Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid | PCOM
Source: https://www.pcom.edu/about/departments/financial-aid/faqs
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:39
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid | PCOM
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FINANCIAL AID
Cost of Attendance
Types of Aid
Overview
Loans
Scholarships
Federal Work Study
Clinical Student Housing Funding
PCOM Student Emergency Funding
Veterans Benefits
Alumni Resources for Students
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Disbursements and Refunds
Financial Wellness
About
Budgeting Worksheets
Budget Adjustments
Indebtedness
Exit Counseling Information
Speaker Series
Events
Policies and Procedures
Financial Aid Handbook
Return of Title IV Funds
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
PCOM
PCOM Georgia
PCOM South Georgia
Peer Mentor Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Financial Aid for Graduate and Medical Students
View frequently asked questions regarding financial aid for medical and graduate students
at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Learn about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), what
types of aid are available to PCOM students, PCOM scholarship opportunities, living
expense refunds, loan deferment and more.
How is financial aid at graduate or medical school different?
Graduate and medical students are considered independent for Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) purposes. When you complete the FAFSA to apply for PCOM
financial aid, you will not need to provide parent information.
Graduate students are ineligible for Federal direct subsidized loans and Pell grants.
Graduate and medical students qualify for the Federal direct unsubsidized loan and
the Federal Grad PLUS loan as well as private student loans.
What will I need to fill out the FAFSA?
To ensure a quick FAFSA application process, have the following items ready:
Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
Personal information
Be sure you enter your name and contact information as it listed with the Social Security
Administration.
Social Security number
Previous year’s tax returns
Note: The PCOM Financial Aid Office highly recommends you transfer your tax information
electronically using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA.
Our school code is 015979. Use this code for PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia.
Do I need to include my parent's financial information on the FAFSA?
No, graduate and medical students are considered independent for FAFSA purposes. You
will not need to provide parent information.
Can I complete the FAFSA if I have not filed my taxes?
If you have not filed yet filed your taxes, you may enter estimated values into the
FAFSA using last year's tax returns. Once you have filed your taxes, be sure to log
back into the FAFSA and enter the actual values.
What types of student loans are available to me?
Most PCOM students will borrow the Federal direct unsubsidized loan, the Federal Grad
PLUS loan, private student loans, or a combination of these. Learn about the
differences between federal and private student loans
. Schedule an appointment with PCOM's
financial aid staff
to discuss the pros and cons of federal and private student loans.
Does PCOM offer scholarships?
PCOM offers a variety of scholarships for new and returning students. Students must
complete three requirements by mid-February of each year in order to have priority
consideration for PCOM scholarships:
FAFSA
PCOM Scholarship Profile (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM)
Any "Needed Documents" requirements (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM)
Scholarships for new medical and graduate students
The College offers a limited number of full- and partial-tuition scholarships to newly
admitted incoming students at PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia. Graduate
and medical students will be considered by the Office of Admissions and selection
committees based on the admissions process—academic record, strength of interview
and promise of exceptional achievement.
Financial need scholarships
The PCOM Office of Financial Aid awards financial need scholarships to admitted and
returning students. There is limited funding available for financial need scholarships,
so priority is given to returning PCOM students who complete their requirements on
time and demonstrate financial need.
Endowed and merit scholarships for returning students
There are numerous merit-based scholarships available to returning medical and graduate
students. Consideration is based on academic performance, school and community involvement,
specialty interest, financial need and other factors.
Where else can I look for funds?
PCOM provides ample opportunities to work on-campus with the
Federal Work Study
program.
Our office also provides resources for external scholarship opportunities which include
a
database of scholarships
for medical and graduate students,
National Health Service Corps
,
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarships
and the
Yellow Ribbon program
for veterans.
How do I decide how much to borrow?
Each academic program's
cost of attendance
figures include tuition and fees, books and supplies, loan fees and reasonable costs
for living expenses (housing, food, transportation, health insurance and personal
expenses).
Our office provides
budgeting worksheets
to help medical and graduate students determine how much they may need to borrow
in student loans to meet their educational and living expenses.
When is living expense funding disbursed to me?
If you borrow more student loan funds than your PCOM tuition charges, the remaining
funds or "living expense refund" will disburse to you 7-10 days after your first date
of enrollment for the term. Learn more about how
disbursements and refunds
work at PCOM.
Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
Yes, PCOM students must complete the FAFSA application each year. The PCOM Scholarship
Profile (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM) keeps the information you entered
in the previous year, but our office encourages you to update it each year.
How do I defer my student loans while enrolled at PCOM?
In order to keep prior Federal student loans in an in-school deferment status, you
must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree seeking program or eligible certificate
program (usually at least 3 credits each term). Your enrollment information will be
automatically be sent through an electronic clearinghouse to all lending parties.
For private student loans, you may need to complete an
enrollment verification
through the PCOM Registrar Office.
What if there is a component of my financial aid, e.g. cost of attendance, student
aid index, etc., that does not reflect my situation due to a special or unusual circumstance?
Students may pursue what in financial aid is called a Professional Judgment (PJ).
When you reach out to our staff via online form or other communication, we will consider
your circumstances and will be able to assess any changes to the component in question.
More financial aid resources
Learn
how to apply
for financial aid at PCOM.
Explore our
financial wellness programs
.
X
Prospective Students
Admissions
Programs and Degrees
What is Osteopathic Medicine?
Request Information
Costs and Financial Aid
Mission Statement
Student Life
Housing Options
History
Clery Act
Current Students
myPCOM
Academic Calendar
Course Catalog
Financial Aid
Bursar
Registrar
Faculty
Commencement
Library
Bookstore
Security
Faculty and Staff
Off-Campus Access
Administration
Administrative Departments
Academic Departments
Technical Support
Website Support
Faculty Directory
Alumni
Alumni Portal
Alumni Association
Class Notes
Get Involved
Alumni Events
Alumni Resources
Give
Digest Magazine
Community
President's Podcast
Office of Campus and Community Partnerships
Community Wellness Initiative
Primary Care Innovation Fund
Events Calendar
Career Opportunities
Patient Services
For the Media
Connect With Us
More Information
Contact Us
Maps and Directions
Virtual Tour
Accreditation
HEOA Disclosures and Policies
Program Statistics
Title IX
Non-Discrimination
State Licensure Information
Financial Aid
Programs
Admissions Events
Philadelphia, PA
Suwanee, GA
Moultrie, GA
Contact Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Manage Cookies
©
2026 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
©
Skip to main content
FINANCIAL AID
Cost of Attendance
Types of Aid
Overview
Loans
Scholarships
Federal Work Study
Clinical Student Housing Funding
PCOM Student Emergency Funding
Veterans Benefits
Alumni Resources for Students
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Disbursements and Refunds
Financial Wellness
About
Budgeting Worksheets
Budget Adjustments
Indebtedness
Exit Counseling Information
Speaker Series
Events
Policies and Procedures
Financial Aid Handbook
Return of Title IV Funds
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
PCOM
PCOM Georgia
PCOM South Georgia
Peer Mentor Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Financial Aid for Graduate and Medical Students
View frequently asked questions regarding financial aid for medical and graduate students
at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Learn about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), what
types of aid are available to PCOM students, PCOM scholarship opportunities, living
expense refunds, loan deferment and more.
How is financial aid at graduate or medical school different?
Graduate and medical students are considered independent for Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) purposes. When you complete the FAFSA to apply for PCOM
financial aid, you will not need to provide parent information.
Graduate students are ineligible for Federal direct subsidized loans and Pell grants.
Graduate and medical students qualify for the Federal direct unsubsidized loan and
the Federal Grad PLUS loan as well as private student loans.
What will I need to fill out the FAFSA?
To ensure a quick FAFSA application process, have the following items ready:
Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
Personal information
Be sure you enter your name and contact information as it listed with the Social Security
Administration.
Social Security number
Previous year’s tax returns
Note: The PCOM Financial Aid Office highly recommends you transfer your tax information
electronically using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA.
Our school code is 015979. Use this code for PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia.
Do I need to include my parent's financial information on the FAFSA?
No, graduate and medical students are considered independent for FAFSA purposes. You
will not need to provide parent information.
Can I complete the FAFSA if I have not filed my taxes?
If you have not filed yet filed your taxes, you may enter estimated values into the
FAFSA using last year's tax returns. Once you have filed your taxes, be sure to log
back into the FAFSA and enter the actual values.
What types of student loans are available to me?
