Documentation
The full usage manual for the Student Financial Aid Portal may be downloaded here: Student Financial Aid Portal Documentation
For more information, browse the FAQs below. If needed, contact your Admissions Counselor or Student Coach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I set up my Student Financial Aid Portal account for the first time?
Answer: Log in to BRUIN Connect and select the Financial Aid Portal - Student tile to access your profile. Use your Bellevue University Student Email address and BRUIN Connect password to log in.
Q: What is the difference between Gross and Net on the loan amounts I am offered?
Answer: The gross amount is the total loan amount you are responsible for repaying. The government then charges a “loan fee,” which is taken out of the gross amount before the funds are applied to your student account. What is left after the loan fee is referred to as the “net” amount.
Q: What does “Total Costs” mean?
Answer: To help you plan what you may need to pay as a student at Bellevue, “Total Costs” can be used as a budgeting tool. Two components make up your estimated total costs. Direct costs are what you can expect to pay directly to the university, and indirect costs are purchases you may need to plan for.
Q: Why do I need to select the subsidized loan amount first?
Answer: The subsidized loan is interest free to you while enrolled at least half time. We encourage you to consider the subsidized loan first, if it is available to you. Other loans, like the unsubsidized loans, have interest while you are in school.
Q: What is the best way to turn in my missing documents?
Answer: The best and fastest way is to upload documents to your Financial Aid Portal “Documents” page.
Q: How does my parent sign the Verification Worksheet electronically?
Answer: Once you complete the student portion of the electronic form, you will be asked for the email information for the parent that should sign your document. The parent will receive the email with next steps.
Q: I submitted my missing documents, but it still shows that the document is “needed.” When will this be updated?
Answer: Usually, this means we left a message for you regarding the document, and request that you upload the document again with corrections. From your Financial Aid Portal, click “Documents” at the top right of the page, and check for corrections needed.
Q: I’ve turned everything in. When will my award be packaged?
Answer: Provided no additional information is needed, you should expect your financial aid awards to be available for disbursement (to Student Accounts; not the same as a "Refund") within 5-10 business days.
Q: Why don’t I see my scholarship on my award (Internal or External)?
Answer: The financial aid office works to add your scholarships as soon as possible. Please confirm with the scholarship provider that the funds have been sent to the university’s financial aid office. Normal processing time varies.
Q: How can I see last year’s award information?
Answer: From the Student Financial Aid Portal, you can view your current and past financial aid awards when clicking on their corresponding academic years. For example, if you want to view your awards from last academic year, click on the academic year that matches that time period.
Q: Can I accept more loan funds if I did not take them all when I first accepted?
Answer: Yes. If your loan funds are in cancelled status, you will need to reach out to your Student Coach to reinstate them. Otherwise, you should be able to edit the amount by clicking the pencil icon next to the fund you wish to adjust. Refer to "How do I adjust or change my financial aid award?" for assistance.
Q: I’ve completed the FAFSA. Now what?
Answer: Visit the Student Financial Aid Portal and complete any open action items listed. There may be additional information requested from the Financial Aid Office at any time, so check the portal for any recent requests.
Q: If I only want Financial Aid to review for Federal and State Grants, and I do not plan to take any student loans, what do I do?
Answer: If you are still packaged for student loans, but do not want loans, you will need to decline the award from within the Student Financial Aid Portal. Refer to "How do I accept or decline my financial aid award?" for assistance.
IMPORTANT! If you choose not to accept all of the Financial Aid awards offered, be aware of the potential for a "funding gap" as a result of declining Financial Aid. This means that you will likely be required to make payments to Bellevue University at the beginning of each term to compensate for the funding gap. Payment is due 45 days after the start of each term.
Q: What happens if I am eligible to receive a Financial Aid Refund?
Answer: If you are eligible to receive a refund after disbursement, which is generally based on an excess of Financial Aid, the refund will be issued after funds have been applied to your Student Account balance. You may choose to receive refunds in the form of direct deposit or check. If no preference is indicated in your Student Account, a check will be mailed automatically. You may designate your refund option within TouchNet (https://secure.touchnet.net/C20418_tsa/web/).
Q: I’ve received my award letter. Now what?
Answer: Review your eligibility in the Student Financial Aid Portal. Then, accept which loans and/or how much in loans you are willing to take on. If you do not wish to utilize loans at all, you will need to decline your award(s). Refer to "How do I accept or decline my financial aid award?" for assistance.
