Section I: Philosophy of Financial Aid
Section II: Student Account Information
Tuition Rates and Fees
Graduation Fee
Health and Accident Insurance Fee
Refund Policy
Refund Schedule
Graduate Tuition Rate for Extensions of Thesis Classes
Billing Calendar
Methods of Payment
Financial Aid Deadlines
Section III: Financial Aid
Financial Need
Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP)
Federally Eligible Programs
Title IV (Federal Student Aid) Returned Funds
Title IV (Federal Student Aid) Credit Balance
Aggregate Loan Limits
Federal Loan Disbursements
How to Apply for or Claim a Stafford Loan
Endowed Awards
Carlton L. Burlison Scholarship
Beryl & Hazel Dillman Christian School Teacher Scholarship
William Jack Stone Scholarship Fund
Tuition Remission
Outside Scholarships
Alternative Loans
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
Section IV: Financial Aid for Graduate Students
Federal Stafford Loans
Graduate PLUS Loans
Section V: Financial Aid for Teaching Credential Students
Federal Stafford Loans
Federal PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students)
PLNU Institutional Aid for Teacher Credential Students
Pastor Child Discount
Missionary Child Discount
Cal Grant Teaching Credential Program (TCP)
APLE
Stafford Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers
Federal Perkins Loan Teacher Program
Section VI: Program Transition
Undergraduate to Credential Transition
Credential to Graduate Transition
Financial assistance is intended to recognize and aid students who otherwise would be unable to attend Point Loma Nazarene University. The financial assistance program at PLNU includes loans and a limited number of scholarships and grants. The University recognizes that the primary responsibility for paying expenses rests with the students, who are expected to contribute in proportion to their resources. Any financial assistance awarded by the University is intended to help bridge the gap between the student’s (and, in the case of dependent students, their parents') Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the cost of attending PLNU.
Once classes have begun, the Student Financial Services (SFS) Office begins sending monthly billing statements showing all activity on the student’s account. This information is also available online through “my.pointloma.edu”.
Students are responsible for handling all financial matters related to their attendance at the University and are charged for all courses for which they are registered unless a Change of Schedule form is filed with the student’s regional center, completed with the proper signatures and turned in within the parameters of the refund schedule.
2009 - 2010 tuition rates and fees for graduate programs
| Graduate Education |
$500/unit |
| MBA |
$655/unit |
| MSN |
$600/unit |
| MA/MS Biology |
$575/unit |
| MA Religion |
$300/unit |
| MA Ministry |
$135/unit |
| Audit Fee |
$150/unit |
2009 -2010 MAT/Teaching credential fees
| Student Teaching Fee |
$75/unit |
| Teacher Education Assessment Fee (one time) |
$500 |
2008 - 2009 Tuition Rates and Fees for Graduate and credential programs per regional center:
|
Arcadia |
Bakersfield |
inland empire |
Mission Valley |
Graduate Education |
$485/unit |
$475/unit |
$475/unit |
$485/unit |
MBA |
|
|
|
$630/unit |
MSN |
|
|
|
$600/unit |
MA/MS Biology |
|
|
|
$555/unit |
MA religion |
|
|
|
$270/unit |
MA Ministry |
|
|
|
$135/unit |
STUDENT TEACHING FEE.............................................................................$75/unit
* Tuition and Fees for district partnerships and introductory cohorts are not reflected on this chart. Please contact your Student Financial Services Advisor for more tuition information.
A non-refundable graduation fee of $100.00 is required of all graduate students. This fee supports the costs associated with the graduation process such as commencement expenses. The fee will be assessed once, even if you do not plan to participate in graduation.
Teaching Credential and Graduate students may obtain this insurance, but must specifically apply for the insurance during the first four weeks of each semester. Please go to PLNU's Wellness Center site for more information. Application forms for this insurance are available at each regional center. The University is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property.
Refunds or adjustments of student accounts arising from registration changes are made as of the date the Change of Schedule form is filed at the student’s regional center. Students may receive a refund for any dropped course provided that: 1) the course is dropped within the parameters of the refund schedule 2) the course is dropped via online registration, e-mail, or a signed Change of Schedule form turned into the appropriate Regional center by the close of the business week for which the student wishes to receive a refund. Please note – close of business week is Friday at 4:30 pm, exempting holidays.
