Undergraduate Financial Aid

The HSU Office of Financial Aid strives to provide students with information and financial resources to attend Hardin-Simmons University, along with support programs that promote higher education and developmental opportunities. As a part of this commitment, we hope to provide several financial solutions to graduate students at all levels.

If a student requires need-based financial aid, the student should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application should be completed after October 1, but preferably before February 1 for priority consideration for the upcoming academic year. The FAFSA should be completed in sufficient time to allow HSU to receive the results no later than July 15th, so that students will be notified of eligibility before invoices for fall charges are mailed. Baylor normally receives results of the FAFSA from the federal processor within three to five business days from the date you file the form electronically.

Financial assistance is awarded for one year at a time (Summer, Fall, Spring). Separate applications must be filed each year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available in October for the coming academic year.

Need-based financial assistance programs are designed for students who have a demonstrated financial need, as defined by the FAFSA or other applicable application, in order to assist students in paying college expenses. All financial aid is contingent upon student enrollment and making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined by the HSU Financial Aid Office or the specific aid program.

Financial aid is available in two forms: Gift Aid and Self-Help.

Gift Aid	Self-Help
Grants (Federal, State, Institutional)	Loans (Federal, State, Alternative, Institutional)
Scholarships	Student Employment (Work Study, Internships)
	Outside Scholarships

The purpose of financial aid within Hardin-Simmons University is to ensure that all students have an opportunity to obtain a college education, and that no student will be denied that opportunity because of lack of funds. Most financial aid is awarded to students based on financial need to meet college cost. Therefore, the financial aid application process is set up to uniformly measure how much financial aid each individual student needs for college based on the individual circumstances of the student and the student’s family.

HSU Financial Aid wishes to assist eligible students in realizing their goals.
HSU will publish an annual Cost of Attendance (COA) budget that states total student expenses realistically by including, where applicable, off campus cost, at home costs for dependent and independent students, including room and board, cost of books, cost of transportation, personal expenses, and miscellaneous expenses.
Parents are expected to contribute (if required) according to their means, taking into account their income, assets, number of dependents, and other relevant information. Students themselves are expected to contribute from their own assets and earnings, including appropriate borrowing against future earnings.
Financial aid will be offered once a determination of need can be established for both institutional and federal/state aid. The amount of aid offered will not exceed the amount needed to meet the difference between the student’s total educational expenses and the family’s resources.
The amount and type of self-help expected from students will be related to the circumstances of each individual.
The Financial Aid Office (FAO) will review its financial aid cost of attendance budgets annually and adjust them, if necessary, to reflect changes in the financial needs of students and the expenses of attending the university. HSU has an obligation to inform students and parents of the financial aid offer, via a financial aid notification, once eligibility has been determined and verification completed (if applicable), based on the financial aid office’s receipt of a Student Aid Report (SAR) and/or Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR).
Because the amount of financial aid awarded reflects the economic circumstances of students and their families, HSU will refrain from any public announcement of the amount of aid offered and encourage students and others to respect the confidentiality of this information.
All documents, correspondence, and conversations between and among aid applicants, their families, and the FAO are confidential and entitled to the protection ordinarily arising from a counseling relationship.

The objectives of the FAO revolve around the major functions of the office. Those functions include:

Awarding and disbursal of funds
Reporting at the institutional, state, and federal levels
Providing a satisfying, open door policy to assist students

To apply for financial assistance, an eligible student must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st each year for the next academic year. Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid as soon as possible. Students who do not meet the citizenship eligibility requirements to complete the FAFSA may be eligible to submit the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) on the College for Texans Website . Information on these applications can be found at HSU’s Financial Aid Process page. Only students who have been accepted for enrollment, have a FAFSA or other financial aid application on file, and have submitted all requested documentation to HSU Financial Aid will be sent a financial aid offer.

Financial aid offers for incoming students beginning in the Fall semester are made early in the preceding Spring semester. Financial aid offers for incoming students beginning in the Spring semester are made late in the preceding Fall semester. Financial aid offers to continuing students for the upcoming academic year are made Spring semester and may be adjusted once Spring grades have been submitted. To be considered for Summer Financial Aid you must complete a Summer Financial Aid Request form and complete the following steps prior to submitting your request form to the Financial Aid Office.

