Manhattan University Scholarships: Requirements and Opportunities

Manhattan University is committed to making education accessible. To this end, the University administers a wide range of scholarship and financial aid programs designed to enable students to pursue their studies to graduation. The basis of selection is the ability and/or need. Meeting the complete costs of university requires a cooperative effort from several possible sources of funds: student and family, Manhattan University, state and federal government agencies, and independent sources of aid.

Please note that program guidelines and funding levels, especially State and Federal, are subject to change without enough advance notice to be corrected in this publication. Students are advised to consider this.

Types of Financial Aid at Manhattan University

Manhattan University offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work programs, to assist students in funding their education. Most financial assistance is based on an assessment of your financial need. Need is the difference between your total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, books, miscellaneous/personal expenses, and transportation) and what your family can reasonably be expected to pay toward those expenses.

Need-Based Aid

Manhattan University awards need-based aid to students who demonstrate financial need. As with all types of need-based aid, these awards are renewed annually and adjusted in line with changes on the FAFSA. These awards are given for a maximum of four years (eight semesters). Need-based aid recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress, full-time enrollment, residency status requested at the time of the admissions application, file FAFSA annually and on time, and comply with any verification requests.

Students admitted to the University and demonstrating financial need will receive financial aid assistance offered in the form of a financial aid award notice from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. To apply for any type of need-based financial assistance through Manhattan University, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA university code is 002758). Incoming freshmen should file by February 1st to ensure timely handling of their admissions application. Continuing students must file by the April 15th deadline and file using completed federal taxes. FAFSA applications must file on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Federal Student Aid Program performs a needs analysis service that computes the expected family contribution (EFC) toward educational costs. Manhattan University then determines financial need based on the total cost of attendance at the university. Manhattan University deducts the family contribution as determined by the FAFSA from the Total Cost of Attendance to calculate financial need. All attempts are made to help meet some of this need (also known as the Gap) with a combination of the gift (scholarships and grants from Manhattan University, federal and state grant programs and outside scholarships), loans (Federal Stafford and Perkins) and work programs (Federal Work-Study and Campus Employment). Applicants will be advised of all possible awards via a Financial Aid Award Notice when all pertinent forms and applications are complete. Award notices are provided to incoming applicants on a rolling basis.

FAFSA Verification

FAFSA Verification is a process mandated by the federal government requiring the Student Financial Services office to verify that information reported on the FAFSA application is true and accurate. At a minimum, the government will randomly select thirty percent of a university’s population for this process. Applicants are selected or flagged by the government at random and through computer edits. The verification flag will be noted as an asterisk next to the EFC number on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that is received upon completion of the FAFSA. The student is also notified of selection in Part I of the SAR. After making the enrollment deposit, prospective students will receive a letter indicating they have been selected for verification and requesting that an institutional verification form be completed and returned with signed copies of student and parent signed federal income tax returns along with other requested documents. Selected students are required to provide documentation as specified within 10 business days of receipt of the notice. Although tuition bills may show pending aid, no financial aid will be credited to the account until verification has been completed. Institutional aid will not be considered final until the process is complete. Students will be responsible for payment penalties. Some states also validate the financial data of their state grant recipients.

Read also: Manhattan College Tuition

Important Considerations for Institutional Awards

All forms of institutional assistance (scholarships, awards, need-based grants, athletic awards) are awarded under the assumption of full-time, undergraduate enrollment and residency status requested at the time of the admissions application. Institutional awards are only given for a maximum of four years (eight semesters). In addition, when a student changes residency status from resident to commuter, the change in the student's budget could result in the loss of their need-based aid. The merit scholarship will remain the same.

Merit-Based Aid

Manhattan University also awards academic merit-based aid to students who meet the academic criteria at the time of acceptance into the University. All academic scholarships (non-need based) require a minimum enrollment of 12 credits, residency status requested at the time of the admissions application, and a cumulative GPA requirement of 3.0 while in attendance at Manhattan University for full renewal. These awards are given for a maximum of four years (eight semesters).

