Bethany uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish a student's eligibility for need-based assistance. Information about a family's income and assets is used to determine how much the family can reasonably contribute to the cost of a student's education. Family size, age of parents and other variables are taken into consideration.

Students who, on the basis of the FAFSA analysis, need assistance to close the gap between their family's resources and the cost of attending Bethany will be awarded need-based aid. Eligibility for such aid is determined annually and may fluctuate from year to year, due to changing family circumstances.

When applying for federal financial aid, follow these steps:

• Obtain your federal Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov. (You and your parent must each apply for a federal PIN.)
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
•  Submit the FAFSA online or by mail by March 15 for Kansas residents and April 1 for all other students.

Federal Perkins Loans are awarded to students with exceptional financial need. The loans are made by Bethany College at an interest rate of five percent, with the student paying neither interest nor principal until nine months after graduating, leaving college or dropping below half-time status.

Federal Pell Grants are funded by the federal government and awarded to students with high financial need.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are funded by the federal government and awarded by Bethany to students demonstrating an exceptionally high financial need. Recipients must be Pell eligible.

Drug Convictions and Federal Aid: Students who are convicted of any offense, during a period of enrollment for which they received Title IV, Higher Education Act (HEA) Federal Student Aid (whether grants, loans or work-study), under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs may lose their eligibility for any Title IV, HEA grant, loan, or work-study assistance (HEA Sec. 484 (r)(1); (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)(1)).

Notice to students and/or parents who borrow Stafford, Perkins, or Plus loans: The loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

For more financial aid information, call 800-826-2281 or contact the Bethany Financial Aid Office.