Most PCOM students will borrow the Federal direct unsubsidized loan, the Federal Grad
PLUS loan, private student loans, or a combination of these. Learn about the
differences between federal and private student loans
. Schedule an appointment with PCOM's
financial aid staff
to discuss the pros and cons of federal and private student loans.
Does PCOM offer scholarships?
PCOM offers a variety of scholarships for new and returning students. Students must
complete three requirements by mid-February of each year in order to have priority
consideration for PCOM scholarships:
FAFSA
PCOM Scholarship Profile (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM)
Any "Needed Documents" requirements (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM)
Scholarships for new medical and graduate students
The College offers a limited number of full- and partial-tuition scholarships to newly
admitted incoming students at PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia. Graduate
and medical students will be considered by the Office of Admissions and selection
committees based on the admissions process—academic record, strength of interview
and promise of exceptional achievement.
Financial need scholarships
The PCOM Office of Financial Aid awards financial need scholarships to admitted and
returning students. There is limited funding available for financial need scholarships,
so priority is given to returning PCOM students who complete their requirements on
time and demonstrate financial need.
Endowed and merit scholarships for returning students
There are numerous merit-based scholarships available to returning medical and graduate
students. Consideration is based on academic performance, school and community involvement,
specialty interest, financial need and other factors.
Where else can I look for funds?
PCOM provides ample opportunities to work on-campus with the
Federal Work Study
program.
Our office also provides resources for external scholarship opportunities which include
a
database of scholarships
for medical and graduate students,
National Health Service Corps
,
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarships
and the
Yellow Ribbon program
for veterans.
How do I decide how much to borrow?
Each academic program's
cost of attendance
figures include tuition and fees, books and supplies, loan fees and reasonable costs
for living expenses (housing, food, transportation, health insurance and personal
expenses).
Our office provides
budgeting worksheets
to help medical and graduate students determine how much they may need to borrow
in student loans to meet their educational and living expenses.
When is living expense funding disbursed to me?
If you borrow more student loan funds than your PCOM tuition charges, the remaining
funds or "living expense refund" will disburse to you 7-10 days after your first date
of enrollment for the term. Learn more about how
disbursements and refunds
work at PCOM.
Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
Yes, PCOM students must complete the FAFSA application each year. The PCOM Scholarship
Profile (see Financial Aid Self-Service within myPCOM) keeps the information you entered
in the previous year, but our office encourages you to update it each year.
How do I defer my student loans while enrolled at PCOM?
In order to keep prior Federal student loans in an in-school deferment status, you
must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree seeking program or eligible certificate
program (usually at least 3 credits each term). Your enrollment information will be
automatically be sent through an electronic clearinghouse to all lending parties.
For private student loans, you may need to complete an
enrollment verification
through the PCOM Registrar Office.
What if there is a component of my financial aid, e.g. cost of attendance, student
aid index, etc., that does not reflect my situation due to a special or unusual circumstance?
Students may pursue what in financial aid is called a Professional Judgment (PJ).
When you reach out to our staff via online form or other communication, we will consider
your circumstances and will be able to assess any changes to the component in question.
More financial aid resources
Learn
how to apply
for financial aid at PCOM.
Explore our
financial wellness programs
.
X
Prospective Students
Admissions
Programs and Degrees
What is Osteopathic Medicine?
Request Information
Costs and Financial Aid
Mission Statement
Student Life
Housing Options
History
Clery Act
Current Students
myPCOM
Academic Calendar
Course Catalog
Financial Aid
Bursar
Registrar
Faculty
Commencement
Library
Bookstore
Security
Faculty and Staff
Off-Campus Access
Administration
Administrative Departments
Academic Departments
Technical Support
Website Support
Faculty Directory
Alumni
Alumni Portal
Alumni Association
Class Notes
Get Involved
Alumni Events
Alumni Resources
Give
Digest Magazine
Community
President's Podcast
Office of Campus and Community Partnerships
Community Wellness Initiative
Primary Care Innovation Fund
Events Calendar
Career Opportunities
Patient Services
For the Media
Connect With Us
More Information
Contact Us
Maps and Directions
Virtual Tour
Accreditation
HEOA Disclosures and Policies
Program Statistics
Title IX
Non-Discrimination
State Licensure Information
Financial Aid
Programs
Admissions Events
Philadelphia, PA
Suwanee, GA
Moultrie, GA
Contact Us
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Manage Cookies
©
2026 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
©