Other Financial Aid Programs

Listed on this page you will find information related to programs which affect either a small percentage of Muskingum students (though in a significant way), or are not distinctly financial aid programs, but relating to college financing options.




For residents of Ohio, the state offers a variety of student financial aid programs, including the Ohio Instructional Grant, the Ohio Student Choice Grant, the Ohio Academic Scholarship and the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship. To learn more about these programs visit the Ohio Board of Regents site.

Tuition Exchanges and Remissions

Muskingum College is a member of the following tuition exchange programs:

• The Tuition Exchange, Inc.
• The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Tuition Exchange Program
• The Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (APCU) Tuition Exchange Program

Students interested in enrolling at Muskingum through one of these programs should contact the representative at their home institution to complete the necessary forms and have them sent to Student Financial Services, Muskingum College, 163 Stormont Street, New Concord OH 43762. Students must apply for admission and be accepted by Muskingum to be considered for any of the above programs. Decisions on imports in the exchange programs will be made in November, January and March, dependent on space availability. Muskingum generally will make offers of acceptance in the exchanges to 3-5 students per academic year.

Students who enroll at Muskingum College and have an parent eligible for Muskingum College Tuition Remission can receive the value of the full-time tuition charge with a combination of the remission and state grant aid. Students may be awarded academic and performance scholarships from Muskingum, but these must be honorary in nature and no monetary benefit is available beyond the level of tuition. Exceptions to this may apply in cases where scholarship money would cover additional required fees that normally would have been covered by the scholarship (i.e. music fees).

Eligibility for the Muskingum College remission is determined by the Director of Human Resources each term.

Off Campus Study

Through its extensive exchange program with universities around the world, Muskingum College makes international study attractive and affordable for students. Students can choose among a wide variety of programs to suit their academic interests. Financial aid eligibility varies with each program:

• Students studying in one of the Exchange Programs (Muskingum or East Central Colleges Consortium - ECC) are eligible for any financial assistance they would receive as an on-campus student. Tuition charges are paid to Muskingum College. For a list of approved off-campus exchange programs please visit our International Student Programs page.
• Students studying in the Washington Semester Program of American University or the United Nations Semester of Drew University are eligible to receive one semester of full financial assistance. If additional terms are desired, financial aid is limited to federal and state aid. Since American University’s tuition charges are higher than Muskingum’s, any additional financial need must be met with student or parent loans, scholarship assistance directly from the Washington Semester program, or increased family contribution. All charges are paid to American University.
• Students studying at one of the Art Institutes (Pittsburgh, Ft. Lauderdale, etc.) may receive one year of full financial assistance. Muskingum-funded aid will be reduced if Art Institute tuition charges are less than Muskingum’s. Tuition charges are paid to the Art Institutes.
• Students studying in a non-exchange program other than those listed above, or beyond the number of eligible terms, are eligible to receive only federal, state or private financial assistance. Tuition charges are paid to the host institution.

Requirements vary for each program. Students should meet with their program advisors to discuss program requirements and costs. In all cases Muskingum must enter into a consortium agreement with the institution where the student is studying, in order to verify enrollment, charges, etc.

Students interested in an off-campus study program must complete the Request for Approved Off-Campus Study process, which begins in the Registrar’s Office and requires contact with the student’s program coordinator and academic advisor, the Student Financial Services Office and the Student Accounts Office. To find out more about financial aid for the study abroad and other off-campus programs please contact Amy Gooden in Student Financial Services.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits (BVR)

There are possible sources of financial support for students with handicapping conditions, including learning disabilities, through state rehabilitation service agencies. In Ohio, the agency is the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (OHRC), and students can receive support through one of two bureaus within this organization: the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR) and the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI). These benefits are commonly referred to as BVR benefits.

The organizational structure of OHRC is such that offices are located regionally throughout the state. In Ohio you may locate the nearest office to you by searching www.rsc.ohio.gov or by looking under “Ohio, State of ” in the business white pages of your telephone directory. Other states operate in a similar fashion.

While there is no guarantee of BVR funding for any student, all students with disabilities may seek assistance through this source. Currently, about one-third of students in Muskingum’s PLUS Program for students with disabilities that affect learning receive BVR assistance of varying amounts. BVR agencies have their own eligibility criteria, which involves a series of testing at their offices.

