Aid

• Multicultural Leadership Scholarship - $3,000 per year
  • You’re eligible if you’re an American minority student demonstrating interest in advancement of minorities in American society, and admitted to SAU with completed MLS application and essay by Feb. 15. Fill out this application to apply.

• E.P. Hart Honors Program Scholarship - $1,000 per year
  • You’re eligible with a high school of GPA: 3.6 or comp ACT of 26 or SAT equivalent and accepted into the Honors program. You must maintain a GPA of at least 3.6 and annual honors participation standards. Learn more and apply today.

• Art Scholarships - Award amount varies
  • You’re eligible if you’re a new freshman studio art major, and submit a portfolio and application to the SAU Art Department. Please contact your admissions rep to arrange your portfolio review.
    
    
• Music Scholarships - Award amount varies
  • You’re eligible if you’re a music major, minor or participate in a SAU musical ensemble. Audition with the SAU Music Department. 
    
    
• Athletic Scholarships - Award amount varies
  • Your eligibility is considered based on your leadership, academic standing, sportsmanship, respect for authority, competitive spirit and athletic ability. This scholarship precludes all other forms of SAU aid other than academic merit awards. Please visit our athletics page at saucougars.com to get started.
    
    
• Scholarship Day Awards - Award amount varies
  • Students who apply before the Early Application Deadline each year have the opportunity to be invited to Scholarship Day, where students compete for additional departmental and institutional scholarships.
    
    

• Spring Arbor University Grant - Award amount varies

  • The generosity of various donors allows us to provide additional aid to students based on the level of unmet need as demonstrated based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. 

• Endowed and Annually Funded Scholarships - Award amount varies
  • These are additional funds made possible by our generous donors with specific requirements and various amounts of funding. Submit an SAU supplemental aid application upon receiving an email from Student Financial Services. Application deadline is Feb. 15 each year.

• Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) Cobb Scholarship - $5,000 per year
  • You’re eligible if you have been involved with the Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) and plan on majoring in any of the following areas: social studies, political science or history, or are considering a career in public service following graduation. You must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, unweighted, or an ACT score of 25 (or an SAT score of 1200-1230). The recipient may retain the scholarship in subsequent years by maintaining a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.7. Apply by submitting this form with an essay of 1,000 words or less, describing how your studies at SAU will prepare you for a future career in public service. Candidates must also complete the FAFSA. (please make sure link is updated)

• Free Methodist Ministerial Scholarship - $500 per year
  • You may be eligible for this scholarship if at least one of your parents or guardians is a Free Methodist pastor. Contact your admissions rep for more details.

• Free Methodist Church Matching Grant - Up to $2,000

  • SAU will match, dollar for dollar, any scholarship provided to any Free Methodist student by their home church. If interested, please have your church contact Student Financial Services on how to participate. If already participating, dollars will be matched each year based on how much is received from your home church.

• Camp Matching Scholarship — Up to $1,500
  • Spring Arbor University will match designated Christian Camp gifts for SAU students up to but not exceeding $750. To get started, please contact your camp director. The following camps participate in our camp match program:
    • • Michindoh
      • Somerset Beach
      • Spring Hill
      • Covenant Hills
      • Camp Barakel
      • Michawana

All outside scholarship checks should be sent to Student Financial Services at the following address:

Student Financial Services
Spring Arbor University
P.O Box 219
Spring Arbor, Michigan 49203

Checks and/or documentation should include student name, student identification number and award period. Scholarship checks received by our office will be divided between fall and spring, unless otherwise indicated in writing by the donor.

Outside scholarship funds are counted as financial assistance. If outside scholarship exceeds financial need and/or cost of attendance, adjustments will be made to the student’s aid package. It is important to notify the Office of Financial Aid of any outside scholarship you receive, so that the appropriate adjustments can be made. If an over-award occurs after aid has been disbursed, the student may be required to repay all or a portion of their financial aid to the university.

A Federal Work-Study award is offered to students to contribute toward their educational expenses by working part-time. Funding for the program is provided by the federal government with matching contributions from SAU. Federal Work Study is available to traditional campus students only who have completed the applicable year FAFSA. Spring Arbor University utilizes many avenues to help students find work while attending SAU. Because of the demand for employment opportunities, it is important for students to follow the employment hiring guidelines and check in with the student employment office to learn of new job openings. To find out more about becoming a student worker at SAU, please contact Human Resources at 517-750-6431.

Federal and State Grants are need-based aid that does not have to be repaid. The financial need is determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is calculated by completing the FAFSA.

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based aid to low-income undergraduates to promote access to post-secondary education. If you are eligible for the Pell Grant, it will be listed on your SAU award letter based on the number of enrolled credits. Eligibility is determined by the FAFSA.

