Financial Aid

Through the administration of various financial aid programs, Fontbonne University assists qualified students with demonstrated financial need. In a spirit of partnership with the family, the Fontbonne financial aid policy attempts to supplement the resources of the family whose funds do not meet the student’s educational costs. Fontbonne financial aid awards may consist of scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment.

Financial aid will attempt to meet demonstrated need up to budgeted tuition and fees for commuting students and up to budgeted tuition, fees, room, and board for resident students.

Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines the family’s expected contribution (EFC) toward meeting the student’s costs of education. The EFC is then subtracted from the student’s budgeted cost at Fontbonne University. The difference between the total budgeted cost and the EFC determines the student’s need for financial assistance.

Total budgeted cost of attending Fontbonne
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
= Financial need

Current regulations do not permit unclassified (non-degree seeking) students to receive any type of federal aid. While most programs are limited to full-time students, undergraduate students with less than full-time enrollment may qualify for aid through the Pell Grant program, Teach Grant program, Federal Direct Loan (subsidized and/or unsubsidized) program, or the Direct Plus Loan Program. A student enrolled in a teacher certification or recertification program is considered the same as a fifth-year undergraduate student, and can only receive aid through the Federal Direct Loan (subsidized and/or unsubsidized) program.

Application Procedures and Deadlines

Applicants must first be admitted to Fontbonne University in a degree program; graduation from high school or issuance of a GED certificate is required. At the same time the FAFSA form should be completed at the following web site: (www.fafsa.gov). Please include Fontbonne’s school code: 00246400, on the FAFSA to ensure that we receive your results. There is no cost associated with the submission of these forms. Please visit the Fontbonne website for more detailed information.

The priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is December 1 of the year prior to a student enrolling at Fontbonne..

Fontbonne advises early application to receive full consideration. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for financial assistance according to available funds.

The FAFSA renewal application must be made each year with a new determination of EFC. Yearly awards will be made according to the availability of funds.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Undergraduate students enrolled in a program of study and receiving Title IV Financial Aid funds (including Direct Loans, Perkins, Grad PLUS Loans, Pell Grants, and/or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants [SEOG]) must adhere to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements as determined by the Office of Financial Aid to continue their eligibility for Title IV funds. Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined using the Qualitative Standard, Quantitative Standard, and Maximum Time Frame for program completion. If not otherwise stated, all references to credit hours and GPA are considered cumulative. This policy applies to full-time and part-time students.

Frequency of Review

1. Undergraduate students will be reviewed for each standard by the financial aid office after each Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.

Qualitative Standard

1. Undergraduate Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

Quantitative Standard

1. Undergraduate students must successfully complete 2/3 of all attempted credits (67%).
2. Completed credits are defined as all credits reflected on a student’s transcript with a grade of ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’. Grades and designations of ‘AF’, ‘F’, ‘NP’, ‘W’, or ‘I’ are not considered completed.
3. Repeated courses are counted as hours attempted each time the course is taken and reported on student’s transcript.
4. All accepted transfer hours, will be counted when calculating the quantitative standard.

Maximum Time Frame

1. All programs of study must be completed within 150% of the published length of the educational program; i.e., a program requiring 120 credit hours must be completed with no more than 180 attempted credit hours to maintain financial aid eligibility.
2. The financial aid office will entertain student appeals regarding the number of credit hours transferred and will consider only those hours that are applicable to the student’s program of study when calculating the maximum time frame.

Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

1. Undergraduate students exceeding the Maximum Time Frame will be determined ineligible for additional Title IV Financial Aid during the remainder of their undergraduate career at Fontbonne University (FBU).
2. Undergraduate students’ failing to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress will be placed on a warning status and sent a letter from the Financial Aid Office notifying them that they have been granted one semester to allow them the opportunity to get their qualitative and/or quantitative pieces at or above the minimum standards.
3. Undergraduate students failing to meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress after their warning semester may appeal their loss of Title IV Financial Aid eligibility.
   1. Student must complete the Financial Aid SAP Appeal Form and meet with applicable staff on-campus before submitting the appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Fax submission will be accepted.
   2. Student’s appeal must include:
      1. Why student failed to make SAP
         and
      2. What has changed that will allow student to make SAP at the next evaluation.
   3. If the appeal is denied, the student is ineligible for Title IV Financial Aid funds immediately.
   4. If appeal is approved, student completes a SAP Contract and is placed on SAP Probation:
      1. FBU Financial Aid Office has determined that the student will be able to make SAP by the end of the next payment period or
      2. The student will be placed on an academic plan that will ensure the student can make SAP by the end of the following semester.
      3. Student remains on SAP Probation until student can make SAP.
   5. The student must follow the academic plan and/or SAP Contract. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination of Title IV Financial Aid funds.
   6. Student will be notified of their appeal status and academic plan status.
4. Students may reestablish their Title IV Financial Aid eligibility by completing coursework at their own expense until they meet both the Qualitative and Quantitative Standards of the Financial Aid SAP Policy.
   1. This coursework may be completed at Fontbonne University or be transferred from another institution of higher education, if the Registrar recognizes those course credits as transferrable.
   2. Upon request by the student, the Office of Financial Aid will review the student’s progress and determine if the student has reestablished Title IV Financial Aid eligibility.

