Outside Scholarships
Federal regulations and Bucknell policy stipulate that the total gift aid from any source (grants, scholarships, stipends, educational awards, tuition benefits, VA benefits and any other funding for educational expenses that is not required to be repaid) cannot exceed Bucknell's cost of attendance. Included in our cost of attendance are tuition, a student activity fee, housing, a meal plan and allowances for books, course materials, supplies and equipment. If this cost is reached with total gift aid, Bucknell aid (need-based and/or merit-based) will be reduced dollar for dollar to prevent an award surplus. Based on actual determined financial need, federal/state/other aid may need to be adjusted as well.
If a student is selected to receive Alston funding and is only receiving athletic funding along with a Pell Grant, the Alston funding will be excluded from our gift aid policy.
Examples
Other Key Points
- Total gift aid cannot exceed our cost of attendance.
- Total aid package cannot exceed our cost of attendance. However, if a student is selected to receive Alston funding and is only receiving athletic funding along with a Pell Grant, the Alston funding will be excluded from our gift aid policy.
- Specific federal need levels may require federal aid adjustments as well.
- Outside scholarships count as student resources and are part of the financial aid package.
- Outside scholarships are typically applied in equal amounts to the fall and spring semesters, unless the awarding organization specifies otherwise. If an agency instructs that the full amount be applied to one term, we will follow those instructions.
- Students need to be sure and send the Office of Financial Aid copies of any outside funding letters that they receive. If an outside agency should remit their funds after the semester bill is due, please be advised that late fees will incur as a result.
For any questions, please contact:
Office of Financial Aid
570-577-1331
finaid@bucknell.edu