Required Consumer Information

To ensure transparency and informed decisions, we provide all mandatory consumer information.

This page collates essential financial topics, from the Higher Education Act Disclosures to satisfactory academic progress requirements. Explore information about federal loans, alternative loans, student eligibility, and potential avenues for financial aid, among others.

By empowering you with this knowledge, we aim to streamline your educational journey and enhance your learning experience.

Higher Education Act Disclosures

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended in 2008, includes many student disclosures and reporting requirements by universities. These requirements include statistics and/or information on the following subjects:

1. Retention and graduation rates;
2. Financial assistance available to students and requirements and restrictions imposed on Title IV aid;
3. Crime statistics;
4. Athletic program participation rates and financial support; and
5. Other institutional information including: the cost of attendance, accreditation and academic program data, facilities and services available to disabled students, and withdrawal and refund policies.

Disclosures specific to School of Education students only are outlined on the Student “Right to Know”. Disclosures applicable to all students across Johns Hopkins University can be viewed on the Homewood Student Affairs website. Additional financial aid-related information is detailed below.

Sources of Aid

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid at the School of Education refers to a broad range of scholarships, grants, and loan programs. When students apply for financial aid, they are generally applying for all of the potential programs for which they might be eligible. Based on the eligibility guidelines for each program, available funding, and the student’s own financial resources, students will be offered one or more types of aid. These are:

• Grants and Scholarships : gift money that usually does not have to be paid back
• Loans: Funds that are borrowed, with interest, to pay for educational costs

Keep in mind that financial aid is intended to supplement each student’s own financial resources. The basic premise behind financial aid is that students (and their family where applicable) are responsible for paying for college costs to the extent that they are able.

Annual Estimated Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) consists of both direct costs (items that are directly billed to you), such as tuition and fees, as well as indirect costs (items that are not directly billed to you), including: books and supplies, travel expenses, personal expenses, loan fees, and room and board. The indirect portion of your COA is an estimate of the cost of living (room and board) for a student in alignment with federal guidelines. It is not an “accurate” assessment of your actual expenses. Each student’s COA will vary depending on program of study, dependency status, and enrolled credit load.

Annual Estimated Cost of Attendance

Student Eligibility

You can be considered for financial aid if you:

• are fully and unconditionally* accepted into a degree or approved certificate program of 15 or more credits (visit our Admissions section for information on how to apply);
• are enrolled at least half-time each semester (4.5 credits or more for graduate; 6 credits or more for undergraduates);
• complete all courses for which aid was awarded; and
• maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) – (3.00 cumulative GPA for graduates; 2.00 cumulative GPA for undergraduates) See “Satisfactory Academic Progress” for details.

*Limited federal loan assistance is available for provisionally admitted students. See “Direct Loans” for more information.

For Federal and State aid, you must also:

• be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• not owe a refund on a Federal grant or be in default on a Federal education loan;
• not have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study);and
• be admitted prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which you receive aid. Students admitted in mid-term will become eligible for federal aid the following semester. See “How to Apply” for more details.

The following applicants are not eligible for federal aid:

• undergraduate and graduate special (non-degree-seeking) students
• international students with the following Visa type:
  • F-1 or F-2 student Visa;
  • J-1 or J-2 exchange visitors Visa;
  • L-1;
  • G or H series Visa;
  • I688b.

You may want to consider using the tuition payment plan or alternative loans.

Academic Year and Half-Time Enrollment

The academic year consists of the summer, fall, and spring semesters. The Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms together comprise the “Summer Semester.” Likewise, the Intersession and Spring terms together comprise the “Spring Semester.” For the purposes of most financial aid programs, students must maintain at least half-time enrollment in the semester. Half-time enrollment for undergraduate students is at least 6 credits in a semester. Half-time enrollment for graduate students is at least 4.5 credits per semester.

Federal Loans

Currently, students of the School of Education are eligible for two federal loan programs – the Federal Direct Loan,* which can either be subsidized or unsubsidized, and the Federal GRAD PLUS loan.

The subsidized Federal Direct Loan is based on financial need. If you qualify for a subsidized Direct Loan, the federal government pays interest on the loan (“subsidizes” the loan) until you begin repayment and during authorized periods of deferment thereafter.

