter and spring quarters. Then add up your completed credits for the same time period, and divide by the attempted credits. Your percentage of completion needs to meet or exceed 67%.

Here is an example: If you attempted 30 credits in fall-spring quarters and completed 21 credits, then you would meet the 67% required completion for spring quarter.

Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

All graduate and professional students are expected to complete their degree program within a maximum time frame, which cannot exceed 150% of the average credits needed to complete the degree program.

Students who have reached or exceeded the maximum time frame may petition, through the regular appeal process described below, for an extension based on extenuating circumstances which prevented the completion of the degree program within the credit limits above.

Minimum Grade Point Average

Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) as established by the College. In general, graduate students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Attempted Credits

Your attempted credit total is the number of credits that show as attempted on your transcript. Repeated credits count in the attempted credit total as well. Transfer credits accepted at the UW are counted in the completed and attempted credit totals.

Passing Grades for Successful Completion

For financial aid purposes, satisfactory grades are defined as: A, B+, B, C+, C, D, P, HP.  Repeated credits count only one time in the completed credit total. Repeated courses always count in attempted credits.

Grades That Do Not Count in Successful Completion

Other grades, such as F (failure), FA (Failure for excessive absences) I (incomplete); and W (withdrawal ); and Audit credits are not considered in the successfully completed credit totals. However, all of these grades are considered in the attempted credits and negatively impact your ability to reach the required credits for the annual measurements.

You should let the financial aid counselors know if you convert an Incomplete  grade to a passing grade in case that may reinstate your eligibility for the quarter.

How to Re-Establish Eligibility

f you did not meet the progress requirements because you had special circumstances you may file an appreal with the Student Financial Services Office. The form is available online at http://www.iona.edu/admin/sfs/finaid/forms/doc/SAPRequestReviewForm.pdf. You will need to demonstrate unusual circumstances beyond your control that are not likely to recur in the immediate future. You will need to explain what has changed in your situation so that you will now be able to make academic progress. If approved, you will need to meet the requirements of an individual academic plan to continue to receive financial aid.

Depending upon the time of the semester, it can take approximately four weeks to receive a decision on your appeal. If you are waiting to hear about your appeal and tuition is due, you need to make sure you pay your own tuition.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are processed through the U.S. Government. You can receive an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period as long as you are enrolled as a matriculated student for at least 6 credits per term. Repayment begins six months after graduation or six months after your enrollment status is less than half time (five or fewer credits).

An unsubsidized loan is non-need based. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid off. If you allow the interest to accrue while you are in school or during other periods of non-payment, it will be capitalized. The interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and additional interest will be based on that higher amount. A student may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year.

Federal Grad (PLUS) Loans

The Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan allows students enrolled in a graduate program to cover their entire education costs minus financial aid already awarded or supplement their Unsubsidized Loan funding. It’s an affordable alternative to using savings, income, or private loans for education costs. Students must complete a FAFSA to determine eligibility, must be a U.S. citizen or resident non-citizen, and have satisfactory credit history.

Veterans Benefits

Iona College is fully accredited for the receipt of benefits by veterans or their eligible dependents under the terms of Title 38, US Code. All eligible students are required to submit to the certifying official a claim form for Gl Bill benefits. This form must be submitted every term. Whenever such a student withdraws from a course, he or she must report such to the certifying official in order that the Veterans Administration can make the required adjustment in benefits. If the cumulative index falls below the standards established in the paragraph on scholastic standing, students must also inform the certifying official of their unsatisfactory progress in order to stop benefits. Counseling may be required before benefits can be resumed.

New York State Grants and Scholarships

Vietnam Veterans Tuition Awards

Vietnam Veterans Tuition Awards (WTA) provide awards for full-time study or part-time study to Vietnam veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State. Students must have served in the US Armed Forces in Indochina between December 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975. Students must be New York State residents and be matriculated full-or part-time at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State. Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and an Express TAP Application (ETA).

Assistantships and Scholarships

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Graduate students may work as general assistants in the various administrative offices and academic departments of the College. Assistantships generally provide tuition scholarships and require an average of 20 hours of work per week for which the assistant is generally paid on an hourly basis. Applications may be obtained from the office of the appropriate dean.

