Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial assistance is available from Federal, State, Institutional, and private sources. It is important for you to explore and understand all of the opportunities for assistance that are available. You should also become familiar with the application procedures and deadlines associated with these opportunities.

There are four basic types of Financial Assistance:

Federal Pell Grant   The Federal Pell Grant Program provides dollars to needy students that do not need to be repaid. The U.S. Department of Education uses a standard formula to evaluate the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. The Federal Pell Grant serves as the base of your Financial Aid Package.

Federal Pell Grants are awarded to full, and part-time, undergraduate students working on their first baccalaureate degree. Eligible students can use their Federal Pell Grant at any eligible institution. The Federal Pell Grant range is between $400 and $4,050 per year.

Full-time enrollment is 12 hours or more, 3/4 time is 9-11 hours, half-time is 6-8 hours, less than half-time is 5 hours or less.

The Federal Stafford Loan Program is the government's largest form of self-help aid. The program assists students by providing low-interest loans to help cover the cost of education. Repayment begins six (6) months after you graduate, withdraw, or cease to be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours). It is important to note, that your loan must be repaid and cannot be forgiven through bankruptcy proceedings. Borrow Responsibly!!

Stafford Loans may be Subsidized or Unsubsidized.

Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded based on financial need as determined by your FAFSA results. You will not be required to pay interest while you are in school, during your grace period, or during any authorized periods of deferment. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods.

Subsidized Loan Calculation:
Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
- Estimated Financial Aid (EFA)
Subsidized Eligibility

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are not based on need. You will be required to pay interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You may elect to have the interest accumulate while in school, however, this will result in greater loan indebtedness.

Unsubsidized Loan Calculation:
Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Estimated Financial Aid (EFA)
-Subsidized Loan Eligibility
UnSubsidized Eligibility

Student loan funds may be reduced or canceled at any time during the semester if additional funding causes you to exceed your Cost of Attendance budget.

Maximum Annual Loan Limits

By Federal regulation, there are annual limits to the amount you can borrow in both subsidized and unsubsidized loan funds (see below). You may be awarded less than the annual limit if you are receiving other financial assistance that causes you to exceed your Cost of Attendance budget.

A dependent student whose parents are denied a Federal PLUS Loan may be eligible to borrow up to the amounts indicated for independent students.

By Federal regulation, associate degree seeking students may only borrow up to the sophomore level.

Aggregate Loan Limits

In addition to the annual limits, Federal regulations restrict undergraduate borrowers to the following aggregate limits in both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan funds:

Entrance and Exit Loan Counseling Requirement

Federal regulations require first-time borrowers at WSCCN to complete on-line Entrance Loan Counseling before loan funds will be disbursed. Federal regulations also require on-line Exit Loan Counseling if you graduate, withdraw, or drop to less than half-time enrollment (6 credit hours).

The Master Promissory Note Requirement

The Department of Education has authorized the use of a Master Promissory Note (MPN) allowing students to sign a single promissory note for all Federal Stafford Loans. If you are borrowing for the first time at WSCN, you must complete an MPN before loan funds will be disbursed.

NOTE: The Master Promissory Note is a legal document requiring borrowers to repay the loan. Read it carefully before signing.

Once an MPN is signed and processed with the lender, you will not need to sign another promissory note for subsequent loans as long as you are attending Western, retain the same lender throughout your academic career, and have not filed bankruptcy.

Stafford Loan Request/Disbursement Process

Federal PLUS Loan Program allows parents, with good credit histories, to borrow money to pay the educational expenses of dependent, undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution. The interest rate on the PLUS Loan is 8.5% percent. Repayment on the PLUS Loan begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement for the enrollment period in which the funds were borrowed.

The annual limit on a PLUS loan is the student's Cost of Attendance budget minus any other financial assistance received (including Stafford loan funds).

