Financial Information

Students should be prepared to pay tuition, fees and other charges at the time of registration. A Student Loan Installment Payment Plan is available for those students who wish to pay in installments.

The Student Loan Installment Payment Plan permits payments of accounts as follows:

Fall Semester - At the time of registration, a 50% down payment is due after a student’s estimated Financial Aid is applied. Of the remaining balance, 50% is due on or before September 30^th and the remaining balance plus any additional charges is due on or before October 30^th.

Spring Semester - At the time of registration, a 50% down payment is due after a student’s estimated Financial Aid is applied. Of the remaining balance, 50% is due on or before February 28^th and the remaining balance plus any additional charges is due on or before March 30^th.

NOTE: Work-study awards are not used as a credit to determine minimum payment when registering. Students are responsible for their account balance even if Financial Aid does not post.

The University accepts cash, personal, cashier’s and official bank checks, money orders, Debit Cards, Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover by mail and walk-in. Be advised that personal checks are electronically deducted from the checking account within 24 hours. Secure online payments are accepted via the internet at http://www.xula.edu under Online Resources (Banner Web).

A finance charge of 0.75% (annual percentage rate of 9%) shall be charged each month on the unpaid balance. In the event of non-payment of any one or more installments, all unpaid installments become due and payable, without demand or notice. The University reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any student who fails to make timely payments of any installment. Reinstatement upon payment of a delinquent balance shall be at the discretion of the University, provided that academic restrictions regarding absence have not been exceeded.

Full-term charges are made in the case of students who enter after the semester has begun. No student is entitled to receive a grade, degree, statement of honorable dismissal, or transcript of record, while any account balance is unpaid.

No refunds are made for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter vacations, or for holidays.

A late fee penalty of 4.5% of the unpaid balance is assessed on December 15th for the Fall semester and May 15th for the Spring semester.

NOTE 1: If a student drops classes after the official add/drop period, there will be no changes to his/her tuition and fees. For example, if a student drops from full-time to part-time after the final add/drop period, the student will be charged as a full-time student. If the student drops to zero hours, he/she must withdraw from the University. Please refer to the withdrawal policy for details on withdrawal calculations.

NOTE 2: Students residing in campus housing must be cleared to attend classes before checking into the Residence Hall.

Tuition and Fees

 *** Additional Charges - See IBCS website

Refund Policy

Refunds are available to students who have withdrawn officially from the University. The withdrawal date shall be determined by the appropriate University Official in the Fiscal Office.

Refunds of Tuition and Fees

Two refund methods are used: the Xavier University Institutional Policy and the Federal Government Refund Policy.

For those students who have registered at the University with the assistance of Federal Financial Aid, the following policy applies:

Tuition and some fees are credited to the students’ accounts based on the percentage of the enrollment period completed (up to 60%). The percentage to be credited is determined by dividing the number of days remaining in the enrollment period by the number of days in the enrollment period.

Room and Board Charges

No refund is given for dormitory rooms. Board charges are refunded on a pro-rata daily basis of 17 weeks per semester.

Cancellation of Housing

All current residents (including graduating seniors) who will not return to campus housing next term must officially cancel housing by the deadline indicated below to be eligible to receive a housing deposit refund. The housing deposit refund policy will be enforced as follows:

*The $100 reservation paid as a new or transfer student is non-refundable. The refund schedule posted above only refers to the $200 additional deposit paid by upperclassmen.

Allocating a Portion of the Refund to Student Aid Programs

In the case of those students who have registered at the University with the assistance of Federal financial aid, government regulations determine what portion of the calculated refund must be returned to the Title IV Financial Aid Programs. Government regulations also specify the order in which monies will be refunded to the aid programs and the student. The University must distribute the refund in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
2. Subsidized Stafford Loans
3. Unsubsidized Direct Loans
4. Subsidized Direct Loans
5. Federal Perkins Loans
6. Federal PLUS Loans
7. Direct PLUS Loans
8. Federal PELL Grants
9. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
10. Other Title IV Programs

Examples of the refund policy and calculations are readily available to students upon request in the Office of Student Accounts located in Xavier South, Room 300.

Any changes to this policy will be distributed to all students and made available to the public in the Admissions Office, the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Student Accounts.

