☰ In This Section

BUILD Student Financial Aid

Providing financial aid support to students in BUILD and their families.

The BUILD program provides a supportive and comprehensive educational experience for students with intellectual disabilities. If you're starting the BUILD program at Bethel, here's what you need to know. 

Know your opportunities

Because BUILD is unique in what it offers—a certificate to students with intellectual disabilities—the program has unique financial opportunities that can reduce the overall cost for families. Here are programs you, as a student in BUILD, may be eligible for.

Apply for Aid

  • Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form will determine eligibility for BUILD Scholarships, Federal Pell Grant, Minnesota State Grant, and Minnesota ID Grant. Complete your 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available in December, 2023. We recommend completing the FAFSA by February 1st but no later than April 15th. Be sure to include Bethel University (school code #002338) on the list of schools to receive your FAFSA information.
  • Submit the BUILD Resources/Benefits Verification Form. This is required for all BUILD students and communicates to the Financial Aid Office the benefits you expect to receive from third party sources.

Offers

Once you submit the appropriate documents, the Office of Financial Aid—along with BUILD personnel—will review the information and prepare your personal financial aid offer. After receiving your offer letter, there will be additional steps to complete.

Initial offers are normally sent out around May 1 through U.S. mail. revised offers are sent out by email directly to the student. You can also access your financial aid offer through your Financial Aid Requirements channel in MyBethel.

If you have an estimated offer, please complete the verification process to get an updated offer.

After You're Offered Financial Aid

After receiving your financial aid offer, you should complete the following steps:

1. Sign up for proxy.

While privacy laws prohibit us from sharing financial aid offer 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. Signing up for proxy gives permission for the Financial Aid Office to communicate with parents. Routine updates are sent via email to you. We encourage you to share these emails with parents when appropriate.

2. Finalize your third party funding. (Voc Rehab, Medicaid, Private Scholarships, etc.)

Please report any additional third party scholarships or changes to Voc Rehab and Medicaid benefits to the Financial Aid Office. This can be done by submitting a new or revised BUILD Resources/Benefits Verification Form.

3. View your estimated school bill.

View your estimated bill after you have been offered financial aid for the school year. You can view estimated billing through the My Statements and Finances channel in MyBethel. Viewing the estimated bill will help you to determine if you need a payment plan, private parent loan or a combination of the two.

4. Sign up for a payment plan and/or apply for a private parent loan.

You may enroll in a monthly payment plan to help you pay month by month. This is not available until after July 10.

Your parents may wish to borrow a Private Parent Loan on your behalf. They can review information, as well as apply for a private loan through FASTChoice. Please be aware that the Advantage Parent Loan and College Ave Student Loan for Parents are the only loans available to parents of BUILD students at this time. Apply by July 1.

5. Complete your enrollment checklist.

View your Enrollment Checklist in MyBethel. Under the Home tab you'll find the section titled Enrollment Checklist. Items marked with a red X need to be completed.

Additional Resources

Financial Breakdown

Learn more about the costs associated with the BUILD program.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Please note our important dates and deadlines.

Special Circumstances

Sometimes situations limit what can be handled financially. We call these special circumstances. This 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 Federal Pell Grant and Minnesota State Grant reviewed.

Questions?

Contact the Financial Aid Office by phone 651-638-6241 or email finaid@bethel.edu.