Principles

The financial aid program at Bethel Seminary is designed to assist students who have limited resources and to aid students in financial planning for their seminary education. It is hoped that each student will be able to work out a financial plan that avoids undue financial pressure, excessive employment, or unmanageable indebtedness. The student is responsible for his or her educational and living expenses. However, the seminary seeks to assist the student in meeting expenses through a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and employment.
The financial aid program is based on the following principles, which have been approved by the Association of Theological Schools:

1. The primary purpose of a financial aid program for theological students is to assist in their educational preparation for church occupations and to make possible the enrollment of promising candidates by providing assistance to students who demonstrate financial need.
2. Financial need is defined as the difference between the total cost of attending seminary and the amount of the resources available to the student.
3. Financial assistance consists of grants-in-aid, loans, employment, and scholarships.
4. The family of a student, whether the student is unmarried or married, is expected to make every reasonable effort to assist the student with his or her educational expenses.
5.  Students are expected to provide a major share of their expenses through savings and other assets or through work where feasible.
6. In the case of a married student with no children, the spouse who has completed formal education normally is expected to be gainfully employed. The spouse’s total earnings are to be considered as a part of the total family income. Because of the importance of this source of income, student couples who hope for financial aid should not normally anticipate that increased aid will offset loss of income resulting from having children.
7. The student’s home church is encouraged to assist with the costs of preparation for the ministry in cases where the student demonstrates financial need.
8. Financial assistance is granted on the basis of need on a year-to-year basis, with reapplication and review each year.
9. In cases where a student receives outside aid in the form of grants, scholarships, or other awards, the seminary reserves the right to adjust Bethel’s gift aid so that the total award does not exceed the student’s tuition charges.

Grants and Scholarships

Students enrolled for at least eight (8) credits per quarter may be eligible for institutional grants and scholarships. Listed below is a brief description of available awards.*

Program	Annual Amount	Criteria	Comments	Eligible Campus/ Programs
Bethel University Graduate Grant	100% tuition for the third quarter of enrollment	Graduates from College of Arts & Sciences beginning full time the quarter immediately following graduation. Third quarter tuition is free after successfully completing two quarters at full-time status.	Complete Bethel University Financial Aid Application; not renewable	All campuses All programs
BGC Grant	$600	Students who are members of BGC churches enrolled for 8+ credits/quarter	Bethel University Financial Application. Awarded fall, winter spring and summer; $150/quarter	All campuses All programs
Campus Crusade/ Young Life Grant	15% of tuition	Currently employed full time by Campus Crusade or Young Life	Bethel University Financial Aid Application	St. Paul campus San Diego campus All programs
International Student Grant	Varies	Office of Seminary Admissions and Recruitment selects recipients.	Renewable	St. Paul campus only Traditional program only
Kern Scholarship	100% of tuition	Selection committee nominates individuals to Kern Foundation.	Funded by Kern Foundation, renewable, not need-based; March 1 deadline	St. Paul campus only Traditional program only
Multicultural Grant	$400/quarter	Only available on St. Paul campus; Need-based, full-time minority students	Complete Bethel University Financial Aid Application; renewable	St. Paul campus only
Incoming Student Scholarships	$2,00	New Traditional students starting in the fall, or new SemPM and InMinistry students starting in the summer or fall	Renewable; apply online	St. Paul campus only All programs
Scholarships/ Returning Students**	$300-$2,000	Students taking 8+ credits/quarter	Students complete separate scholarship application online; not renewable	St. Paul campus only All programs
Seminary Grant	$400-$2,000	Students taking 8+ credits/quarter, need-based	Apply using Bethel University Financial Aid Application and FAFSA	All campuses All programs
Spouse Tuition Grant	50% tuition discount on one course/quarter	Spouse of student enrolled full-time (8+ credits per quarter) in degree program. Recipients are not eligible for other institutionally funded grants or scholarships.	Need-based; apply using Bethel University Financial Aid Application and FAFSA	All campuses All programs
Intensives Travel Grant	Varies. Up to $800 per year	Full-time InMinistry students during intensives; students from the U.S. living 75 or more miles from campus; amount varies by location	Need-based; apply using Bethel University Financial Aid Application and FAFSA	St. Paul Campus San Diego Campus InMinistry program only (both campuses)