16-WEEK SEMESTER:
Class is dropped in weeks:
1-2 = 100% refund
3-4 = 75% refund
5-6 = 50% refund
7-8 = 25% refund
9-16 = no refund
8-WEEK QUAD:
Class is dropped in weeks:
1 = 100% refund
2 = 75% refund
3 = 50% refund
4 = 25% refund
5 – 8 = no refund
5-WEEK COURSE:
1 = 100% refund
2 -3 = 50% refund
4-5 = no refund
5 8-HOUR CLASS MEETINGS:
Class is dropped after class:
1 = 100% refund
2- 3 = 50% refund
4 -5 = no refund
3 WEEK COURSE:
Class is dropped after class:
1 - 2 = 100% refund
3 - 4 = 75% refund
5 = 50% refund
6-7 = 25% refund
8-12 = no refund
OTHER CONFIGURATIONS: Refund is based upon the percentage of class time elapsed in a proportional manner to the semester and quad schedules.
EXCEPTIONS:
- Teacher Education Assessment (TEA) Fee is charged in conjunction with registration of EDU508, EDU520 and EDU532 or EDU600A and EDU603 and is 100% refundable during the first 2 weeks of class. After the 2nd week, fee is not refunded, but the student will not be charged again if reenrolled in the class in a future semester.
- SeaSand (SCI672) is a No Refund course.
BUS 695 Thesis Extension Fee.................................................................$600/semester
GNSG 604 Thesis Extension Fee..............................................................$600/semester
BIO 683 Thesis Extension Fee..................................................................$600/semester
GRE 699 Thesis Extension Fee................................................................$270/semester
Fermanian School of Business
To finalize the graduation requirements for the Master of Business Administration program, the student must complete and defend a project applying academic and professional experience in the development of a recommended solution of a specific complex situation found within an organization. Three units of this project are to be completed within the two-year course of instruction as a self-directed study under the guidance of a selected faculty mentor.
For those projects not completed during the time frame deemed by the Fermanian School of Business, students will be charged a BUS695 Thesis Extension Fee each semester until the project is completed.
School of Education, School of Nursing and School of Theology
Some graduate courses extend longer than a semester. If the work is not completed within one calendar year from the end of the semester date of enrollment, two calendar years for certain courses, the course will be computed in the grade-point average as NC (No Credit).
Students who have not completed their coursework within the one-year or two-year period must re-enroll for the incomplete class and will be charged the current rate of the semester in which they register.
Payment of tuition and fees is due by the date specified on the student’s monthly bill:
Fall 2009 bill due: November 6, 2009
Spring 2010 bill due: April 2, 2010
Summer 2010 bill due: July 9, 2010
Any charge that has remained unpaid on the student’s account after the due date is considered past due. Registration holds will be placed on all past due accounts and will not be released until the balance has been paid, or the student has settled the account with a Student Financial Services Advisor.
Transcripts and diplomas will not be released, nor will a student be permitted to participate in graduation, until all accounts are paid in full.
PLNU graduate and credential students have three options to pay their bill for the semester:
Option #1:
Payment in Full: Payment of total charges for enrolled session is due by the date specified on the student’s monthly bill. Students can pay by cash, paper check, money order, credit/debit card, or E-Check. Credit/debit card payments can only be made via CASHNet. For this service, CASHNet charges a convenience fee of 2.75 % of the payment amount. CASHNet accepts MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diner's Club cards. Payments can also be made on CASHNet with an E-Check and will not be charged any service fee.
Option #2:
Multiple Payments: Students interested in making multiple payments should contact their regional centers's Office of Graduate Student Financial Services.
Option #3:
Financial Aid: Students wishing to use scholarships, grants, and/or loans to pay their charges must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students, available at the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services at each regional center. Students planning on borrowing Federal Stafford loans must complete a Stafford Loan Entrance Exam. Students who do not complete the financial aid application process (including applying for loans) by the financial aid due date will be required to pay their charges in full.
Fall 2009 - Financial aid due: November 20, 2009
Spring 2010 - Financial aid due: April 16, 2010
Summer 2010 - Financial aid due: July 30, 2010
Financial assistance is usually awarded to students based on need. The student’s financial need and eligibility for various programs and the family’s ability to pay are determined by analyzing the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Various federal and state regulations, institutional policies, and funding-level limitations may affect the types and amounts of financial assistance that a student may receive. Additionally, changes in information and circumstances may cause financial assistance awards to be reduced, increased, or eliminated subsequent to the initial determination of these awards.
Awards may be renewed every two consecutive semesters provided students complete the required procedures and remain financially and academically eligible. This approach uses a Borrower-Based Academic Year (BBAY) beginning when a student enrolls in fall, spring, or summer semesters. Undergraduates at PLNU are awarded based on a Standard Academic Year (SAY), which begins in fall, regardless of the student's start term. Using BBAY to award Graduate and Credential students allows more flexibility in awarding financial aid, specifically in awarding aid for summer semesters. Upon graduation, Undergraduate students may switch from a SAY to a BBAY in order to receive financial aid for a Graduate or Credential program beginning in the summer semester.