Specific Merit-Based Scholarships

Presidential Scholarships: Awarded to highly qualified students in the top 15% of the Manhattan University applicant pool.
Dean’s Awards: Offered to academically gifted students who fall slightly below Presidential Scholarship requirements, on a non-need basis.
Chancellor’s Awards: Awarded to students with high academic performance, leadership ability, volunteer and community service work, and extra-curricular involvement. Amounts will vary, on a non-need basis.
The Provost Award: Will be awarded at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

Eligibility for these scholarships is based on a variety of accomplishments such as exceptional SAT or ACT scores, grade point average, volunteer and community involvement, extra-curricular accomplishments and class rank. All students who are accepted into Manhattan University are automatically considered for these scholarships. If you receive one of these scholarships, you will be eligible to receive the scholarship for four years of undergraduate study (eight semesters), as long as you are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits at Manhattan University and maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average.

Program-Specific Scholarships

School of Liberal Arts Award: This award is based on academic achievement and demonstrable financial need for students who intend to enroll in the School of Liberal Arts only. The award is granted at the discretion of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee upon admission to the College. This award cannot be renewed/granted if a student chooses a major outside of the School of Liberal Arts after initial acceptance.
School of Business Award: This award is based on academic achievement and demonstrable financial need for students who intend to enroll in the School of Business only. The award is granted at the discretion of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee upon admission to the University.
School of Engineering Award: This award is based on academic achievement and demonstrable financial need for students who intend to enroll in the School of Engineering only. The award is granted at the discretion of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee upon admission to the College.
School of Education and Health Award: This scholarship is based on academic achievement and demonstrable financial need for students who intend to enroll in the School of Education and Health only. The award is granted at the discretion of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee upon admission to the University.
School of Science Award: This award is based on academic achievement and demonstrable financial need for students who intend to enroll in the School of Science only. The award is granted at the discretion of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee upon admission to the University.
Performing Arts Scholarship: Available to talented students who have been accepted into the freshman class and demonstrate exceptional ability in the area of instrumental or vocal music. Scholarship awards are contingent upon holding membership in a minimum of two performing arts ensembles. Awards are dispensed each semester, and are renewable upon satisfactory evaluation by the ensemble director. Each applicant is required to appear for an in person audition. After completing the application for the Performing Arts Scholarship, the Director of Performing Arts will reach out to you to schedule an audition appointment. Under certain circumstances a virtual audition may be considered.
Athletic Grants: The Manhattan University Athletics department may fund athletic grants to students who, by the possession of certain athletic skills, can add to the community spirit and morale of the campus. The University firmly states that recipients must come to Manhattan as students, with their first interest in studies. They must meet the same entrance requirements as other students and must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Manhattan adheres to and endorses the principles and policies of the Eastern University Athletic Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Resident Assistant Grants: Awarded to students selected to serve as Resident Assistants in the dormitories. The Offices of Residence Life and Dean of Students select the recipients by application and interview during the Spring semester.

Grants

Grants are another form of financial aid that, unlike loans, do not need to be repaid.

Manhattan University Grant-in-Aid: Manhattan University awards grants-in-aid to accepted students who demonstrate financial need. As with all types of grant aid, these awards are renewed annually and adjusted in line with changes on the FAFSA. These awards are given for a maximum of four years (eight semesters). Grant recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Federal Pell Grant: This program provides direct grants from the federal government for educational expenses. Students must be enrolled for at least 3 credit hours and demonstrate eligibility according to federal guidelines. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree are ineligible.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): This program is funded by the federal government but eligible students are selected by the university. Awards up to $4,000 annually are awarded to the students with the most determined need who are also eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. No separate application to the university is required.
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for University and Higher Education (TEACH Grant): The TEACH Grant is a federal program that strives to encourage teachers into high-need teaching areas in K-12 low-income schools. It allows for a grant (not need-based) of up to $4,000 per year for students in qualifying undergraduate and graduate programs in exchange for service as full-time highly-qualified teachers in a high-need field within a low-income school upon graduation.

Work Programs

Federal Work-Study (FWS): This program is extended to students who have remaining financial needs after all other offered aid has been applied. Current hourly wage rates begin at $15.00. A student may work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 35 hours per week during vacation periods.
Campus Employment Program(CE): This program is designed for students who are not eligible for the federal work-study program. The university pays student's wages.
Manhattan University Campus Employment Program: Manhattan offers its own campus work program to students who need employment to meet university expenses but are not eligible for Federal Work-Study. Although the program is not need-based, a FAFSA (and other application requirements described above) is required annually so the university can meet federal requirements to assure there is no remaining need that can be met by the federal government.

