Scholarship and Aid Offer Terms and Conditions
Estimated Cost of Attendance for 2026- 2027
Financial aid offers are awarded annually by academic year and are divided by the appropriate semester(s). Unless otherwise specified, all elements of gift aid (merit, need-based, talent, federal or state) are distributed proportionately over all billable charges. Billable charges are defined as tuition, college fees, room, and meal plans.
When a financial aid offer is being determined by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, they assume the student is enrolled at a full-time status. Students enrolled less than full-time are not eligible for Muhlenberg College merit or need-based aid. Eligibility for federal and state aid for less than full-time students will be determined according to their policies.
The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid determines a student’s aid offer using the chart below and the information provided by the Department of Education through the filing of the current year’s FAFSA.
Direct Costs: are billable charges incurred by all students by Muhlenberg College.
Indirect Costs: are estimated additional non-billable expenses included in the Cost of Attendance.
Direct Costs of Attendance
| Direct Costs | On Campus | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $66,930 | $66,930 |
| College Fees | $830 | $830 |
| Food and Housing | $15,696 | $0 |
| Orientation Fee | $230 | $230 |
| Total Direct Costs | $83,686 | $67,990 |
Tuition: An amount normally assessed to a student carrying the same academic workload, as determined by the college.
College Fees: a billable charge that is made up of Digital Learning and Technology Fee, Health/Wellness Fee and Student Activity Fee.
Estimated Food and Housing: For students planning to live on campus, this is the charge for a standard double room on campus and the Platinum Meal Plan. You may have chosen other options. You will be billed for the options you select.
First Year Orientation Fee: A one time billable/direct charge applied only to the semester of entry for new students attending orientation.
Student Loan Fee: Fees charged by the loan lender (Government) and are deducted from the loan prior to it being sent to the college.
Indirect Costs of Attendance
| Direct Costs | On Campus | Commuter |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Books & Supplies | $1,600 | $1,600 |
| Est. Personal Expense | $1,500 | $600 |
| Est. Transportation* | $850 | $1,900 |
| Est. Living Expenses | $0 | $2,250 |
| Total Indirect Costs | $3,950 | $6,350 |
Estimated Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment: An allowance for books, course materials, and equipment which must include all such costs required of all students in the same course of study, including a reasonable allowance for the rental or upfront purchase of a personal computer, as determined by the college.
Estimated Miscellaneous Personal Expenses: An allowance, as determined by the college, for a student attending the college on at least a half-time basis.
Estimated Transportation: An allowance, as determined by the college, which may include transportation between campus, residences, and place of work. *This amount is determined based on where the student’s permanent address is located.
Estimated Living Expenses: An allowance for food and housing costs, as determined by the college, to be incurred by the student attending the college on at least a half-time basis.
(All estimated costs will become actual costs in spring 2026)
If a student has been selected for verification by the Department of Education a representative from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will contact the student. Before the student’s financial aid offer can be finalized ALL required documents must be submitted. In exceptional circumstances including but not limited to unexpected changes in Cost of Attendance or billable charges, the College reserves the right to modify a student financial aid offer.
Financial Aid Fund Terms and Conditions
Award Information
Below are descriptions of aid awards offered by Muhlenberg College. Each award has its own terms and conditions. Please review the descriptions for each award that a student has been provided in their aid offer in order to understand the student’s responsibility for renewal each year. For additional information click the link within the award description.
Merit scholarships are offered in recognition of a student's academic record. These scholarships will be renewed automatically from year to year for undergraduate students as long as a student achieves a 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of the first year and a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of their sophomore and junior years.
It is Muhlenberg College policy that merit scholarships do not increase. It is a fixed amount for each semester (ie, the student can not receive a full year amount in just one semester) that the student is a full-time traditional undergraduate student (at least 3 course units per semester). A student is eligible for a maximum of 8 undergraduate semesters.
Any unused merit due to withdrawal, early graduation or moving to a graduate school program is forfeited. Merit scholarships are distributed proportionately over all undergraduate billable charges. Billable charges are defined as Tuition and mandatory fees, room and meal plans.
The Muhlenberg College Grant is a need-based grant offered to students who display exceptional financial need, continue to make satisfactory academic progress, and show promise in the areas of campus contributions and college citizenship. Students are required to complete the FAFSA annually to potentially be eligible for the grants. These funds do NOT need to be repaid to the college.
Restricted and endowed scholarships from Muhlenberg College are based on a student's financial need and status as an undergraduate student. The funds are provided by donors to Muhlenberg College. These funds are distributed proportionately over all the undergraduate billable charges. Billable charges are defined as Tuition, mandatory fees, room and meal plans. In exceptional circumstances including but not limited to unexpected changes in Cost of Attendance or billable charges, the College reserves the right to modify the scholarship.
In order to renew a need-based restricted/endowed scholarship, you must be an undergraduate student, complete the need-based financial aid process each year by our stated deadlines, and meet the requirements (if any) for the scholarship. In addition, after each academic year is completed, a student will be checked for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, where interest does not accrue, it is paid by the Federal Government. The current fixed interest rate for the 2025-26 academic year is 6.39%. The current origination fee for the 2025-26 academic year is 1.057%. This fee is charged to the loan be the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in 2026.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans are loans made available to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need. Interest will start accruing at the time of disbursement and continue during the time period the student is registered at least half time. The current fixed interest rate for the 2025-26 academic year is 6.39% for undergraduate students and 7.94% for graduate students. The current origination fee for the 2025-26 academic year is 1.057%. This fee is charged to the loan by the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in 2026.
Direct Parent PLUS Loans are loans made available to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers of a Parent PLUS loan can request up to a student’s Cost of Attendance minus the student’s current aid offer. The current fixed interest rate for the 2025-26 academic year is 8.94%. The current origination fee for the 2025-26 academic year is 4.228%. This fee is charged to the loan by the Federal Government prior to the loan funds coming to the college. The fixed interest rate and origination fee for the 2026-27 academic year will be announced by the Federal Government in 2026.
Muhlenberg College offers two types of Student Employment opportunities through a student's financial aid offer, Federal Work-Study (CWS) and Muhlenberg College Employment (MCE). The purpose of the Student Employment Program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop professional skills and experience while simultaneously earning supplemental funds to assist them with some of their college expenses.
The Pennsylvania (PA) State Grant is issued through PHEAA to qualified undergraduate students that are residents of Pennsylvania and attending a school within the state, who demonstrate financial need with a Student Aid Index (SAI) within their guidelines. Awards are estimated and are based on the amount of program funds appropriated by the state budget.
Individual states have their own state grant process and may not participate with schools that are not located within their state. If a student’s home state is offering them a grant, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Federal Pell Grant is provided by the federal government to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) below a threshold designated by the US Department of Education, based on the amount of program funds appropriated by Congress. Unlike a Federal Direct Loan, the Pell grant is aid that does NOT have to be repaid.
You must complete a FAFSA annually for renewal consideration.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is provided by the federal government to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. It is reserved for students who receive Pell Grants and may range from $100-$4,000 per year.
Students must complete a FAFSA annually for renewal consideration.
The Undergraduate Tuition Exchange Program is a scholarship program that awards partial tuition to dependents of eligible employees who apply for and are accepted for admission at schools participating in the Tuition Exchange Scholarship Program. Muhlenberg College is considered the “Export” school and the institutions the dependent child applies to are considered the “Import” schools. Decisions on Tuition Exchange scholarships are not made by Muhlenberg – they are made by the Import institutions. For more information, please contact Human Resources and visit: tuitionexchange.org.
The Tuition Exchange Room Credit is given to Tuition Exchange eligible students who are living in Muhlenberg College owned campus housing.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post- 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (also known as The Post 9/11 GI Bill®) to make additional funds available to qualified veterans.
Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) under the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® may receive this supplemental funding. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® will pay up to $29,920.95. per academic year for tuition and fee expenses at a private university.
The Tuition Remission Program is a scholarship program that awards full tuition to dependents of eligible employees, who apply to Muhlenberg College for an undergraduate degree program and are accepted for admission. Tuition remission covers the student’s tuition at 100%. Items such as housing, meals, books, and fees are not included under the program.
All students are eligible for Talent Scholarship consideration. Muhlenberg College offer Talent Scholarships in Art, Dance, Film Studies, Music, and Theatre. The scholarships range from $1,000-$2,000 a year.
Regardless of need, dependents of Lutheran pastors of the ELCA and clergy of other denominations with whom the ELCA shares full communion and who are under call for service to the church are eligible for ministerial grants.
First time borrowers of a Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan are required to complete Federal Student Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note.
If a student decides to accept a student loan(s), the Office of Financial Aid will reach contact the student in June to complete the Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. Please wait to hear from our office before completing these steps to ensure they are not completed too early.
Additional Terms, Conditions, and Information
Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) each year to be considered for need-based aid. Federal, State, need-based grants, Direct Loans, and student employment awards are renewed each year provided financial need remains similar and acceptable academic standing is maintained.
Conflicting Information provided to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid may result in changes to a student's financial aid offer. If a student is selected for verification, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will notify the student in writing. Changes may occur as a result of the verification process.
Students receiving financial aid through federal or Muhlenberg funds (including Direct loans and PLUS loans) must remain in good standing and make Satisfactory Academic Progress to retain their awards.
Good standing is defined as the minimum academic standards required for continued enrollment in a degree program.
Satisfactory academic progress is defined as the minimal cumulative GPA and the attempted and earned course units required to retain financial aid.
These progress standards are different from those used to compose the financial aid renewal award packages. The academic progress of every financial aid recipient is reviewed at the end of each academic year after the freshman year to make sure these standards are being met.
If a student and/or their family have experienced a change in their financial situation, such as unemployment or another special circumstances, they have the opportunity to request a re-review of their aid offer based on the circumstance. Students should email [email protected] for further instructions on submitting an appeal. Students are encouraged to upload supporting documentation when submitting their appeal; however, it is not required.
Students must report any scholarships, grants, and/ or loans received through outside sources to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid reserves the right to adjust your financial aid offer if our total aid from all sources exceeds your financial need or Cost of Attendance.
In addition to Direct Student Loan and Direct PLUS Loan options there is also the option to apply for an alternative loan. Families can choose a lender of their choice. This can be their personal banking institution, credit union, etc.
Muhlenberg College also offers monthly payment plans for the Fall and Spring Semesters. Families will have the option each semster to enroll in a 5 month payment plan.
A change is residency status may affect your financial aid eligibility or aid offer. Students must notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid if they intend to change their housing status (on-campus or residing with parents as a commuter).
Additional course fees may apply based on specific courses and residence halls.