Other Policies

Elmhurst University adheres to the following additional policies with respect to financial aid.

Rights and Responsibilities

By registering for courses at Elmhurst University, you acknowledge that you are entering into a contractual arrangement with Elmhurst University, whereby you agree to comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to your registration, payment of fees, enrollment and attendance.

Included in the rules and regulations that comprise the terms and conditions of this contract are those contained in this document and the 2023-2024 Elmhurst University Catalog, 2023-2024 Elmhurst University Student Handbook and academic calendars that are in effect during the years of your enrollment.

All students are responsible for reviewing, understanding and abiding by the University’s regulations, procedures, requirements and deadlines as described in official University publications.

Financial Aid Limits

Elmhurst University merit scholarships and grants are restricted to a student’s tuition charges for the academic year and may not be refunded. In some cases, scholarships for specific costs such as housing, may be excepted. However, total aid received from Elmhurst University scholarships and grants may not exceed a student’s direct costs, including tuition, fees, and housing/food. A student will be notified of any exceptions to this policy.

Students receiving aid from federal programs, such as Pell Grants or Direct Loans, are limited to a maximum amount of total aid for an academic year. The general rule is that the student’s need-based aid must not exceed the student’s financial need, and total financial aid and other Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) must not exceed the student’s cost of attendance (COA).

Because of this federal regulation, Elmhurst may be required to reduce or limit certain financial aid awards if students are near or at their maximum financial aid amount as it relates to their need or cost of attendance. Maximum aid includes all sources of financial assistance including scholarships and grants from Elmhurst University, the State of Illinois, and outside sources.

Part-Time Enrollment

Students who are enrolled between 6 and 11 credit hours per term will be charged per credit hour and therefore have lower tuition charges. Please note that students must be enrolled full-time in order to maintain eligibility for Elmhurst University scholarship and grants. Additionally, students who are enrolled less than full-time may have their federal aid prorated based on their rate of pursuit.

Summer

Students are not eligible for their Elmhurst University financial aid in the Summer Term. Some students attending at least half-time may have limited eligibility for federal grants or loans.

Study Abroad

Additional financial aid consideration may be offered to students taking international/study-abroad courses. A student’s enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by Elmhurst University may be considered enrollment at Elmhurst University for the purpose of applying for assistance under federal student aid programs. For more information, please contact the Office of Global Engagement in the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence at (630) 617-3079.

Special Circumstances

If your family has extenuating circumstances that you would like us to consider in awarding aid—for instance, a job loss or serious illness—please find the special circumstances form on our Forms page and submit it to the Office of Student Financial Services.

Taxes and Financial Aid

In accordance with the Tax Reform Act of 1986, scholarships and grants received during a specific calendar year that exceed qualified educational expenses are considered taxable income. In these cases, taxes are not withheld from the scholarship or grant funding, so you may be responsible for paying the appropriate taxes upon filing your tax return.

We provide some preliminary information for you here to help you get started, but it is important for you to consult with your tax preparer and carefully review the information available on the IRS website (including IRS Publication 970). This helpful IRS publication provides definitions, exceptions, a worksheet, and other important considerations.

When calculating your tax liability, you may calculate any general scholarship or grant aid as first applying to qualified educational expenses (i.e., tuition, mandatory fees, and required books and supplies). Student loans and work-study are not subject to these tax requirements and should not be included in your calculation. Federal Work-Study awards are not subject to Social Security Tax (F.I.C.A.) withholding during periods of enrollment. Please note that tax laws are subject to change.

You should carefully review and maintain your records, including invoice and award information. If you no longer have copies of your award information for the calendar year you are researching, you can access your award information online via Self-Service.

Beyond your tax liabilities, there may be tax benefits you may want to consider as well. The Office of Student Financial Services does not offer income tax counseling of any kind. Questions on income tax liability, filing status, reporting income and tax treaties should be addressed to the United States Internal Revenue Service.