Students must complete the FAFSA® annually to be considered for financial aid eligibility. All students seeking access to federal financial aid must abide fully with the filing mandates associated with the FAFSA Simplification Act (Act) that was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. The Act further amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and impacts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA® serves as the application for all federal, state, and institutional financial aid (grants and loans) at HCN and, generally, must be completed online at FSA’s website, www.studentaid.gov A notification of aid eligibility from the FAFSA® filing site is not confirmation, nor assurance, that a student will be eligible for aid. It is an early indicator of possible eligibility.
Beginning with 2024‐25, all persons, now known as contributors, on the FAFSA must provide consent for the U.S. Department of Education to receive tax information or confirmation of non‐filing status directly from the IRS using the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX). Denial of consent will result in FSA rejecting the application and the applicant will not be eligible for federal student aid until all required contributors provide consent.
Contributor is a new term used by FSA for the 2024‐25 FAFSA®. It refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student's FAFSA®. A contributor could be the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse (stepparent).
All students and their required contributors must create an FSA ID at www.studentaid.gov to complete a FAFSA form online. The FSA ID will be used to login to the FAFSA site and apply for aid consideration. To create an FSA ID, a Social Security Number (SSN), full legal name, and date of birth will be required. If a contributor does not have a social security number, they still can get a FSA ID using their Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to fill out their portion of the FAFSA®.
The FSA ID will be used to file the FAFSA®, be used as the applicant’s electronic signature, and be used to access the FSA site for updates, corrections, and subsequent aid filing years.
Students who wish to attend HCN and be considered for Federal Student Aid, grants and loans, must have the results sent to Hondros College of Nursing, using the school code 040743. Regardless of the campus the student is attending, students must use the State of Ohio to locate the school on the FAFSA® application.
The information provided on-and-through the FAFSA® is used to determine the SAI. After the FAFSA® has been processed, the student will receive a FAFSA® Submission Summary (FSS). The student and/or their contributors must review their FSS for accuracy and update FAFSA® with any necessary corrections.
Financial need is determined by subtracting the SAI and other financial assistance from the Cost of Attendance (COA). Do note, COA is an estimate of a student's educational expenses for a 9‐month, 36 quarter credit hour based, full‐time period of enrollment. COA is not a representation of actual expenses incurred by each student. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines COA components for all federal student aid programs. These components include Direct Costs. Direct costs are expenses that the College will charge directly to the student, such as tuition and fees. The COA will also include Indirect Costs. Indirect Costs are expenses that are not directly charged by the College, but should be budgeted for by the student, such as food and housing.
The SAI is the foundation for all financial aid awards. Students with a valid FAFSA® on file and a complete HCN Online Student Financial Aid Portal will be awarded maximum eligibility in accordance with all governing rules and regulations. Students may view their aid awards through the HCN Online Student Financial Aid Portal. Student aid is disbursed quarterly. Students must complete all requested and required steps/paperwork prior to disbursement.
Financial need is based on the following formula and applicable aid year:
Cost of Attendance (Direct Costs + Indirect Costs) - Student Aid Index (2024-25) - Other Financial Assistance = Financial Need
- Direct Costs include tuition, fees, books (if purchased through the College) and supplies (if purchased through the College).
- Indirect Costs include transportation, housing, food, personal and miscellaneous. These are not costs charged by the College, however, should be budgeted for by the student to prepare for a successful educational journey.
- Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined by a federally defined formula using information you provide on-and-through your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance (COA) is established for use in determining Federal Student Aid eligibility. The COA below is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for a 9-month, 36 quarter credit hour basis, full-time enrollment status, applicable program of study, and housing status. It does not represent the cost of the overall program nor when charges are applied.
Cost of Attendance will vary depending on your program of study, credit hour enrollment, and housing status. Students are not allowed to receive aid that exceeds their COA. It is important to budget wisely and make responsible borrowing decisions. Please email [email protected]<> for COA information for enrollment other than full-time.
Diploma of Practical Nursing Student: 2024-25 Award Year
Federally Derived Cost of Attendance (COA)
9-Month Academic Year Basis, 36 credit hours, Full-time enrollment
Independent**, Off-Campus
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $13,860.00 |
| Fees* | $957.60 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $2,524.32 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $10,260.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,222.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $32,902.92 |
Dependent** with Parent or Military Housing
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $13,860.00 |
| Fees* | $957.60 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $2,524.32 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $5,139.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,114.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $27,673.92 |
*PN Students attending the Indianapolis Campus must add an additional Tuition & Fees charge of $411.60 and an additional $5.09 in Books & Supplies.
