Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate degrees (IUG)

IUG students have two simultaneously active careers, however financial aid can only be awarded to students based on their primary academic career (undergraduate career or graduate career) and their credit load within that career. The career used to determine financial aid eligibility is the career in which the student first scheduled courses.

Financial Aid Resources:

Federal Pell Grant

  • Federal Pell Grant is only awarded to students whose primary academic career is undergraduate and is based on all enrolled credits in that career.

PA State Grant

  • PA State Grant is only awarded to students whose primary academic career is undergraduate and based on all enrolled credits in that career.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

  • Total credits used to determine eligibility are calculated based on the credits in one career.
  • Credits on the graduate career cannot count toward credit load eligibility for undergraduate loans and vice versa.
  • Students must be enrolled at least half time in their primary career for direct loans to process. Half-time status is 6 credits for undergraduate students and 5 for graduate students.
  • For the loan to process, a student’s career on the FAFSA must match their primary career in LionPath.

Federal Direct Parent and Graduate PLUS Loans

  • To be eligible for a Direct Parent PLUS loan, the student’s primary career must be undergraduate.
  • To be eligible for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan, the student’s primary career must be graduate.
  • The student must be enrolled at least half time in their primary career to be eligible for a Direct Parent PLUS loan. Half-time status is 6 credits for undergraduate students and 5 for graduate students.

Private Alternative Loans

  • Eligibility is based on the student’s primary academic career and the number of credits enrolled in that career.
  • Credits on the graduate career cannot count toward credit load eligibility for undergraduate loans and vice versa.

Lenders have various enrollment requirements; students should verify lender requirements on all loan products prior to applying for a private loan.

University and Outside Scholarships

  • Students need to check with the awarding agent to determine eligibility.

Tuition Assessment

Students identified as Integrated Undergraduate Graduate (IUG) students will be assessed undergraduate tuition for the entirety of the program (until their first master’s degree is conferred).

University Tuition Discount:

  • Eligible spouses and dependent children up to the age of 26 are eligible to receive a tuition discount of 75% of the Pennsylvania in-state tuition cost, as outlined in Policy HR37 (regardless of whether they qualify as the employee's tax dependent, are a full-time student, or are married) until they attain their first Penn State bachelor's or Integrated Undergraduate Graduate degree.
  • The discount applies to undergraduate credits and Integrated Undergraduate Graduate (IUG) programs only; the student cannot be enrolled in a master's level or higher-level program.   
  • An eligible child is defined as: a biological child, a step-child, or a legally adopted child, or a child for whom the employee is the legal guardian.
  • The Grant-in-Aid applies to all resident instruction and continuing education credit courses except for professional curriculum such as those offered at the College of Medicine at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the Smeal College of Business Administration Executive MBA Program, Dickinson Law and Penn State Law
  • Employees of the Hershey Medical Center and the Pennsylvania College of Technology should consult with their HR Benefits Office for eligibility and requirements.  

Action Steps:

  1. Meet with your IUG Program Coordinator to assist you in selecting the correct courses and career*.
  2. Submit your FAFSA annually.
    • The primary career on your FAFSA should match your primary career at Penn State for that specific year.

*Selecting your courses and career are academic issues; however, it is your responsibility to understand the financial implications of this decision.