Financial Aid

Introduction

Xavier has traditionally offered the opportunity of a college education to academically qualified students, regardless of the financial resources of the student or the student’s family. Although Xavier feels that the student and family have the responsibility to contribute to the cost of a college education, the University is prepared to provide financial assistance. In fact, over 75% of the students attending Xavier receive some type of financial assistance.

Sources of Financial Aid

Money for a student’s financial aid package comes primarily from four sources - the federal government, the state government, Xavier University, and private programs. The federal government supplies the majority of financial aid.

Federal grant programs include: the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and the Teach Grant.

Loans include: the Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, and the Federal Direct PLUS Loans.

The Federal College Work-Study Program provides work aid.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

All students must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form to determine their eligibility for aid (including all loans). Financial aid applications may be obtained online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Electronic applications must be completed by the student and his/her parents.

Note: Student and Parent must create an FSA ID at  https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm to electronically sign their FAFSA application.

When to Apply

All students must file for financial aid as soon as possible after January 1 of each year.  Beginning with the 2017-2018 FAFSA students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year.  In addition, students will have the ability to submit a 2018-2019 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2017, rather than January 1, 2018.  The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 of every year.  Students must use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to obtain the prior year’s tax information.  Follow all instructions carefully when completing the form. The student will receive an e-mail notification as a result of filing their Financial Aid Application.

How Eligibility for Financial Aid is Determined

In order to determine eligibility for Federal Financial Aid students must complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid using the information provided by the parents and students on the FAFSA. Once a student files the FAFSA using Xavier University’s school code (002032), the Financial Aid Office will receive the student’s records electronically. The Financial aid application (FAFSA) will be evaluated, and, if valid (no discrepancies), an award offer will be emailed to the student. The electronic award offer will list all financial aid that the student was determined eligible to receive. If the records are invalid (discrepancies) or rejected, the student and/or parents must provide the requested required documents before an award offer may be prepared.

The Award offer must be accepted or denied electronically. All financial aid is awarded on the availability of funds. In addition, students must meet Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

If the student is a first time Loan borrower, the student must sign a master promissory note and complete the entrance counseling.

If a student stops attending classes, the amount of financial aid awarded must be recalculated based on the last date of attendance. Unused aid must be returned to the Federal Government.

Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Any student that would like to share their financial information with another individual must complete the FERPA form online. The form enables the office to release or discuss your student financial aid and scholarship information only to individuals you request. The form is available on Banner Web.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Eligibility

Introduction

The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended and final regulations set by the United States Department of Education (34CFR668.16) require that institutions of higher education establish reasonable standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress as a condition of continuing eligibility for federal aid programs. Financial aid recipients are expected to make reasonable progress as a condition of receiving and continuing to receive student financial aid. Student progress is assessed according to both qualitative and quantitative measures. The qualitative measure (Grade Point Average-GPA) is very similar to the Academic Progress standard applied to all XU students. The quantitative measure, referred to as the student’s “Pace” (number of credit hours successfully completed and the maximum timeframe) is used to monitor progress toward degree completion. When these measures are applied, federal regulations require that the student’s entire academic history is considered. This includes semesters or terms during which the student did not receive student financial aid. The University has developed this policy to provide a framework for monitoring and determining a student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress in accordance with Federal and Institutional requirements. This policy applies to all new, transfer, re-entry, readmitted with transfer work (for purpose of financial aid), and continuing students at Xavier University.

Quantitative Standards

Students are expected to complete the requirements for a degree within a reasonable time frame. Undergraduates pursuing a degree are allowed to attempt up to 150% of the published length of their academic program. For example, a first time undergraduate student must complete the requirements within 192 attempted hours (or higher for academic programs in excess of 128 hours). This includes both Xavier University attempted hours and hours transferred from other institutions that apply toward the student’s degree, in accordance with the institution’s transfer policy.

Undergraduate students must make incremental progress toward their degree based on the number of hours attempted; therefore, a minimum percentage of XU hours attempted must be completed at each interval. Students must also complete the degree requirements (based on their degree attempt or second degree attempt at the same level) and the associated maximum timeframe limit outlined in the SAP Policy. To meet this standard, students must complete the required hours attempted. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress (Pace) Chart for details.

