Consumer information

Financial aid and a student’s financial need vary considerably. Students are encouraged to discuss their specific needs with a financial aid representative. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional contact information see Contact financial aid.

Application procedures
Students seeking financial aid are required to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Electronic submission of the FAFSA is recommended for completing the FAFSA. The federal school code for Bluffton University is 003016. A financial aid award notice is generated and sent to the accepted or continuing student when FAFSA data is received and any other required documentation is on file.

Deadlines
Students should be aware of application deadlines established by off-campus sources of aid including state and federal agencies. These deadlines are announced about one year before the beginning of the academic year. Because of limited resources, the State of Ohio maintains an October 1 deadline for Ohio need-based aid (the Ohio College Opportunity Grant). Bluffton University need-based aid is also limited. Therefore, Bluffton University maintains a FAFSA priority deadline of May 1 for both new and returning students. This means that any accepted, first-time or returning student filing the FAFSA after May 1, could be denied need-based funds administered by Bluffton University if funds have been depleted. This May 1 priority deadline is in effect for federal campus-based programs (Federal Perkins loans, FSEOG grants and federal work-study) and for Bluffton University need-based grants.

For additional information on the application procedure see Apply for aid.

 

A student’s financial need is determined by subtracting the Expected Family Contribution (EFC as determined by the FAFSA) from Bluffton University’s Cost of Attendance (COA). COA includes direct costs such as tuition, fees, room and board (if applicable) and indirect costs, or personal expenses. For the 2012-13 academic year the following indirect costs/personal expenses apply:

 

Bluffton University administers financial assistance through scholarships, grants, loans and student employment programs. Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement or leadership experience and skill. Grants and loans are awarded on demonstrated financial need and or remaining costs.

 

Bluffton University scholarships and grants
Bluffton University offers many different scholarships and grants. A complete listing of these can be found at Bluffton scholarships and grants. Bluffton University grants and scholarships are awarded for a maximum of four years (eight semesters) except where noted.

 

Renewal policy for Bluffton University scholarships/grants:
Students receiving a Bluffton University scholarship and/or grant that has a GPA requirement for renewal, must maintain the minimum GPA to continue to receive that scholarship or grant. Scholarships or grants that are awarded based on participation in a program or specific major of study may have additional requirements for renewal. A student who falls below the requisite GPA for scholarship renewal at the end of an academic year will continue to receive the award during a scholarship grace period and this student will continue to receive the scholarship in subsequent semesters as long as the cumulative GPA goes up. If/when the requisite GPA for renewal is reached, the scholarship is fully reinstated. If at the end of any semester during a scholarship grace period the cumulative GPA does not go up, the scholarship is lost. A student also has the option to appeal the loss of a scholarship based on documented extenuating circumstances.

Student employment
Bluffton University has a wide variety of student employment opportunities available to students through the Learn and Earn Program. These include office and secretarial work, laboratory work, library work, food service work, custodial work and building and grounds work. Students are paid monthly for working on campus. Complete information about terms of employment is provided with the student employment work agreement. The federal programs including federal work-study, community service, America Reads and America Counts are all administered under the Learn and Earn Program at Bluffton University. More info...

State grant and scholarship programs
A complete list and description of Ohio financial aid programs can be found at: www.regents.ohio.gov/sgs/.

 

Federal aid programs
The following federal programs are administered by Bluffton University: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the TEACH Grant. For additional information and eligibility requirements for these programs go to Federal grants.

Loan programs
Federal Direct Loan program
The Federal Direct Loan Program offers low cost loans to students. Subsidized loan amounts are calculated on need as determined by the FAFSA. Unsubsidized loans are not need-based. For additional information on annual loan limits, interest rates, etc. see Loans.

Federal Perkins Loan
Bluffton University also participates in the low interest, need-based Federal Perkins Loan program. To be considered for eligibility, a student must file the FAFSA and have demonstrated financial need. The interest rate on the Federal Perkins loan is 5 percent. Repayment begins following a nine-month grace period after a student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The minimum quarterly payment is $120 and borrowers have a maximum of 10 years to repay.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
The Federal Direct PLUS Loan allows for parents to borrow up to the student’s cost of attendance, minus other financial aid. Parents can apply on-line and must complete an application and Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each dependent student for whom they are applying. The PLUS loan is subject to approval and a 4 percent origination fee. For more information on PLUS loans see Loans.

Private education loans
Several lending institutions offer private or alternative loans to students and families. Various options and terms apply which should be weighed carefully before any commitment is made. Additional information and loan comparison tool is available at Loans.

Students must be enrolled at least half-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree to be eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans. Loan funds are disbursed to the student's account at the beginning of each semester or in a timely manner if the loan has been certified after a term has started.

 

Prior to each semester, the business office will send out billing statements. (Please note that unless prior arrangements are made, billing notices are sent to the student and not the parents.) The statements include charges for that semester and any outstanding charges to a student’s account. Aid is disbursed to students through the business office by crediting the student’s account with the attributed amount of aid at the beginning of each billing period.

 

The balance due can be paid in full or through the university’s payment plan. For more information on payment plans or business office procedures contact the business office at 419-358-3301.

 

Satisfactory academic progress
Bluffton University monitors student progress toward a degree on a per-term and annual basis for academic and financial aid purposes. Students who meet regular academic requirements for continuing their enrollment are eligible for financial aid. For a complete review of Bluffton University's Satisfactory Academic Progress see the Bluffton University Catalog.

 

Any student who withdraws* from Bluffton University prior to completing 60 percent of the enrollment period or semester will have their financial aid eligibility recalculated based on the percentage of the period they were enrolled. Once a student has completed 60 percent of the period or semester, all financial aid assistance is considered to be 100 percent earned. This policy meets federal requirements in which students “earn” financial aid based on the percent of the term completed. Bluffton University maintains one refund policy for all federal, state and institutional aid funds based on 34 CFR, Section 668.22 of the Title IV Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

 

The Bluffton University financial aid office is responsible for calculating the percentage of “earned aid” for the semester and for returning the “unearned aid” portion to federal, state and institutional aid programs. The financial aid office will perform this calculation within 45 days of the student’s withdrawal date*. This calculation is measured by dividing the number of days the student attended by the total number of days in the period or semester. The length of the period or semester is based on Bluffton’s published academic calendar, including weekends and excluding scheduled breaks of 5 days or more. The first day begins on the first day of classes and ends on the last day of final exams.