A Northern Pennsylvania Regional College official is pictured helping a student with financial aid forms.

It will be easier for students to attend the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College now that the college can offer financial aid packages.

The NPRC has received official approval from the U.S. Department of Education to participate in Title IV federal student aid programs under the Higher Education Act. The approval allows NPRC students to apply for and receive federal financial aid to help cover the cost of their education. Title IV requires schools to comply with specific teaching standards and provide educational resources that would facilitate high-quality learning. Once these requirements are met, the educational institution gets accreditation as a Title IV school and gets federal funding for its students.

Beginning immediately, current and prospective students can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using NPRC’s federal school code: 043159. This will allow eligible students to access a range of federal financial aid options, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans.

“This approval marks a major step forward for NPRC and the communities we serve,” said Susan Gleason, NPRC director of financial aid. “Access to federal financial aid increases opportunity and affordability for our students throughout our rural areas. We are proud to support them in this critical way.”

NPRC Financial Aid office encourages students to complete their FAFSA by heading online to studentaid.gov to start the FAFSA process, using the school code 043159. If students have questions about FAFSA completion, contact NPRC’s Financial Aid office by email at financialaid@rrcnpa.org.

Since Title IV status is considered a seal of approval from the U.S. Department of Education, NPRC’s approval for Title IV funding makes its students eligible for the largest source of federal aid for college students. A college becomes eligible for federal Title IV funding by receiving state authorization, accreditation by a Department of Education-recognized agency and federal certification by the Department of Education. The institution must also meet specific academic and financial standards, such as having at least one eligible program, admitting only eligible students, and maintaining high administrative and fiscal integrity.

The term Title IV originated in 1965, specifically from the year’s Higher Education Act (HEA). Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the act became part of the Great Society Initiative and was reauthorized and extended. Now, Title IV offers financial aid for post-secondary education. Institutions that have been granted Title IV status can accommodate students who need financial assistance to get through college and graduate school. From its introduction in 1965, the HEA has evolved and expanded to encompass student grants, student loans, family loans, and college work-study programs. For the school year 2020-2021, the total Title IV school funding disbursed by the U.S. federal government was $91.4 billion.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The college’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango and Warren counties.