Federal Financial Aid

Eligibility

To receive Federal Student Aid funds, a student must be qualified to study at the postsecondary (college) level according to federal regulations. In order to meet this requirement, a student must:

• Have a high school diploma, or
• Have a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general education development (GED) certificate, or
• Have completed an Associate degree, or
• Have completed 60 semester credits applicable to a Bachelor degree, or
• Have completed their high school education in a homeschool that is recognized by state law in the student’s home state. In other words, homeschool graduates are eligible to receive Federal Student Aid funds if their secondary school education was in a home school that state law recognizes as a home or private school. Some states issue a secondary school completion credential to homeschool graduates.
• Violations of federal law could affect a student’s eligibility for Federal Student Aid

To be eligible for Federal Student Aid, a student at Boise Bible College must be enrolled in a degree program. At BBC this means that a student must be enrolled in an Associate or Bachelor degree program; the Bible Certificate does not qualify for Federal Student Aid.

The student’s number of credits affects the amount of Financial Aid a student may be eligible to receive. For example, to be eligible for Federal Direct Loans, a student must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits. For Federal Student Aid purposes, a student is considered full-time if they are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in courses which fulfill a degree requirement.

Courses which do not fulfill a degree requirement include:

• Elective courses for a student with no unfilled elective hours remaining in their degree program.
• Remedial courses which do not help a student gain access to a course required for graduation.
• Classes repeated more than once.
  

Verification

Once you have filed a completed FAFSA with the U.S. Department of Education, the BBC Financial Aid Office will inform you about your financial aid eligibility, including what programs and funds may be available to you. You are free to accept or refuse any financial aid offered to you through Federal Student Aid. Any Federal Student Aid funds you accept will be applied to your account at BBC.

Many students are selected for a process known as verification. This is the process of confirming the information on your FAFSA. In order for your financial aid funds to be available by registration, it is important that you respond to inquiries by the BBC Financial Aid Office as quickly and completely as possible.

Special or Unusual Circumstance Request

Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, homelessness, refugee or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment, incarceration).

Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify a school to adjust data elements that may affect federal aid for the students benefit. For example: Financial need on the FAFSA is normally based on each student’s or family‘s gross annual income for the tax year two tax cycles ago. If you believe that the data does not accurately reflect your current situation due to a documentable circumstance* you are encouraged to complete the Special Circumstance Appeal Form.

* Documentable circumstances include: loss/reduction of income, excessive paid medical bills, death of a parent/ spouse, divorce/separation, unsafe family environments and/or other significant situations.

These requests will be processed in about a week after a completed appeal is submitted. Any completed appeal should be submitted at least 2 weeks before registration for the semester.

If you have a situation like these, that needs special attention, please contact the Financial Aid Department for the guidance and form(s).

Federal Aid Types

GRANTS

Grants are awards that are almost always offered to students with financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated on the FAFSA. Unlike student loans, grants do not have to be repaid in most circumstances. Not all students are eligible for need based grants. Eligible grants include:

• The Federal Pell Grant. The Pell Grant is awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor or professional degree.
• The Supplemental Opportunity Education Grant (SEOG). This grant may also be available for Pell eligible students with the greatest financial need (lowest Student Aid Index number as calculated on the FAFSA).

STUDENT LOANS

This loan program from the federal government is generally available to all students (regardless of credit score). Loan repayment is deferred (no payments are required) while students are enrolled at least half-time. Students also receive a grace period of six months after graduating or dropping below half-time enrollment before repayment begins.

Unlike grants and scholarships, loans are borrowed funds that MUST be repaid with interest. Several types of loans may be available to both students and their parents. We recommend that students be wise and to carefully consider loans and the amount to be repaid after much research and prayer.

New borrowers must complete Direct Loan entrance counseling and a master promissory note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov in order to secure loan funds.

Eligible Loans include:

• Federal Direct Loans. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans for eligible students: Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. The main difference between the two types of loans is that the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on Direct Subsidized Loans while you enrolled in at least 6 credits; whereas, you are responsible for the interest payments on Unsubsidized Loans. Subsidized and unsubsidized eligibility is determined by the Financial Aid Office.
• Parent PLUS Loan. Parents may apply for a loan to help their child’s education. If this is a desire, make sure your child has already filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and you can request a Parent PLUS loan at www.studentaid.gov. The parent must apply and be credit-approved to borrow. The student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits). Origination fees are deducted from each disbursement; these fees are higher for PLUS Loans than for other Federal Direct Loans. Interest begins accruing and repayment begins immediately after the funds are disbursed. A parent may request deferment while the student is enrolled at least half- time.  A PLUS loan request and a master promissory note (MPN) must be completed by the parent at www.studentloans. gov in order to secure PLUS loan funds. You can contact the financial aid office for more information.

Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS loans may have loan fees that are a percentage of the total loan amount. The loan fee is deducted proportionately from each loan disbursement you receive. This means the money you receive will be less than the amount you actually borrow. You are responsible for repaying the entire amount you borrowed and not just the amount you receive.

For current interest and fee rates visit: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized. 

Returning Federal Student Aid

A student has the right to cancel all or a portion of their federal aid including student loans within 14 days from the disbursement date of their aid. All students will be notified when any federal aid is disbursed to their student account.

Withdrawing from Classes

Refund of tuition, housing, and/or and meal charges are made according to the following schedule when a student completes the withdrawal process from courses, dormitories, or meal plans:

Before first day of classes: 100% of tuition and refundable fees.

• After first day of classes but before census date (end of second full week of classes): 100% of tuition and refundable fees. Housing and meal plan charged by weeks used up to date of checkout.
• After census date: No refund of tuition and fees. Housing and meal plan charged by weeks used up to date of checkout.

