Graduate Financial Aid

Through the administration of various financial aid programs, Fontbonne University assists qualified students with demonstrated financial need. Most Fontbonne financial aid awards offered to graduate students will be from the Federal Direct Loan Program.

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.

The filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines the families expected contribution (EFC) toward meeting the student’s costs of education. The expected family contribution (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.

Current regulations do not permit unclassified (non-degree seeking) students to receive any type of federal aid.

Application Procedures and Deadlines

Applicants must first be admitted to Fontbonne University in a graduate degree program; graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree is required. At the same time, the FAFSA form should be completed at the following website: www.fafsa.gov. Please include Fontbonne’s school code, 002464, to ensure that we receive your results. There is no cost associated with the submission of this form. Please visit the Fontbonne website for more detailed information.

FAFSA renewal is required each year to determine eligibility for financial aid.

Financial Aid Policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress

Graduate students enrolled in a program of study and receiving Title IV Financial Aid funds (including Direct Loans) 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 all students receiving Title IV Financial Aid funds.

Frequency of Review

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

Qualitative Standard

1. Graduate Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

Quantitative Standard

1. Graduate 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 36 credit hours must be completed with no more than 54 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. Graduate students exceeding the Maximum Time Frame will be determined ineligible for additional Title IV Financial Aid during the remainder of their graduate career at Fontbonne University (FBU).
2. Graduate 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. Graduate 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. Program plan of study signed off by Academic Advisor
   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. 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.

Please notify the financial aid office immediately upon your decision to stop attending class. Failure to properly withdraw from class or failure to attend a class could result in loss of financial aid.

Repeated Coursework Policy

Regulations prevent the Financial Aid Office from paying for a course that has been passed, if you are a graduate student.

Grants

TEACH Grant is a federally funded program that provides up to $4,000.00 to 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 students who have filed the FAFSA and register for at least half-time (3 hours) at Fontbonne University each semester. The loan is an Unsubsidized Direct Loan with interest starting on the date of disbursement. The maximum amount that can be borrowed is $20,500 per academic year. Repayment of principal and interest begins six months after graduation, withdrawal, or less than half-time enrollment. Prepayment can be made at any time without penalty. For more information visit: www.studentaid.gov.

Federal Grad Plus is a non-need-based loan available to students who file the FAFSA and register at least half time at Fontbonne University. Its availability is based upon a credit check and should only be applied for after eligibility for the Direct Loan has been determined. The loan limit is the budgeted cost of education minus other financial aid. Origination fees apply. Repayment must begin immediately. For more information visit: www.studentaid.gov

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.