Qualitative Standards

Title IV recipients use a scale that culminates in the graduation requirement in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The following chart is used to determine if Qualitative Standards are being maintained for continued financial aid eligibility.

Guidelines

Full-time (12+ hours per semester) students will be allowed six academic years in which to complete a degree. Part-time students will be considered on a pro rata basis equivalent to requirements of full-time students. The number of hours in which a student is enrolled on the first day following the end of the add/drop period will be the official number of hours used to determine full-time or part-time status. Full-time students who drop below 12 semester hours following this date will still be considered full-time students for financial aid eligibility. Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility requires that the student’s ratio of completed (earned) semester credit hours versus the student’s enrolled (attempted) semester credit hours at the end of the drop/add period adhere to the following guidelines:

Satisfactory Academic Progress Chart (PACE)

College of Arts & Sciences (Undergraduates and P1 Students)

College of Pharmacy (P1 (graduate), P2, P3, P4)

Graduate School

Hours attempted and hours completed in summer school will be included in the calculation of eligibility.

Course withdrawals, developmental courses and incomplete courses are counted in the hours attempted towards the quantitative (PACE) measure of the satisfactory academic progress policy.

Course withdrawals and incompletes are not counted in the student’s grade point average and are not counted in the qualitative (GPA) measure of the satisfactory academic progress policy.

Transfer credits earned prior to the student’s enrollment at Xavier University will be used for quantitative (PACE) measure purposes to determine the minimum required earned hours.

Transfer Students

Transfer students must enroll at Xavier with at least a 2.0 GPA to qualify for Federal Financial Aid. A transfer student is one who has not attended Xavier prior to transferring into the University. Students admitted on academic probation for the first time may qualify for their eligible Federal Student Aid on Financial Aid Warning for the term which they are admitted to Xavier if it can be documented that they will be able to meet the GPA requirements in one semester. This documentation will come from the student’s Transfer Counselor in Admissions. If the student will not be able to meet the GPA requirements in one semester, then he/she must submit an appeal to the Office of Student Academic Success to have their eligibility considered for reinstatement.

For those students who may qualify for the Financial Aid Warning period, upon the next payment period, the student must meet all SAP eligibility components or the student will lose his/her eligibility for financial aid. Students who do not meet the Xavier Federal completion ratio requirement or have met the total attempted hours’ limitation must submit a SAP Appeal Form to have their eligibility considered for reinstatement.

First Time Freshman Students

First Time Freshman students admitted on academic probation will receive their eligible Federal Student Aid on Financial Aid Warning for the term which they are admitted to Xavier if it can be documented that they will be able to meet the GPA requirements in one semester. If the student will not be able to meet the requirements in one semester, then he/she must submit an appeal to the Office of Student Academic Success to have their eligibility considered for reinstatement. For those students who may qualify for the Financial Aid Warning period, upon the next payment period, the student must meet all SAP eligibility components or the student will lose his/her eligibility for financial aid. Students who do not meet the Xavier Federal completion ratio requirement or have met the total attempted hours’ limitation must submit a SAP Appeal Form to have their eligibility considered for reinstatement.

Financial Aid Probation

Students who fail to meet one or more of the qualitative or quantitative standards at the evaluation period and are subsequently approved through the Appeals process may continue to receive financial aid on a probationary basis. At the end of one payment period on “Probation,” the student must meet the minimum SAP standards on their own in order to continue to receive financial aid or meet the requirements of his/her Academic Plan to qualify for further funds. While a student is on “Probation,” the student may be required to fulfill specific terms and conditions under the “Academic Plan” developed through the Office of Student Academic Success, such as taking a reduced course load, enrolling in specific courses, attending counseling sessions recommended by the SAP Appeal Committee or meeting a specified GPA and earned/attempted hour ratio at the end of each term. If a student placed on an Academic Plan fails to meet the plan’s requirements at the end of each term on probation, the student will lose his/her eligibility for financial aid and will be required to submit a Financial Aid Appeal for reinstatement consideration for the next enrolled semester/term.

Grades

Grades of A, B, C, D or P are considered satisfactory. All other grades such as F, FE, W, W$ or I are considered unsatisfactory.