Paperwork required to award students' financial aid includes the FAFSA and the Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students for the academic year in which they wish to receive financial aid. The Stafford Loan Entrance Exam is also required if the student will be receiving Stafford loans. This fulfulls the mandatory federal requirement, advising student borrowers of their rights and responsibilities in borrowing a student loan. The FAFSA can be completed on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students can be obtained at www.pointloma.edu/financialaid, or in the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services at each regional center. The Stafford Loan Entrance Exam can be completed online at www.edfund.org/EdTest. Once the student has submitted all required paperwork, an award letter will be genterated and sent to the student via email.
Financial Need is defined as the difference between the student’s Cost of Education (COE) for the academic year and the “Expected Family Contribution” (EFC):
COE minus EFC equals Financial Need
COE is the sum of tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous costs. The student’s expense budget is calculated using the tuition and fees from the University, the California Student Aid Commission 9-month Student Expense Budgets for 2008 -2009 and the ACCRA Cost of Living Index (COLI).
Student budgets are based on an assumed enrollment status. For Arcadia, Inland Empire and Mission Valley, it is assumed that Graduate students will be enrolled full time and that Credential students will be enrolled half time. For Bakersfield, it is assumed that both Credential and Graduate students will be enrolled half time. It is also assumed that the student will be enrolled in all sessions of the semester, regardless of the regional center. If these conditions are not met, the budget will be adjusted, and financial aid awards may change.
EFC is calculated using the financial information provided on the FAFSA by the student that represents the ability of the student’s family to contribute to the cost of the student’s education.
The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) enables students to borrow from eligible lenders at a low interest rate to help meet educational expenses at a participating college or university. Under the FFELP, the funds for a loan are borrowed from a private lender (a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the Program). Applicants must complete the FAFSA, a Financial Assistance Application for Credential and Graduate Students, a Stafford Loan Entrance Exam, and a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
FFELP Stafford Loans are either subsidized or unsubsidized. Students can receive a subsidized and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period. A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need, and borrowers will not be charged interest until they begin repayment. The federal government pays the interest on this loan from the time of disbursement until six months after the student graduates, withdraws, or drops below halftime status. An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. Borrowers will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If students allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized - that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of their loan and the student will pay interest on a higher loan amount.
When a student graduates, withdraws or takes an approved leave of absence, a Stafford Loan Exit Exam is required. This is a mandatory federal requirement for all students who have borrowed a Stafford Loan. At the end of each semester, live loan exit exams may be scheduled at each Regional center. Exit interviews may also be completed on-line at www.edfund.org/EdTest. More information can be obtained at the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services.
Beginning July 1, 2006, all new Stafford Loans disbursed thereafter will have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%. The Stafford Loan is not a credit-based loan. Payment on principal and interest begins six months after graduation, withdrawal or if the student is enrolled less than half-time.
Beginning July 1, 2008, all new Stafford Subsidized loans disbursed to Teaching Credential students will have a fixed interest rate of 6.0%.
Federal Stafford Loans are available for Teaching Credential students (Preliminary and Professional Clear) who are enrolled at least half time (6 units per semester). Teaching Credential students are eligible to receive Stafford Loans up to $5,500 for dependent students and $12,500 for independent students (of which no more than $5,500 can be Subsidized). In addition, any student wishing to receive Federal Stafford loans must meet the Department of Education’s eligibility criteria.
Students enrolled in a combined credential (Preliminary, Clear, Administrative and Pupil Personnel Services) and Master’s degree program, who are enrolled at least half time (3 units per semester), are eligible to receive Federal Stafford Loans for the entire program at the Graduate/Professional loan limit of $20,500 (of which no more than $8,500 can be Subsidized). In addition, any student wishing to receive Federal Stafford loans must meet the Department of Education’s eligibility criteria.
Students enrolled in an advanced credential program (Administrative and Pupil Personnel Services), but not seeking a Master’s degree, are not eligible to receive Federal Stafford Loans. These students are eligible to apply for Private loans only.
When a student withdraws from PLNU without completing a full period of enrollment, the university must determine the amount of federal loan funds earned for the portion of the enrolled period for which the student attended. Unearned federal student aid must be returned to the lending institution. Earned aid that the student has not yet received must be offered to the student by PLNU as a post-withdrawal disbursement. The amount of a post-withdrawal disbursement is determined by the number of days a student attended class divided by the number of days in the student's scheduled enrollment period.
If a student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, a written notification will be sent to the student with the following information:
- The type and amount of federal loan funds that make up the post-withdrawal disbursement that is not credited to the student's account.
- The type and amount of federal loan funds that have been credited to the student's account.
- An explanation that the student may accept or decline some or all of the post-withdrawal disbursement that is not credited to the student's account.