Loans

Loans are another source of financial aid and must be repaid, with interest, with the exception of the Subsidized Stafford Loan and the Perkins loan.

William D. Ford Federal Stafford Direct Loan Program: Under this program, students borrow money from the federal government to pay for their university costs. The Department of Education makes the loans, through the University, directly to the students’ tuition accounts.

Tuition Benefits

Tuition Remission: An institutional non-need based program available to eligible Manhattan University employees, spouses of employees, and dependent children of employees, Eligibility is authorized and determined by the Human Resources Department.
Tuition Exchange Scholarship: An institutional grant (tuition only) awarded to the dependents of eligible employees at a Tuition Exchange member institution of higher education.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

External Scholarship Programs

A number of outside, third-party organizations offer private scholarships. These awards are considered part of your financial aid package and federal regulations require this information be reported to the University. Substantial funding from outside scholarships may impact your awards.

New York State Aid Programs

Residents of New York State who attend university in New York State may be eligible for financial aid funded by the State.

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): Helps eligible New York residents pay tuition at approved schools in New York State. Because TAP is a grant, it does not have to be paid back.
CSTEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program): Seeks to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields.

Veteran's Benefits and Yellow Ribbon Program

All recipients of veterans' educational benefits must meet with the certifying officer after proceeding with an application for admission to Manhattan University, please forward your Certificate of Eligibility to Manhattan University’s VA Certifying Official, Addie Newman, located in Thomas Hall, 3rd floor (718) 862-7382.

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive Yellow Ribbon benefits from Manhattan and the VA.

Specific Scholarship Examples and Eligibility

Armed Forces Scholarships: Scholarships are offered to freshman and transfer students and are given on the basis of academics, talent and service. A combination of scholarships may be awarded. However, total scholarships may not exceed tuition costs minus TAP and Pell. All students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year for consideration for all Federal, State and institutional need-based aid they are eligible to receive. Students must be attending full time (12 or more credits) each semester to be eligible for their scholarship.
Transfer Articulation Grant: Students who complete their Associate Degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater will receive a $2000 per year Transfer Articulation Grant. No application required.

Important Considerations

Renewal of Aid: All financial aid is renewable on a yearly basis provided the student remains eligible; must renew the FAFSA annually and comply with any FAFSA verification requests or other requests by financial aid administrators, is enrolled in a matriculated program, is in good academic standing, continues to demonstrate need (for need-based aid) and has not defaulted on student loans.
Award Adjustments: The financial aid awards on your award notice are “estimated” until full eligibility is determined. A financial aid award may be reduced or canceled. The most common reasons for an award adjustment include changes in enrollment (change to part-time status, residency status, not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, or over-awards due to receipt of additional aid and/or scholarships from other sources.) An award may also be adjusted due to changes or inaccuracies in the information on which your award is based. Students are advised to visit the Student Financial Services Office to discuss any changes in family circumstances.
Full-Time Enrollment: Students have to be enrolled in at least 12 undergraduate credits towards their degree.

Endowed Scholarships

One of the most important forms of support for our students is through endowment of perpetual-named scholarships. In addition to fostering individual academic advancement, you will be linking your name to an educational tradition that is nearly 160 years old.

Read also: Manhattan Beach History

A gift of $1 million or more will endow a perpetual-named scholarship supporting full-tuition for a single student at Manhattan University.
A gift of $500,000 will endow a perpetual-named scholarship supporting half-tuition for a single student at Manhattan University.
A gift of $250,000 will endow a perpetual-named scholarship supporting a quarter-tuition for a single student at Manhattan University.
A gift of $50,000 is the threshold amount for endowing a perpetual-named scholarship at Manhattan University.

How to Apply

File the FAFSA: Students who wish to apply for any type of need-based financial assistance through Manhattan University must file a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA university code is 002758).
Complete Required Forms: Ensure all pertinent forms and applications are complete.
Monitor Award Notices: Award notices are provided to incoming applicants on a rolling basis.

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