Financial Aid Disclosures

Financial Aid staff members are responsible for adhering to principles of good practice as mandated by state, federal, and institutional regulations, including the Policy for Ethical Practice. Financial Aid staff, as well as officers, trustees, and employees of Chatham University who make financial aid decisions for the University must adhere to the following professional standards.

• Refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
• Refrain from taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interest of the students and parents he or she serves.
• Ensure that the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• Be objective in making decisions and advising Chatham University regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of financial aid.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity involved in the making, holding, consolidating, or processing of student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of expenses) for serving on an advisory body. This includes, but not limited to, gifts such as travel, hotel or motel lodging, entertainment, restaurant meals, office supplies, and event tickets.
• Disclose in such a manner as Chatham University may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Institutional award notifications and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
  1. A breakdown of the individual components of the institution's Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
  2. Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work or loan.
  3. Standard terminology and definitions.
  4. Renewal requirements for each award.
• All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the Chatham University website and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as "Consumer Information."

Financial aid (including student loans) is disbursed one semester at a time based on the student’s enrollment at the time of each disbursement. The Office of Financial Aid Office begins to disburse aid to student accounts approximately 10 days before classes begin for students who have completed the necessary requirements.

If students have experienced a reduction in income, change to employment, or increase in expenses that directly affect the student’s or family’s income and ability to pay for education, please contact our office today to discuss options for qualifying for more Chatham, federal and/or state aid through a Change in Circumstance filing.

Dependency override requires written evidence of why the student can't submit a parent's financial information. The Office of Financial Aid uses professional judgement authority on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Financial Aid at 412-365-2781 or financialaid@chatham.edu.

Undergraduate borrowed a total of $27,000 in Direct Stafford loans with an average rate of 3.9% interest. Student lives in Pennsylvania with a starting salary of $35,000 and a 5% projected growth rate.

Learn more about federal repayments at https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator.

The sample loan repayment is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. You are encouraged to review all available options and make decisions about borrowing and repayment that align with your individual goals.  

The United States Department of Education requires that the university determine the amount of Federal Title IV aid earned by a student who withdrawals or fails to complete the period of enrollment. The university must determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid as of the date the student ceased attendance based on the amount of time the student has spent in attendance. Unless the student meets certain exemptions listed in the below policy, up through the 60% point in the period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. After the 60% point in the period of enrollment a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds they were scheduled to receive. For a student who withdraws after the 60% point-in time, there are no unearned funds.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy (pdf)

A student’s enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by Chatham University may be considered enrollment at Chatham University for purpose of applying for assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) as amended. For more information about study abroad please visit our website Study Abroad Scholarships & Chatham Vouchers | Chatham University.