What could affect your aid?
As a college student, your life is constant change—where you’re living, how many credits you’re taking, when you’re planning to study abroad. Some of these changes could affect your financial aid award.
Take a look through the top questions we’ve received on this topic.
Private scholarships?
By all means look for private scholarships because that’s more aid you don’t have to repay. Additional scholarships could reduce your loan or work-study eligibility, but they will not affect the gift aid you receive from Bethel—unless your total amount of gift aid exceeds the tuition, room, and board paid to Bethel.
Moving on or off campus?
If you receive the Transfer Campus Housing Grant or the Bethel Campus Housing Grant, you must live in Bethel housing. If you receive these grants and move off campus, you’ll forfeit these funds. Your housing choices will not affect any other grants and scholarships.
Dropping credits or withdrawing from Bethel?
You must be enrolled full time to receive non-need-based Bethel grants and scholarships. If you’re considering dropping credits or withdrawing from college mid-term, you should contact us before reducing credits to see how your aid will change.
Repeating classes to improve grade point average?
On occasion, we have students who want to repeat a course to improve their grade point average. These repeated credits are excluded when calculating financial aid eligibility if the student had a passing grade in the original course.
Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for more details.
Studying abroad?
You can receive financial aid when studying abroad through approved off-campus programs. Grants and scholarships will not increase if your study abroad program costs more than a semester at Bethel. You can apply for additional loans to cover the difference. Bethel grants and scholarships may be used for one study abroad semester.
Getting married?
Students do not always receive a better financial aid package because they are married.
Want to know if you should fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before getting married or to wait until after you are married? Here’s what you can do:
- Use the Financial Aid Estimator at www.getreadyforcollege.org. Compete 2 estimates:
- Single student including your parents' data
- Married independent student including future spouse's data
- Print off both estimates.
- Schedule an appointment with a Bethel financial aid counselor to discuss the results. Bring copies of the estimate results to your appointment.
Remember, once the FAFSA is submitted your marital status cannot be updated, even if you later get married.
Questions?
