Financial Aid

The HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership is committed to helping eligible students meet their financial needs. Through scholarships and grants, the Seminary seeks to alleviate the financial burden of both domestic and international students. However, funding for these programs is limited, and they provide only partial coverage of the expenses incurred at HJI. Students are therefore encouraged to seek other sources of funding first.

Some local and national churches have set up generous scholarship programs that completely fund students’ seminary education.

Forms and information are available through the Admissions Office.

Types of Financial Aid

Financing a college education is a challenge for many families. Recognizing the cost of an education, students should consider the total cost of their education and not just the costs of the initial year. Besides the usual sources—family assistance, personal savings, and summer earnings—there exists a variety of ways to pay college costs. These are generally referred to as student financial aid. They consist of scholarships, grants, loans, and earnings from part-time work while in school.

Loans and scholarships are available at HJI. Most of these forms of financial aid are based on need and are determined by the FAFSA. The amount of the aid offered is determined by calculations from the Department of Education. Scholarship monies are awarded by the graduate Financial Aid Committee.

Please keep in mind:

All Federal financial aid rules and regulations are set out by the Department of Education. These are federal laws and regulations that the HJI Office of Financial Aid is required to follow.
HJI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, or disability.

Scholarships

All applicants are evaluated for scholarships at the time of application for admission. No separate application for scholarships is required. Scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.

Unification Leadership Scholarship

Scholarships are an important way for a church to show appreciation for thecommitment and sacrifice of its members. The Unification Leadership Scholarship is awarded to members of the Unification faith who have demonstrated outstanding achievements or success in church-related responsibilities. Under the Unification Leadership Scholarship program, recipients receive a scholarship for up to one half (50%) the cost of tuition.

Next Generation Leadership Scholarship

The Next Generation Leadership Scholarship is awarded to recommended current or aspiring next generation Unificationist leaders who have committed to at least three years of public leadership following graduation from HJI. Next Generation Leadership Scholarship recipients may receive a scholarship of up to 70% of the cost of tuition.

Founders’ Scholarship

HJI Founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon have emphasized that all of humanity share a common heritage and that all religions serve a divine purpose. In this spirit, any new, (first-time) full-time domestic, or international master’s student may qualify for a Founders’ Scholarship after a careful review of a new candidate’s application material based on academic merit. The program provides up to 50% tuition assistance during their enrollment at HJ International.

To be considered for the Founders’ Scholarship, students must submit their completed online application for admission by the following deadlines:

For Fall semester, the priority deadline is July 1. For the Spring semester, the priority deadline is November 15.

After these deadlines, Founders’ Scholarships may be awarded if funding is still available.

NOTE: Students are eligible to receive only one of the above scholarships. Scholarships are renewed annually contingent upon maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Scholarships of students whose academic performance falls below this level are subject to review and may be withdrawn.

Federal Direct Loan Program

The Federal Direct Loan program assists students who are enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours per term) in borrowing directly from the U.S. Department of Education. The loans are insured by the federal government.

Stafford Direct Loans – Unsubsidized Loans

Graduate students in the HJI programs can apply for the unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan program. These loans have a set interest rate of 7.05%, they do begin to accrue interest from the day they are released from the lender. The student must select one of the following two options: to begin making interest payments on the loan immediately or to allow the DOE to capitalize the interest due, resulting in a larger loan repayment

To receive federal aid administered through the HJI Office of Financial Aid, you must:

Be admitted to a degree seeking program at HJI.
Effective July 1, 2012, new students who enroll for the first time after July 1, 2012 must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent to receive federal student aid.
Be a citizen, permanent resident of the United States, or other eligible non-citizen.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to SAP policy for financial aid recipients.
Until recently, male students were also required to register for the Selective Service—the government agency that organizes U.S. military drafts—to receive financial aid for higher education. The FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020, however, removed this prerequisite.
Be enrolled at least half-time for federal and state funded financial aid programs.
Resolve any drug conviction issues.
Not owe a refund to any federal grant or loan or be in default on any federal loan.
Be enrolled in coursework at HJI.

Procedure to Apply for Federal Direct Loans

New students: Fill out your FAFSA application at www.fafsa.gov
Returning students: Update your FAFSA record at www.fafsa.gov , this must be done each academic year.
New students: Login at https://studentaid.gov and click on Entrance Counseling and Complete your Master Promissory Note (MPN). Both are listed on the webpage after signing in.
Returning students: Go to https://studentaid.gov and check to see if your MPN needs to be updated.
Contact the HJI Financial Aid Office for information about an unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan, your eligibility for a loan, and the amount you want to borrow. Manhattan: 212-563-6647 ext. 105 Email: Henry Christopher at h.christopher@hji.edu ;

It generally takes a few weeks for the loan to be processed through the Federal government. The HJI Bursar will credit your account with your loan amount, deduct the HJI costs, and issue you a check for any remaining amount.