Appeals Process

Students whose financial aid eligibility has been suspended based upon the provisions outlined in this policy have the right to submit an appeal to explain and document their mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances are defined as a change in grades or major, serious illness or injury, death of a family member or similar traumatic event. All appeals must be accompanied by supporting documentation (grade or major change forms, doctor’s statement(s), death certificate, etc.) in order to regain eligibility. An appeal will be denied if sufficient documentation is not submitted with the appeal. The appeal may not be based on the student’s need for the funds nor the lack of knowledge that eligibility of financial aid was in jeopardy. Appeals must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in his/her situation that will allow the student to meet the requirements at the next evaluation. The appeal must be submitted in writing within six weeks of notification of ineligibility. Students who appeal must use the published Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form. Appeals are approved for current or subsequent semesters only; appeals cannot be for prior semesters. Students are limited to a maximum of two (2) financial aid appeals per degree attempt. Direct questions regarding the appeals process should be directed to the SAP Appeal Committee via email at awoods@xula.edu. The SAP Appeal Committee will review the appeal within two weeks of the deadline for filing all appeals provided all the necessary documents have been submitted; the Student will be notified of the committee’s decision by email within 10 business days of the date their appeal is documented and reviewed by the committee.

The Committee will not review Appeal Forms that are incomplete and/or lacking the required verification. The completed SAP Appeal should be sent to:

Xavier University of Louisiana
Director, Academic Programs and Advising
P. O. Box 164
One Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125

Filing an appeal does not guarantee Financial Aid or Academic reinstatement.

If the appeal is denied, the student may continue at his/her expense in order to regain his/her eligibility. Students will automatically be reinstated once they have completed an academic year with Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Scholarships

Xavier University of Louisiana seeks to recognize outstanding academic achievement through the scholarship awards process. When making scholarship awards, the University uses a holistic assessment of a student’s completed admissions application. While all submitted information is considered during our scholarship review process, strongest consideration is given to the student’s academic record. Primary consideration is given to those students who have submitted a completed application by January 31. Students who submit a completed application after January 31 will be considered for scholarships on a funds-available basis. Students who have met the January 31 deadline will be notified no later than the end of February if they have received a scholarship. Acceptance of a scholarship offer must occur by the deadline date indicated in the scholarship awards packet.  Complete information is provided on Xavier’s website at:  http://www.xula.edu/admissions/scholarships.

Included below is a list of available scholarship programs for first year freshmen. These awards vary in amounts and are renewable for eight consecutive semesters and contingent on the student’s full-time enrollment and maintaining the University’s required cumulative grade-point average.

1. Board of Trustees Scholarship: Recipients of the Board of Trustees Scholarship will receive full tuition, fees and room & board.
2. Presidential Scholarship: Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship will receive full tuition and fees.
3. Saint Katharine Drexel Scholarship: Valedictorians or Salutatorians from any U.S. Catholic high school are eligible to receive this scholarship and fees. The award covers eight consecutive semesters.
4. Norman C. Francis Scholarship: Valedictorians or Salutatorians from public high schools in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes are eligible to receive this scholarship and fees. The award covers eight consecutive semesters.
5. Xavier University Academic Scholarships: These tuition scholarships are awarded to first-time freshmen based on strong academic achievement and high school counselor recommendations. 

All scholarship packages that cover full tuition will be adjusted for any Arts and Sciences tuition increases. All Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA and be in good institutional standing. Students with a GPA between 3.2 and 3.3 will be granted a probationary semester after which they can be fully reinstated if their cumulative GPA is 3.3 or higher. Students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.29 will be granted a scholarship amount equal to 75% of their initial scholarship award.  Additionally, students can attend University summer sessions at their own expense in an effort to raise the GPA to the required minimum.  The above scholarships will be awarded for eight (8) consecutive semesters of full time enrollment provided the student maintains the continuing eligibility requirements which will be assessed at the end of each academic year.

Scholarships and Grants Awarded to Transfer and Continuing Students

The criteria for these awards depend on the type of scholarship as described below.

• Departmental/Divisional Scholarships: Academic department and divisions  provide scholarships based on criteria unique to each unit.
• Donor / Annual Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students based on the criteria provided by each individual donor and is contingent upon availability of funds.

