Scholarships and Awards
Graduate School Awards
The following awards are granted to selected master's degree candidates at the end of their programs of study.
The Carlo and Valerie Bagni Outstanding Biomedical Science Student Award
The Bryce Blackwood Beauchamp ’84, M.S.’87, MBA’06 Outstanding Computer Science Student Award
The Biomedical Science Faculty Award
The Antoinette Border ’04, M.S.’09 Outstanding Mathematics Education Student Award
The Dr. Dana G. Cable Outstanding Thanatology Student Award
The Gary Corsar M.S.’09 Outstanding Information Technology Student Award
The Crespi-Hobby Outstanding Ceramic Arts Student Award
The Frederick W. and Lenora F. Dietzel MBA Student Award
The Doctoral Faculty Outstanding Student Award
The Dr. Keith R. Harris M.S.’99 Outstanding Educational Leadership Student Award
The Virginia Wheeler Jones ’66, M.A.’88 Outstanding Reading Specialization Student Award
The Dr. Mary F. Kearney ’96, M.S.’01 Outstanding Bioinformatics Student Award
The Craig D. Lebo M.A.’84 Outstanding Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Behavior Student Award
The Amy Kaufman MacLeod ’08, MBA’11 Outstanding MBA Student Award
The MBA Director's Award
The Donna Mowry ’98, M.A.’07 Thanatology Award
The Jenny E. Nunn M.S.’06 Outstanding Curriculum and Instruction Student Award
The Outstanding Dissertation Award
The Parrott-Anderson Outstanding Counseling Student Award
The William T. and Joanne K. Roos '52 Outstanding Cybersecurity Student Award
The Christopher H. Smith M.S.’95 Outstanding Environmental Biology Student Award
The Lisa Ann Sullivan M.A.’04 Outstanding Humanities Student Award
The Stephen R. White Outstanding Management Information Systems Student Award
Graduate School Scholarships
The Association of Medical Diagnostics Manufacturers Scholarship
The Biomedical Science Alumni Graduate Scholarship*
The Ceramic Arts & Technology Scholarship
The Joyce Michaud Endowed Scholarship*
The Dr. Mary F. Kearney '96, M.S.'01 and Dr. Ann L. Boyd STEM Scholarship
The Sally Oros Graduate Counseling-Thanatology Certificate Scholarship
The Ifeoluwa O. Popoola M.S.’16 Scholarship
The Philip S. Renaud II M.S.'83 Scholarship*
*Not currently available for award
Tuition, Fees and Other Charges
2020-2021 Academic Year
Tuition per credit:
| General Cluster |
$490 |
| Business Cluster |
$635 |
| Science Cluster |
$590 |
| Counseling Program |
$710 |
| Doctor of organizational leadership cohort 2020-2021 |
$960 |
| Doctor of business administration cohort 2020-2021 |
$1090 |
| *Renewal Not Retirement (RNR) per class |
$100 |
| Audit |
$245 |
*Hood's Renewal Not Retirement (RNR) program offers persons 60 years of age or older the opportunity to audit graduate courses. Studio and lab courses, practicums and self-directed study courses are not available for audit.
Comprehensive fee per term:
| Non-doctoral: Fall, Spring |
$125 |
| Non-doctoral: Summer |
$75 |
Doctoral (Fall/Spring only)
|
$550 |
| Refer to the Accounting Services website for more information |
|
Tuition Payment Methods and Policies
Refer to the Accounting Services website for information regarding payment methods and policies.
Financial Aid
Information regarding student loans is available from the Office of Financial Aid, located on the third floor of the Joseph Henry Apple Academic Resource Center. Financial aid representatives can be reached by phone at 301-696-3411 or by email at finaid@hood.edu. In order to be eligible for federal loans, a student must be accepted for enrollment in a degree or certificate program, take a minimum of 3 credits each semester and be making normal progress toward a degree or certificate from Hood as described below. To apply for a federal loan, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
International students, although not eligible for federal loans, may apply for loan assistance from private educational loan programs if they have a credit-worthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid.
Some programs offer Graduate Assistant positions to support graduate students. Students can also inquire about this possibility with the appropriate program director and/or through the Graduate School at gofurther@hood.edu.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students are expected to maintain a record of academic achievement that will enable them to graduate in a reasonable time period. Graduate students receiving financial aid of any type (federal, state, institutional and outside scholarships and grants) must demonstrate both qualitatively and quantitatively the ability to do satisfactory academic work and to progress measurably toward a degree. This is in addition to any renewal criteria required for specific state, institutional or other outside awards.
Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor students’ academic progress at the end of each academic year. This is to ensure that students receiving funds are successfully progressing through their program of study. At the end of the spring semester of each academic year, the Office of Financial Aid evaluates the academic progress of each student receiving financial aid according to the standards set forth below by the College. This evaluation determines a student’s eligibility to receive financial assistance in the next academic year.
Graduate programs range from 30 to 60 credits with most programs at the 36-credit level, and a 3.00 cumulative average is required to complete the degree. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress toward degree completion for financial aid purposes by adhering to the schedule outlined below.
|
SEMESTER COMPLETED
|
CREDITS EARNED |
CUMULATIVE GPA
|
| First/Second |
12 |
2.75 |
| Third/Fourth |
24 |
3.00 |
| Fifth/Sixth |
36 |
3.00 |
The Office of Financial Aid determines the year of standing according to the number of credits earned. (Note: this is separate from the time-to-completion Graduate School policy which allows up to seven years to complete a degree program.) The Office of Financial Aid uses the above schedule for its financial aid purposes.
