Financial Aid

Office of Financial Aid 651.638.6241 | finaid@bethel.edu | bethel.edu/financial-aid

QUESTIONS? Your student's financial aid counselor is the go-to point of contact for all financial aid questions. Our office can help connect students to their counselor and answer questions. Keep in mind that privacy laws may prevent us from speaking directly with parents regarding certain information.

STUDENT RECORDS Privacy laws change when a student enters school at the college level. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), college students are considered responsible adults and are allowed to determine who can access information about their student records (billing, financial aid, academics, etc.). Consequently, we are prohibited from sharing financial aid award information with students’ parents, spouse, or other third party. Bethel has provided a way for your student to authorize parents or others to view such information. This process is called proxy access. Your student can create a proxy on their account through the financial aid website.

PROXY AND AUTHORIZED USERS While privacy laws prohibit Bethel from sharing financial aid award information with parents, spouses, or other third parties, a proxy user access can be setup for others to view such information for a student’s account. In addition, if a student would like to provide parents or others access to pay their student account online, they’ll need to be setup as an authorized user (for access to tuition and billing information only). For setup instructions bethel.edu/financial-aid/proxy.

FINANCIAL AID POLICIES Please be aware there are financial aid policies that may impact your student’s financial aid eligibility. • Students need to be enrolled full

time (12 credits or more per semester) to receive most of their grants and scholarships. • The Minnesota State Grant amount can vary each semester if the student is enrolled in less than 15 credits. • Students must meet Satisfactory

Academic Progress to be able to maintain financial aid eligibility at

Bethel. • Outside assistance such as scholarships or military benefits may impact the amount of institutional gift aid, student employment, or loans a student may receive.

DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS for either access type, please visit

There are additional institutional scholarships available to current students who will return the next academic year. Faculty and staff select the students in their department to receive these scholarships. Both needbased and merit scholarships are available. Students must be full-time, in good standing, and working toward their first bachelor’s degree. Student must complete a separate online application through their Blink account. This application is only available between early December and February 10 each year.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Sometimes special circumstances limit what you can handle financially and are not factored in when you apply for financial aid. If your family has experienced reduced income or unusual and non-discretionary expenses, consider submitting an online appeal for additional financial aid.