Bethel Seminary

Financial Aid Principles

The financial aid program at Bethel Seminary is designed to assist students with 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:

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;
Financial need is defined as the difference between the total cost of attending seminary and the amount of the resources available to the student;
Financial assistance consists of grants-in-aid, loans, employment, and scholarships;
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;
Students are expected to provide a major share of their expenses through savings and other assests or through work where feasible;
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;
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;
Financial assistance is granted on the basis of need on a year-to-year basis, with reapplication and review each year;
Students on academic probation are not ordinarily eligible for gift aid from the seminary. Students on academic probation may also be placed on financial aid probation and therefore are ineligible for student loans; and
In cases where a student receives outside aid in the form of grants, scholarships, or other awards, Bethel reserves the right to adjust Bethel's gift aid so that the total award does not exceed the student's tuition charges.

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 seminary education. Although the primary responsibility for financing a seminary education rests upon the student, financial aid is available as a supplement to help those who cannot pay the full cost without some assistance.

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

Financial Aid Criteria

Enrollment Level

Students are awarded financial aid based on the enrollment assumptions that they submit on their Bethel University Financial Aid Application. Students enrolled in less than eight (8) credits per quarter are not eligible for Bethel's grants or scholarships. Also, students must take at least four (4) credits per quarter to maintain their Stafford Loan eligibility.

Impact of Private Scholarships on Financial Aid Package

Bethel encourages students to seek scholarships from other sources. Bethel-controlled gift aid is only reduced if a student's total gift aid exceeds the tuition charges students pay Bethel. Loan eligibility will only be reduced if needed to keep the student's total aid package within federal limits.

Special Circumstances

Eligibility for need-based financial aid is based on information collected in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA does not recognize unusual (i.e., not typical for a family in a normal year) and non-discretionary (i.e, out of one's control) situations. Families with special circumstances may submit an appeal form to have their need-based financial aid eligibility reviewed.

Conditions that do not warrant an appeal include payment of routine living expenses (house or car payments, credit card, etc.), debt repayment, wedding expenses, and other expenses that reflect lifestyle choices.

Here are some unusual financial conditions commonly used in appeals:

Reduced income in current year (2007 for 2007-08 year)
Medical expenses above the FAFSA threshold (paid with after-tax dollars, not reimbursed)
Out-of-pocket funeral expenses
Financial support paid for other family members
Younger children in private school
Non-reimbursed employee business expenses