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2019-2020 Financial Aid Overview

Are you planning on attending Bethel for the 2019-2020 school year? Here's what you need to know:

Before you Apply - Use our Net Price Calculator to get an estimate of your award and learn more about what to do before you apply for aid.

Apply for Aid - Complete your 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.gov.  The 2019-2020 FAFSA will be available beginning October 1, 2018. We recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval process when completing your FAFSA to minimize the chance that your application is selected for verification. Be sure to include Bethel University (school code #002338) on the list of schools to receive your FAFSA information.

Processing your financial aid award package . . . the Bethel way!

Here at Bethel University, we strive to gather the most accurate projection of what your overall financial aid award will be from all resources before sending out your award letter. We do this to help our new incoming students and their families have a better picture of the financial aid the student will be receiving in comparison to the cost of tuition and fees costs for the school year. By doing this it allows our students to make a more informed decision on the financial aid they are being offered and helps them identify additional need for resources. All of these factors combined makes for a Royal financial aid experience for all of our incoming students!

For our returning students, in most cases if you and your family’s financial picture is about the same each year your financial aid award package will reflect that as well.

You should receive your award letter within 2-3 weeks of submitting all required application materials. You can also view your financial aid award online through MyBethel [Checklist tab > Financial Aid Award button > select the appropriate academic year from the dropdown list].

* Please note that for the 2019-2020 school year:

  • If you are a new student we will begin awarding on December 10 2018. 
  • For returning students who have not applied for a departmental scholarship we begin awarding in mid-February 2019.
  • For returning students who have applied for a departmental scholarship we will begin awarding in early May 2019.
  • If you are awarded a Pell Grant, it is an estimate. The Federal Pell Grant tables for 2019-2020 have not yet been released. You will receive a revised award letter with the actual amounts once the tables are released. Any change in amounts is usually minimal.

*Please pay close attention to this list of important dates and be aware of approaching deadlines.

* Students are reviewed for Royal Merit Scholarship based off of the information they provide at the time they submit their application for admission to Bethel University. The Royal Merit Scholarship factors in high school information, test scores, family legacy at Bethel, and pastoral or missionary service.

After You're Awarded

1. Estimate your school bill

View your estimated bill after you have been awarded financial aid for the school year. You can view your estimated bill on MyBethel [My Statements and Finances channel>Estimated Bill].

2. Accept or Decline Your Loans

If you need to borrow loans, compare your options. This will help you find the best loan for you.

When you know which loan(s) you'd like to borrow, you will need to accept or decline your offered loans through the Financial Aid Requirements channel in your MyBethel account [select the appropriate academic year from the dropdown list]. Click the Accept Award Offer tab. Decide how much of your Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan or PLUS/Private Loan Eligibility you want to borrow for the full year, and follow the instructions. Click Submit Decision.

  1. If you accept your Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan and you're a new Bethel borrower, you must complete both loan entrance counseling and a master Promissory note (MPN); this becomes available after April 1, 2019. Be sure to select "Complete Master Promissory Note" and "Complete Entrance Counseling." Please note - completing the "Financial Awareness Counseling" does not satisfy the loan entrance counseling requirement. You'll need to log in to studentloans.gov to complete entrance counseling and sign your MPN. Select Minnesota as the School State when completing these requirements.
  2. If you accept the PLUS/Private Loan Eligibility this indicates to the Financial Aid Office that either your parent will be applying for a PLUS loan or you (the student) will be applying for a Private Loan. There is a separate application process for these loans.

3. Report Private Scholarships

Let us know about any private scholarships through the Financial Aid Requirements channel in your MyBethel account [select the appropriate academic year from the dropdown list]. Once you're in your award information, click the Resources/Additional Information tab and follow the instructions.

4. Notify Financial Aid of Changes in Enrollment Assumptions

Enrollment and housing assumptions used to prepare your financial aid award are listed on the bottom of the paper financial aid award letter. Use the online update form to notify the financial aid office of changes in your anticipated enrollment.

5. Sign up for a payment plan

You may enroll in a monthly payment plan to help you pay month by month. This will become available after July 10, 2019.

When signing up for a payment plan it is a good idea to add an Authorized User to your account. This is not to be confused with proxy access, as an authorized user is able to contact the Business office on your behalf and make payments towards your bill.

6. Check Your Status

View the status of your documents and requirements through your financial aid checklist in MyBethel [checklist tab]. Items marked with a red flag need to be completed. Click on the link provided to complete an item.

7. Sign up for Proxy

While privacy laws prohibit us from sharing financial aid award information with your parents, spouse, or other third party, we have provided a way for you to authorize others to view such information in your student account: Proxy Access.

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Do you have an Estimated Award?

Complete the verification process to get an updated award.

Special Circumstances?

Sometimes situations limit what you can handle financially. We call these special circumstances, which could include unusually high medical expenses or a job loss. These special circumstances aren't factored in when you apply for aid, so there is an appeal process to have your need-based aid reviewed.

Important Dates and deadlines

Please note our important dates and deadlines for the 2019-2020 school year.

Note: Fall 2019 is the last year Bethel will be awarding Art and Forensics Performance Scholarships to new students. Each year we review and revise our financial aid opportunities. You can find a listing of the available opportunities for incoming students for 2019-2020 here.