Announcements
Update in regards to the Biden-Harris Debt Relief Plan: Statement from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
Statement from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on District Court Ruling on the Biden-Harris Administration Student Debt Relief Program
Please view the full statement here
The Biden-Harris Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan
President Biden announced his Administration's plan to provide student debt relief to eligible borrowers and give working and middle-class Americans more breathing room. The application is available now to complete. You may submit your Student Loan Debt Relief application here . The application will close on December 31, 2023. Your loan servicer will be in contact with you when your relief has been processed. To learn more about the relief plan, click here.
Exit Counseling
The federal government requires all graduating Federal Direct Loan borrowers to complete Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling. Exit Counseling is a federal requirement that helps student loan borrowers prepare to repay their Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Perkins, or Graduate PLUS Direct loans. The Exit Counseling requirement can be completed online at studentaid.gov. Prior to completing exit counseling, please view the Loan Repayment Presentation by logging into Jayweb. In addition, Please read the Exit Counseling - Guide for Etown Graduates that provides an overview of the Exit Counseling process.
Students must complete Exit Counseling to avoid any delays in receiving their diplomas. Please contact us with any questions at finaid@etown.edu or (717) 361-1404.
Fraudulent Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
We would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant against student loan forgiveness scams. Actors behind these scams will contact victims at random and promise to pay off the outstanding balance on their student loans. The actor will likely request the victim’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) username and password, personally identifiable information (PII), and payment, whether it be an upfront cost or monthly fee.
Legitimate student loan forgiveness programs offered by the Department of Education are free for applicants through their student loan provider (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation). The Department of Education also offers free services to help lower student loan payments (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven).
If someone at your institution feels that they have fallen victim to a student loan forgiveness scam, please follow the steps below.
- Share the scam with the NCFTA and other member institutions
- Change the FSA ID and password immediately
- Contact loan servicers to revoke any power of attorney or third-party authorization
- Contact bank or credit card company and request that payments to the student loan debt relief company be stopped
- File a complaint with the FTC at identitytheft.gov
Student Loan Payments to Restart After June 30th, 2023
UPDATE: Student Loan Payment Pause Extended
The student loan payment pause is extended until the U.S. Department of Education is permitted to implement the debt relief program or the litigation is resolved. Payments will restart 60 days later. If the debt relief program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023 — payments will resume 60 days after that. Borrowers will be notified before payments restart.
Click here for more information.
Technology Security Alert: IRS Warns Postsecondary Institution Students and Staff of Impersonation Email Scam
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) posted a warning of an ongoing IRS impersonation scam that appears to primarily target educational institutions, including students and staff of institutions that have ".edu" email addresses. Click here for more information.
Email Communication
The Financial Aid Office primarily communicates via the student's Elizabethtown College email address. Students should regularly check their Etown email for important financial aid information and updates.
Community Service Work Study
Community Service Work Study (CSWS) provides part-time employment opportunities for currently enrolled students who have Federal Work Study as part of their financial aid package. CSWS provides opportunities for students to earn money to support their Elizabethtown College education while doing work that benefits the wider community. Placements are with local non-profit organizations and pay competitive wages. Students have the ability to work out schedules to accommodate class schedules. For more information, please contact the Center for Community and Civic Engagement.
2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The 2023–2024 FAFSA is available as of October 1, 2022. You can submit it online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. To find more information about the application process, visit our Apply for Financial Aid page. Please contact us with any questions or concerns about the application process at (717) 361-1404 or finaid@etown.edu
Refer to the table below to help determine which year's income information is required on the FAFSA application:
| IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND COLLEGE FROM | YOU CAN SUBMIT THE FAFSA FROM | USING TAX INFORMATION FROM |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022 | October 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022 | 2019 |
| July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 | October 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023 | 2020 |
| July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 | October 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024 | 2021 |
| July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 | October 1, 2023 - June 30, 2025 | 2022 |
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and transfer the tax information directly into their FAFSA from the IRS Web site.
-
The IRS DRT remains the fastest, most accurate way to input your tax return information into the FAFSA form.
-
For your privacy, the tax information you transfer from the IRS into your FAFSA form will not be visible to you. Instead, you will see “Transferred from the IRS” in the appropriate fields on fafsa.gov, the IRS DRT web page, and on the Student Aid Report.
View Our Step-By-Step Guide: How to Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA
Coronavirus and Forbearance Information for Students, Borrowers, and Parents
For information on Coronavirus / COVID-19 outbreak and how it relates to Federal Direct Loan borrowers, visit here to find a list of Frequently Asked Questions on loan forbearance options, loan interest, and a list of resources of additional information.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education are ineligible for SNAP unless they meet one of the exemptions. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to allow students who either:
- Are eligible to participate in State or Federally financed work study during the regular academic year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
- Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of 0 in the current academic year.
Beginning January 16, 2021, students who meet one of the two criteria outlined above may receive SNAP if they meet all other financial and non-financial SNAP eligibility criteria. The new, temporary exemptions will be in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted.
Students should contact their local SNAP offices to find out how to apply or for other questions about their SNAP eligibility. State SNAP agencies administer the program, process applications, and determine eligiblity. Contact information for State SNAP agencies and local offices can be found in FNS' SNAP State Directory.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III)
Elizabethtown College was allocated $1,829,262 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) to directly support eligible student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to Coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.
The ARP Act requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need in awarding HEERF III grants to students. Pell grant recipients received $1,525 and non-Pell grant recipients received $870. Additional funding will be provided on a case-by-case basis, based on remaining available funding.
Eligible recipients must:
- Be currently enrolled in a degree seeking or certificate program for the spring 2021 or summer 2021 terms (high school dual enrolled, visiting non-degree, employees and employee spouses are not eligible)
- Complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA for exceptional need grant consideration
Students experiencing a change in financial circumstances, may qualify for a Professional Judgment (PJ) appeal. Please contact your financial and counselor to discuss your circumstance.
HEERF Student Aid PDF - Quarter Ending June 30,2021
HEERF Student Aid PDF - Quarter Ending September 30,2021
HEERF Student Aid PDF - Quarter Ending December 31,2021
HEERF Student Aid PDF - Quarter Ending March 31,2022
HEERF Student Aid PDF - Quarter Ending June 30, 2022
The Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II)
For information regarding the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), please refer to the link below:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
For information regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), please refer to the link below: