3+ Academic Programs (Accelerated Programs)

How to complete the FAFSA application can sometimes be a challenging process, specifically for those students who have been selected to participate in one of LHU’s fast track academic programs. In all of the programs offered at LHU students are simultaneously working on a bachelor’s and master’s degree at some point in the program. Contained on this page is the information those students should have in order to successfully apply for financial aid while participating in an accelerated program. Additional questions or concerns regarding financial aid can be directed to the Financial Aid Office at the contact information on this page.

Questions about costs (tuition and fees) can be answered by contacting the Student Accounts Office at (570) 484-2425 as they oversee billing, payment and refunds.

Filing the FAFSA: Years 1-3

As a general rule, students in the accelerated programs are treated as undergraduate level students during the first three years of the program. During this time the student would report on the FAFSA that they are in an undergraduate program working on a bachelor’s degree.

Filing the FAFSA: Year 4

Upon entering the fourth year and based on the specific accelerated program, students may be taking a mixture of undergraduate and graduate courses. As a result, the fourth year counts toward both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.  At LHU we consider the student a graduate student while taking the graduate courses, even though the bachelor’s degree requirements may not be met.

When filling out the FAFSA for the fourth year, students should file the FAFSA using these suggestions:

1. Student must indicate on the FAFSA whether they have earned a bachelor’s degree. If the degree is not yet earned, they should answer no.
2. When asked to report the grade level they should indicate that they are attending the first year in a graduate program.
3. When asked what type of program they are enrolled, they should indicate that they are in a graduate program.
4. In the dependency section of FAFSA, the student should answer “yes” to being in a graduate program. This will exclude the need to enter the parent(s)’ information.
5. When asked how many persons are in the household, the student should not include parents or siblings unless those persons are financially supported by the student. If the student is married, he or she would include their spouse and if the student has a child or children that he/she supports they would include those in their household number.

Filing the FAFSA: Year 5 and Beyond (if applicable)

When filling out the FAFSA for additional years beyond the fourth, students should file the FAFSA using these suggestions:

1. Student must indicate on the FAFSA whether they have earned a bachelor’s degree. If the degree is not yet earned, they should answer no. If the degree is earned, they should answer yes.
2. When asked to report the grade level they should indicate that they are attending their second or third year in a graduate program.
3. When asked what type of program they are enrolled, they should indicate that they are in a graduate program.
4. In the dependency section of FAFSA, the student should answer “yes” to being in a graduate program. This will exclude the need to enter the parent(s)’ information.
5. When asked how many persons are in the household, the student would not include parents or siblings unless those persons are supported by the student. If the student is married, he or she would include their spouse. If the student has a child or children that he/she supports they would include those in their household number.

As a reminder, financial aid application is a yearly process. For more information about applying for financial aid, please review the “Financial Aid Overview” tab.