Financial Aid Information
BGU understands the financial stress that can result from the pursuit of graduate-level education. To help ease that burden, BGU has sought to identify various financial aid opportunities for qualified students wishing to attend BGU but who do not have the financial resources to do so. Our hope is that these resources and financial aid packages will help you move forward with your educational goals. To begin with, here are a few helpful links for internet access to Financial Aid Information:
- http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ (complete the FAFSA online)
- http://www.wiredscholar.com/ (general financial aid information and outside scholarship search)
- http://www.finaid.org/ (general financial aid information)
- http://www.fastweb.com/ (outside scholarship search)
- http://www.gibill.va.gov/ (Montgomery GI Bill information)
- www.finaid.org/otheraid/natamind.phtml (Native American Financial Aid information)
BGU has been approved as an institution whose students are eligible for Title IV Federal loans. This form of financial aid is based upon the needs of the student. Need is determined based on the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution (EFC) as calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system. Students who are interested in obtaining a loan through the Direct Loan or FFELP (Stafford Loan Program) should fill out the FAFSA application by going to the government website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Once the application is completed, the student will submit the application electronically at the same website after entering BGU's school code G31108.
The U.S. Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR), a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted, and will contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - the number used to determine your federal student aid eligibility. BGU will also be sent your SAR and will develop your award package based on your EFC and the cost to attend BGU. This award letter will include a promissory note that you will sign and return to BGU as your official acceptance of your loan package. Upon receipt of your promissory note, BGU will be able to access money directly from the Federal Government to apply towards your account. If your loan amount exceeds your tuition charges, BGU will pay you the credit balance by check or other means. Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 per academic year in FFELP Loan assistance. Students are encouraged to thoughtfully consider their financial needs and be careful not apply for more funds than the student anticipates needing.
In order to qualify for Federal Financial Aid, a student must maintain a minimum status of half time (8 credits for the DMin program and 6 credits for the master's programs) and maintain satisfactory academic progress (see Section V, F "Satisfactory Academic Progress" in student catalogue for specific details). The applicant must have already been officially accepted into BGU as a student before applying for a loan.
Students may apply for loans for courses taken during the prior year's academic term. For example, if a student took two 4-credit courses (qualifying them for half time) in the 2008-09 Academic Term (between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009), and their application was submitted before July 1, 2009, funds could be obtained to cover tuition costs for those two courses.
Return of Title IV Policy
Federal statute requires BGU to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term. The federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations. Therefore, if a student leaves the institution prior to completing 60% of a payment period or term, the financial aid office recalculates eligibility for Title IV funds. Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:
Percentage of payment period or term completed = the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the payment period or term. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.) This percentage is also the percentage of earned aid.
Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:
Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the payment period or term.
If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution would be required to return a portion of the funds and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student borrower may owe a debit balance to the institution. If a student earned more aid than was disbursed to him/her, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal.
Refunds are allocated in the following order:
Please direct all financial aid questions to:
Art Zylstra
Chief Financial Officer
Bakke Graduate University
1013 8th Avenue, Ste. 401
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 264-9100 ext. 115
Fax: (206) 264-8828
http://www.bgu.edu/
BGU Scholarships
Only students who have been officially accepted as a BGU student can apply for a scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP PHILOSOPHY
Bakke Graduate University is committed to good stewardship of its scholarship resources. We are committed to seeing that the very best practitioners in the field of global urban mission or business receive scholarship funding to further God's Kingdom work.
Bakke Graduate University is committed to training both indigenous practitioners who have a passion for urban ministry in their local contexts, and business students and practitioners who have a passion for Christ in the marketplace.
Bakke Graduate University is committed to training leaders. We believe that leaders have followers, and as a result have the ability to access additional sources of funding beyond what BGU may be able to provide. We encourage you to explore other opportunities for financial support for your education.
Bakke Graduate University is committed to MBA and MASCE degrees that provide business skills from a Christian worldview to private sector leaders.
MASTERS SCHOLARSHIPS
Any student who is financially able is welcome to undertake a BGU Master's degree. For Masters' courses delivered in the US, only a limited number of scholarships are awarded, and those are given exclusively to students residing in North America.
NOTICE
Currently there is very limited funding available for new scholarships. You are welcome to submit your scholarship application to BGU and it will be kept on file for review at a date yet to be determined.
SCHOLARSHIPS
For an application form, click on the appropriate link below.
| Scholarship | Amount | Guidelines |
| BGU Scholarship (awarded in the names of Dennis Bakke, Lowell Bakke, Marilyn Bakke Pearson, and Raymond J. Bakke). This scholarship is not combinable with any other scholarships |
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DMin - worldwide |
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DMin and MAGUM, - in North America* MBA and MASCE in any country where offered. | |
| Norm Maleng Scholarship (For students planning a career in business, non-profit organizations or public service, and who have the calling to integrate a Christian theology of stewardship in their work).
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MBA and MASCE |
| Native North American Scholarship - For Christian Native Americans serving in ministry for and with other Native Americans. | Varies | Limited funds available |
North America = US, Canada
* 110% = 100% tuition + an additional 10% (applied to the student account) to be used towards fees or textbooks.
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Scholarship amounts and award guidelines are subject to change at the University's discretion, and they may be adjusted based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool and the availability of funds. |
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It is suggested that international students who will be traveling to the United States to attend courses apply for a 2-week business visa. (BGU no longer prepares I-20 forms that are needed to obtain an F-1 student visa). |
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The maximum MSF award made to students residing in North America is 50% of tuition. The maximum award to North American students living internationally is 50% of tuition. |
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Any scholarship applicant who is related to any member of the BGU board, staff, faculty or member of the scholarship committee must give full disclosure. |
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Scholarship recipients who withdraw from active enrollment without completing their initial course can be held responsible for full repayment of all tuition assistance. |
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Scholarship funds will be applied ONLY if (1) all previous coursework is completed and turned in, (2) a GPA of 3.25 is maintained, and (3) the student account is paid up. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a HOLD being placed on the student's account, and no further funds will be awarded. It will be the student's responsibility to comply with the requirements in a timely manner or risk forfeiture of the scholarship, in which case the student will need to reapply. |
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Any student on scholarship who has not taken or registered for a course in over a year will forfeit his/her scholarship. The student would then need to reapply. |
