Grants, Scholarships, and Students Loans

GRANTS

For full information on the Grants listed below, please visit the Grants page on the DBU website.

Grants are gifts of money and are usually awarded on the basis of financial need. A student's financial aid package may include grant money whenever eligibility and funding levels permit.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a federal program of entitlement basic to all other student financial aid. This grant is only awarded to students pursuing their first bachelor's degree. The program is based on a need analysis formula, which considers family income and assets, size of family, number of children attending post-secondary schools, and other factors. Application for the grant is automatic when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available only to undergraduate students who have remaining unmet need after the Federal Pell Grant has been awarded. Students seeking second bachelor degrees are not eligible for SEOG.

Priority for awarding is given to students with a family contribution of "0," as established by federal regulations, and who have completed all necessary paperwork by the financial aid deadline of March 1. Any funds remaining after that date are awarded to Pell-eligible students with completed files on a "first-come, first-serve" basis. The maximum and minimum annual FSEOG awards are set each year by the Office of Financial Aid in accordance with federal regulations.

Tuition Equalization Grant

The Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) is a state of Texas grant program for residents attending a private university in the state of Texas. The TEG is provided to help offset some of the difference in cost between public and private tuition for students attending private universities in Texas. Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to be eligible for TEG:

• Must meet all requirements to receive federal aid as described previously;

• Be a legal Texas resident. If a dependent student, parents must be legal Texas residents;

• Be enrolled in at least twelve hours (12) hours in a semester to receive the grant for that semester;

• Not be the recipient of an athletic scholarship;

• Not be pursuing a career in church-related ministry or receiving a ministerial scholarship;

• Be enrolled in an eligible major. (Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information).

• Effective Family Contribution (EFC) may not exceed an amount established annually by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT).

• Must be seeking a first bachelor’s degree.

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SCHOLARSHIPS

For full information and instructions on applying for the scholarships available to DBU students, please visit the Scholarships page on the DBU website.

A number of scholarships are available for students attending DBU. Some of the scholarships offered are listed below. New students should contact the Office of Admissions for complete and current information on scholarships for new students. Continuing students should contact the Office of Financial Aid for current information on continuing student scholarships.

Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. Some are merit-based, based on academic performance or other special talents, while some are need-based, based on financial need.

Types of scholarships available for undergraduate and graduate students include Academic, First-Year, Transfer, Graduate, Education, Music, Ministry, Military, National, Service, Full-Time Students, and Part-Time Students.

Academic Stewardship Policy - Maintaining Your Scholarship

Students must maintain the cumulative GPA listed below to remain on scholarships at the University. The student’s overall DBU GPA is reviewed at the end of every spring semester to determine scholarship standing. Review will take place at the end of every academic year once final grades have been posted in May. Status notifications will be sent to students’ DBU email addresses.

The Scholarship Advisory Period allows students the second opportunity to earn an overall required DBU GPA. Following placement on scholarship advisory, students will receive an email with the terms to maintain their scholarship during their advisory period prior to classes beginning in August. Students on scholarship advisory will also receive follow-up emails throughout the period with campus resources (tutoring, time management advise, events for at-risk students, etc.) available to assist them in their efforts to return to good standing.

*In order to qualify for the Master’s Christian Leadership Scholarship, a student is required to have received the Christian Leadership Scholarship as an undergraduate at Dallas Baptist University.

Break in Enrollment

Students may take courses during a summer term at another institution without impacting their scholarship standing at DBU. Current students who wish to defer future semesters of scholarship may do so for up to one year by completing the Scholarship Deferral Form. Special accommodation can be made for religious, medical or military request for deferral. Students cannot attend another institution or receive college credit during their time away from DBU.

For current students who withdraw prior to the add/drop date for the term, your scholarship will not be affected. If you plan to return in a future semester, complete the scholarship deferral application.

Students who have deferred their scholarship will be reviewed for scholarship standing each May as noted under our Academic Stewardship policy.

Students who withdraw from the University but have maintained eligibility and do not defer their scholarship will be subject to forfeit all future semesters of scholarships unless students email finaid@dbu.edu to request reinstatement of scholarships upon his or her return to DBU.

For full information on specific scholarships, please visit the DBU Scholarships page.

