Apply for Financial Aid

• Awards are determined by an evaluation of student reported information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The financial aid awarded is for the designated award period only.
• Awards are based on full-time enrollment. In order to meet the 'full-time' standard, a student must register for at least twelve hours per semester as an undergraduate student, and at least six hours per semester as a graduate student. Furthermore, a student will not be eligible for financial aid through most programs if not enrolled in an eligible program on at least a half-time basis.
• A student must report in writing to the Office of Student Financial Services any additional assistance which may be received from other sources, including scholarships, loans, assistantships, fellowships, and employer educational benefits. If additional assistance reduces financial need, an adjustment in an award may be necessary.
• A student must notify Belmont Central if withdrawing from the University before the end of an academic term. If a student withdraws after receipt of financial aid funds, the student may be expected to repay a portion of the aid received. View complete withdrawal information.
• If course load is reduced after the receipt of financial aid funds and before the end of the tuition refund period, the student may be required to repay a portion of the financial aid funds.
• Funds for the Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation Grant, and Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship are provided by the federal and/or state government(s); and if the appropriations or allocations to the University are adjusted, an award from these programs may be reduced or revoked.
• The Office of Student Financial Services may release information about the amount and type of aid that a student receives to other offices and agencies as needed to administer the financial aid programs. The Office of Student Financial Services may send general information about a student to donors. The Office of Student Financial Services may release information necessary for collection of a student loan in the event repayment obligations are not met.
• To decline any portion of this award, please contact our office by completing the Loan Reduction/Cancellation Request Form on the SFS Forms page.
• The amounts offered in grants, loans, and work-study funds may vary from year to year. Each year, the student must reapply for assistance by completing the FAFSA.
• All Title IV financial aid is awarded to students without regard to race, sex, or age. The majority of aid is provided on the basis of financial need.
• Financial assistance granted is to be used only for legitimate educational purposes.
• Federal, State, and Outside aid will be the first resources applied towards a student's educational expenses. Institutional, State, and Outside aid resources are not refundable. Federal PELL grants and loans are the only refundable forms of financial aid.

The following are terms you are likely to see on your financial aid award. If you have any questions concerning your award or the terms therein, please contact the Student Financial Services office at (615) 460-6403.

• Federal Pell Grant - An undergraduate federal grant. The U.S. Department of Education determines eligibility. The Student Aid Index (SAI) Formula is the standard criteria used in determining financial need.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) - An undergraduate federal grant awarded to the most needy Federal Pell Grant recipients on a first come, first served basis.
• Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) Grant - Awarded by TSAC on a first come, first served basis to needy undergraduate students who are Tennessee residents.
• Tennessee Education Lottery (HOPE) Scholarship - Awarded to entering freshmen and returning students who are Tennessee residents and meet eligibility requirements as specified by the Tennessee state legislature. Award amounts are subject to reduction based upon lottery revenue. For more details click here.

• Direct Subsidized  Stafford Loan - Awarded on the basis of financial need. The federal government pays the interest on the loan until you begin repayment. The student must submit a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete online entrance counseling through studentloans.gov for his or her first Stafford Loan at Belmont University. Undergraduate students must be enrolled at least six hours. Graduate students must be enrolled at least three hours.

• Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan - Awarded on the basis of financial need to undergraduate students. The federal government pays the interest on the loan until you enter repayment. The student must submit a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete entrance counseling online through studentloans.gov for his or her first Stafford loan at Belmont. Undergraduate students must be enrolled at least six hours.
• Direct Parent PLUS Loan (PLUS) - Available to parents of dependent, undergraduate students and requires an additional application. This is a credit-based loan. Repayment generally begins within 60 days of final disbursement. The loan amount listed on the award letter is a recommended amount. Students must be enrolled at least six hours.
• Federal Work-Study - Provides jobs for students with financial need. Funds are limited. The FWS award amount will not automatically be posted as a credit on a student account. this is an award amount that a student may earn as a monthly paycheck through the FWS program.
• Outside Scholarships - Scholarships funded by a source other than Belmont University. Please download the Outside Scholarship Report Form. Outside scholarships may reduce your financial aid award.
• Belmont Grant-in-Aid - Grant funds awarded based on need per the filing of the FAFSA.  Belmont Grant-in-Aid funds are determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) and are not guaranteed every year.  Students must complete the FAFSA for each aid year to determine grant eligibility.  An increase in the SAI could result in the reduction or loss of the grant if the SAI falls outside of the established grant range.
• Institutional Scholarships - Scholarships funded by Belmont University. Students must be enrolled full-time (twelve or more hours) in order to receive institutional funds. Institutional aid is not refundable.
• Institutional Discounts - Belmont University offers a Church-Related Vocation Scholarship and Two-Student Discount to qualifying students. These discounts require a separate application which must be renewed each year. Please download the appropriate form to see further detail.

III. Qualitative Standard (GPA)

Grades (including posted transfer credit) of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “F”, and “FN” including “+” or “-” options are calculated in the GPA. Withdrawals are not calculated in the GPA. Incomplete grades (I) are not calculated in the GPA until the course is graded.

2. Undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 overall combined GPA to receive financial aid.
3. Graduate students (not including the Colleges of Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy) must maintain a 3.0 overall combined GPA to receive financial aid.
4. College of Law students must maintain a 2.5 overall combined GPA to receive financial aid.
5. College of Medicine students must maintain a 2.0 overall combined GPA to receive financial aid.
6. College of Pharmacy students must maintain a 2.3 overall combined GPA to receive financial aid. 

IV. Quantitative Standard (Pace = Percentage of Credit Hours Attempted and Earned)

Pace is progression toward completion of the student’s program of study. Federal law requires that students must progress toward completion at a percentage rate that will allow the student to complete the program of study within the maximum timeframe allowed for that degree. See Section V for Maximum Timeframe Standard.

A student’s Pace is determined by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours earned by the cumulative number of hours attempted. All students, undergraduate and postgraduate, must minimally earn 66.67% of their overall combined credits attempted, inclusive of college level coursework and remedial/developmental coursework, to remain in good standing for financial aid.

In the evaluation process, all grades of “W” (Withdrawn) and “I” (Incomplete) will be counted as hours attempted but not passed. Repeated courses will count as hours attempted.

V. Maximum Timeframe Standard

Federal law allows students to receive Federal Title IV assistance up to 150% of the program’s published length. Students cannot receive aid after attempting 150% of the hours required for completion of their program of study.  Hours accepted for transfer credit will reduce this time frame. 

VI. Frequency of Review

SAP standards are reviewed at the end of each spring semester, unless a student is on financial aid suspension. If on suspension, SAP is reviewed at the end of each fall and spring semester. The student’s SAP status will not automatically adjust when grades are changed unless requested by the student. Otherwise, the grade changes will be accounted for in the next scheduled SAP evaluation. 

A. First Review - Students who have not achieved the required GPA, pace progression, or maximum timeframe by the end of the spring semester will lose financial aid eligibility for the subsequent semesters. Students may submit an appeal to regain eligibility of financial aid. See Section VIII Financial Aid Appeals.

B. Second Review - Students who have not achieved the required GPA, pace progression, or maximum timeframe by the end of the spring semester a second time will lose financial aid eligibility for the subsequent semesters. Students may submit an appeal to regain eligibility of financial aid. See Section VIII Financial Aid Appeals.

C. Third Review - Students who have not achieved the required GPA, pace progression, or maximum timeframe by the end of the spring semester a third time, will be suspended from financial aid for subsequent semesters until they reach the required SAP standards.

VII. Notification to Students

A. Students not meeting SAP requirements the first and second time are notified via student’s school email at the end of the spring semester.