- Notification that no post-withdrawal disbursement will be made to the student if the student does not respond within 14 days of the written notification.
- Instructions to submit a response in writing directly to the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services by mail, fax, or email.
A Federal Student Aid (FSA) credit balance occurs whenever PLNU credits FSA program funds to a student's account and the total amount of those FSA funds exceed the student's allowable charges. If private scholarships or other aid cause the credit balance, then there is no requirement for PLNU to refund this balance. FSA funds include: Stafford, PLUS, GradPLUS, and Perkins loans. Since Cal Grants are state aid, they are not included. A school is not required to disburse a credit balance that is less than $1.00.
In the case of an FSA credit balance, PLNU must pay the credit balance directly to the student no later than 14 days after the date the balance occurred on the student's account. The law requires that any excess Parent PLUS Loan funds be returned to the parent. However, the parent may authorize PLNU in writing to transfer the proceeds of a Parent PLUS Loan to a student directly.
Federal financial aid disbursements can only be applied to a student's direct institutional charges (tuition, fees, room and board) for the current award period, unless the school obtains the student's signature as authorization to do otherwise. In the case of a Parent PLUS loan, the parent's signature is required. By signing a Title IV Authorization form, the student or parent has the option to (1) apply excess funds to other indirect institutional charges, (2) apply excess funds to pay miscellaneous prior-year charges, or (3) hold excess funds in the student's account. A signed Title IV Authorization will remain valid for the entire loan period. A student or parent has the option to cancel or modify the authorization at any time.
Because FSA funds are awarded to students to pay current year charges, notwithstanding any authorization from the student or the parent, PLNU must pay any remaining credit balance on FSA loan funds to the student or parent by the end of the loan period.
The amount of Stafford Loan a student may borrow depends on the student’s academic level and whether the student is in a “dependent” or “independent” status. The following is a chart with the maximum Subsidized (STFL), Unsubsidized (USFL), and total Stafford Loan funds a student is eligible to borrow.
| Dependent Undergraduates* |
Independent Undergraduates*# |
Graduate/Professional |
| $23,000 STFL |
$23,000 STFL |
$65,500 STFL |
| $8,000 USFL |
$34,500 USFL |
$73,000 USFL |
| $31,000 Total |
$57,500 Total |
$138,500 Total |
* This includes teaching credential students
# This includes Dependent undergraduates whose parents are denied PLUS
View Stafford loan borrowing history on the National Student Loan Data System at
https://nsldsfap.ed.gov
Disbursements of federal loan funds will be released after verifying that:
- The student is attending the anticipated class load and semester enrollment
- The student has completed all necessary forms and documents
- The student is not past the date of "Admitted with Provision" status or "Admitted with “Condition" status granted by the Office of Graduate Admissions
Loan funds for graduate students are disbursed in two or four equal amounts, one or two per semester, depending on the program and regional center:
|
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
ARCADIA
Grad Ed, Cred* |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
BAKERSFIELD
Grad Ed, Cred |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
INLAND EMPIRE
Grad Ed, Cred* |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
MISSION VALLEY
Grad Ed, Cred* |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
2 disbursements |
MISSION VALLEY
MBA, MSN, MMin, MRel, BIO |
1 disbursement |
1 disbursement |
1 disbursement |
*If the student receives financial aid starting in the middle of a semester (Quad II), he/she will receive one disbursement for that Quad and two disbursements for the following semester.
LOAN DISBURSEMENTS FOR GRADUATE/CREDENTIAL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SUMMER/FALL PROGRAMS
Graduate students that are provided federal aid for the loan periods of summer/fall are packaged for summer under “year 1” and for fall under “year 2”.
PLNU will award up to half of maximum annual loan eligibility for the summer, in order to receive the remaining half for the fall. Students may request to receive more funding in summer up to the students' summer budget, with the acknowledgement that they will receive less or no federal aid in the fall.
Step 1
Request a PIN from the U.S. Department of Education. To obtain a PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov. Your individual PIN only needs to be requested once and will be used as an electronic signature on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Request your PIN early enough so that filing of your FAFSA can be done promptly.
Step 2
File your FAFSA on the Web. After receiving your PIN, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file your FAFSA. Please file your FAFSA as soon as possible to ensure timely processing of your financial aid package.
Step 3
Fill-out a PLNU Post-Baccalaureate Financial Aid Application. The financial aid application must be completed on your Student Portal under My Tasks. It is a quick, simple electronic application that should only take a few moments of your time. Please contact your Regional Center's Student Financial Services Office if you have any questions about the application.