Disabled Students

Students who are physically disabled and are enrolled or will be enrolled at Dallas Baptist University should contact the Texas Rehabilitation Commission regarding financial aid specifically for the disabled.

NOTE: Other scholarships may also become available from time to time. Please check with your college department or the Office of Scholarship and Grant Resources for any specific scholarships that may be available.

STUDENT LOANS

For additional Student Loan information please visit the Loans page on the DBU website.

The University participates in several loan programs that offer help to students who need additional financial assistance. The purpose of all loan programs is to assist students unable to obtain sufficient support from other sources. Student loans must be repaid. Therefore, students are highly encouraged to borrow only what they need to cover direct educational expenses.

In order to qualify for assistance under any of the loan programs, the student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the DBU Supplemental Application for Financial Aid for the appropriate academic year. These forms are available online at www.dbu.edu/financialaid.

Students who receive federal loans are required to complete online entrance counseling and electronically sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) to secure their loan(s). Students must also complete exit counseling upon their graduation or withdrawal from the University. This exit counseling session is required by federal regulation and should be completed within 30 days of graduation or upon withdrawal from the University. Students awarded loans must go online to www.studentloans.gov to complete the process.

Loan Disbursements

Loan funds are normally disbursed to student accounts twice per loan period. If the student's loan period consists of the fall and spring semesters, one disbursement will be made in the fall and one in the spring. Each equal disbursement is applied to the student's account approximately one week after the add/drop period ends for that semester.

Undergraduate students who are completing their degrees and will be attending only a portion of the academic year (e.g., they are graduating) will have their loan amount prorated based on federal regulations and based on the number of hours enrolled during the semester divided by 24 credit hours. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information and for planning purposes.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The Federal Direct Student Loan program consists of two types of loans: The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. These loans are secured from the Department of Education (federal government), which is the lender.

Loan eligibility varies depending on the student's year in school and dependency status. Federal Direct Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students and dependent and independent students in varying amounts.

The student must meet certain requirements (as determined from the FAFSA) to qualify for a subsidized loan. "Subsidized" means that the government pays the interest on the loan while the student maintains an eligible enrollment in school. The student is responsible for repaying the loan and interest after enrollment ends. The government does not pay the interest on an unsubsidized loan. The borrower is responsible for all interest that accrues on the loan even while in school.

The interest rate under the Federal Direct Loan program is a fixed rate. A portion of the loan amount may be deducted to cover origination and loan insurance fees. Go to www.studentaid.ed.gov for more information, including repayment terms, deferment options, consolidation, origination and insurance fees, and other details.

Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Parents may borrow for their dependent undergraduate students under the Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students program (PLUS). The amount borrowed may be up to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid received. The interest rate is fixed. Repayment begins within thirty days after the final disbursement of the loan each year. The Department of Education charges an origination and insurance fee for a PLUS Loan, which will be deducted from the loan proceeds.

To be eligible, parents and students must not currently be in default on any Federal Student Loan nor owe a refund on any federal grant. The parent's credit history is evaluated prior to approval of the loan. If the PLUS Loan is denied, the student may then be eligible to borrow additional funds under the Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan program. Additional information about the Federal Direct PLUS Loan is available from the Office of Financial Aid. Application is made on the www.studentloans.gov Website, which can be accessed through the www.dbu.edu/financialaid page.

College Access Loan (CAL)

The CAL Loan is a state fixed-rate loan program. Information and an application are available online at www.hhloans.com or www.elmselect.com.

Alternative Educational Loans

Most student loan programs require a minimum of half-time enrollment status to be eligible to apply for assistance. However, some private lenders offer alternative educational loans for less than half-time enrollment. For more information, visit https://www.dbu.edu/financial-aid/documents/loan-flyer.pdf or www.elmselect.com. Students are required to complete the FAFSA and DBU Supplemental Application for Financial Aid to determine eligibility for federal loans before securing higher-interest private loans.

Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Student Loan Program

Educational loans are available to Junior, Senior, or Graduate/Professional students who are residents of Texas and enrolled full time. Loans cannot exceed $1000 per year for undergraduate students or $2000 per year for graduate/professional students. This is a private loan with an interest rate of four percent and must be repaid within four years after repayment begins. Please contact the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation for loan application forms and more information at https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/education/msp/

Other private loans may be available. Contact the Office of Financial Aid or Scholarship and Grant Coordinator for more information.