An unsubsidized Direct Loan is not awarded on the basis of need but is based on cost of attendance less other aid and resources. If you qualify for an unsubsidized loan, you’ll be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You can choose to pay the interest or allow it to accumulate. If you allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized – that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and will increase the amount you have to repay. If you pay the interest as it accumulates, you will repay less in the long run. There is no penalty for prepayment of loans.

The federal government ceased funding of the Federal Perkins Loan program thus the loan is no longer available to students.  For prior Perkins Loan borrowers, the Federal Perkins Loan program is administered by JHU, therefore, the money borrowed is paid back to JHU. The rate of interest is fixed at 5%. Interest does not accrue until the loan goes into repayment. Repayment begins nine months after completion of studies and can extend up to ten years. Deferment and repayment information is sent to all borrowers by the Student Loans Office.  The loan proceeds are credited to your account ten days prior to the start of the semester if a promissory note has been signed.  JHU must report the date and amount of each disbursement of Federal Perkins Loan funds to at least one national credit bureau.

*See this link for information on federal sequestration and the impact on your student loans.

Federal Graduate Plus Loan

The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (GradPLUS) is a credit-based loan program available to graduate students, enrolled at least half-time, whose maximum federal loan eligibility is not sufficient to cover their educational costs. Before applying for a GradPLUS Loan, students must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A credit check will be performed during the application process. If a student has an adverse credit history and their GradPLUS application is denied, they may still be eligible by obtaining an endorser or appealing the credit decision. GradPLUS borrowers can borrow up to the full Cost of Attendance in combination with other aid and resources. Repayment of a GradPLUS Loan begins 60 days after the second disbursement.

Complete the electronic GradPLUS Loan application.

Complete the GradPLUS Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling.

Alternative Loans

Some lenders offer alternative private loans. Johns Hopkins University recommends that students exhaust their eligibility for federal loans before considering private or alternative loan programs. If you are uncertain about your eligibility for federal loans, please contact the financial aid office prior to initiating a private loan application. You must use our school code (002077-03) when applying for an alternative loan. These credit-based alternative loans are offered by private lenders to students:

• who are enrolled less than half-time;
• who have not yet applied for admission; who have been conditionally or provisionally admitted;
• who do not qualify for federal loans, or
• who have received the maximum federal loan allowed annually, but the amount is not sufficient to cover their educational costs;
• non-citizens enrolled at least half-time as well.

International students are encouraged to investigate the possibility of aid through their government or outside agencies before applying for these loans, which require a citizen co-signer.

In conjunction with the Maryland Independent College and University Association (MICUA), Credible helps students and their families navigate the world of private student loans. Credible is an online, education financing resource that provides students with a transparent process to evaluate private loans. It is one of many tools that may be helpful when selecting a private loan lender. The University does not endorse or recommend any lender, nor does the University have any financial interest in any lending institution. Students and their families have the right to select the educational loan provider of their choice.

Before considering a private student loan, students are encouraged to complete the process for determining eligibility for federal student loans which are normally less costly and offer better repayment terms.

Students who apply for non-federal loans must complete a promissory note with their lenders. These loans are certified by the school only upon notification from the lender that the student’s credit and that of his/her co-signer, if required, have been approved and a promissory note has been completed. As part of the application process, your lender will have you complete a Private Education Loan Applicant Self Certification. The information you need to enter in Section 2 of this form may be obtained by contacting the Financial Aid Office through SEAM’s online form.

We process alternative loans through the Electronic Loan Management (ELM) Resources system. Note that such loans cannot exceed the student’s estimated Cost of Attendance. The school reserves the right to deny certification of loans per federal regulations.

Questions to Ask a Private Lender

• What is your lowest interest rate and fee combination and how can I get it? Is the rate only for a limited period or is it for the life of the loan?
• For variable rate loans, is there a limit on how high the variable rate can go? How often is the interest rate adjusted, and how is it determined?
• What interest rate can I get on a fixed-rate loan?
• How long will I be repaying the loan? Is there any penalty for paying it off early?
• When do I have to start making payments? How long can I defer payments while I’m in school? If I go to graduate school and defer payments, how much will I owe when I do start making them?
• Will I lose my discount for paying on time if I have only one late payment or if I ask for a change in the payment schedule?
• What proportion of your borrowers get the discounts you offer? Are your discounts guaranteed or are they subject to change later?
• Would you allow me to defer or reduce my payments temporarily because of economic hardship? Under what circumstances and for how long?