*Current InMinistry and SemPM students who began studies prior to June 2006 are not eligible to receive funds from the programs listed above. Students in this category will continue to receive the automatic 15 percent tuition discount until graduation, provided enrollment continues without interruption.

**Bethel’s San Diego campus also has some scholarship money available to returning students. Please contact the San Diego Office of Admissions for application forms, procedures, and deadlines.

Sources of Financial Aid

Sources of financial aid include gift aid from Bethel in the form of grants and/or scholarships; Federal Stafford Loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized; employment on or off campus; denominational and/or local church grants; and military benefits.

Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid at Bethel Seminary, a student must submit both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Bethel University Financial Aid Application. The FAFSA, which serves to assess financial need, is available on the web (www.fafsa.ed.gov). The Bethel University Financial Aid Application is available from the Office of University Financial Aid or on the web (www.bethel.edu/finaid/sem). The results of both forms will indicate eligibility for most types of financial aid, including grants and student loans. Students applying for endowed and restricted scholarships will need to complete an additional online application.

Information on financial aid application forms is available through the Office of University Financial Aid or online at www.bethel.edu/finaid/sem.

International Student Grants

Certain funds are available to aid qualified foreign students who would like to study at Bethel and who show potential for Christian leadership in their own countries. The university does not assume responsibility for expenses incurred for travel, vacation periods, or family obligations. Grants are given for one year but are renewable upon evidence of satisfactory adjustment and progress, and if continued study is clearly indicated in terms of the purposes of the program. Application is made through the Office of Seminary Admissions and Recruitment.

Student Loan Funds

Federal Stafford Loans are available to assist post-secondary education students in obtaining low-cost loans for educational expenses. A qualified graduate student may borrow up to $8,500 per academic year in a subsidized loan.

The Short-Term Emergency Loan Fund is made available to qualified students through a generous donor who has made this loan fund possible. It is to assist students who are enrolled at least half-time and are facing a financial emergency beyond their control, such as a medical crisis or death in the family. It is not intended for the payment of regular bills, to pay normal education expenses, or to bridge the gap until an education loan is disbursed. A $10 processing fee will be charged at repayment and loans must be repaid within 60 days or May 15, whichever is earlier. Applications for Short-Term Emergency Loans are located in the Office of University financial Aid.

Additional information pertaining to financial assistance is available from the Office of University Financial Aid or online at www.bethel.edu/finaid/sem.

Assistantships

A limited number of assistantships are open to students with good academic records. Each student works under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Students should contact individual faculty members directly to inquire about potential opportunities.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require that all financial aid recipients progress at a reasonable rate (“make satisfactory progress”) toward achieving a certificate or degree. This requirement applies to all terms regardless of whether or not the student received financial aid. Progress is reviewed annually, after the spring quarter. Progress is measured by the student’s cumulative grade point average, credits earned in relation to those attempted, and the maximum time frame allowed to complete the academic program.

1. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
2. Each student must complete the minimum percentage of cumulative attempted credits. The minimum percentage is 66.67. For example, a student who has attempted 24 credits but only completed 12 has reached a percentage of 50 percent and is therefore not making satisfactory academic progress.
3. Students must complete their degree in a maximum of 216 attempted credits (M.Div.) or 144 attempted credits (M.A.). Students are no longer eligible to receive financial aid after they have reached these maximums. For example: If a student has already attempted 208 credits, the student will only be eligible for federal aid for an additional eight credits.

Earned credits, for purposes of this policy, are those in which the student earns a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D or P. (Maximum ­allowable credits graded under the “P” option are defined by the registrar.)