B. Students not meeting SAP requirements for a third time will be notified via student’s school email at the end of each semester they are not meeting the requirements.

VIII. Financial Aid Appeals

The Registrar’s Office and individual graduate level programs monitor academic status and have a separate appeal process than what is used to determine financial aid eligibility. The appeal process described below is only related to appealing for financial aid purposes.

Students failing to meet SAP standards may feel that there are mitigating circumstances which contributed to their failure.  In such cases, students may choose to appeal for reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility based on these unique circumstances. 

Students must explain the reasons for not meeting the SAP standards as well as include a plan of action to be reviewed by the committee. An allowable basis for an appeal includes the following:

• Personal illness or injury
• Personal crisis
• Illness or death of a family member
• Original grade was lower than current changed grade
• Second degree, double major, change of major (maximum timeframe only)
• Other unexpected circumstances beyond the control of the student

STEPS TO FILE AN APPEAL

1. Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal and Academic Action Plan Form found under the Forms link (https://www.belmont.edu/sfs/forms.html) and the Financial Aid Forms section

1. Attach a one-page Explanation Statement and relevant supporting documentation
2. Attach a copy of your complete DegreeWorks Audit. Update, review and print your DegreeWorks Audit and/or Degree Works Planner as required
3. If this is a second appeal, you must also provide proof of having met with the Growth & Purpose for Students (GPS) Office
4. Submit all documents to the Office of Student Financial Services

 Appeals must be submitted in writing and can be submitted in the following formats:

1. E-Mail To: sfsappeals@belmont.edu with the subject line: SAP Appeals Committee
2. Fax To:(615) 460-6141    Attn: SAP Appeals Committee
3. Mail To:

SAP APPEALS COMMITTEE

Office of Student Financial Services

Belmont University

1900 Belmont Boulevard

Nashville, TN  37212

IX. Appeal Decisions

Decisions of the committee are final and will be communicated in writing via email notification to the student’s school email account.

Depending on the timing of when the appeal is submitted, the appeal may not be reviewed prior to when registration fees are due for the upcoming semester. Students may need to be prepared to pay registration fees. If the appeal is approved after the semester begins, the student will be considered for financial aid, if otherwise eligible. If the student pays registration fees out-of-pocket, there is no guarantee that the appeal will be approved.

1. If first and second appeal are approved, the student will regain their financial aid eligibility for the upcoming fall and spring semesters.
2. After two successful appeals, if student is not making SAP for a third time, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension until they are meeting the GPA and pace SAP standards. Once they are meeting the standards the student can appeal to receive financial aid on a probationary basis for subsequent semesters. During the probationary period, SAP standards must be met each semester until the student graduates.
3. If the student fails to maintain SAP standards during probationary period, the student’s financial aid eligibility will be suspended again and future appeals may be denied. If student fails to submit adequate supporting documents of extenuating circumstances or if it is determined that it is mathematically impossible to meet the standards by a specified point, the appeal will be denied. Students may still be eligible for other University funds, scholarships, and/or some alternative loans.

X. Reinstatement of Eligibility

A student who has lost eligibility for financial aid due to suspension will be reinstated once the student has met both the GPA and Pace Standards or an appeal has been approved, assuming the student is otherwise eligible and also meets the Maximum Timeframe Standard.

Course Program of Study (or CPOS) is a federal requirement by the U .S. Department of Education that mandates only the courses in a student’s declared major or minor degree program will determine that student’s eligibility for federal or state financial aid. The types of aid that are affected include the Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, federal loans, the HOPE Scholarship, TSAA, etc. In order to remain eligible to receive full-time federal and state financial aid, the student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours within their degree program.

If the student registers for fewer than full time in-program hours (12 hours for undergraduate students), their offered financial aid and the overall Cost of Attendance (the maximum amount of financial aid the student can receive) may be reduced. The student should verify with their advisor at the time of registration that the registered hours count towards their degree program.

Learn more about Course Program of Study