Student
Financial
Services
Student Financial Services STAFF can
identify financial aid sources to help
you pay for your college education.
We are also available to help you
decide which payment option is best
for you. If you have questions, please
contact us.
PHEAA State Grants
If you are a Pennsylvania resident, don’t miss out on
state grant aid! If you didn’t link to the Pennsylvania
State Grant (PHEAA) website when you filed your
FAFSA, please make certain to complete the Pennsylvania State Grant application at www.pheaa.org.
Remember, you must print, sign and mail the signature
page to PHEAA. Full-time students are required to
successfully complete 24 credits each year to qualify
in future terms.
Federal Student Loans
Students must complete both the online Federal
Direct Stafford Student Loan Master Promissory
Note (MPN) and Stafford Loan entrance counseling
at https://studentloans.gov in order to receive Federal
Stafford Loan monies. Clarion will begin to certify
(approve) Stafford loans in mid June. Please note:
These items need only be completed once during the

student’s academic career at Clarion (unlike the
FAFSA, which must be completed each year that
you wish to be considered for financial aid).
Student Employment
Interested in student employment? On- and off-campus
jobs are posted on the university’s Career Services
website at www.clarion.edu/sfs-students.
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
After June 1, parents may apply for a Federal Parent
Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) at the same
federal website (https://studentloans.gov). Unlike
students, a parent must have a successful credit check
in order to participate in the PLUS loan program.
If your parent’s PLUS loan application is denied due
to insufficient credit, federal regulations permit a
dependent student to gain access to an additional
$4000 unsubsidized federal Stafford Loan for the year
(this is in addition to the $5500 freshman Stafford Loan).
Parent PLUS loans carry a variable interest rate (not
to exceed 10.5%) and, unless your parent specifically
requests an in-school deferment while you are enrolled
at least half time, he/she will begin repayment on this
loan 60 days after the spring disbursement is posted to
your student account.

Student financial services
800-672-7171 (ext. 2)
www.clarion.edu/finaid
stfinservice@clarion.edu

Private Alternative Loans
Many families prefer to take advantage of one of the
alternative private loans that are available to college
students with eligible co-signers. Since these loans
are not controlled by the federal government, banks
can charge fees and offer various interest rates and/or
incentives during repayment. Please review additional
information on private loans on our website at
www.clarion.edu/sfs-privateloans to see some of
the more frequently utilized private loans at Clarion.
Students do not have to make payments on these loans
while they are enrolled.
TMS Payment Plan
Clarion University offers an alternative to paying your
bill in full via our interest free monthly payment plan
through Tuition Management Systems (TMS). There
are 12-month and 10-month payment plan options
available to choose from at https://clarion.afford.com.
A small enrollment fee of $50 is your only cost and no
credit approval is required. You can contact TMS
toll-free at 800-722-4867 to obtain additional
information regarding this option.

online on the MyClarion portal. You can get
step-by-step directions on how to do this at
http://clarion.edu/267166.pdf.
Student Invoices
Remember, student invoices (bills) are not mailed to
you. Instead, once tuition is set in early to mid July,
your fall invoice will be posted in the MyClarion Student
Service Center (https://myclarion.clarion.edu).
If you wish to print this bill for your records, follow the
directions found at www.clarion.edu/264734.pdf.
Payment, or payment arrangements, is expected
by the first day of class of each semester.
Paying Your Bill
Clarion accepts credit cards (convenience fees apply),
debit cards, checks, e-checks and cash. You should review these options at www.clarion.edu/sfs-payments.
Parents or guests may make online payments on a
student’s behalf, only if they have been authorized to do
so. Step-by-step instructions are available at
www.clarion.edu/426734.pdf.
24/7 Access
Access to both financial aid and billing information is
provided via the MyClarion portal. This includes your
financial aid awards and billing information.
Electronic To-Do List
Help us deliver your aid to you as quickly as possible!
Please monitor your electronic To-Do List in the
MyClarion Student Service Center (https://myclarion.
clarion.edu) and/or respond to any written requests for
information/forms from our office as soon as you can.

Release of Information
If you would like someone, in addition to yourself,
to be able to contact our office and receive detailed
information regarding your financial aid awards and/or
bill, you must complete a release of information form
at www.clarion.edu/15226.pdf.
Financial Aid Refunds
The quickest way to gain access to any financial
aid refunds you may receive from excess financial
aid disbursements is to sign up for direct deposit

Federal Academic Progress Requirements
It is important for you to make satisfactory academic
progress (SAP) toward your degree in order to retain
financial aid eligibility for future years. In order to
continue to qualify for federal grants and loans, you
must successfully complete at least 67 percent of all
credits attempted at Clarion. This cumulative measurement is performed on an annual basis.

Clarion University is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer. 2/14