Financial Aid Probation and Termination

Students who do not meet the above standards of satisfactory progress at the end of spring quarter will automatically be placed on financial aid probation for the following academic year. Financial aid may still be received during the probation period. At the end of the probation period, the student must again be making satisfactory academic progress as outlined above or financial aid will be terminated. Students will be removed from financial aid probation if they are again making satisfactory academic progress. Students who are academically dismissed (and not reinstated on appeal) by the Office of the Registrar are immediately terminated from financial aid without a probation period.

Appeals

Students who fail to meet satisfactory academic progress standards and lose financial aid eligibility can appeal this decision. The appeal must be made in writing and should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. Appeals should be submitted to the Office of University Financial Aid and will be evaluated by a cross-departmental appeal Committee. Acceptable reasons for appeal include injury or illness of the student, illness or death of an immediate relative of the student, or other extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control.

Re-establishing Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who have had their financial aid terminated due to lack of satisfactory academic progress may choose to enroll without benefit of financial aid. Such students may request a review of their academic record after any term in which they are enrolled without the receipt of financial aid to determine whether they have met the satisfactory academic progress standards. If the standards are met, financial aid eligibility is restored for subsequent terms of enrollment. Students should consult with a financial aid counselor in the Office of University Financial Aid if they have any questions about this policy, the appeal process, or reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Refunds

There are four sources of financial aid: Federal Government (Title IV funds), State Governments, Bethel University, and private third-party organizations (i.e., Dollars for Scholars). Financial aid is refunded in accordance with policies established by each entity. Refunds are first calculated for federal funds, then state funds, then Bethel/third-party funds.

1. Federal (Return of Title IV Funds) Refund Policy. If a student withdraws or is expelled from Bethel after a term has begun, the school or the student may be required to return some of the federal aid funds awarded to the student. This “Return of Title IV Funds” policy is required by federal rules and went into effect at Bethel on July 1, 2000.
   The federal formula requires a return of Title IV (federal) aid if the student received federal financial assistance in the form of a Stafford Loan, or Grad PLUS Loan and withdrew on or before completing 60 percent of the term. The percentage of Title IV aid to be returned is equal to the number of days remaining in the term divided by the number of calendar days in the term. Scheduled breaks of more than four consecutive days are excluded.
2. Financial Aid Refunds for Institutional and Third-Party Funds. After calculating the federal refund policy, Bethel calculates the potential refunds of state, institutional, and private funds. Students who borrow a Minnesota SELF loan are subject to the Minnesota refund calculation. Students with institutional aid and/or third-party sources of gift aid will have their aid reduced by the same percent as their tuition was reduced.

Sample Refund Calculation. ­Because there are several different refund policies involved in most withdrawals, students may still owe money to the school after all calculations are completed. Students considering withdrawal are encouraged to visit a financial aid counselor and simulate the financial effect of withdrawing before officially withdrawing from the university.

Suppose a student is enrolled for 12 credits and withdraws from all classes after completing 30 days of a 69-day quarter. This student borrowed excess Stafford loan to use for living expenses, and received a check for $2,390 prior to withdrawing. Sample charges and financial aid are listed below. After applying all the refund calculations, this student will owe Bethel $1,951, and will owe $2,609 in Stafford Loans ($6,000 loan minus $3,391 refund to lender = $2,609).

Refund Calculation Summary       

	Account Activity	Running Balance
Tuition	$3,600
Student Activity Fee	$10
Total Charges	$3,610	$3,610
Stafford Loan posted (Oct. 10)	($6,000)	($2,390)
Credit refunded to student (Oct. 17)	$2,390	$0
Student withdrew from all classes (Oct. 26)
Tuition Refund - 40% (Oct. 26)	($1,440)	($1,440)
Stafford Loan Refunded to Lender (Nov. 2)	$3,391	$1,951