Cost of Attendance (COA)
- Estimated Financial Aid (EFA)
PLUS Loan Eligibility

The credit application will be processed within minutes. Upon credit approval, parents may elect to complete the application process on-line or to print and complete a hard copy application/promissory note and mail it to MOHELA for processing.

If the Credit Pre-Approval is denied, the student may be eligible to borrow additional loan funds under the Stafford Student Loan Program.

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In addition, the college has its own need-based awards and special scholarships that are awarded annually. These include the following:

1. Cathryn M. Johnson Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
   
   
2. Chancellor’s Scholarship – Up to five $5,000 scholarships awarded annually on the basis of grade point average.
   
   
3. Dr. Michael and Charlotte Mizen Geriatric Nursing Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of demonstrated interest in serving the health-care needs of the elderly.
   
   
4. Ethel Fearing-Brown Memorial Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
   
   
5. Lucille W. Saxon Scholarship – Up to ten scholarships awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and character. Preference is given to students who plan to remain at West Suburban Medical Center following graduation.
   
   
6. Nicholas Scholarship – One $1,000 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, evidence of a Christian value system, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
   
   
7. Olive Pendill Nursing Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and co-curricular activities.
   
   Ruth H. Replogle Scholarship – One scholarship, the amount determined each year, awarded annually to a student who intends to practice community nursing in the Parent Child Community (PCC) Wellness Center in Oak In addition, the college has its own need-based awards and special scholarships that are awarded annually. These include the following:
   
   
8. Cathryn M. Johnson Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
   
   
9. Chancellor’s Scholarship – Up to five $5,000 scholarships awarded annually on the basis of grade point average.
   
   
10. Dr. Michael and Charlotte Mizen Geriatric Nursing Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of demonstrated interest in serving the health-care needs of the elderly.
    
    
11. Ethel Fearing-Brown Memorial Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
    
    
12. Lucille W. Saxon Scholarship – Up to ten scholarships awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and character. Preference is given to students who plan to remain at West Suburban Medical Center following graduation.
    
    
13. Nicholas Scholarship – One $1,000 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, evidence of a Christian value system, and involvement in co-curricular activities.
    
    
14. Olive Pendill Nursing Scholarship – One $500 scholarship awarded annually on the basis of financial need, scholarship, and co-curricular activities.
    
    
15. Ruth H. Replogle Scholarship – One scholarship, the amount determined each year, awarded annually to a student who intends to practice community nursing in the Parent Child Community (PCC) Wellness Center in Oak.
    
    
16. Theodore and Rose Skaggs Scholarship – One scholarship awarded annually as funds are available.
    
    
17. West Suburban Distinguished Nursing Scholar Scholarship – One scholarship, the amount to be determined each year, awarded annually based on superior academic achievement, clinical qualities, scholarship, and professionalism and leadership.
    
    
18. West Suburban Alumni Distinguished Nursing Scholar Scholarship – One scholarship, the amount to be determined each year, awarded annually based on superior academic achievement, clinical qualities, scholarship, and professionalism and leadership.
    
    
19. West Suburban College of Nursing Need Award – These awards are based on financial need, as determined by the FAFSA.

The following organizations also make scholarships available to West Suburban College of Nursing students:

1. The West Suburban Medical Center Medical Staff – Though this may vary from year to year, generally up to four $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually, in exchange for a one-year work commitment to West Suburban Medical Center following graduation.
   
   
2. The Auxiliary of West Suburban Medical Center – The number and amount of scholarships varies from year to year. In addition to their regular scholarships, they also award the $1,000 Sharon E. Bolin Nursing Student Award, the $1,000 Bud McClevey Nursing Scholarship, the Margaret Houck Nursing Student Award from the Muehrcke Family Foundation, and the Ralph Jepsen Nursing Scholarship. The amounts of these last two are determined annually.

The Resurrection Health Care Loan Forgiveness Program was established to provide full tuition to students in exchange for a work commitment as a staff nurse at a Resurrection Health Care facility following graduation. Several awards from this program are made annually. Download a copy of our Loan Forgiveness Brochure

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