After You're Offered Financial Aid

Congratulations on receiving your financial aid offer! Now take a few more steps to complete the process.

With your financial aid offer, you're one step closer to making Bethel a part of your journey. Follow these clear steps to understand your offer and make confident decisions about your next steps. You can access your aid offer through the Financial Aid Requirements channel in MyBethel.

1. Review your financial aid terms

By accepting your offer, you agree to follow state and federal guidelines. Be sure to read through theseterms and conditions so you know what to expect. 

2. Find your annual cost

Start with a clear understanding of your tuition, housing, and meal plan costs to understand your total cost to attend Bethel.

How to: You can find them under “My Statement and Finances” on MyBethel.

3. Accept or decline your aid

Decide which scholarships and grants you want to accept.

What you need to do: You can accept or decline aid by accessing your financial aid offer through your “Financial Aid Requirements” channel in MyBethel. And be sure to complete the required online thank-you note if you accept a scholarship or grant.

4. Explore your loan options

Need additional help paying for Bethel? Look into federal, state, and private loans to find what works best for you.

How to:

• First, you can compare your loan options.
• Once you decide which loans to pursue, you can accept or decline loan offers on the “Financial Aid Requirements” section in MyBethel:
  • Select the appropriate academic year from the drop down list.
  • Click the “Accept Award Offer” tab.
  • Decide how much of your Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan or PLUS/Private Loan Eligibility you want to borrow for the full year, and follow the instructions.
  • Click “Submit Decision.”
• Then complete any required steps like entrance counseling or a master promissory note.
• Note: 
  • a. If you accept your Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan and you're a new Bethel borrower, you must complete both loan entrance counseling and a master promissory note (MPN). Be sure to select “Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and “Complete Entrance Counseling”. These are two distinct separate steps on the website. Select Minnesota as the School State when completing these requirements. You will need reference information for two people with different U.S. addresses.
  • b. If you accept the PLUS/Private Loan Eligibility this indicates to the Financial Aid Office that either your parent will be applying for a PLUS loan or the student will be applying for a Private Loan. There is a separate application process for these loans. Applications are available after April 1.

5. Handle verification (if needed)

About one in four students need to provide extra information to confirm their FAFSA details—a process is called Financial Aid Verification.

How to: Check your financial aid requirements in MyBethel to see if this applies to you and complete any required forms.

6. Submit an appeal for special circumstances

If your family's finances have changed or you have unexpected expenses.

How to: You can submit an appeal to see if you're eligible for more aid.

7. Search for extra resources

Look into private scholarships, military benefits, employer reimbursement, TEACH Grant (for Education majors) and the Church Partnership Scholarship. Report any outside assistance to the financial aid office.

How to: To report private grants, scholarships or employer reimbursement, you’ll need to:

• Access your financial aid offer through your “Financial Aid Requirements” channel in MyBethel
• Select the appropriate academic year from the dropdown list
• In your award information, click the Resources/Additional Information tab and follow the instructions

To report military benefits please complete the Military Benefits Verification form. 

8. Notify us of changes in enrollment assumptions.

If your plans for housing or if you take fewer credits than listed on your reward, let us know using the online update form so we can adjust your aid package.

How to: Use the online update form to notify the financial aid office of changes in your anticipated enrollment. If you enroll in less than the number of credits listed on your award, your aid will be reviewed and some adjustments may be necessary.

9. Sign up a payment plan

Break your bill into manageable monthly payments. Payment plans for fall semester open after July 10.

How to: Enroll in a monthly payment plan.

10. Find a campus job

Work-study jobs and other campus positions can help cover personal expenses. Keep an eye out for job openings to connect with the Bethel community and build your skills.

How to: Complete the Student Employment Application for work-study eligible students by May 31. Applications must be submitted by May 31. If you miss the May 31 deadline, you are not work-study eligible. Explore Bethel's job listings. 

11. Check your status and stay on top of deadlines

Use MyBethel to track important dates like loan applications, payment deadlines, and job opportunities.

How to: View the status of your documents and requirements through your Financial Aid Requirements channel in MyBethel. Items marked with a red flag need to be completed. Click on the link provided to complete an item.

12. Give your parents or trusted relative access

Want your family to stay in the loop? Set up proxy access so they can view your account and help manage payments.

How to: Set up proxy access.

 

Question? We're here to help. 

Contact your financial aid counselor or the financial aid office.