Financial Aid
100% of our students receive a full range of federal, state, and institutional financial assistance
Institutional financial assistance includes scholarships, non-repayable grants, educational loans, and part-time work-study. To cover any balances remaining after deducting financial aid awards, we offer a convenient payment plan.
Receiving aid
The FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the online Federal application PCA&D and most colleges use to determine financial aid. It’s also required for federal student loans.
Filling out the FAFSA
Students may begin to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA as of December 1, 2024. The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 Federal Tax Returns. Filing annually is required for financial aid, and filing as early as possible will allow more time to get your aid in place.
Incoming accepted and deposited students will receive their financial aid information beginning in December. PCA&D returning students’ financial aid award notification letters will be distributed starting in May after academic progress is determined.
PCA&D’s FAFSA code: 016021
Be sure that you and your guardians have secured your FSA ID at least 48 hours before beginning the FAFSA. The FSA ID is your username and password combination you and your guardians will use to access US Department of Education online systems as well as signing your FAFSA.
Estimate Your Cost of Attendance
Additional Resources
- With help from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), financial literacy information is now available for PCA&D students with CashCourse.
- YouCanDealWithIt.com provides practical and easy-to-understand advice on how to deal with common financial situations facing today’s college students and recent graduates.
- Visit the Federal Direct Loans Site
- Instructions for Federal Direct Loans – Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Visit the Direct Parent Plus Loans Site
- Instructions for Direct Parent Plus Loans (PDF)
- Alternative/Private Loans: Compare and apply
- Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning – Interest Free loan option for Lancaster County residents
- Veterans Affairs GI Bill® Comparison Tool
- Veteran’s Assistance Information (PDF)
- Veterans Assistance Form (PDF)
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. A section of the CARES Act, the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund, provided money to colleges and universities to use for emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.
On May 6, 2020, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design signed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
The total amount of funds that Pennsylvania College of Art & Design received from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Cash Grants to Students is $137,950.
The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of October 28, 2020, is $137,050.
Presently, there were 320 students Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. As of October 28, 2020, 285 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design used the following method to determine which students may receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act:
1st Distribution
77% of the funds upfront are based on an EFC tier system for students who completed a FAFSA in 2019-2020.
| EFC Brackets | Grant | Count | Total | Notes |
| zero | $900 | 46 | $41,400.00 | |
| 1-750 | $800 | 21 | $16,800.00 | |
| 751-2500 | $700 | 18 | $12,600.00 | |
| 2501-5576 | $500 | 21 | $10,500.00 | Pell Cutoff |
| 5578-25000 | $250 | 86 | $21,500.00 | FY20 Tuition Max |
| 25,000-99,999 | $100 | 30 | $3,000.00 | |
| $105,800.00 | First Distribution | |||
| $32,150.00 | Remaining Funds |
2nd Distribution
On September 30, 2020, the application process for the remaining $32,150 in CARES Emergency Cash Grants commenced. The CARES Act Emergency Funds Committee reviewed 72 applications. On October 28, $31,250 was distributed to 63 students. Grants ranged from $250 to $1,000 depending on the level of need.
The College partnered with RefundSelect, a disbursement service that provides students options as to how students would like CARES Act funds delivered. For students eligible for the CARES Act grant funds, this is a method to ensure that students receive these funds in a timely manner and one that is most convenient for each student. The RefundSelect online platform provides students with the ability to easily sign-up and receive these funds through direct deposit or paper check. Students received an email from RefundSelect with instructions and notification when a CARES Act disbursement was available. Students can also access their account at any time to see the status of their disbursements.
During the enrollment process, Heartland ECSI for a student ID number. This can be found either on a student’s ID or by logging in to the student’s MYPCAD account, clicking on the My Profile tab, and choosing Account Information. The System ID listed is the Student ID. This number should be entered in RefundSelect without any letters and without any dashes. For example, if the student ID is P123-45-6789, the student will need to enter 123456789. Heartland ECSI’s contact information: Customer Service Team at 1-844-760-6052, Monday-Friday 7:30 am-8 pm EST.
Other questions, concerns about financial aid, or payment programs, students are encouraged to contact our Director of Financial Aid at finaid@pcad.edu or our Bursar at bursar@pcad.edu
Letter to Students re: CARES Act
Dear Students,
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is expecting to receive funding from the federal CARES Act for aid to assist students who are eligible for federal (Title, IV) financial aid with expenses related to the disruption of the campus operations caused by COVID-19. Specifically, this emergency funding is designed to pay for expenses related to campus disruption due to the pandemic.
From the CARES Act, the PCA&D will be awarded $137,950 in direct aid to disburse to students. The College will distribute these funds based on the student’s level of calculated financial need. The funds will be distributed directly to students and will not be applied to the amounts due to the College.
What this means is that we are able to directly send 77% or ($105,800) of this relief funding to eligible students now. Students will receive these initial funds in amounts ranging from $100-$900. These funds are distributed based on their Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The remainder of available funds, 23% ($32,150), will be distributed during the next academic year. We will utilize an application process for these additional funds to be disbursed to students with additional critical needs. Please know, these funds are available to enrolled students who are eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
The College is partnering with RefundSelect, a disbursement service that provides students options as to how you would like your CARES Act funds sent to you. If you are eligible for the CARES Act grant funds, we want to ensure that you receive these funds in a timely manner and one that is most convenient for you. The RefundSelect online platform will provide you with the ability to easily sign-up and receive these funds through direct deposit or paper check. You’ll receive an email from RefundSelect with instructions and notification when a CARES Act disbursement is available to you. You can also access your account at any time to see the status of your disbursements.
As always, if you have questions, please feel free to reach out to our Director of Financial Aid at finaid@pcad.edu or our Bursar at bursar@pcad.edu
Quarterly Budget & Expenditure
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report – June 30, 2022
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report – Sept 30, 2020
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report – Dec 31, 2020
Quarterly Reports
Quarterly Report – September 2021
Quarterly Report – December 2021
The PA Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Program provides a waiver for tuition and mandatory fees charged by most postsecondary institutions located in the Commonwealth for youth who are or were in foster care.
This waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other gift aid (federal, state, and other scholarships or grants) have been applied to the student’s account.
Additional information about the FosterEd Program can be found here:
http://www.pheaa.org/funding-
The point of contact for the FosterEd Program at PCA&D is the Director of Financial Aid, Vincent Frank, who can be contacted at vfrank@pcad.edu.
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