You must file a FAFSA for 2022-2023 in order to receive financial aid for Summer 2022.
You must be enrolled at least half-time. To be considered enrolled half-time, the student must register for and attend at least six (6) hours during the summer terms.
If you are Pell eligible you will be awarded your summer Pell eligibility amount based on enrolled hours, and if you wish to deny the award you must contact the Financial Aid Office via email. Pell eligibility awarded amount is subject to change based on actual summer attendance as determined on Pell Recalculation date of August 8. If funding has already disbursed, you may be required to repay your financial aid.

Financial aid offers are made based on the assumption that students will enroll full-time in the Fall and Spring semesters. Cost of attendance and offered financial aid amounts will be adjusted for students who are enrolled less than full-time at HSU or another approved consortium program.

Students may only receive federal financial aid for eligible courses that count towards their program of study. State and Institutional Aid are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions. Regardless of the type(s) of aid offered, the cost of attendance for students will be reduced for courses that are not counting towards their program of study, which may result in a lower amount of federal, state, and institutional aid a student could receive. Financial aid offers may also be adjusted if a student does not begin attendance in all courses in which he or she is registered.

Student inquiries may be directed to:
Hardin-Simmons University
Financial Aid
HSU Box 16050
Abilene, TX 79698
Direct Ph. - (325) 670-1050 Toll-Free - (800) GO-HSUTX Fax - (325) 670-5822
Email - financialaid@hsutx.edu
FAFSA School Code 003571
Please visit our website for the most current information on financial aid applications, programs, and any associated deadlines.

Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduate students who have NOT received a baccalaureate degree and who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The Federal Pell Grant provides a foundation of financial assistance to which aid from other sources may be added. If you are eligible, you will receive the full amount you qualify for based on your enrollment status and your expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA. Pell eligible students taking summer courses may be entitled to receive Pell funds during the summer term depending on the number of hours they are enrolled and calculated EFC.

Students enrolled in summer courses will receive a portion of their Federal Pell Grant during the summer term depending on the number of hours they are enrolled in and calculated EFC. Pell eligible students are entitled to receive up to 150% of their scheduled award in during the award year. If a student receives Pell in the summer and fall terms, then they must be enrolled at least half-time to receive additional Pell Grant funds in the spring term.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a need-based grant from the federal government that assists students with the most financial need and are pursuing their first undergraduate degree pay for college. Funds for this grant are limited, so the sooner a student files a FAFSA the higher their chances are to receive this grant. Per federal regulation institutions must fund 25% of the SEOG grant program, so HSU offers students who are eligible for SEOG an institutional grant. Students with the most financial need will be given priority.

The Federal Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship is an award available to Pell-eligible students whose parent/guardian* died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer** These students are eligible to receive the maximum Pell grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made. Please see the following website for detailed eligibility requirements and definitions* https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2018-11-19/general-subject-children-fallen-heroes-scholarship-act or locate the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship on our Grants section of the HSU Webpage.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is a federal grant to assist students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree whose parent or guardian died because of military service in either Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 and who were under the age of 24 or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of their parent’s/guardian’s death. Students will be considered for the IASG by filing a FAFSA. If you are eligible, you will receive the amount you are eligible for based on your enrollment status. IASG recipients taking summer courses will be able to receive IASG funds during the summer terms. Please see the following website for detailed eligibility requirements https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/iraq-afghanistan-service or locate the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant in our Grants section of the HSU Webpage.

The Tuition Equalization Grant program provides grant aid to financially needy Texas resident students to enable them to attend private colleges or universities in Texas.

To qualify for the TEG, you are expected to meet the following requirements of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and have the financial eligibility based on results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Be a Texas resident as defined by the Coordinating Board
Be registered with the Selective Service, or otherwise exempt
Maintain a minimum cumulative HSU GPA of at least 2.5 (Evaluated at the end of each semester)
Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution
Enrolled full-time (12 hours for undergraduates, 9 hours for graduates), unless they are in their graduating semester
Have an EFC equal to or below the TEG EFC Cap (determined each award year)
Not be enrolled in a religious or theological major or minor program
Not be a recipient of a Ministerial Grant or Theology Scholarship
Be required to pay more tuition than required at a comparable public university and be charged no less tuition required of all similarly situated enrolled at the institution
Be pursing their first associate, baccalaureate, master's, professional, or doctoral degree (excluding degrees leading to religious ministry)
A student's eligibility ends 5 years from the first semester awarded if enrolled in a degree program of 4 years or less

In order to receive disbursements of any state aid for which you are eligible, you must complete and return the Texas Residency Affirmation. This is a state-mandated regulation. A copy of the form can be found in the student portal.

