What is the LLEO Program? 

The LLEO Program is a new King’s College financial aid initiative for local, first-time students that makes a King’s College education affordable for a family with an income less than $50,000 per year. Any student who qualifies for the program will have the remainder of their tuition and fees paid on their behalf after financial aid is applied, which is determined by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

Who is eligible for LLEO? 
Students are eligible to enter the LLEO Program if they: 

  1. Attended and graduated from a high school in Luzerne or Lackawanna County
    • OR live in a neighboring county but attend a Luzerne or Lackawanna County high school
    • OR are homeschooled or attend cyber school but live in a neighborhood zoned to a Luzerne or Lackawanna County high school
  2. Have been accepted to King’s College by May 1 as a first-time, full-time student
  3. Have filed their FAFSA before May 1
  4. Have total parent income of $50,000 or less as reported on the FAFSA

This is a pilot program and does not apply to transfer students or current students. Please note, first-time non-traditional or independent students, such as those with their GED, may have different qualification requirements. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn more. 

What do I do if I’m interested in applying for the program? 
Interested students should apply for admission to King’s College (application opens August 1) and submit their FAFSA (application opens October 1). Use King’s College code 003282 when filing the FAFSA. Eligible students are identified through their completed college application and FAFSA. 

How do I know if I’m accepted into the program? 
If you’ve been accepted to King’s College and qualify for the LLEO program, you will receive a letter from the Office of Admission. This letter will be separate from your acceptance packet and your Financial Aid Offer. 

Why am I required to submit a FAFSA? 
Students need to submit their FAFSA to receive financial aid, and King’s College uses the FAFSA to certify family income. As a financial aid initiative, the LLEO program uses the federal Pell grant (no repayment), the Pennsylvania state grant (no repayment), and the Federal Direct Subsidized loan (repayment after graduation) calculated through the FAFSA. These grants and loans are given each year with your FAFSA renewal. 

What exactly does the LLEO Program cover? 
With this program, eligible students who have filed their FAFSA each year will receive funding from King’s College to cover the balance of their tuition and fees after any scholarships, other institutional aid, federal grants, Pennsylvania state grants, and the Federal Direct Subsidized loan is applied. 

What Is NOT covered? 
As the LLEO Program is only meant to cover remaining tuition and fee costs after financial aid, it does not cover costs for room and board or indirect costs like books and transportation. If a family declines the Federal Direct Subsidized loan, the LLEO program will not cover remaining costs, and a balance may appear on your bill for the amount these funds would have covered. 

Is this offer renewable? 
Not necessarily. The program is offered to students, as long as they remain eligible, for up to eight consecutive semesters of their undergraduate study or completion of their bachelor’s degree at King’s College, whichever comes first. If the student is enrolled in a program that has dual enrollment with another institution or is accelerated into a graduate program, the LLEO Program will only cover tuition and fees as part of their undergraduate studies at King’s College.  

Can I stay in the program if there’s a break in my enrollment status? 
If a student defers enrollment at any time for any length, they are no longer eligible for the LLEO Program. Students must remain consecutively enrolled at King’s College to remain in the program. If there are special circumstances, please contact the Office of Financial Aid. 

Do I need to repay the funding the LLEO Program provides? 
Any tuition and fee balance that King’s College pays on your behalf (after your financial aid has been applied), does not need to be repaid to King’s College. Students will be responsible for repaying their Federal Direct Subsidized loan (and any other loans) following repayment terms. 

Why should I take the Direct Subsidized Loan? 
As part of the LLEO Program, it is our expectation that selected students will accept the Federal Direct Subsidized loan as a way to help defray costs. If families choose not to accept the federal loan or state grants, the LLEO Program may not fully cover your tuition balance. If this is the case, students and families may choose to cover any tuition balance through outside scholarships, grants, loans, or personal funds. 

How do I stay in the program? 
Students must file a FAFSA each year to certify family income to stay in the program. Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average and be meeting Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. 

What if I’m a newer resident of Pennsylvania?

Student must meet the Pennsylvania State Grant domicile requirements to qualify for the LLEO Program. To meet this, applicants must have been a resident in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the date they file their FAFSA. Learn more about this requirement through PHEAA.

What if my parents move out of the area while I’m enrolled in the program? 
Inclusion in the program is determined during your initial application and status as a graduate from a Luzerne or Lackawanna County high school and wouldn’t impact your eligibility. However, it’s important to note that if your parents move out of state, your Financial Aid Offer may be impacted, and King’s College may not cover the balance of any lost state grant. 

What else do I need to know? 
Total funding that you receive from all sources (e.g., financial aid, King’s College aid, private scholarships) cannot exceed your total cost of attendance. Your cost of attendance is determined by your residence status. If living on campus, your cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, and board. If you’re commuting, your cost of attendance is tuition and fees only. The LLEO program is non-transferrable and does not have cash value. 

What is a realistic out-of-pocket cost for my education through this program? 
Most students who qualify for this program for all four years of their undergraduate attendance at King’s College will qualify for federal and state financial aid. After this financial aid is applied, students should only need to borrow the Federal Direct Subsidized loan each year to cover remaining costs. Remember, if you’re choosing to live on campus, additional money is needed for room and board and indirect costs for items like books, transportation, and food. 

For example, a first-time student attending King’s College for four years, commuting to campus, should only need to borrow the following amount each year to participate in the LLEO Program. 

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Annual Maximum Amount to Borrow*

Year 1 

$3,500 

Year 2 

$4,500 

Year 3 

$5,500 

Year 4 

$5,500 

Total Money Borrowed for College 

$19,000 

 This commuter student will still need to pay for or borrow additional funds for indirect costs like gas, food, and books. 

If a student is awarded additional scholarships or funding, they may be in a position to borrow less. Please be sure to refer to your specific Financial Aid Offer letter and contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions. 

*These amounts are subject to change every July 1 by the federal government.