Step 4
Complete an Entrance Exam. This only needs to be done if you are a first-time borrower. Previous borrowers may skip this step. This must be done before any funds are credited to your student account. To complete the entrance exam you must go to www.edfund.org/EdTest, and follow the instructions. Please note that, per federal regulations, you will also need to complete an exit exam once you have attained your degree or teaching credential or have left the university for 30 days or longer.
Step 5
Receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). After completing the FAFSA, a SAR will be sent to you via e-mail. This report gives you a summary of the information you provided on your FAFSA. You will need to review the entire report to verify that all information is accurate. You only need to update the SAR report if corrections need to be made; otherwise, please print and keep it for your records.
Step 6
If Selected for Verification. As a result of filing a FAFSA, the federal government may require additional documentation. The PLNU Student Financial Services Office will notify you if you have been selected for verification. To ensure timely processing of your financial aid package, please make sure all documents are signed and submitted promptly. For more information, please contact your local Student Financial Services Advisor.
Step 7
Receive your PLNU Financial Aid Award Letter. After all applications and the entrance interview are completed and processed (and if selected for verification, all verification paperwork has been completed and processed), you will receive an electronic PLNU Financial Aid Award Letter via email. The award letter will state what aid amounts you are eligible for and how it will be disbursed for the loan period. You are not required to borrow the full amount for which you are eligible; the Student Financial Services Office recommends that you borrow conservatively to minimize indebtedness.
Step 8
Apply for Your Loan. In your award letter, you will receive instructions on how to log on to the PLNU Student Portal. Depending on your status, you will be directed to the next step on how to either complete your loan application or to claim your loan. First-time Stafford Loan borrowers must apply for their loan online at www.pointloma.edu/financialaid and complete a new Master Promissory Note (MPN). Prior Stafford Loan borrowers can claim their loan amount online, but do not need to complete an MPN.
Friends of the University have established a number of special scholarship funds to assist PLNU students. Graduate or Teacher Credential students who are interested in applying for these scholarships should contact the appropriate department below.
This scholarship was established by the Burlison family in memory of Carlton L. Burlison, M.D. The applicant must be enrolled in a graduate or teaching credential program at any Point Loma Nazarene University graduate location and meet all other eligibility criteria provided in the application.
Applications are available at the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services.
This scholarship was established by Beryl Dillman in honor of his wife Hazel Dillman. Recipient can be teaching in a Christian school and/or completing a teaching credential. Can be a graduate or undergraduate and shall meet the credential minimums.
For more information please contact the School of Education at (619) 563-2818.
The William Jack Stone Scholarship Fund assists students who are actively pursuing the completion of graduate degrees in Education and demonstrate financial need.
For more information please contact the School of Education at (619) 563-2818.
Regular full-time faculty, staff and administrators employed at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) are eligible to receive full tuition remission for themselves at PLNU for six undergraduate units (Teaching Credential students are considered undergraduates when awarding tuition remission) or fifty percent of graduate tuition (up to six graduate units) each semester beginning the semester after completion of their 90-day orientation period. Regular part-time staff working a minimum of 20 hours per week, and adjunct faculty teaching a minimum of 16 units per academic year, can participate on a pro rata basis. In accordance with the PLNU Tuition Remission Policy, courses are to be taken outside of the employee's work schedule and are subject to approval by their supervisor. Enrollment in a course is permitted on a space-available basis. Participants may not register until the first day of classes and may be asked to withdraw if space is required to accommodate regular students.
Beginning the semester following the completion of two years of continuous active employment, the spouse and eligible children of regular full-time faculty, staff and administrators are eligible for full undergraduate tuition remission. (The tuition remission benefit for the spouse and eligible children may not be applied to graduate-level courses.) The children of eligible part-time employees may participate on a pro rata basis.
The tuition remission benefit does not apply to certain courses and programs. Employees should carefully read the PLNU Tuition Remission Policy, which contains the complete details governing eligibility for this benefit.
Tuition remission is subject to taxation according to the Internal Revenue Service regulations in effect at the time the benefit is utilized.
An outside scholarship is any financial support given to a specific student by an outside entity. The selection of the recipient is determined and provided by the funding source. Examples include organizations, clubs, trusts, foundations, etc. Students are required to report any outside scholarship received to the Graduate Student Financial Services Office.
Alternative Loans are private loans funded through various lenders. These loans are credit-based and usually have higher interest rates than federal loans. Alternative loans are only advised as a last resort after exhausting federal loan programs if a student is still in need of funding.
The Student Financial Services Office recommends that students wishing to apply for an Alternative Loan speak to their Student Financial Services advisor regarding appropriate loan amounts.
