Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Programs

The University will determine appropriate student awards and issue award letters identifying the financial aid offered, based on an individual's application and eligibility. The University reserves the right to review and modify any award in response to changes in eligibility requirements or a student's enrollment or financial status; unsatisfactory academic progress; limited governmental funding; or unforeseen events. The Financial Aid Office assists students in financing educational expenses, but the applicant is responsible for determining, prior to Registration, if personal resources and financial aid awards will be sufficient to meet expenses. Students failing to demonstrate financial responsibility may be denied registration or barred from further attendance during the semester.

Federal Programs (Title IV Financial Aid)

Students enrolled in a degree program may be eligible for Title IV financial aid. Students should contact the Financial Aid Administrator for assistance in applying for federal financial aid.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant program awards funds to qualified students seeking their first bachelor's degree. The program is based on need and other factors, with eligibility determined by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). Application is made by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Stafford Loans

Federal Stafford Loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid, with interest. Federal Stafford loans are long-term loans with no payment required while the student is in school or during their six-month grace period.

Types of Stafford Loans

Subsidized Stafford Loans

are loans based on need as established by the school’s cost of attendance. The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are in school at least half time, for the first six months (grace period) after you leave school, and during a period of deferment (meaning a postponement of loan payments). The amount of your subsidized loan cannot exceed your financial need.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

are loans that are non-need based and can assist students in meeting educational costs. The student is responsible for the interest payments from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You have the option to pay the interest as you continue to attend school or let the interest accumulate and let it be added to the principal amount of your loan. This means that the interest will be “capitalized” and the total amount you repay will be higher than if you paid the interest all along.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG program awards funds to qualified students seeking their first bachelor's degree. The University identifies FSEOG recipients, with awards going to students with the greatest need, as determined by the DOE.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

In the FWS program, students with financial need, as determined by the DOE, work on campus or in community service.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds Policy

The aid award is canceled if a student withdraws prior to the receipt of aid. If a student withdraws during the first 60% of the enrollment period (calculated on calendar-day basis), a portion of Title IV financial aid awards must be returned in accordance with statute, and may result in the student owing a balance to the University or the federal government.

University Programs

The University provides financial aid in the form of academic, unfunded, and performance scholarships; work-study awards; and other designated awards. Academic scholarships indicate academic excellence, and may require specified academic standing. Designated awards are provided for categories of students; e.g., ministerial students. Financial aid is based on demonstrated need and funds availability. Eligible students must be enrolled for at least twelve semester hours and maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Special effort is made to offer financial aid for the first year of study; however, first-year students receiving aid should be prepared for a decrease in funding in subsequent years.

Federal financial aid is applied before University aid. If unfunded aid (awards paid from the University budget rather than specific endowed funds) creates a credit balance in a student account after charges have been applied, unfunded financial aid will be adjusted to reduce or eliminate the credit balance. A credit balance resulting from unfunded financial aid will not be available for refund to the student.

Following are examples of University financial aid programs:

  • Presidential Scholarships. Presidential awards to outstanding students.
  • Work-study Programs. Performance-based work-study scholarships are awarded to qualified students. Students serve in various capacities at the University, including resident assistants, security team members, and in maintenance, dining, library, and office roles. Earnings are credited to the students account in payment of educational expenses, including tuition, fees, room and board, and books.

Other Programs

Rehabilitation Assistance. The Texas Rehabilitation Commission may offer assistance for tuition and fees to handicapped students.

Veterans Assistance. Students eligible for veterans benefits may contact the Veterans Administration at 1-888-442-4551 or the Financial Aid Office for information and application forms.

Financial Assistance from Other Sources. Scholarships, grants, and loans are provided for students by other agencies and organizations. The University is not an agent for the donor, and, where noted, application is made to the source. Financial aid provided by donors is administered by the Financial Aid Office in accordance with donor specifications.

  • CBF Textbook Scholarships. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship provides funding for the award of scholarships for the purchase of textbooks.
  • Hale-Moore Scholarships. The Hale-Moore Education Fund awards scholarships to eligible students who are active Christians (preferably Baptist), involved in a church and the community. Recipients are selected on the basis of need, merit, or both, with consideration given to students in a "middle income" bracket who do not qualify for financial assistance available to low or very low income students. Students must maintain a "B" average. Applications for the fall semester are due June 30th.
  • Hurley Scholarships. The Ed E. and Gladys Hurley Foundation awards scholarships of up to $1,000 per year to eligible students studying to become Protestant ministers, missionaries, or religious workers. Applications for the fall semester are due April 30th.
  • BGCT Ministerial Financial Assistance Program. The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) provides financial Assistance to Texas Baptist students who are preparing for church-related ministries and vocations. Scholarship awards are available to first-year Baptist students and to students who after the first year at the University are members of churches cooperating with the BGCT. Awards depend on the classification of the students in their academic career and are subject to change. For the 2008-09 academic year, the awards were as follows:
          For Freshman and Sophomore students : $50 per credit hour;
          For Junior and Senior students: $75 per credit hour.
  • Mary Hills Davis Ethnic/Minority Scholarship Program. The Mary Hill Davis Ethnic/Minority Scholarship Program provides grants to help worthy capable young people from ethnic /minority cultures receive a Christian education.
    The scholarships are funded through the Mary Hill Davis Offering® for Texas Missions sponsored annually by Woman's Missionary Union of Texas. The Mary Hill Davis Ethnic/Minority Scholarship Program is designed to strengthen Texas Baptist churches by providing scholarships to Baptist students from ethnic/minority backgrounds planning to attend a Texas Baptist university. All grants are for a maximum award of $6,400.00 over a four year period. Applications must be submitted no later than April 15th.  

