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

It stands for “Expected Family Contribution,” a number that is calculated based on the information you provided on your FAFSA. Your EFC represents the amount of money the Department of Education believes you and your family should be able to provide to help pay for your college expenses. This amount is not what you will pay, but what money may be available for you to contribute. You will be notified of your EFC number when you receive confirmation of the submission of your FAFSA.

Special financial circumstances which may reduce the family’s income or resources for the next calendar year may be submitted to the BJU Financial Aid Office using the Special Circumstances Request form. After a review of the request, a professional judgment will be made and a determination as to whether or not an adjustment to a student’s aid is merited. Any change to a student’s aid is only valid for the current academic year.

Normally, you receive your award letter within a month 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 actual credit load:

• 3/4 time (9–11 credit hours)
• half-time (6–8 credit hours)
• less than half-time (5 or less credit 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 jobs section to complete an application.

Students can search for other scholarships at www.fastweb.com or www.scholarships.com. Students may apply for grants from the following funds. Some restrictions may apply.

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

Our Academic Excellence and Leadership Award eligibility requirements include a 25+ ACT score and a minimum 3.2 GPA which must be maintained for renewal.

Form 1098-T: Tuition Payments Statement is the information return that colleges and universities are required to issue for the purpose of determining a student's eligibility for education tax credits. See more.

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

Federal loan money arrives after drop/add period at the beginning of each semester.

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, please contact the Financial Aid office if you want federal loans.

Subsidized — The interest is paid by the government until you are no longer enrolled in school at least half time (6 credit hours).

Unsubsidized — The interest starts accruing as soon as the money is disbursed.

Stafford Subsidized Loans

Dependent undergraduates who have financial need may borrow up to:

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

Stafford Unsubsidized Loans

• Dependent students are eligible to borrow an additional $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 up to:
  • $6,000 — freshman and sophomore year
  • $7,000 — junior and senior year
• Graduate students may borrow $20,500 per year.

Your parents may take out a PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loan. This loan does require a credit check.

BJU offers an “emergency” 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 loan 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.

BJU Loan Limit Requirements

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

Fill out the FAFSA. Your Student Aid Report will let you know if you are eligible to receive the Pell grant.

The eligibility requirements are listed with the institution grants and scholarships.

View institution grants and scholarships.

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

You, if an independent student (your parents, if a dependent student), must be a resident of South Carolina for at least 12 months prior to the start of the school year in order to receive aid from the state. To receive 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.

To receive the LIFE, HOPE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships, in addition to the residency requirements, 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 you are eligible to receive. Complete the online form for the appropriate 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.