Loan Disbursement and Processing Policy

1. FA Solutions Originates Federal loans:

A private company hired by HJI handles all student Federal loans, including originating and disbursing funds from the Department of Education (DOE) for each student. The HJI Financial Aid Office together with FA Solutions determines when a student has met all eligibility requirements for the disbursement of financial aid funds.

2. HJI Finance Office Disburses Funds to Students:

All Loan funds will be disbursed via hard copy check by the HJI Finance Office.

It takes a few weeks for HJI to receive the funds after the certification process begins.

Please note, there is a processing time for all funds that come into HJI. HJI will have your funds on your ledger within 3 days of receiving the funds from the DOE. Students will be notified by the Financial Aid Office when to come to receive their loan.

Return of Title IV funds (R2T4)

The school may need to return Title IV funds when a recipient of those funds ceases to be enrolled (100% withdrawal) prior to the end of a payment period or period of enrollment (one semester). Up through the 60% point in each semester, a pro rata schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. These funds have to be returned to the US Department of Education within 45 days after the student has withdrawn. After the 60% point in the payment period or period of enrollment, a student has earned 100% of the Title IV funds the student was scheduled to receive during the period and no funds have to be returned.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

Federal Regulations require all HJI students maintain good progress toward receiving a degree in order to continue to have eligibility for Title IV financial aid programs. All semesters will be counted toward this progress regardless if the student did not receive aid in a prior semester.

According to Federal Regulations there are three main measurements reviewed at the end of each semester. See the HJI Financial Aid Handbook for more detailed information.

GPA

Graduate program graduation requires a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average. To continue studies at HJI, graduate students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average starting at 12 cumulative credit hours.

Pass Rate

Completion Rate: Students must complete at least 67% of all credits attempted. Credits attempted include transfer credits, withdrawals, “F” and “I” grades.

Maximum Time Frame

Students need to complete their degree within a maximum timeframe, including transfer credits and attempted credits. This timeframe is 150% of the degree program requirements. In other words, 75 credits for the M.R.E., 63 credits for the M.A. and 120 credits for the M.Div. degree. For the D.Min degree the timeframe is 6 years.

Students not in compliance with the minimum GPA, maximum timeframe, and/or completion rate requirement will be put on financial aid probation and may lose their financial aid eligibility.

Repercussions for not meeting the requirements:

Students who do not meet the above listed requirements will first be placed on Financial Aid Warning / Probation. Any student who is placed on Financial Aid Warning will still be eligible for aid for 1 semester in an attempt to repair their progress.

After the Warning or Probationary period has ended, if the student still does not meet all 3 requirements, he/she will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students that are placed on Financial Aid Suspension cannot receive any Title IV Federal (or State) Financial Aid until they repair their Satisfactory Academic Progress status by enrolling for classes at their own expense or successfully appealing their probation.

Appeal Process for Students Who Have Failed to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid that they have lost their financial aid eligibility.

Students initiate the process by requesting a one-time appeal. Such requests should be forwarded to the Director for Financial Aid within two weeks of aid loss notification.

Possible reasons for appeal: serious personal problems, family tragedy, illness, employment and/or difficult adjustment to school, and other unusual circumstances that could reasonably contribute to a lack of academic progress. Appeals should include supporting documentation.

A committee comprised of the Director for Financial Aid, the Registrar, and others as needed will review the appeal request.

Please note, only one appeal will be granted, whether based on qualitative and/or quantitative standards. Students who are not granted an appeal, or those who have already used the appeal, but do not have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or meet quantitative standards, will regain eligibility once the cumulative GPA and quantitative standards are met.

How to Apply for Post-9/11 GI Education Benefits

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an educational assistance program enacted by Congress for individuals with active duty service after September 10, 2001. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36
months of education benefits. To complete an application, use VA Form 22-1990, “Application for VA Education Benefits.” You can complete the application online.

As a private school, veterans enrolled at HJI can receive Up to $25,162.14 per academic year for tuition and fees.

In addition, veterans may also be eligible to receive:

Contact:

Dr. Frank LaGrotteria

Chief Administrator of Financial Aid,

f.lagrotteria@hji.edu

212-563-6647 Ext. 115

Code of Conduct

HJI follows the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) professional policies on code of conduct as follows:

An institutional financial aid professional is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her responsibilities, specifically including all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in student financial aid, regardless of whether such entities are involved in a government sponsored, subsidized, or regulated activity. In doing so, a financial aid professional should:

Refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
Refrain from taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents he or she serves.
Ensure that the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
Be objective in making decisions and advising his or her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a governmental entity such as the U.S. Department of Education) involved in the making, holding, consolidating or processing of any student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of any expenses) for serving on an advisory body or as part of a training activity of or sponsored by any such entity.
Disclose to his or her institution, in such manner as his or her institution may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.