Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance
email financialaid@brenau.edu

For many new students, Financial Aid is one of the most important and least-understood aspects of returning to school. With forms, regulations, and deadlines at every turn, it's no wonder new students are often confused!
At Brenau University, we're committed to helping you find your way through the financial aid maze, and to helping you finance on of the best investments you can make: education. 

Many new college students aren't sure whether or not they'll qualify for some type of help in financing their college educations. Adult learners, in particular, have questions about financial aid. Many think they don't qualify for scholarships, grants, or loans. But they can.

The first step in investigating financial aid for your education is one you've already taken—being accepted at Brenau University. Making satisfactory academic progress is the next step and that's up to you, too.

The other steps we work out together. They begin when you schedule a visit with a financial aid counselor. Even if you don't think you'll need financial aid, it's a good idea to find out what opportunities are available.

Your counselor will provide you with the forms you need to navigate the financial aid maze. The detail of the process are discussed below, but four of the basic items you'll need are:

• A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Written documentation to support your financial aid applications
• If you have any questions about what is needed or how to complete the forms, your financial aid counselor can work with you to make sure you submit everything that's needed.

The kinds of aid you're eligible often depends on whether you've completed the bachelor's degree. Undergraduate and graduate students both rely on four main types of aid:

• Grants
• Federal work-study programs
• Academic scholarships
• Loans

Most students who rely on financial aid use several of the above forms of aid to cover the costs of college. Some of the above forms are more competitive than others, however; financing all of the costs of an education through grants (money that doesn't have to be paid back) or academic scholarships is an impossibility for many students. Federal work study programs and special loans are more readily available in most cases.

The following sections are detailed descriptions of how and when to apply for financial aid, and the exact meaning of "satisfactory academic progress." It explains about financial aid eligibility and the exact meaning of "satisfactory academic progress", as well as providing a list of financial aid programs offered at Brenau. For simplicity's sake, the following information is divided into graduate and undergraduate sections. Although we've made every effort to be thorough, accurate, and clear, there's no substitute for a qualified financial aid counselor. Be sure to contact the Office of Financial Aid during the financial aid process and discuss your options.

Completing FAFSA on the Web»