 

The Application Process

Students applying for financial aid must submit the required applications to the Financial Aid Office. Applications are available from the Admissions and Financial Aid Offices. Financial aid awards are issued when students financial aid file is complete, including the following:

The priority deadline for filing for financial aid is July 1st for fall enrollment, and November 1st for spring enrollment. Late applications will be accepted, but the University cannot ensure timely processing to make a formal offer of financial aid by the date of registration. The student will be notified of eligibility for financial aid awards upon completion of the financial aid file.

Student Status

For the purpose of establishing eligibility for financial aid, students are considered full-time students if enrolled for twelve or more (12+) semester hours, three-quarter time if enrolled for nine to eleven (9-11) hours, and half-time if enrolled for six to eight (6-8) semester hours. Students enrolled for less than six hours are not eligible for federal financial aid. Audit hours are not counted when determining student status. The University reserves the right to reduce a students financial aid awards upon a change in enrollment.

Renewal

A new FAFSA or Financial Aid Application and supporting documentation must be submitted each academic year for renewal of financial aid. Subsequent awards of federal aid are subject to the same consideration as identified for initial aid, including the same priority deadline.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Students Receiving Financial Aid

DOE guidelines require the Financial Aid Office to monitor academic progress of students with a qualitative measure (cumulative GPA) and a quantitative measure (time). The academic year extends from July 1st through June 30th of the following year. At the close of each academic year, the Financial Aid Office determines if students are making satisfactory progress towards a degree and are qualified to receive financial aid in the next academic year.

In measuring progress qualitatively, the cumulative GPA is calculated at the close of each academic year. Students placed on academic probation will have one semester to demonstrate satisfactory progress. If they continue on academic probation for a second semester, they will be placed on financial aid suspension. Students are placed on financial aid suspension when their cumulative grade point average falls below the following minimum standards:

Hours Attempted Minimum GPA Financial Aid Suspension
1-29 1.50 1.49 or less
30-59 1.75 1.74 or less
60 or more 2.00 1.99 or less

The University requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA for graduation, and for financial aid consideration, a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA ("C" average) after the second academic year. DOE guidelines state that "...at the end of the second academic year, the student must have either a "C" average or its equivalent, or have academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation from the program."

For financial aid purposes, a full-time student pursuing a bachelor's degree has up to six years to complete the degree. Students not enrolled on a full-time basis are allowed additional years of financial aid eligibility on a prorated basis. A minimum of one hundred twenty-seven (126) semester hours is required for a bachelor's degree. In measuring progress quantitatively, students are required to complete successfully the number of semester credit hours by the end of each academic year in accordance with DOE guidelines and University policy. These academic requirements apply to all types of financial aid available through the University.

Appeal Process

Decisions concerning financial aid ineligibility may be appealed in writing to the Financial Aid Committee. The Committee will inform the student in writing of its decision.

Financial Aid Reinstatement

A student who has not maintained satisfactory academic progress may reestablish eligibility by improving sufficiently to meet the designated standards. In reestablishing eligibility, coursework taken during an off-semester schedule or at other schools that are accepted by the University will be included in determining progress toward a degree.

Scholarships and Other Financial Aid Awards

Financial aid awards available to students include academic and other scholarships provided under the direct administration of the University. Awards are generally considered annual awards which are divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters.

Award Procedures

The Financial Aid Office strives to assist students in meeting their financial needs. A financial aid advisor is available to discuss financial issues. Consideration is given to the availability of Federal Title IV funding in the award of University and other forms of financial aid in which need is a factor in determining eligibility.

Financial Aid Refund Policy

The University assesses charges and applies payments to the respective student account. It is University policy to timely refund a credit balance to the student. A student receiving a refund based wholly or in part on financial aid may be required to repay all or a part of the aid received upon a change in enrollment status.

 

For more information on Federal Financial Aid, visit the FAFSA website.

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