Frequently Asked Questions

Start by completing the FAFSA. BJU may request more information after the FAFSA is complete.

A FAFSA is an acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Learn more about the FAFSA process

It stands for “Expected Family Contribution,” a number that is calculated based on the information you inputted on your FAFSA.

Normally, you receive your award letter about 2-3 weeks after completing the FAFSA. If you are required to complete verification or missing information, then the process will take longer.

Most aid requires that a student be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours in order to be eligible. Pell Grant is one exception. It is adjusted based on your time:

• 3/4 time (9–11 hours)
• half-time (6–8 hours)
• less than half-time (5 or less hours)

Cost of Attendance takes into consideration tuition, room, board, fees, travel expenses, personal expenses, books and supplies. But the direct cost only includes tuition, room, board and program fee, which is the actual amount of money the school will charge you for the education.

Visit the student work program section to complete the student work application.

Students can apply for other scholarships at www.fastweb.com or www.scholarships.com. Grants are available from the following, although some restrictions may apply:

• Demonstrative Need Scholarship Fund
• Hispanic Assistance Fund
• Minority Scholarship Fund

Students whose parents are in Christian ministry can apply for the L. Neal Smith Scholarship through the Gospel Fellowship Association.

Not at this time.

Yes, BJU became a part of this program in Fall 2007. Students must complete a FAFSA to start the financial aid process.

Students receiving their first loan must wait 30 days before the loan money is disbursed. All other money arrives 1 week after drop/add period.

If you remain a student until 60% of the semester is past, then no money is returned to the Department of Education. If you leave before that 60% mark, then your federal aid is prorated and part of the money must be returned to the Department of Education.

Yes, we ask that you tell the Financial Aid office you want federal loans, and then you may contact one of BJU’s 5 preferred lenders.

Subsidized — The interest is paid by the government until 6 months after you are no longer in school. The rate is 5.6% for the 09–10 school year.

Unsubsidized — The interest starts accruing as soon as the money is disbursed. The rate is 6.8% for the 09–10 school year.

Stafford Subsidized Loans

Allow dependent undergraduates who have financial need to borrow up to:

• $3,500 their freshman year
• $4,500 their sophomore year
• $5,500 for each remaining year

Stafford Unsubsidized Loans

• Dependent students have the option of taking an extra $2,000 per year in unsubsidized loan money.
• Independent students and students whose parents have been denied a PLUS loan may borrow additional unsubsidized loan money.
  • $4,000 — freshman and sophomore year
  • $6,000 — junior and senior year
• Graduate students may borrow $20,500 per year.

Your parents may take out a federal loan. It is called a PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loan. It is like the Stafford loan in that your parents would not enter into repayment until you graduate.

Unlike the Federal Stafford loan, it has a slightly higher interest rate (7.9%) and is based on a credit score; however, if your parents are denied a PLUS loan, then you, the student, can receive an additional $4,000 per year in an Unsubsidized Stafford loan.

BJU offers a “BJU loan” at the end of each semester to students who have no other resources to pay their remaining balance in order to take their semester exams. This is an emergency loan only and is considered a last resort. Students are encouraged to take the federal student loans first if available.

Limits are placed on the amount of BJU loan debt a student can carry into the next semester. A student must pay their BJU loan down to the limit requirement before they can return.

Freshman - $2000
Sophomore - $4000
Junior - $6000
Senior - $8000

Fill out the FAFSA — you will receive an EFC (expected family contribution) automatically. This number will let you know if you will receive a federal grant.

The main requirements are:

• Residence hall student
• FAFSA eligibility
• BJU work student

• BJU Founder’s Grant
• Preachers Jubilee
• Press Partnership

Each state is different. You should check with the organization of your state that oversees aid for post secondary (higher) education.

Your parents (or you, if you are an independent student) must be residents of South Carolina for at least 12 months prior to the start of the school year to receive aid from the state. For the S.C. Tuition Grant, you must complete the FAFSA by June 30th to be considered for the upcoming school year. This is a need-based grant but also has some academic requirements.

For the LIFE, HOPE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, you must also be a South Carolina high school graduate and meet the academic requirements. These are merit-based scholarships.

Log on to the VONAPP website and navigate to the benefit that you are eligible to receive. Simply complete the online form for that benefit (Chapters 30, 31, 1606, and 1607 would complete a 22-1990; Chapter 33 would complete either a 22-1990 or 22-1990E; Chapter 35 would complete a 22-5490) at the VONAPP website.