IMPORTANT! If you choose not to accept all of the Financial Aid awards offered, be aware of the potential for a "funding gap" as a result of declining Financial Aid. This means that you will likely be required to make payments to Bellevue University at the beginning of each term to compensate for the funding gap. Payment is due 45 days after the start of each term.
Q: How do I accept/decline my Financial Aid Award?
Answer: Please refer to the article "How do I accept or decline my financial aid award?" for assistance.
NOTE: A Parent Plus loan may be offered as part of your Financial Aid award. This loan will be in the name of your parent or guardian, and requires passing a credit check, along with additional steps.
IMPORTANT! If you choose not to accept all of the Financial Aid awards offered, be aware of the potential for a "funding gap" as a result of declining Financial Aid. This means that you will likely be required to make payments to Bellevue University at the beginning of each term to compensate for the funding gap. Payment is due 45 days after the start of each term.
Q: Now that I’ve completed the FAFSA, are there other "federal" steps that need to be completed?
Answer: Complete your Master Promissory Note AND Loan Entrance Counseling for Stafford Loans. To do so, log in to https://studentaid.gov/ using your personal account information, then follow the instructions for completing your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling.
IMPORTANT! If you do not complete this step, your student loan will not be disbursed to Bellevue University.
Q: My parents are helping finance my education; what do they need to do?
Answer: To receive a PLUS loan, the parent MUST complete a Direct Parent PLUS application and PLUS MPN by going to the following StudentAid.gov webpage: https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/parent/landing
NOTE: Your parent/guardian will need to choose "Parent Borrowers."
STEP 1 - Click Apply for a Plus Loan (Sign in). Your Parent will need to log in with their FSA ID.
STEP 2 - Choose Start PLUS Application Process (Approval/Denial notice is typically immediate after submission).
STEP 3 – If approved, complete the Direct Parent PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note.
Q: What if the Parent PLUS Loan is denied by the Department of Education?
Answer: Processing of the Parent PLUS Loan stops. The Financial Aid Office will note the denial on the student record and offer the dependent student additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds as part of their financial aid award up to the maximum award amount of a student with independent status.
● The Direct Loan Servicing Center will notify the parent and explain why the review of his/her credit history was denied.
● If you have an adverse credit history, you can appeal the credit decision or obtain an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history.
A co-sponsor/endorser is someone who agrees to repay the loan if you do not repay it.
● If you are approved for a Graduate PLUS loan due to an appeal or co-sponsor/endorser, you will be required to complete PLUS Adverse Counseling. You will be directed by the Department of Education on how to complete this.
NOTE: Parents who have questions about credit approval or denial, must contact the Federal Direct Loan Servicing Center at (800) 557-7394.
Q: What is the difference between a subsidized and unsubsidized loan?
Answer: Subsidized loans do not accrue interest until you enter repayment. Unsubsidized loans begin to accrue interest immediately after disbursement. These loans are in your name (student).
Q: When do I need to start making payments on student loans?
Answer: Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans will enter repayment once you are no longer taking classes for at least half time (minimum of four credits per term). You will have a six (6) month grace period from that date before payments begin. Summer term is excluded from this requirement.
NOTE: For a Parent Plus Loan, parents may choose to defer payment while you (student) are in school.
Q: Do I have to reapply for Financial Aid every year?
Answer: YES! The new FAFSA application becomes available starting on October 1st in order to reapply for the following year. If you are receiving a renewable scholarship, you must reapply every January.
Q: What is Verification?
Answer: Some students who complete a FAFSA may be selected for a process called Verification. Students are randomly selected by the Federal Processor, or may be selected for verification by our processor based on conflicting information. The purpose of verification is to confirm that the information reported on your FAFSA is accurate and you are receiving the right amount of aid.
Q: What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?
Answer: You must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress to retain your financial aid eligibility. This means you must successfully complete at least two-thirds (2/3) of your total credit hours attempted with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. To successfully complete a course means earning a grade of “D” or higher. An assigned grade of “W” will occur if you withdraw from a course after the add/drop period, and it will not be considered a successfully completed course.
Q: If I owe money to the school, when do I need to make a payment?
Answer: Any balance remaining on your account after Financial Aid has been received is due 45 days after the start of each term.
Q: What happens if I cannot pay my bill?
Answer: If you are experiencing an economic hardship, our Student Accounts department will work with you by setting up a payment plan to help keep your account current. If your student account becomes past due, you will not be able to enroll in classes for the upcoming term.
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