Federal regulations require that PLNU students adhere to a policy of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to retain eligibility for federal financial aid (this policy also applies to Cal Grant A and B recipients). The SAP policy does not apply to any form of PLNU Institutional Aid, including Church Scholarship, Matching and District Grants. Recipients of Academic Awards must maintain the renewal eligibility criteria as stated in the PLNU Catalog.
The policy consists of a qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (unit) standard. Student Financial Services (SFS) conducts a SAP review at the end of each semester.
Qualitative Standard (GPA Requirement)
Students must maintain a minimum GPA (grade point average) at the end of each academic year, as follows:
- Teacher Credential students: 2.75 (Does not include MAT or blended Credential/MA)
- Master of Ministry students: 2.75
- Graduate students (M.A., M.B.A., M.S.N., M.R.): 3.00
- Educational Specialist students: 3.00
Quantitative Standard (Unit Requirement)
The Quantitative Standard consists of two parts:
1. Minimum Unit Completion - Students must complete at least two-thirds (66.7%) of the units attempted each semester (rounded down to the nearest whole unit).
Example: If a student were to attempt 12 units during the academic year, the SAP policy would require that student to complete at least 8 units (12 x 66.7% = 8). If a student were to complete fewer than 8 units, that student would have failed SAP because of a unit deficiency. This deficiency would equal 8 units minus the number of units that were completed. For example, completion of only 6 of 12 attempted units would result in a deficiency of 2 units (8 minus 6). To regain SAP, a student would have to complete 66.7% of the units attempted the following academic year in addition to the two deficient units.
2. Maximum Unit Completion - Under federal regulations, teacher credential students are eligible to receive federal financial aid up to 150% of the published length of their academic program. The time limit is based on the number of units required for the program multiplied by 150%. For example, a student whose program length is 36 units can apply for financial aid for the first 54 units (36 times 150%).
Graduate students are eligible to receive federal financial aid for up to eight years from the time of initial enrollment in the program.
Financial Aid Probation & Disqualification
Students who have not met the qualitative or quantitative requirements are placed on financial aid probation for the following semester. If a student is placed on financial aid probation, he/she is still eligible to receive financial aid, but is made aware that the requirements for SAP have not been met. During the probationary period, students who meet the qualitative and quantitative requirements for the term but fail to bring them up to the cumulative standard are granted one additional probationary semester. Students failing to meet SAP requirements following the probationary semester or fail to meet SAP following the second probationary semester are disqualified from receiving financial aid for the next semester and any subsequent semesters in which the SAP requirements have not been met. Students in this category may file an appeal.
Extenuating Circumstances and Appeal Process
If a student is eligible to file an appeal, the student must do so within 21 days of being notified that financial aid eligibility is lost. The appeal must include an explanation of the extenuating circumstances that resulted in the student's inability to make SAP, and include supporting documentation, if appropriate.
The student's appeal must include a plan from the Academic Advising Office that shows how the student intends to make up the unit deficiency and/or raise the GPA. The SAP Committee will review the appeal and respond in writing. The Committee's decision is final. A student may appeal only once throughout his/her enrollment at PLNU.
Reinstatement
A student's eligibility for financial aid may be reinstated if he/she makes up the unit deficiency and/or raises the cumulative GPA. The student, however, will never receive federal or state financial aid retroactively for periods in which he/she failed to maintain SAP.
Section IV: Financial Aid for Graduate Students
Graduate students who are enrolled at least half time, meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, and are citizens of the United States or U.S. permanent residents are eligible for federal Stafford Loans. Qualifying graduate or professional students may borrow up to $20,500 (no more than $8500 can be subsidized) every two consecutive semesters. The aggregate amount for graduate or professional students is $138,500 (no more than $65,500 may be subsidized) and includes any Stafford Loans received at the undergraduate level.
| Enrollment Status |
Full Time |
3/4 Time |
Half Time |
Less Than Half Time |
|
Number of Units |
6+ |
4.5-5 |
3-4 |
Less than 3 |
Graduate students at PLNU may be also be eligible for the Graduate PLUS loan. The Graduate PLUS loan is intended for graduate students whose educational costs exceed their maximum Stafford eligibility. Although the loan is not based on need, the FAFSA must be completed. The Graduate PLUS loan is a credit-based loan. To begin the application process:
-
Complete a Promissory Note online at: www.pointloma.edu/financialaid
-
Submit the PLNU Post-Baccalaureate Financial Aid Application. The financial aid application must be completed on your Student Portal under My Tasks. It is a quick, simple electronic application that should only take a few moments of your time. Please contact your Regional Center's Student Financial Services Office if you have any questions about the application.
Beginning July 1, 2006, the interest rate is fixed at 8.5% for loans disbursed thereafter. Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement is made for the academic year.
PLNU releases loan funds in multiple disbursements, once or twice a semester, depending on the student’s academic program.
