Graduate Programs - Eligibility and Requirements top

Who is eligible for Financial Aid?

Any student who has a satisfactory credit rating is eligible for some form of financial assistance. Income and assets will determine the type of financial aid that is received but will not affect whether or not a student is eligible for financial aid. If income and assets exceed the limits set to prove eligibility for need-based scholarship and loan programs, there are non-need-based programs for which a student may apply.

To qualify for financial aid programs and to maintain eligibility for these programs, an applicant must:

1. Be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

2. Be accepted for admission to Mercer University School of Medicine.

3. Be enrolled in good standing at least half time.

4. Maintain satisfactory academic progress.

5. Have a valid Social Security number.

6. Not be in default on a previous student loan or owe a refund on any Title IV funds received at another institution.

7. Be registered with the Selective Service, if a male between 18 and 26 years of age who is not currently a member of the armed forces.

Satisfactory Academic Progress  back to top

A graduate student is expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout his or her program. A student may repeat only one course throughout the degree program or certificate program to improve a letter grade of "C" or lower. A student with a letter grade of "D" or two letter grades of "C" will automatically be placed on academic probation and will have to appear before the Student Promotions Committee (SPC). A student with two letter grades of "D" or three grades of "C" will be indefinitely excluded from his or her graduate program. A student may appeal a program exclusion to the SPC and finally to the Dean of the School of Medicine.

What is Financial Need?  back to top

A student is determined to have financial need when the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), as determined by a federally-approved needs analysis, is less than the sum recognized as the school-approved budget for attendance in the graduate program at MUSM. Financial need is calculated this way:

Student Budget
- Expected Family Contribution
Financial Need

The student budget includes tuition, books and equipment, room and board, and living expenses. It does not include an allowance for payments on credit cards or other consumer debts.

The EFC is calculated by the Department of Education through its contracted central processors. The central processor uses financial information submitted by the student, spouse, and parents in a federal formula to determine the expected family contribution.

A student must prove financial need in order to be eligible for need-based aid (funds administered by the school and Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans). A student may not receive need-based aid in excess of the calculated financial need.

A student may use non-need-based (Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans) to replace the expected family contribution. Overall, the student may not receive financial assistance from all sources, whether need-based or non-need-based, in excess of the school approved budget.

If a student demonstrates no financial need, he or she may borrow funds from non-need-based loans for an amount not to exceed the total cost of education; i.e., the school-approved budget.