College of Arts & Sciences

Bethel Financial Aid Statistics

Most students pay far less than the listed price for their education. Financial aid discounts can greatly reduce the actual bill. More than 90 percent of Bethel students receive financial aid each year, with 88 percent receiving gift aid (scholarships and/or grants). In 2007-08, Bethel students received more than $20 million in gift assistance from Bethel as well as federal, state, and private grants and scholarships. Individual gift aid amounts range from a few hundred dollars to full tuition.

Loans and campus work are part of most financial aid packages. About three of every four students borrow, and the average amount a student borrows is approximately $7,700 each year. (The average cumulative student loan for graduates in the College of Arts & Sciences between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 was $30,747). Approximately 55 percent of Bethel students work on campus each year, with typical earnings ranging from $1,000 to $2,000.

Top scholars may receive a President's Scholarship of up to $11,000, renewable for three additional years with a 3.20 GPA. Scholarship recipients may also receive other awards from Bethel when they complete the financial aid process.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

The purpose of financial aid is to provide financial resources to students who otherwise would not be able to obtain a college education. Bethel also offers special types of financial aid to qualified students, regardless of financial ability, whom the college seeks to attract. Although the primary responsibility for financing a college education rests upon the student and the family, financial aid is available as a supplement to help those families who cannot pay the full cost without some assistance.

Some types of aid are based on financial need, while others are based on merit or circumstance. You have financial need if the amount you and your family are expected to pay for college (based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - FAFSA) is less than the cost of Bethel. Even if you don't demonstrate financial need, you may receive scholarships and interest-bearing loans. The best financial aid offers go to students who show both need and academic merit.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) students are not eligible for federal, state, or Bethel aid. Postbaccalaureate students taking additional undergraduate course work are not eligible for grants or scholarships but will be eligible for government loans if they are seeking certification, licensure, or a second type of bachelor's degree. Licensure students and all Bethel alumni pay a reduced tuition rate.

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 semester. 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. For more information, visit the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy webpage.

Financial Aid Criteria

Enrollment Level

Students are awarded financial aid on the assumption that they will maintain a full-time course load (unless otherwise indicated on the aid application). Those who take less than a full course load (or drop below full time during the semester) will have a diminished need and will receive less aid. Bethel scholarships and grants that are not based on need are awarded only to students who are full time.

Transfer Students

Transfer students will be considered for financial aid on the same basis as entering freshmen. Former students who have taken course work at another school and then return to Bethel will be considered for financial aid on the basis of their previous Bethel record.

Citizenship

Students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States will be considered for financial assistance on the basis of the Declaration of Finances form. In some cases, a statement of financial status from the student's pastor or pertinent information provided by a missionary will be necessary to help determine the possibility of coming to the United States. International students who do not qualify to apply for federal aid are eligible only for the International Student Grant and for Bethel-sponsored work. They are not eligible for federal or state-supported aid programs or for other grants from Bethel.

International Study Programs

Bethel has established a financial aid policy for students who study overseas or at another U.S. college or university as part of their Bethel program. This policy may be obtained from the Office of International Studies, the Office of the Registrar, or the Office of University Financial Aid.

Impact of Private Scholarships on Financial Aid Package

Financial assistance received from outside sources must be reported to the Office of University Financial Aid. Most financial aid packages are large enough to cover the student's entire cost of attendance. When private scholarships are reported to the financial aid office, loan and/or work eligibility is reduced, if needed, to keep the student's total aid package within federal need limits. Bethel-controlled grants and scholarships are reduced only if total gift aid from all sources exceeds the tuition, room, and board fees paid to Bethel.