Teaching Credential Students at Point Loma Nazarene University may be eligible for federal, state or institutional aid.
Teaching Credential Students who are enrolled at least half time, meet the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, and are citizens of the United States or U.S. permanent residents are eligible for Federal Stafford Loans. Qualifying Teaching Credential students may borrow, every two consecutive semesters, up to a maximum of $5,500 as a dependent student, or up to a maximum of $12,500 as an independent student (no more than $5500 may be subsidized). Dependency status is determined by the FAFSA.
| Enrollment Status |
Full Time |
3/4 Time |
Half Time |
Less Than Half Time |
|
Number of Units |
12+ |
9-11 |
6-8 |
Less than 6 |
Federal PLUS loans are for parents or stepparents who need to borrow money for their dependent student’s teaching credential educational costs. These loans are not based on a family’s income or assets, although the parent borrower is required to pass a credit check. To be eligible to receive a PLUS Loan, parents must apply online at www.pointloma.edu/financialaid. In addition, the student must complete and submit the PLNU Post-Baccalaureate Financial Aid Application. The financial aid application must be completed on your Student Portal under My Tasks. It is a quick, simple electronic application that should only take a few moments of your time. Please contact your Regional Center's Student Financial Services Office if you have any questions about the application. Beginning July 1, 2006, all new PLUS Loans disbursed thereafter will have an interest rate fixed at 8.5%. Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement. There is no grace period for these loans, and interest begins to accumulate at the time the first disbursement is made. Parents of dependent students in the teaching credential program must begin repaying both principal and interest while the students are enrolled at the University.
PLNU Institutional aid may include academic scholarships, church scholarships, Nazarene Matching and District Grants, Missionary and Pastor Child Discounts, and Tuition Remission.
Institutional aid will only be applied to Teaching Credential Students who either earned a baccalaureate degree from PLNU within four academic years or for students who transferred to PLNU and earned at least twenty four undergraduate units at PLNU. The student must begin the credentialing program within two semesters following graduation. Institutional aid is available for up to ten semesters, including undergraduate semesters. The student will need to be enrolled in at least 9 units per semester, which is considered full time for institutional aid.
Institutional aid can be used to pay semester charges (tuition and fees) only; it is never disbursed directly to the student.
The only types of aid that can be disbursed directly to the student are loans and outside scholarships. The sole exception to this is for students living on campus, who must file a FAFSA and demonstrate unmet financial need in order to receive outside scholarship funding in excess of their semester charges.
PLNU institutional aid may also include academic, science honors’, and athletic scholarships. For more information regarding PLNU institutional aid and merit-based awards please refer to the Undergraduate Financial Aid Polices.
The Pastor Child Discount for the 2008-2009 Academic Year provides a percentage discount on tuition charges for the dependent children of pastors.
For the dependent child of pastor to qualify for the 10% discount (Nazarene pastor discount is 25%), each of the following statements must be true:
- The pastor must be a full-time *career senior pastor or full-time career member of the pastoral staff during the 2008-2009 academic year.
- The student was born after January 1, 1985.
- The student is not married.
- The student does not have any children.
- The student is not a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- The student will be working on a BA or BS Degree or continuing Teaching Credential during the 2007-2008 academic year. (This award will be given for a maximum of 10 semesters.)
*”Career” is defined as someone whose full-time vocation is a staff ministry position. This may include bi-vocational pastors whose full-time salary may not be covered by the church, but whose primary occupation is a pastoral ministry position.
Due to limited resources, eligibility is not extended to administrative staff, support staff, or independent children of pastors.
The Missionary Child Discount for the 2008-2009 Academic Year provides a percentage discount on tuition charges for dependent children of Nazarene and non-Nazarene missionaries. This includes U.S. citizens whose parents are assigned outside the United States as missionaries, educators, or General Board appointees, and foreign nationals whose parents are appointed as missionaries outside of their home country or who are assigned by the General Board.
For the dependent child of a missionary to qualify for the 10% discount (Nazarene missionary discount is 50%), each of the following statements must be true:
- The missionary must be assigned outside the United States as missionary, educator, or General Board appointee, and foreign nationals whose parents are appointed as missionaries outside of their home country or who are assigned by the General Board during the 2008-2009 academic year.
- The student was born after January 1, 1985.
- The student is not married.
- The student does not have any children.
- The student is not a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- The student will be working on a BA or BS Degree or continuing Teaching Credential during the 2008-2009 academic year. (This award will be given for a maximum of 10 semesters.)
Missionary and Pastor's Child Discount may be applied to summer courses if the student is enrolled for a minimum of nine units for the full semester session.