Students and parents who are interested in seeking assistance through this source are encouraged to pay attention to the following information:

Suggestions for Pursuing Financial Assistance through Rehabilitation Services

• The primary focus of services through the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation is employment placement. Funding for post secondary education may be deemed an appropriate means to assist a client toward future employment. It is for this reason that financial assistance for college is made available.
• BVR funding is not automatic, and not all applicants receive assistance. A negative determination could be the result of their own evaluation, a lack of state funding or a student's lack of financial eligibility.
• The BVR process takes time. In some cases it takes six months or more from the first contact to final determination of funding eligibility. If you have not already done so, contact the nearest regional office as soon as possible if you plan to seek support.
• BVR agencies may require students to go through their own series of testing. They may not accept testing previously conducted through other means.
• You may hear that because BVR is state-funded, students should pursue higher education at state-supported institutions in order to receive support. This does not hold true if the college can effectively accommodate the student’s disability, which Muskingum is able to do for PLUS Program students. The level of funding provided by BVR, however, may be limited to the level which would be provided at a state college or university or the least cost alternative, ie funding the amount a student may have to pay at the least expensive campus closest to home.
• BVR award amounts differ widely from student to student, as students will meet the funding criteria differntly. We often see award amounts which are roughly equivalent to the average four-year public university tuition rate in the student’s home area, or the award amount is sometimes equivalent to the fee for the PLUS Program ($5,600 in 2006-07). A few students receive coverage for both, and many students receive funding for books and supplies in addition to tuition assistance.
• Any BVR benefits received must be coordinated with other financial assistance for which the student may be eligible. Scholarships and awards of circumstances are not affected by receipt of BVR benefits as long as total assistance from all sources does not exceed total educational costs. In all cases receipt of BVR benefits provides a significant financial benefit to the family. Information about scholarships and grants a student is receiving must be related to the BVR counselor, as well as information from the filing of the FAFSA form, ie the EFC (expected family contribution).
• Students receiving BVR benefits must meet certain requirements to retain this benefit. This includes maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average, and involves maintaining regular contact with the student’s BVR counselor and submitting required materials such as academic transcripts and billing statements to BVR.

The Muskingum College Office of Student Financial Services assists all students and their families in financial aid matters, including BVR benefits. For questions about this or other financial aid matters, contact the Office of Student Financial Services.

Ohio College Access for Persons with Disabilities Project
ORSC announces the availability of the TG Public Benefit Award for the 2008-09 academic year. ORSC will award a minimum of tewnty-five $2,000 award. The awards are designed to promote the retention of students with disabilities at institutions of higher education in Ohio. Application and Instructions are available as a PDF. Ohio College Access for Persons with Disabilities Project Application

Veterans Benefits

The Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty Educational Assistance Program offers education benefits for students who entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985 and served continuously on active duty for three years. (Students with only two years of active duty also may be eligible under certain conditions.) More information about this program is in the pamphlet Summary of Educational Benefits Under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. This pamphlet is available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or by calling 1-888-442-4551.

The Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve is a program of education benefits for reservists of the armed forces as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. To be eligible for this program, a reservist must have a six-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, complete Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT), receive a high school diploma or its equivalent before applying for benefits, and remain in good standing in a drilling unit of the Selected Reserve. For further information, visit www.gibill.va.gov/education/c1606.htm

Students may qualify for benefits from the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) if they are spouses or children of :

• veterans who died or are permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability arising from active service in the armed forces;
• veterans who died from any cause while rated permanently and totally disabled from the service connected disability;
• service persons missing in action or captured in the line of duty by a hostile force; or
• service persons forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.

DEA benefits may be awarded to pursue associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degrees in VA-approved programs. For further information on the Montgomery GI Bill and other veterans benefits, students should call 1-888-442-4551 or access the VA web site at www.gibill.va.gov

Two federal income tax credits are available for higher education expenses.

• The Hope Credit, a tax credit worth up to $1,500 per student per year, can be claimed for qualified first-year and second-year students enrolled at least half time.
• The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit up to $2,000 (equal to 20 percent of a family’s total annual tuition and related expenses up to $10,000) for virtually any post secondary education and training, including undergraduate years, graduate and professional schools, and even less-than-halftime study.

The Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits may not be claimed at the same time for the same student. For further information on these income tax credits,read Publication 970 – Tax Benefits for Higher Education at the IRS web site.

Independent 529 Plans

Independent 529 Plan is a prepaid tuition plan that enables families to lock in future tuition costs at less than today's prices. Through the Plan, families purchase certificates that can be used to pay future tuition costs. When the student is later accepted at a member college (Muskingum is a member), the certificate can be used to pay the percentage of tuition pre-purchased. Independent 529 Plan is the first 529 plan sponsored by private (“independent”) colleges, and Program certificates can be redeemed for tuition at a broad array of independent colleges nationwide. It is a guaranteed plan that offers a risk-free investment which will protect the family against tuition inflation.

You can use Independent 529 Plan certificates to pay for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees. (Room and board and graduate school tuition are not covered at this time.) In addition to protection from tuition inflation, Independent 529 Plan provides a certificate discount that enables you to purchase future tuition at less than current prices. The certificate discount varies by institution but is never less than 0.5% per year. Muskingum’s certificate discount rate in the Independent 529 Plan is currently 2%. The plan charges no sales, application or maintenance fees.

For further information about the Independent 529 Plan visit the web site at www.independent529plan.org.