Students are limited to six years of Pell eligibility, or the full-time equivalent of six years for those attending less than full time.

Available to Pell-eligible undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The amount awarded is determined by the student’s need and the availability of funds at the university. To apply for the grant, complete the applicable year FAFSA.

The TEACH Grant is available to students who intend to teach in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families for a minimum of four years as a full-time, highly-qualified, high-need field teacher.

If you are awarded the TEACH Grant and do not complete the four years of qualified teaching service within eight years of completing the course of study for which the TEACH Grant was received, or otherwise fail to meet any other requirement of the TEACH Grant, the grant will convert into a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued and capitalized from the date of original disbursement.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive the TEACH Grant, you must:

• meet the general eligibility requirements for the federal student aid programs as described at StudentAid.gov/eligibility/basic-criteria.
• complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program.
• be enrolled in a TEACH Grant-eligible program of study.
• meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average).
• complete counseling at studentaid.gov that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation.
• sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.

Amount of Grant

• Anyone applying for the TEACH Grant Program may be eligible up to $4,000 per year
• The lifetime maximum amount a student may receive is $16,000 total for four-year undergraduate programs and $8,000 total for graduate programs. Note: Acceptance of the TEACH Grant may reduce the Michigan Tuition Grant and Michigan Competitive Scholarship eligibility for undergraduate students.
• The TEACH Grant program funding has been reduced by sequestration.

High-Need Fields

High-need fields are identified in the specific subject areas below:

• Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition (TSL at SAU – not Language Arts or English) 
• World Languages – Spanish, French and TSL 
• Mathematics 
• Science – Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics 
• Special Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Elementary Education (Core Subjects) 
• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Other identified teacher shortage areas as identified at the time you begin teaching in that field. These are teacher subject shortage areas (not geographic areas) in the Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.

Schools Serving Low-Income Students

Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits.

Service Agreement

Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay. The TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve specifies the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements and includes an acknowledgment by you that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were disbursed.

You will be required to complete Agreement to Serve each year that you accept a TEACH Grant.

SAU Eligible Programs

• Undergrad Teacher Education areas for certification
• Early Childhood Education
• World Languages (At SAU — Spanish and French)
• Mathematics
• Science  (At SAU — Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Special Education

How do I apply?

First time TEACH Grant Applications:

If you are a new student applying for TEACH Grant for the first time at Spring Arbor University, you need to submit TEACH Grant Application. Also you will need to submit a Conviction Disclosure Form.

Returning Students:

Returning students with a FAFSA on file and who meet academic requirements will automatically be awarded a Federal TEACH Grant. If a student was not automatically awarded a Federal TEACH Grant, please contact our office to discuss it further.

Student Next Steps:

1. Complete TEACH Grant Application: Complete TEACH Grant Application and the Disclosure Form – Only First time TEACH Grant Applicants.
2. Complete Agreement to Serve: Complete TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve form at studentaid.gov. This step must be completed annually in order to renew the TEACH Grant
3.  Complete TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling:Complete the TEACH Grant Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov. This step must be completed annually in order to renew the TEACH Grant

Exit Counseling

As with Federal Loans, federal regulations require that students who have received a TEACH Grant complete online exit counseling upon changing majors to something other than an eligible academic program, withdrawing from school or graduating from their program.

Complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling session.

Also called Federal Direct loans, federal student loans are money loaned directly to you, and you are solely responsible for repaying the money after dropping below half-time, leaving SAU or graduating.

To apply for the federal direct loans, you must first complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.

The interest rates vary each year. For the most up-to-date interest rates, visit studentaid.gov.

Subsidized Loans

• Eligibility for subsidized loans is based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
• The federal government pays the interest while you are in college and during the six-month grace period after you leave school or enroll less than half time — you are not required to make loan payments until your grace period ends.
• Subsidized loans are available only to undergraduate students.

Unsubsidized Loans

• Unsubsidized loans are offered regardless of income or assets.
• You are responsible for paying all the interest on the loan. You may choose to defer interest and principal payments while in school at least half time. If you do, the interest will be capitalized — that is, added to the initial amount you borrowed. Future interest costs will be based on that higher loan amount.

Direct Loan Limits

• For more information about Federal Student Loans, including the annual and lifetime limits, visit studentaid.gov.

If you are a dependent undergraduate student, a PLUS loan enables your parents or step-parents (but not your legal guardians or grand-parents) to borrow money that can be applied to your educations expenses.

Eligibility:

• You are the parent or stepparent of a dependent student.
• You have a completed FAFSA on file.
• You meet the credit eligibility requirements.
• You are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

How to Apply

• Complete the Parent Plus Loan application at studentaid.gov for the applicable year. Make sure you complete each step.
• Sign your Parent PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov.