Notification

The Office of Financial Aid will:

1. Notify students who fail to meet the Financial Aid SAP Policy requirements.
2. Advise students who are no longer eligible for Title IV Financial Aid.
3. Provide information to students regarding their Financial Aid status.
4. Inform students of the process to reestablish Title IV Financial Aid eligibility.
5. Notify students when they have reestablished eligibility.

Repeated Coursework Policy

Full-Time undergraduate students may only repeat a previously passed course once (a total of two attempts). If you enroll in a previously repeated and passed course for a third time, this course will not count towards your enrollment for financial aid purposes.

Grants

The Pell Grant is a federally sponsored grant available to eligible full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, and less than half-time undergraduate degree-seeking students. The Pell Grant award amount is determined each year by federal legislation. All financial aid applicants must file the FAFSA to determine eligibility for Pell Grant funding. Students may receive the Pell Grant for a total of 600% of their lifetime eligibility while pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a federal program administered by Fontbonne University and is awarded on a funds-available basis to full-time undergraduate degree-seeking students demonstrating exceptional financial need. These grants are from federally appropriated funds made available to Fontbonne.

Access Missouri Grant is a grant from the state of Missouri available to full-time undergraduate degree-seeking students who are residents of Missouri, attend Missouri schools, demonstrate the required level of financial need, who maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average or higher, and file the FAFSA prior to April 1. For more detailed information visit https://dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/accessmo.php.

Fontbonne Grants are institutional grants made to eligible full-time undergraduate degree-seeking students with demonstrated need. These grants are from budgeted funds of the university and are awarded on a funds-available basis.

Fontbonne Family Award is a tuition reduction award and applies when two or more members of an immediate family enroll simultaneously as full-time undergraduate degree-seeking Fontbonne students. The reduction is $250 per semester per student. These awards are made through the financial aid office upon the student providing a written request to their Financial Aid Counselor and demonstration of eligibility. Funding is limited and awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

TEACH Grant is a federally funded program that provides up to $4,000 to eligible students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school which serves low-income families. For more detailed information visit: www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Loans

Federal Direct Loan is available to eligible degree-seeking students who have filed the FAFSA and are registered at least half-time (six credit hours or more) at Fontbonne each semester. The loan is available in two different forms. The first is a Direct Subsidized Loan which is based upon need, with the federal government paying the interest while the student is in school. The second is a Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest  starting on the date of disbursement. The maximum amount that can be borrowed is determined by the student’s grade level. For more information please view the following website: www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students is a non-need-based loan for eligible parents of dependent degree-seeking students. Its availability is based upon a credit check and should only be applied for after eligibility for the Federal Direct Loan has been determined. The loan limit is the budgeted cost of education minus other financial aid. An origination fee will be taken from the amount borrowed, and repayment can begin immediately, or be deffered as long as the student maintains at least half-time (six credit hours or more) each semester. Applications are available in the financial aid office. For more information visit: www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Employment/Work-Study

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a work program for fulltime as well as part-time Undergraduate and Graduate degree-seeking students with demonstrated financial need. Eligible students find job opportunities on campus either during non-academic day hours or in the evening. The Federal Work-Study program funds come from Federal allocations annually. Students are paid on a bi-weekly basis as time cards are submitted electronically.

Campus Work Study is a limited work program for fulltime as well as part-time Undergraduate and Graduate degree-seeking students. Such employment is not considered need-based, but may be used toward meeting demonstrated need and is considered to be financial aid. Eligible students find job opportunities on campus either during non-academic day hours or in the evening. Students are paid on a biweekly basis as time sheets are submitted.

Special Circumstances

We understand that the FAFSA does not always capture your family’s financial situations perfectly. That is why we utilize the Professional Judgment Process if special circumstances arise. If you or your parents are experiencing any of the following, we recommend that you contact the Financial Aid Office regarding the Professional Judgment process:

• Non-reimbursed medical, dental, or nursing home expenses (at least 10% of your adjusted gross income)
• Private school tuition (Pre K-12th grade) or day care expenses (at least 10% of your adjusted gross income)
• Change in employment (lay off, termination)
• Other unusual circumstances that compromise at least 10% of adjusted gross income.

If you are a dependent student whose parents refuse to provide their data on the FAFSA form and who do not provide any financial support, you may also complete the Professional Judgment Process. If your appeal is approved, please note you only qualify for an unsubsidized direct loan.

Veteran Administration (VA) Funding

The following accommodations will be made for all students who use the Post 9/11 GI Bill or VA Vocational Rehabilitation to fund their education and have provided a copy of their certificate of eligibility or statement of benefits to the VA certifying official and completed the Veterans Benefits Registration form for each term they wish to access VA benefits:

Students will be allowed to deduct from prior or current balance any outstanding anticipated Post 9/11 or VA Vocational Rehabilitation funding and establish monthly payments on any remaining balance not covered by the Veterans Administration. 

Students who are carrying a balance due to the delayed processing of such payments and wish to be enrolled in a payment plan will be placed in a special plan with no interest charged and less than standard calculated minimums.

Fontbonne will carry the Post 9/11 or VA Vocational Rehabilitation balance until the payments are released to Fontbonne or the students or until such time as the VA notifies Fontbonne that they do not plan to pay any portion of the balance to school.

Fontbonne will not place registration holds on any student with an outstanding balance strictly remaining from delayed VA funds. Transcript or diploma holds may be placed.