Complete the FAFSA for free using the official FAFSA website.

It's important to file ASAP because federal funding is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Even if you don't think you'll qualify for federal aid, SBU requires the FAFSA and uses it to help determine eligibility for school-specific funding like scholarships and grants.

While filling out your FAFSA application, make sure you indicate SBU as a school you're interested in by using our school code: 002502

SBU's recommended FAFSA deadline is February 1st for the upcoming school year. For Missouri residents to be considered for the Access Missouri Grant Program, undergraduate students must have a FAFSA received date on or before February 1st. 

Complete your FAFSA

While not every student will be selected, each year some students are randomly selected for FAFSA verification. If you are selected, you will need to submit some additional forms before funds (grants/federal student loans) can be released to your account.

FAFSA Help

If you are planning to use miliary educational benefits to help pay for school, complete the Veteran Certification Request Form as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days before the start of the academic term.

More Info for Veterans and Active Military

You will receive your personalized financial aid award package after you've been admitted and your FAFSA has been processed. Financial aid packages normally become available to view sometime in March for students planning to attend the following fall.

Your personalized financial aid package will include all financial aid for which you qualify, which may include:

• SBU scholarships (academic, athletic, church-related, performance-based or privately funded awards)
• State-funded and federal-funded grants
• Student loans
• Federal college work study program

Check your SBU email for important information regarding how to log in to the MyBearcat portal. Use the Self-Service module to accept and/or decline any part of your financial aid award.

Explore payment options for any balance remaining after your financial aid is applied. SBU bills one semester at a time and utilizes an online system with payment plan options. Payment arrangements need to be finalized two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.

Explore Your Payment Options

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has undergone significant changes in 2024, leading to delayed start to the FAFSA filing process and increasing the wait times for families to receive aid award packages from colleges. Southwest Baptist University is working to minimize the impact of these delays on families by providing timely updates and tips for navigating the new FAFSA.

Thanks to the updates made to the FAFSA, it isn’t as complicated or time-consuming as it seems or has been in the past: in fact, nearly 2/3 of the questions have been eliminated on the newly designed form, and there are many you don’t even have to answer on your own! In about the time it takes you to catch up on your Instagram feed - and with only a few pieces of information - you can take the critical first step in getting the money you need to attend college!

To receive any state or federal financial aid for which you may qualify, you must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

1. Complete the FAFSA for free using the official FAFSA website at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
2. Indicate SBU on your FAFSA using SBU's FAFSA school code: 002502
3. SBU's recommended FAFSA deadline: February 1 for upcoming school year
4. To be considered for the Access Missouri Grant Program, undergraduate students must have a FAFSA received date on or before April 1

Once SBU receives your FAFSA results, a personalized financial aid package will be put together for you and a financial aid award letter will be mailed indicating your financial aid eligibility. Your admissions counselor will help you through this process and work with you to create a financial aid package that works for you.

The Department of Education is planning to send colleges FAFSA information in March, and SBU is planning to release financial aid awards in April.

 

NEW FAFSA Filing Kit: Everything You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA

Filing the FAFSA isn’t as complicated or time-consuming as it seems: in fact, nearly 2/3 of the questions have been eliminated on the newly designed form, and there are many you don’t even have to answer on your own! In about the time it takes you to catch up on your Instagram feed - and with only a few pieces of information - you can take the critical first step in getting the money you need to attend college!

Here’s a checklist of everything you and your parent need to fill out, sign and submit the FAFSA:

• An FSA ID. You, and whichever parent(s) will be contributors on your FAFSA must create a separate FSA ID by each creating an account on studentaid.gov. Do this first!
• You and your parent’s Social Security numbers. If you’re not a U.S. Citizen but fall into one of the categories that make you eligible for federal financial aid, you’ll also need your A-Number. If your parent doesn’t have a Social Security Number, that’s ok - just provide their mailing address.
• Driver’s license (if you have one).
• List of schools to which you want to send the FAFSA. Starting this year, you can list up to 20! They’ll automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically, and use them to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive.
• If applicable, other records of money earned, and records of the value of student and parents assets and investments (not including retirement funds).

In previous years, you would have needed your and your parents’ federal income tax returns for the “prior-prior” year. But now, federal tax information (FTI) will automatically populate in your FAFSA once you and your parent(s) have provided consent. One less thing to have to do!

Want to know more? Check out the Federal Student Aid YouTube channel for more info on the big changes to the FAFSA that make it easier and faster to fill out. Your school’s financial aid office will help you with any questions you have at any time in the process, so don’t hesitate to contact them as well.

Our Office of Financial Aid will work with you to ensure you have access to the resources you need to pay for college. Our goal is to make sure all qualified applicants can invest in an education here.

If you have any questions about financial aid, need help filling out the FAFSA or encounter special financial circumstances your family is experiencing, please call us at (804) 123-5678 or email us.

Don’t forget to list our FAFSA Code:  002502

File your Free FAFSA Application here

FAFSA Code

SBU's school code is 002502. Use it when filling out your FAFSA to ensure that our financial aid office receives your form.

Haven't started your FAFSA application yet?

File your Free FAFSA Application here

Are loans right for you?

Every student and family situation is different, and for some using loans to pay for college might not be the right choice. But for those who are responsible with debt and who are willing to leverage it for the long-term benefits of a college degree, loans can be a useful tool. If you think you will take out loans, make sure to do your research, look for best rates, and estimate what your monthly payments will be after graduation.

Direct loans offer two options - subsidized and unsubsidized loans:

Interest on subsidized loans is paid by the government while a student is in school, but there are lower limits on the amount that can be borrowed.

Interest on unsubsidized loans accrues while the student is in school and there are larger limits that can be borrowed.

The aggregate borrowing limit for an undergraduate student on direct loans is $31,000 and no more than $23,000 of this can be direct subsidized loans. Please visit studentaid.gov to review situations that could change your borrowing limit. 

Learn more about the different types of loans on Studentaid.gov

Payment Plans:

How to set up a payment plan online using your Student Account Center:

1. Click on "Self-Service" and select "Student Finance".

2. Click "Make a Payment".

Choose the "Payment Plans" option in the page menu or click on the "Enroll in Payment Plan" box located under your account balance.

4. Select the term for which you wish to set up a payment plan and select the payment plan option that works best for you.

5. Follow the prompts to schedule your payments using either your bank account information or a debit/credit card (adds additional processing fee). Your payments will automatically be paid on the due date using the payment method entered.

 

For new students: Questions regarding the SBU Payment Plan should be directed to your admissions counselor. 

 

Note: All charges for tuition, room and board, and fees are due in full at the beginning of the semester unless covered by an SBU Payment Plan. Payment plans are not available to international students.

 

Learn more about your Payment Options

New to SBU?

Incoming freshmen or transfer students can contact their admissions counselor with any questions about their financial aid awards, scholarships, or loans.

Connect with your Admissions Counselor

Returning students can contact:

Office of Financial Aid
1600 University Avenue
Bolivar, MO 65613
(417) 328-1822
Email: finaid@sbuniv.edu
Financial aid counselors are available by phone Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Financial Aid Office Hours
Monday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Thursday: Closed
Friday: By appointment only
*Closed for an hour over lunch and during chapel services*

Make an Appointment

Complaint Resolution

Southwest Baptist University desires to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in a timely, fair and efficient manner. Certain types of situations can be resolved internally by simply contacting university personnel. If an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

Code of Conduct

1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
   1. Employees within the financial aid office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
   2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
   3. A borrower's choice of lender will not be denied, impeded or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution's preferred lender list.
   4. No amount of cash, gift or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such services).
2. Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
3. Institutional award notifications and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
   1. A breakdown of individual components of the institution's Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
   2. Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work, or loan.
   3. Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA's glossary of award letter terms.
   4. Renewal requirements for each award.
4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site(s) and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as "Consumer Information."
5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.