All scholarship recipients will be required to complete an annual FAFSA and satisfy annual service requirements for the University and/or community. Scholarship amounts may be subject to adjustment based upon receipt of Federal and state grant aid. Academic scholarship and aid combined cannot exceed direct cost to the institution. Direct cost includes tuition, room and board, and mandatory university fees.  In the rare event that scholarship recipients from any of the above categories would need remedial courses as incoming freshmen, they would have to complete the necessary developmental courses prior to enrolling in the fall semester.

Academic scholarships are coordinated through the Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships. As a member of the United Negro College Fund, Xavier University receives various scholarship opportunities throughout the academic year. These competitive scholarship opportunities are available to all students enrolled at Xavier who meet the specific eligibility criteria determined by the donor Enrolled students should contact this office for information regarding various scholarship opportunities.

Tuition Opportunity Programs for Students (TOPS)

TOPS is a comprehensive program of state scholarships for Louisiana high school graduates. A TOPS award is available through LOSFA (Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance) to all bonafide residents of Louisiana who meet the criteria. As a first-time freshman, eligibility is traditionally determined through high school transcripts, Student ACT Scores, and completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). High school graduates who earn a 2.5 GPA on the TOPS Core Curriculum, a composite score of 20 on the ACT, are Louisiana Residents, graduated from an accredited High School, and meet the college prep curriculum outlined by the State of Louisiana will qualify for this program. TOPS award eligibility (initial and renewal) and award amounts are determined by LOSFA through the Board of Regents and the State of Louisiana.

The award must be renewed every year. The following requirements must be met at the conclusion of every spring semester if a student has eligibility remaining:

• If a student receives the TOPS Opportunity Award, he/she must earn at least a 2.3 cumulative GPA at the end of the first academic year or a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of all other academic years. The student must successfully complete no less than 24 credit hours during an academic year. (Summer and Intersession courses are counted towards the 24 hour rule.)
• If a student receives the TOPS Performance or the TOPS Honors Award, he/she must earn at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The student must successfully complete no less than 24 credit hours during an academic year. (Summer and Intersession courses are counted towards the 24 hour rule.)

Rousseve Scholarships

Named in honor of the Rousseve family, outstanding alumni and supporters of Xavier University, the Rousseve Scholars Program offers high achieving students from all disciplines in the University an opportunity to receive a full tuition scholarship and a $250 book allowance for an academic year. The top ten students in the sophomore, junior and senior classes are selected annually on the basis of the previous two semesters’ GPA and, if necessary to break ties, the cumulative GPA (for sophomores the high school GPA is used). Eligibility guidelines require that students take the appropriate number of semester hours for advancement to the next classification level and have no grades of F’s, U’s, or W’s (only W’s after the first two weeks of classes are considered) during the academic year. Transfer students are not eligible.

Athletic Scholarships (Full or Partial Tuition)

Athletic scholarships are awarded on the basis of athletic talent in men’s or women’s sports.

Other Scholarships

Because Xavier’s scholarship resources are limited, students are encouraged to seek external scholarship funding. The University often receives announcements from third-party organizations about scholarships that are offered through these organizations. It is the policy of the University to offer students support and assistance in applying for scholarships from credible sources.

ROTC (Air Force, Army, and Navy) Scholarships

A variety of ROTC scholarships are offered to Xavier students along with university incentives and supplements. These scholarships are offered through the respective service departments which are located on the Tulane University campus. These scholarships provide tuition assistance, a textbook allowance, and a monthly subsistence allowance. More information can be obtained from the service departments located at Tulane University. The Tulane information number is (504) 865-5000.

Grants (These do not have to be repaid.)

Federal Pell Grant. Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Students may receive the Pell Grant for 12 semesters.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - FSEOGs are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant - A TEACH Grant can help you pay for college if you plan to become a teacher in a high-need field in a low-income area.

Loans (These must be repaid.)

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (i.e., Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized). - The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program is the largest federal student loan program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. Four Types of Direct Loans are available:

Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree students. Students are not required to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for these loans.

Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid.

Federal Perkins Loan. The Federal Perkins Loan Program is a school-based loan program for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Under this program, the school is the lender.

Work Study

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses.