The Office of Financial Aid has created your award package by offering you the maximum available aid based on your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional programs. We have applied a consistent and equitable awarding philosophy to all applicants based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), the Cost of Attendance at Lander, the date of application, and the availability of funds. We assume that all students will enroll full-time, unless we are notified otherwise in writing.
STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT, ON OUR WEBSITE, AND IN THE UNIVERSITY CATALOG.
Cost Of Attendance
The first step in evaluating your awards package is to understand how much money you are going to need for college. The Office of Financial Aid uses a Cost of Attendance (COA) that is larger than the amount of your university bill you will receive from the Business Office. For awarding purposes, we use both the direct costs (tuition/fees, books/supplies) AND other costs associated with a college education, such as housing and food, transportation costs and miscellaneous expenses. We further attempt to anticipate cost increases not yet published.
Adjustments
We attempt to be as accurate as possible at all times. However, your financial aid eligibility is based on information as you reported it. Occasionally, changes will force us to make adjustments to your awards. You will be notified if there are changes in your awards. You must review your billing information from the Business Office for adjustments on your bill. Awards are subject to change under at least the following circumstances:
- If you are selected in the verification process; OR
- If we receive new or corrected information; OR
- Due to changes in your enrollment status; OR
- Due to failure to meet satisfactory academic progress; OR
- If there is a change in the availability of funds from Federal, state, institutional and other sources; OR
- If your aid exceeds your Cost of Attendance at any time; OR
- If we discover an error.
Lander University reserves the right to adjust any aid awarded based on verification of eligibility or enrollment status. Further, at any time that new, corrected, or additional information becomes available, Lander University reserves the right to review any aid for accuracy and eligibility.
Federal Title IV Recalculation Date
Lander University uses the last date of drop/add as the official federal financial aid census date for all federal Title IV aid. Per federal regulations, students must be registered in all courses as of the census date for eligibility including enrollment in any modules.
Correspondence
It is the student's obligation to always maintain a current address and telephone number with Lander University. Students may update their addresses with the Office of the Registrar any time there is a change. Further, students must check their e-mail accounts on a regular basis for additional correspondence. In accordance with the terms in the University Catalog and the Student handbook, it is the student's responsibility to check their school e-mail on a regular basis. The Office of Financial Aid will communicate with you via Lander e-mail address. Your e-mail address will be established after you have been admitted to Lander.
Enrollment
All financial aid offers are generated under the assumption that the student intends to enroll full-time. Students who intend to enroll less than full-time must notify the Office of Financial Aid. Students must enroll at least half-time (six hours) to be eligible for all types of federal aid, with the exception of the Pell Grant. Students must enroll full-time for all scholarships, unless otherwise specifically stated in the conditions of the scholarship contract. Students who enroll less than full-time will have aid recalculated based on the changes to the Cost of Attendance and program requirements. An email is sent to the student whenever changes are made to the aid offer.
Credit Balance Refunds
Students who are eligible for aid in excess of what they owe Lander University are eligible to receive credit balance refunds. Credit balance refunds are processed by the Business Office.
Installment Payment Plan
The University Business Office offers a semester installment payment plan. Students must sign a promissory note before the appropriate drop date, and a $50 participation fee is required to enroll in the Bearcat Payment Plan. A 10-percent down payment of the balance owed is due by the semester payment deadline. The remaining balance is payable to the University in four monthly installments of 25 percent each.
For the Fall semester, the payment dates are Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Nov. 1 and Dec. 1.
For the Spring semester, the payment dates are Feb. 1, March 1, April 1 and May 1.
Leaving school before the end of the semester does not relieve the student of the obligation to complete all remaining payments.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Policy available at on the Satisfactory Academic Progress page.
All financial aid recipients must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to continue to receive federal and state aid. The requirements are available in the University Catalog and on the Financial Aid web page. Once a student has attempted 187 hours as an undergraduate student, he/she is no longer eligible for federal and some state aid. This applies to transfer students as well.
Student Employment
Many part-time student jobs are available each year from the Federal Work-Study Program and Lander’s student work program. Students interested in seeking employment on campus should check employment postings on Handshake.
Summer School Financial Aid
Students must fill out a one-page supplemental application for summer aid each year they wish to receive summer aid. Summer aid applications are available beginning March 1. Financial aid for summer school is based on unused eligibility from the preceding academic year (fall and spring). Accordingly, if a student uses 100% of his/her aid eligibility during the fall and spring, he/she typically will not have any remaining eligibility for summer courses.
Accepting Charges
Lander University students must confirm their tuition and fees each semester by accepting/confirming their account through the MyLander portal. The process of accepting/confirming tuition and fees helps minimize any disruption to class attendance.
If you have a zero or credit balance, confirm your account by going to MyLander and sign in with your Lander ID and password. Student billing/payment information is under the MY Bill card.
If you have an account balance, you will NOT have a submit icon. Your account is confirmed after paying the balance in full or setting up a payment plan. To make a payment go to MyLander and sign in with your Lander ID and password.
Return of Title IV
Policy available on the Refund Policy page.
The underlying principle is that federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans, Federal PLUS Loans) is awarded with the expectation that a student will attend for the entire payment period. When a student withdraws, the Lander must determine how much Title IV aid the student earned based on the amount of the period completed. Any unearned aid must be returned according to federal requirements.
If a student withdraws prior to completing 60% of a term, a pro-rated portion of the federal financial aid dollars must be considered "unearned" and returned to the federal programs. The calculation of the “unearned” financial aid dollars may result in the student owing a balance to the University and/or the Department of Education.
If the student has completed more than 60% of the applicable payment period or period of enrollment, the student is considered to have earned 100% of the Title IV aid for the period.