— From the Project on Student Debt

Johns Hopkins University Financial Aid Code of Conduct and Policy on Education Loans

Using Federal Financial Aid to Purchase Books/Supplies

If your financial aid file is complete (all documents and outstanding requirements were submitted on or before our published deadlines) and you are entitled to a refund of excess federal student aid funds, you should receive your refund in time to buy required books and supplies during the first week of a term. Students enrolled in modules and/or courses that do not begin within seven days of the start of the term may not receive their aid until they actually begin class. To ensure timely receipt of your refund, be sure to choose the method to receive your refund as soon as possible.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients

To receive financial aid at the School of Education, students must show progress toward their academic objectives. This policy applies to students applying for financial aid for semesters that began on or after July 1, 2012. This progress is measured as follows:

• Qualitatively, on a scale of 4.0, an undergraduate student must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and a graduate student must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students must earn a final grade of B or higher in each course in order to be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress for that semester. For an initial award, students must meet the minimum GPA requirements and all periods of prior enrollment must be considered even if the student received no aid for that period. A grade of F factors into the GPA as zero.
• Quantitatively, both undergraduate and graduate students are expected to maintain a cumulative completion rate of at least 67%. Audited and noncredit courses are not considered for degree completion or aid eligibility.
• In addition, undergraduate students must complete the required course work within a maximum timeframe of 150% of the published program length in credits (i.e.. within 90 attempted credits for a 60 credit program). Graduate students must complete their certificate or degree program within a maximum time frame of 5 calendar years.

How Do Course Withdrawals (“W”), Repeat Coursework, and Grades of Incomplete (“I”) Affect a Student’s SAP?

Each year the School of Education publishes its academic standards in the academic catalogs. However, financial aid recipients have additional standards that must be met. A grade of “I” (incomplete) is treated for SAP monitoring purposes as an “F” until a final grade is recorded. Courses with an “I” are treated as attempted credits and are included in the quantitative measure. Students are responsible for verifying that the Financial Aid Office receives all grade changes. Students who drop or withdraw “W” from a course are deemed NOT to have successfully completed that course. “W” grades are excluded from the GPA calculation but are included in the quantitative measure or course completion rate. Students contemplating dropping credits should contact the Financial Aid Office to determine how such action will affect their financial aid. Students may only receive aid for repeating a course once, and at the graduate level, only if the course was previously not completed or passed. The grade for the second attempt will be utilized in calculating the student’s GPA, but all attempts are included in the calculation of the course completion rate.

How Do Classes Taken at Another Institution and Transferred to SOE Affect a Student’s SAP?

All credits accepted for transfer as part of the Admissions process are treated as attempted and completed credits in evaluating progress. Grades earned at other institutions are not, however, counted when computing the student’s GPA.

How Often Is a Student’s SAP Reviewed and How Are Students Notified?

Financial aid recipients are reviewed for SAP at the end of each traditional semester of enrollment (Fall, Spring, Summer).

At that time, the Financial Aid Office will notify in writing students who have not maintained SAP and are placed on either financial aid warning or suspension status.

Financial Aid Warning
Students who fail to meet the minimum cumulative grade-point average standard (2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students), earn a grade of C or less in a semester, or fail to complete at least two-thirds of cumulative credits attempted will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the subsequent semester/period of enrollment. Students are still eligible for financial aid during the “Warning” semester.

Students receiving financial aid for the first time will be placed on Financial Aid Warning as applicable if they did not meet the minimum grade point average or course completion standards as noted in this policy based the previous period of enrollment prior to applying for financial aid. If a continuing student who is apply for financial aid for the first time who, upon review, has not met the minimum Financial Aid SAP standards for the previous two consecutive periods of enrollment that he enrolled in, then that student is not eligible for TIV Financial Aid and he is placed on Financial Aid Suspension status.

Graduate students who earn two F grades, three C grades (C+, C, or C-), or an F and two C grades in the same semester will be automatically placed on Financial Aid Suspension, without a warning semester.