When to Apply

• You should begin the application process once you receive your statement from the Business Office to ensure timely processing. It may take several weeks for the servicer to send notice of your credit approval or rejection.

Loan Amounts and Limits

• Parent PLUS Loan amounts will vary widely. Your parent can borrow as much as they like as long as they are not exceeding your total cost of attendance.
• Should you get a Parent PLUS loan? Use resources from studentaid.gov to make an informed decision.

Interest Rate and Loan Fees

• The interest rates vary each year. For the most up-to date interest rates, visit studentaid.gov.

Repayment

• The first payment is due within 60 days after each loan is fully disbursed. However, the borrower may choose to defer the first payment until six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
• More information

Alternatives if You are Not Approved For a Parent PLUS loan

Private educational loans are non-federal loans offered by private lenders. The FAFSA is normally not required to apply for a private loan but, we recommend that students first complete the federal aid process to determine if they qualify for a federal loan which often has more favorable terms than a private loan.

To review and apply for Alternative loan options, click Alternative Loan Options. SAU's lender list is available at FASTChoice.

Students are welcome to select lenders not shown on the list and have the right to do so under federal rules. If you select a lender not on our list, you will need to provide information to the Office of Financial Aid necessary for loan processing. To determine what information is needed, contact our office at [email protected] or 517-750-2900.

SAU does not endorse or recommend any specific lender(s) therefore, you are free to borrow your loan from any participating lender.

Eligibility

• Enrolled at least half-time (3cr) in a degree — granting program.
• File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
• Pass a credit check.

How to Apply

• Complete the applicable year Grad PLUS loan.
• Complete Grad PLUS Entrance Counseling process at studentaid.gov. You must complete entrance counseling so that you are aware of your rights and responsibilities as a borrower studentaid.gov.
• Sign your Grad PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at . The Grad PLUS MPN will be valid for 10 years provided a PLUS loan is disbursed within 12 months of the MPN signing. If your former Grad PLUS loan was approved with an endorser (co-signer), you will need to complete a new MPN.

Loan Amounts and Limits

• Grad PLUS Loan amounts will vary widely. The Office of Financial Aid must determine your direct unsubsidized eligibility before you can borrow under the Grad PLUS program.

Interest Rate and Loan Fees

• The interest rates vary each year. For the most up-to date interest rates, visit studentaid.gov.

Repayment

• While enrolled at least half-time, you will receive automatic deferment. Since Grad PLUS Loan is not a subsidized loan, interest will accrue during this time. Repayment begins six months after you drop below half-time, graduate or leave school. Learn about your repayment options.

Private educational loans are non-federal loans offered by private lenders. The FAFSA is normally not required to apply for a private loan but, we recommend that students first complete the federal aid process to determine if they qualify for a federal loan which often has more favorable terms than a private loan. To review and apply for Alternative loan options, click Alternative Loan Options. SAU’s lender list is available at FASTChoice.

Students are welcome to select lenders not shown on the list and have the right to do so under federal rules. If you select a lender not on our list, you will need to provide the Office of Financial Aid information necessary to process the loan. To determine what information is needed, contact our office at [email protected] or 517-750-2900.

SAU does not endorse or recommend any specific lender(s) therefore, you are free to borrow your loan from any participating lender.

When it comes to repaying your federal student loan, there's a lot to consider. Understanding the details of repayment can save you time and money. Visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/ plans for additional information

Information on your federal loan debt, such as loan holder information, which program you borrowed from, and how much you have borrowed is available at the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website  https://nsldsfap.ed.gov/login Your loan holder will provide you with information about your monthly payments, interest and length of repayment.

Spring Arbor University graduates have an excellent loan repayment rate; 94.1% stay on track with their payments.

A direct loan consolidation loan allows you to combine multiple federal education loans into one loan. Visit https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/ for additional information.

Understanding your loan agreement, staying on top of your loan information, and making sure to contact your loan servicer if you are having trouble making payments can help you avoid default. Defaulting on a loan affects not only the borrower, but also the university as well as the U.S. taxpayer. The borrower will experience negative consequences to his or her credit rating, garnishment of wages and collection from federal funds such as tax refunds and/or Social Security benefits.

More information about avoiding going into default on your federal loan. For private loans, contact your lender for details.

• Know your rights and responsibilities.
• Create a personal budget and borrow what is absolutely necessary.
• Avoid capitalization of interest on unsubsidized loans by making interest payments immediately following disbursement.
• Organize all loan information in one secure location. Keep detailed records of how much you borrowed and from whom.
• Regularly verify the accuracy of your loan information in the National Student Loan Data System.
• Always inform your lender of you contact information changes and always respond to lender-initiated communication.