Federal regulations indicate that students who receive federal financial aid may be required to repay federal financial aid funds if they drop, completely withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, or fail to earn a passing grade from all classes during any semester or fail to complete the enrollment period for which they are registered. A class drop, withdrawal, or administrative withdrawal may affect a student’s ability to receive federal financial aid in the future at any college or university.

In the case of this event, the college does a Return of Title IV funds calculation that calculates how much of the funds are considered earned. If there are portions that are considered unearned, they are returned to the Federal Government and any institutional charges that were previously paid by federal funds may become a debt that the student would be responsible for paying.

Title IV aid is awarded and disbursed to students in anticipation of students’ successful completion of their courses and progression toward graduation. The U.S. Department of Education regulates the management of these funds and in some cases, a student who receives Title IV financial aid but does not complete their coursework is not considered to have “earned” the Title IV aid they received. When a student officially withdraws from all their courses, receives unsatisfactory grades in all their courses, and/or otherwise fails to attend the full period of enrollment for credit, Boise Bible College is required to determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid the student was scheduled to receive.

Up through the 60% point in each period of enrollment, a prorated schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. For a student who officially withdraws at any time through the 60% point of a period of enrollment, the official withdrawal date is the earlier of:

• Date the student begins the official withdrawal process (submits a signed complete withdrawal form).
• Date the student otherwise provides official notification of intent to withdraw.

For a student who doesn’t officially withdraw (does not complete the official withdrawal process but

receives unsatisfactory grades in all their courses), the withdrawal date is entered as either:

• Date that Boise Bible College determines is related to circumstance that was beyond the student’s control, if withdrawal is due to said circumstance.
• Midpoint of the enrollment period or the last date the student participated in an academically related activity (as reported by his/her instructors) whichever is later.

When a student is determined to have withdrawn, either officially or unofficially, Boise Bible College will use federal law/regulation to make the following determinations and complete the following activities:

• Determine the amount of the student’s institutional charges.
• Determine the Title IV aid disbursed to the student.
• Determine the Title IV aid that could have been disbursed to the student (if any).
• Determine the student’s official withdrawal date.
• Calculate the amount of the student’s earned and unearned Title IV aid.
• Calculate the amount of Title IV aid the college must return.
• Calculate the amount of Title IV aid the student must return.
• Notify the student of the determinations and calculated values used in the R2T4 calculation.
• Notify the student of the resulting balance owed to the College and/or the U.S. Department of Education.

When returning Title IV funds to the U.S. Department of Education, Boise Bible College returns them in a specific order per federal regulations. Boise Bible College must return unearned funds as soon as possible but no later than 45 days from the determination of a students’ withdrawal.

1. Unsubsidized Direct Loans
2. Subsidized Direct Loans
3. Parent PLUS Loans
4. Pell Grant
5. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
6. Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grant 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To remain eligible for all financial aid including Federal Student Aid, a student must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) towards graduation. In order to meet this SAP requirement and remain in Financial Aid Good Standing at Boise Bible College, a student must pass 2 categories of requirements at the end of every semester:

GRADE POINT (QUALITATIVE) REQUIREMENTS

1. Maintain a semester GPA of at least 2.00.
2. Have a C average (2.00 cumulative GPA) by the end of the second academic year, regardless of how many credits have been attempted or completed. Only the final grade for repeated courses is counted in the student’s cumulative GPA for SAP purposes.

PACE (QUANTITATIVE) REQUIREMENTS

1. Pass at least 72% of the credit hours attempted (not counting repeated courses). This is calculated by dividing the total number of credits completed by the number of credits attempted.
2. Complete their declared degree within 150% of the published number of credit hours required to complete the program. For example, if the published length of a Bachelor of Arts degree is 128 credit hours; students must be able to complete their degree within at most 192 attempted credit hours.

The maximum time frame calculation is performed as follows: All credit hours attempted (including repeated credits), plus (+); All credit hours transferred from other colleges/universities, equals (=); The TOTAL number of credit hours used to determine current progress toward degree/certificate.

Students will be notified via their student e-mail of their SAP status at the end of every semester after grades have been reported.

SAP STATUSES

Financial Aid Good Standing

Students who meet Satisfactory Academic Progress and are not in a period of ‘Financial Aid Warning’, ‘Financial Aid Suspension’, or ‘Financial Aid Academic Plan’ are given the status of ‘Financial Aid Good Standing’.

Financial Aid Warning

Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria will be put on financial aid warning. This warning status will last one semester, at the end of which the student must meet SAP requirements in order to not be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and become ineligible to receive Federal Student Aid.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who are still not making satisfactory academic progress after a warning semester are placed on financial aid suspension and lose eligibility for Federal Student Aid funds. Eligibility can be restored when they achieve the SAP standards on their own or by appealing to be placed on Financial Aid Probation.

Financial Aid Academic Plan

Students who have lost eligibility for Federal Student Aid for failing to meet SAP requirements may appeal to be placed on financial aid probation and may regain financial aid eligibility if approved. An appeal may be made on the basis of unusual circumstances which hindered a student's academic progress (e.g. injury, illness, family emergency).

An appeal must explain in a written statement why satisfactory progress was not made and what changes in circumstances have occurred or what corrective steps have been taken to allow satisfactory progress in the next semester. BBC may accept the student's appeal and restore Federal Student Aid eligibility or deny the appeal. A condition of accepting the student's appeal is the student's acceptance of an academic plan requiring that he or she meet the SAP requirements by a specified time.

A student who is still not progressing toward meeting SAP standards while on an academic plan or by violating their academic plan will again lose eligibility for Federal Student Aid. The student may again appeal this suspension following the procedures outlined above. A Student may also update/change their academic plan by appealing following the procedures outlined above.