CHANGE IN DEPENDENCY STATUS
If a student’s status changes from dependent to independent after approval for a missionary or pastor child discount, the student will be eligible to receive the award for the academic year for which they applied (EX: If a student is approved for a pastor child discount in March of 2007 and marries in July of 2007, they would be eligible to receive the award for the 07/08 Academic Year only.)
APPLICATION PROCESS
Students wanting to apply for either the Missionary or Pastor’s Child Discounts should contact the Office of Church Relations at (619) 849-2735, or visit www.pointloma.edu/Centers/CPL/ChurchRelations.htm.
A letter on official letterhead must accompany each application to verify eligibility.
Any exceptions to this policy must be submitted in writing for approval to Church Relations and the Director of Financial Aid.
EXCEPTION REQUESTS REQUIRING PRE-APPROVAL:
- Independent children of pastors or missionaries
- A pastor or the spouse of a pastor requesting a tuition discount
- Dependent children of pastors or missionaries who have not completed their BA/BS at PLNU and apply for the Teacher Credentialing program
Cal Grant A or B recipients who meet the following requirements should contact the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for information and application materials or visit CSAC’s web site at www.csac.ca.gov:
- Have received a Baccalaureate’s degree;
- Are accepted and have enrolled in a professional teaching preparation program at PLNU within 15 months of the end of the term for which the recipient last received a Cal Grant payment;
- Have not received or submitted an application for a Preliminary Teaching Credential;
- Do not currently possess any other initial teaching credential;
- Continue to maintain financial need for a Cal Grant
To be eligible for the Cal Grant TCP Program, students must be enrolled in at least six units and are considered full time at 12 or more units. Students enrolled in at least 6 units but less than 12 will have their Cal Grant awards pro rated.
Students interested in applying for the Cal-Grant TCP must submit a G-44 form to CSAC and a PLNU Post-Baccalaureate Financial Aid Application. The financial aid application must be completed on your Student Portal under My Tasks. It is a quick, simple electronic application that should only take a few moments of your time. Please contact your Regional Center's Student Financial Services Office if you have any questions about the application.. The Commission must approve the G-44 application prior to PLNU awarding the Cal Grants.
APLE is a state program in which the California Student Aid Commission may assume up to $19,000 in outstanding educational loan balances for each participant who serves as a K-12 public school teacher in California. To receive the full $19,000 loan assumption, participants must provide four consecutive years of full-time teaching service in either a subject area where a critical teacher shortage has been identified or a school that: (1) has been designated as serving a large population of students from low-income families, (2) is located in a rural area, (3) has a high percentage of teachers holding emergency permits, or (4) ranks in the lowest 20th percentile of the Academic Performance Index (API).
The applicant must apply during credential preparation by submitting an application to his/her Student Financial Services advisor.
More information about this program can be found at the California Student Aid Commission website www.csac.ca.gov.
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is a national program that will forgive $5,000 of student loans for teachers and $17,500 of student loans for math, science, or special education teachers.
The applicant must work for five consecutive years as a full time teacher in a low income school before applying. The application is sent directly to the student’s loan holder after completing five consecutive years of service. For more information regarding this program and a list of qualified low income schools please visit the Federal Student Aid website at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Students may be eligible for cancellation of up to 100% of a Federal Perkins Loan if they have served full time in a public or non-profit elementary or secondary school system as a:
- Teacher in a school serving students from low-income families; or
- Special-education teacher, including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities; or
- Teacher in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, or in any other field of expertise determined by a state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers in that state.
For more information and procedures regarding this program please visit the Federal Student Aid website at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
Undergraduate students who graduate and have their degree posted by the beginning of the next regular semester will need to complete a new Program Plan Sheet from their academic advisor. Students who are receiving financial aid or are interested in applying for financial assistance must speak with a Student Financial Services advisor to review potential financial aid changes due to the transition. Students who have not completed their PLNU undergraduate graduation requirements and do not have their degree posted by the start of the following semester are still classified as undergraduates, even though they may be taking credential classes.
Students transitioning from baccalaureate to credential status for the following semester will no longer be eligible for the following types of financial aid:
- Pell Grant
- SEOG
- Federal Work Study (FWS)
- Perkins
- Certain PLNU Institutional Aid
Students transitioning from credential to graduate status must obtain a new Program Plan Sheet from their academic advisor. Students who are receiving financial aid or are interested in applying for financial assistance must speak with a Student Financial Services advisor to review potential financial aid changes due to the transition.
To receive financial aid as a graduate student, the student:
- Must be accepted into a graduate program
- Must be enrolled in at least 3 units in a graduate program each semester
- Cannot receive credential financial aid once he/she has been awarded financial aid as a graduate student
- Will only be packaged for graduate program units and not for any units in a credential program enrollment