Financial Aid Suspension – Losing Title IV Eligibility
Students who, while on Financial Aid Warning, fail to maintain the minimum completion rate and/or fail to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status for subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters/periods of enrollment until the student regains financial aid eligibility.

Students applying for financial aid for the first time will not be eligible for financial aid and will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension status as applicable if they did not meet the minimum grade point average or course completion standards as noted in this policy based the two previous consecutive periods of enrollment prior to applying for financial aid.

Graduate students who earn two F grades, three C grades (C+, C, or C-), or an F and two C grades in the same semester will be automatically placed on Financial Aid Suspension, without a warning semester.

Students who do not complete their program within the Maximum Timeframe lose eligibility for financial aid and are placed on Financial Aid Suspension status.

Financial Aid Probation and Reinstatement of Aid After Financial Aid Suspended Status
Reinstatement of financial aid after a student is placed in Financial Aid Suspended status is achieved in one of the following ways:

1. The student submits a written letter and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the appeal. The student is placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester/period of enrollment and is eligible for Title IV aid during their Financial Aid Probation status. If the appeal is approved but the Committee has determined that the student will not be able to meet the SAP standards within one semester/period of enrollment, then the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation with an Academic Plan which if followed will ensure the student is able to meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time.
2. The student registers for coursework while on Financial Aid Suspension status, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student financial aid, and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards at the end of the subsequent semester(s)/period(s) of enrollment.
3. Students who are suspended from the University based on poor academic performance, and are re-admitted the following year or later, are not automatically eligible for TIV financial aid.

• Students who upon review are determined to be ineligible for financial aid must submit a letter of appeal for reinstatement of aid. If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on probation for the following semester.
• Otherwise, students who are reinstated academically are placed on a “financial aid warning status” for the remainder of their academic program, even when the student meets the minimum SAP standards.

*Students who are beyond the maximum timeframe to completion may only regain financial aid eligibility on a semester-by-semester basis through the appeal process.

Is Financial Aid Probation the Same as Academic Probation?

No. Financial aid recipients must meet the minimum federal standards for academic progress in addition to Johns Hopkins School of Education’s academic standards for good standing for their program. Students should consult the academic policy standards for more information. Students on academic probation may not be eligible to receive financial aid.

Appeal Process

The student placed on Financial Aid Suspended status who want to submit an appeal should submit their appeal in writing to the Financial Aid Director by the date specified in the Financial Aid Suspended notification letter. Appeals should include:

• The grounds for appeal (i.e., working too many hours, etc.).
• Demonstration that the student understands the reason behind failure to meet the SAP requirements.
• Specific plans to rectify the student’s current academic status.

What Circumstances Are Considered When Appeals Are Submitted for Review?

Federal regulations identify the circumstances that can be taken into consideration in an appeal. The schools will consider the following special circumstances under the terms of federal statute:

• Serious illness of or injury to a student.
• Death of student’s immediate family member.
• Other unusual circumstances that are documented by the Financial Aid Office and other school administrators.

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and may consult with academic advisers and other involved parties as warranted. If it is determined that the student will not be able to meet the SAP standards by the end of the next semester/period, but the Committee is in agreement that the student’s grounds for appeal are reasonable and the student has a reasonable chance to succeed and graduate, then if the appeal is approved the student will also be placed on an Academic Plan. Students will receive written notification of the decision. The committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing of their decision within 14 working days after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its determination. All decisions on such appeals are final. Students who lose eligibility for financial aid due to not meeting the minimum SAP standards more than one time during their program may submit an appeal each time.

Academic Plan

Students who lose eligibility and submit an appeal may be placed on an Academic Plan if the appeal is approved. The purpose of an academic plan is to support the student in bringing himself or herself back into compliance with the financial aid SAP standards by a specific point in time in order to ensure that the student will be able to successfully complete the degree or certificate program. The academic plan will be specifically tailored to the student and may include milestones and specific requirements such as a reduced course load, specific courses or tutoring. Students on an academic plan are still responsible to meet the SAP requirements in the subsequent semester/period of enrollment and will lose eligibility if the SAP standards are not met, and need to go through the appeal process in order to regain eligibility. The student’s progress in their academic plan will be considered in any subsequent appeal process of financial aid eligibility.