The maximum time frame in which a graduate student is expected to complete their degree is 150 percent of the published length of the program measured in academic credits. Students will become ineligible for any type of financial aid if the maximum timeframe for completion is not met. For example, if a published length of a graduate academic program is 36 credit hours; the maximum period must not exceed 54 (36 × 150%) attempted credit hours.
Additional Degree / Dual Degree
The maximum time frame in which a student is expected to complete their degree is 150 percent of the published length of the program measured in academic credits for a student pursuing an additional degree or enrolled in a dual degree program.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits and/or credits for prior learning given at the time of enrollment will be counted in the total number of credits attempted. During the course of enrollment, a student may transfer credits earned at outside institutions, however, the credits will apply only for meeting the maximum timeframe standard.
Treatment of W, INC, AU, F, S and U Grades and Repeated Coursework
- Course withdrawals (W) after the drop/add period are not included in the GPA calculation, but are considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework.
- Incomplete (INC) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework until the incomplete grade is replaced with a permanent grade and academic progress can be reevaluated.
- An audit (AU) grade is not considered attempted coursework. It is not included in the GPA calculation or completion rate determination.
- A satisfactory (S) grade is treated as attempted credits earned, but it is not included in the GPA calculation.
- An unsatisfactory (U) grade is treated as attempted credits that are not earned, but it is not included in the GPA calculation.
- A failing grade (F) is treated as attempted credits not earned; it will be included in the calculation of the GPA and the minimum completion rate.
- All grades earned for a repeated course will be recorded on the transcript and the highest grade received will be included in the GPA calculation; however, every repeated attempt will be included in the completion rate determination.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students are placed on financial aid suspension if they do not meet one or both of the SAP standards. Students that are failing to make satisfactory academic progress and who successfully appeals will be placed on financial aid probation. Students placed in this status may continue to receive financial aid for one semester but are expected to improve their academic standing (CGPA) and/or maximum timeframe progress so that the standards of SAP are met by the end of the following semester.
Financial Aid Probation
If at the end of the probationary period the student still does not meet the standards set forth in this policy, eligibility to receive financial aid of any type will be suspended. Students who fail to meet the maximum timeframe towards completion of their degree within 150 percent of their attempted credits will have their financial aid canceled.
Reinstatement of Aid after Probation Appeal is Approved
Reinstatement of financial aid after a student is placed on probation is achieved as follows:
- The student submits a written letter of appeal in accordance with the appeals process and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the appeal. The student is placed on financial aid probation for one semester and is allowed to maintain their aid eligibility. SAP will be reviewed at the end of that semester; or
- The student attends Hood College during the suspension semester, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student aid and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards. The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they are planning to attend Hood College without the assistance of financial aid; or
- The student may enroll in summer courses to eliminate the deficiency in credits or GPA The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they are planning to take classes during the summer to eliminate the deficiency. Students can only take classes at Hood College and cannot take classes at another institution to resolve a GPA deficiency.
A student whose eligibility has been suspended may regain eligibility at the end of any term after which they meet the above criteria.
Students who have been placed on suspension cannot skip a semester and regain eligibility. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters for students on suspension.
Appeals Process
Appeals of financial aid suspension must be made in writing to the Office of Financial Aid by the date specified in the Financial Aid Suspension notification letter.
The appeal letter must address the extenuating circumstance(s) why satisfactory academic progress was not made, why the extenuating circumstance(s) has changed, as well as an outlined plan of corrective action for future academic success. The appeal must explain why the student failed to meet satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in the situation that will allow him to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation. Extenuating circumstances can include, but is not limited to, illness or injury; death of a family member; family difficulties; interpersonal problems with friends, roommates, partners; difficulty balancing work, and family responsibility; or financial difficulties.
The Office of Financial Aid will review the appeal and notify the student in writing within 10 working days whether the appeal has been accepted or denied. If the appeal has been accepted, the letter to the student will detail the academic plan of corrective action as well as require the approval of the student’s academic adviser. All decisions made by the director of financial aid are final and will not be subject to further review.
Veterans’ Educational Benefits
Hood College serves as a liaison/informational resource to veterans by providing Veterans Administration forms and certifying military students for benefits. Hood College Office of Financial Aid provides services to veterans and dependents of veterans eligible for education benefits. To initiate or continue benefits, veterans must contact the Office of Financial Aid, 301-696-3411, at the beginning of each semester to complete the required paperwork, in compliance with the policies and procedures established by the Office of Financial Aid and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Information and application forms may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid or via the Hood College Financial Aid web page, under forms. Educational benefit programs include:
- Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill
- Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill [Forever GI Bill]
- Chapter 35, Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
- Chapter 1606, Selected Reserve
Hood College participates in the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon GI Educational Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Participating students remain in the Yellow Ribbon program throughout their enrollment at Hood College and remain eligible or Yellow Ribbon program scholarship as long as each of the following applies: Hood College continues to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the students remain in good academic standing, and the students have remaining VA Educational Benefits entitlement.
For information on each of these programs, current payment rates, availability of benefits or approvals call the local Regional VA Office at 1-888-442-4551.
VETERAN ENROLLMENT
Per Public Law 115-407 (Section 103), veterans who have submitted and been approved for education benefits may enroll in, attend, and participate in courses while payment for those courses is still pending.