**As Determined by the United States Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Associate Degree Nursing Student (ADN): 2024-25 Award Year
Federally Derived Cost of Attendance (COA)
9-Month Academic Year Basis, 36 credit hours, Full-time enrollment
Independent**, Off-Campus
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $15,984.00 |
| Fees* | $1,101.96 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $2,685.24 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $10,260.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,222.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $35,332.20 |
Dependent** with Parent or Military Housing
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $15,984.00 |
| Fees* | $1,101.96 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $2,685.24 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $5,139.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,222.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $30,211.20 |
Diploma of Medical Assisting Student (MA): 2024-25 Award Year
Federally Derived Cost of Attendance (COA)
9-Month Academic Year Basis, 36 credit hours, Full-time enrollment
Independent**, Off-Campus
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $9,000.00 |
| Fees* | $843.75 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $1,254.26 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $10,260.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,222.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $26,659.01 |
Dependent** with Parent or Military Housing
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (36 credit hours)* | $9,000.00 |
| Fees* | $843.75 |
| Books, Supplies, & Course Materials | $1,254.26 |
| Food & Housing (Living Expenses) | $5,139.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $3,222.00 |
| Transportation | $2,079.00 |
| Total | $21,538.01 |
Net Price Calculator (NPC)
HCN’s Net Price Calculator provides an early estimate of:
- The expected cost to attend HCN, and
- How much financial aid you may qualify for.
Note: The NPC is a very valuable financial planning tool. The NPC is an estimation tool not an application for admission or an application for financial aid.
Accepting, Declining, and/or Adjusting Aid
Every student is provided a Financial Aid Overview during their aid counseling session. During the counseling session students are informed that they have the ability to accept, decline, and/or adjust their awarded aid amounts within 30-days of having received the official Financial Aid Disbursement Notification Email; and that these adjustments can be made by notifying Financial Aid via email, phone, or in-person.
Dependency Status
The Federal Government has established how dependency status is determined for Federal Financial Aid purposes. If a student is considered a dependent, his or her parents, also known as contributors, must provide income and asset information on the FAFSA®. If a student is unsure who their parent is, the online FAFSA® will provide a “Who’s My Parent” wizard to help determine which parent or parents (contributors) will need to provide information on the FAFSA® form. This information will be used in addition to the student’s income and asset information to determine the previously mentioned SAI.
Verification
The federal government requires some federal student aid applicants to verify the accuracy of information provided on and through the FAFSA®. In accordance with federal requirements, Hondros College of Nursing requires students to submit verification documents prior to disbursement of funds. Students and their contributors may be required to submit a verification worksheet, federal tax return transcripts and additional information necessary to complete verification or clear conflicting information.
If information on any documents is found to be conflicting, students may, likewise, be selected for verification by the College and required to provide additional information. Failure to complete verification may result in a loss of financial aid eligibility. All verification documentation must be submitted prior to the student's last day of their academic year.
If Hondros College of Nursing suspects that an individual falsified information and/or altered documentation and fraudulently obtained federal funds, Hondros College of Nursing is legally obligated to file a report with the Office of the Inspector General and/or local law enforcement officials.
Professional Judgement
Federal Student Aid regulations allow financial aid administrators to use professional judgment, on a case-by-case basis and with supporting documentation, as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Students are welcome to pursue a Professional Judgement based on special or unusual circumstances; see below for definitions.
All fully completed submissions will be considered within 60-days of enrollment. Adjustments must be deemed reasonable and related to the Professional Judgement request.
The FAFSA Simplification Act distinguishes between different categories of Professional Judgment by amending section 479A of the HEA.
Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an HCN aid administrator adjusting data elements in the COA or in the need analysis factors.
Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g. human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment) more commonly referred to as a dependency override.
It is important to note that the U.S. Department of Education has given guidance regarding situations that do and do not qualify as an Unusual Circumstance to merit a dependency override. In particular, the following circumstances do not merit a dependency override, either alone or in combination:
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education;
- Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification;
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes;
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
A student cannot become independent just because the parents are unwilling to help pay for the student’s college education. Although these circumstances are not sufficient for a dependency override, they do not preclude it. Sometimes there are additional circumstances that occur in conjunction with these circumstances that do merit a dependency override such as abusive family environment (e.g. sexual, physical or domestic abuse), incarceration or institutionalization of both parents, court documented abandonment, etc. To learn more please visit the studentaid.gov webpage concerning dependency at: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency. A student may have both a special circumstance and an unusual circumstance, with appropriate documentation.
To Request a Professional Judgment:
The first step in HCN’s process for a student to request a Professional Judgement consideration is to contact the campus Financial Services Advisor at [email protected] and make them aware of the situation.
Once HCN becomes aware of the student’s situation and their request for Professional Judgement consideration, HCN will request that the student provide applicable supporting documentation. Following the submission of all requested documentation, and the student’s applicable completion of the FAFSA, HCN will provide the student a decision.
End-to-end all decisions and processing will occur within 60-days of the student's material submittal/enrollment, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.