Graduate Financial Aid
Applicant Requirements
A student eligible to apply for financial aid...
- is accepted in good academic standing and maintains satisfactory academic progress at the university;
- is enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree;
- is a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen and has a valid social security number;
- owes no refund or repayment on a previous educational grant;
- is not delinquent on a student education loan.
Application Process
To initiate the application process for loans, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). BUF school code is 013001. Students may apply on-line through the university website or at www.studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The application period begins October 1 of each year for the following academic year. The FAFSA application may be sent any time throughout the year. Students must reapply for financial aid each academic year.
After BUF has received the results of the FAFSA from the government, the applicant will be informed of any additional forms needed to complete the process. Students must submit all required forms to the Financial Aid Office in order to be considered for any financial aid programs. The Financial Aid Office will send each qualified student an award letter detailing the amount the student will receive in financial aid. Each student is responsible for payment of 75% of the difference between charges and financial aid by the end of the add/drop period for the fall and spring semesters. For J-Term and summer semesters the difference between charges and financial aid must be paid in full by the first day of class.
Standards of Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid
In order to maintain financial aid eligibility, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Specifically, this means that full-time students, those taking six or more semester hours (see “Semester Plan” in the Academics section), must successfully complete 1/2 of those attempted hours each semester, and meet or exceed the appropriate cumulative grade point average for their classification. The minimum cumulative grade point requirement is 2.5.
Grades of F, WP, WF, and W will not satisfy the academic progress requirements. The maximum length of eligibility is prorated proportionately for part-time students. Students enrolled for at least three semester hours, but less than six semester hours, must successfully complete each course attempted with the appropriate minimum academic progress. The student’s cumulative academic record will be evaluated each semester.
Warning/Probation
If students fail to meet all criteria of the standards of satisfactory progress for financial aid they will be placed on financial aid warning for one semester. If at the end of the semester the student earned the required grade point average and hours to be completed for this new stage of enrollment, the student will be considered to be making satisfactory progress and will be removed from warning status. However, if at the end of the warning period, the student is not meeting all satisfactory progress criteria, financial aid will be suspended. The student will be placed on financial aid probation.
Reinstatement
After students have attended a semester at Baptist University of Florida at their own expense, they may apply for financial aid reinstatement if they have met the standards of satisfactory progress for financial aid for that semester.
Appeals
If the student feels that there were mitigating circumstances such as illness, death or personal or family problems which caused the lack of progress, an appeal may be made to the Office of Business Affairs by contacting the Director of Financial Aid.
Return of Title IV Aid Policy
Graduate Title IV Financial Aid is Unsubsidized Loans.
Students earn a portion of their financial aid each day they attend class. Attendance will be taken each day of class and failure to attend could result in the reduction or revocation of a student’s financial aid.
A student’s official withdrawal date is:
the date the student officially notifies the Registrar of his/her intent to withdraw. The withdrawal process begins by contacting the Registrar’s Office.
A student’s unofficial withdrawal date is:
the student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically-related activity
If a student enrolls for classes, but does not attend and does not officially withdraw, the university will assume, for Title IV financial aid purposes, the student has unofficially withdrawn. Funds may have to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education, unless there is documentation to indicate that the student completed the term enrolled.
After completing 60.5 percent of the calendar days for the term in which they are enrolled, the federal government considers 100 percent of the aid to be earned. Students, who withdraw from all classes prior to completing 60.5 percent of the term, may be required to repay all or part of the Title IV financial aid they received. (See the 2024-2025 BUF Academic Calendar for dates) Under the Federal Title IV Repayment Policy, the percentage of Title IV aid earned shall be calculated as follows:
Number of calendar days completed up to and including the withdrawal date divided by total calendar days in the payment period, with the allowance for any scheduled breaks that are at least five (5) days long
The percentage of semester completed is the percentage of Title IV aid earned by the student
The percentage of Title IV aid unearned is 100% minus the percent earned
Students who owe the university due to a Title IV Repayment may be ineligible to re-enroll. They may also be ineligible for additional Title IV federal financial aid from any other college.
Students who receive Title IV funds must contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawal from any or all classes to determine their financial aid liability.