Resident Hall Campus Ministers

Residential positions are available for graduate students who work for the Center for Campus Ministries. They work part-time in residence hall outreach and promotion of Campus Ministries programs and volunteer opportunities. Residence hall campus ministers receive room and board.

Scholarships

Iona Scholarships and/or grants will not be combined. The higher scholarship for which a student is eligible will be awarded. Descriptions are provided below.

Archdiocesan Scholarship

Individuals who are currently employed full-time as teachers or administrators in Catholic elementary or secondary schools in the New York Archdiocese or neighboring dioceses are eligible to participate in this program. Recipients must be admitted to and enrolled as a matriculated student in a graduate degree program at Iona. Visiting students and those enrolled in Certificate programs are not eligible. A new form must be filed for each term of enrollment.

The scholarship provides a waiver of one-third (33%) of graduate tuition (not fees) for a maximum of six credits per semester or trimester. Although there are two summer sessions, the summer is considered one study period, and thus one-third of tuition for a maximum of six credits will be waived for the summer.  Scholarships are not available for intersession courses, and cannot be combined with any other scholarship, assistantship, or waiver from Iona.

To have the Archdiocesan Scholarship credited to your account at Iona, complete the following steps:

  • Be admitted as a matriculated student to a degree program within the School of Arts & Science.
  • Be in good academic standing within the degree program and satisfy all registration requirements.
  • Be in good financial standing with the College.
  • Complete a FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) for the current financial aid year. The deadline for continuing students is April 15 of every year and the deadline for newly admitted students is 30 days after the date of admission to the College.  
  • Complete the IONA COLLEGE ARCHDIOCESAN SCHOLARSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDIES application form for semester or trimester of enrollment. Secure the signature of the school principal and have an official school seal affixed to the above form. The form is available on our website at http://www.iona.edu/admin/sfs/finaid/forms/doc/ArchdiocesanScholarship.pdf. THIS FORM MUST BE RECEIVED AT IONA COLLEGE BEFORE THE 2ND WEEK OF EACH TERM OR YOUR ARCHDIOCESAN AWARD WILL NOT BE AWARDED FOR THAT TERM.
  • Return the completed form to the Office of Student Financial Services. If you have additional questions, please contact our office at (914) 633-2497 or email sfs@iona.edu.

The James B. Lloyd CSP Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is awarded to a student who is registered in the graduate division of Marriage and Family Therapy, a member priest of a Catholic diocese or a brother, sister or priest of a religious congregation.  In the event there is no religious candidate, consideration will be given to a person in the laity who is fully employed in the church. The recipient must have a minimum grade-point-average of 3.0. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed annually by our required deadline of April 15.

Edmund Rice Scholarship

The Edmund Rice Scholarship, named for Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, is available to entering graduate students who have earned outstanding GRE or GMAT scores, or who have achieved high undergraduate cumulative grade point averages.  Recipients must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) must be filed annually by our required deadline of April 15 for continuing students and within 30 days of the date of acceptance for new students.

Iona Alumni Scholarship

Awarded to students who completed an undergraduate degree at Iona College and are accepted into a graduate program. The scholarship is 10% of graduate tuition. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed annually by our required deadline of April 15 for continuing students and within 30 days of the date of acceptance for new students.

The above scholarships will apply to tuition amounts that are not reimbursed by the students’ employers, are to be applied to tuition only, and will not be combined with any other scholarship, award and/or reimbursement. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filed annually by our required deadline of April 15 for continuing students and within 30 days of the date of acceptance for new students.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that scholarships for which they are eligible are credited to their student account in a timely manner each term. Graduate awards are recalculated each term based on enrollment, and the College can not be held responsible for scholarships that are either omitted, or are credited at a lower rate than enrollment would allow. Scholarships will not be awarded retroactively. Students should check their student account and financial aid awards carefully for each term and notify Mary Grant, Director of Financial Aid at mgrant@iona.edu if any scholarship award needs adjustment. This notice needs to be recieved by the end of the second week of each term for the award to be adjusted/reinstated.

Additional Scholarships

From time to time other forms of scholarship aid become available. Students should inquire at the Office of Graduate Studies, the School of Arts and Science, or the Hagan School of Business for information on scholarships not listed here.