Undergraduate students who have a zero EFC are awarded the exceptional need amount. Depending on availability of funds, students who have an EFC less than $1,000 may be receive the exceptional need amount. Undergraduate students will be given priority for TEG funds. If TEG funds remain after awarding TEG to all eligible undergraduates, then eligible graduate students will be considered for the funds based on the criteria above.

NOTE: Certain state and federal grants are awarded based on availability of funds. Renewal from year to year is not a guarantee. Therefore, to maximize financial aid options, it is to your benefit to file the FAFSA as early as possible each year. For additional information on TEG, see https://www.hsutx.edu/grants/

Additionally, Hardin-Simmons University provides institutional grant (Simmons Exchange Grant) aid to eligible students to assist with educational expenses. The Simmons Exchange Grant is subject to fund availability and may be funded by various sources. Students who receive additional endowed scholarships and/or other grants may see their Simmons Exchange Grant decrease as it is replaced with specific grants, like TEG & SEOG, additional Pell, or the names of generous donors who gave sacrificially to help lower your tuition cost.

Scholarships and Endowments

HSU aims to make attending college affordable for prospective and current students. After admittance, applicants are eligible to be evaluated for scholarships. Hardin-Simmons provides equal opportunity and considers a student’s academic performance, ACT/SAT scores, co-curricular involvement, enrollment status, and anticipated major when awarding scholarships to a student’s account. Unless otherwise noted, additional applications for institutional scholarships are not required. However, students should submit the general scholarship application on Scholarship Universe prior to May 31st each year.

The value of the awards varies, and the term of scholarships range from one to four years. Awarding colleges and departments select recipients based upon predetermined criteria. Awards are typically announced mid-Summer for the following academic year.

Endowed Scholarship opportunities are financial aid awards that have been established through generous donations to Hardin-Simmons University by individuals who wish to enable Hardin-Simmons’ students to further their education at reduced cost through additional scholarship funding. Numerous endowed scholarships are available through the various departments across campus, each with their own set of criteria that was established by the donor of the scholarship fund. Recipients of a particular endowed scholarship(s) are determined by the respective faculty/staff member who serves as their department’s Scholarship Budget Officer. Endowed scholarship opportunities available to Hardin-Simmons students can be applied for through Scholarship Universe, HSU’s scholarship management system. For more information, please visit the HSU Scholarship Section of our website.

Institutional Academic Scholarships for Incoming Freshman

Scholarship	2022-2023 Annual Award	Renewal GPA
Presidents	$16,000	3.25
Deans	$14,000	2.75
University	$12,000	2.25
Scholarship awards are based upon test scores and high school academic criteria. Utilize the Net Price Calculator to see how you may qualify.
Opportunity	$10,000	2.0
Scholarship awards are based upon test scores and high school academic criteria. Note: Housing requirement: Effective for Fall 2022, Opportunity Grant recipients are required to live 4 years on campus (2-years in residence hall; 2-years in university apartments).
National Merit Awards	See Finalist/Semi- Finalist below	See Finalist/Semi-Finalist below
Finalist	100% tuition	3.50
Semi-Finalist	50% tuition	3.00
Graduates named National Merit Finalist or Semi-finalist entering HSU as a new, first-time freshman. Students must provide their National Merit Certificate to verify award. *Not applicable for students with a scholarship from the Honors Program.
Honors Program Awards
Leland Award	100% tuition
Honors Scholarship	$21,000
Application and admission into the Julius Olsen Honors Program required. Honors scholarships will take the place of academic awards listed above. Selection by Honors Faculty Council.

*Institutional scholarships are only available for programs for which regular, block tuition is assessed. The above scholarships cannot be applied to other programs, including online programs. The above scholarships apply to first-time freshmen who begin attendance in the 2022-2023 academic year. For students who began attendance in previous years, please view your academic catalog for renewal amounts.

*A student may not receive an academic scholarship of higher value than the original award. Renewal of scholarships requires that a student meet or exceed the GPA requirements in order to maintain the originally awarded scholarship.

Institutional Academic Scholarships for Incoming Transfer

Scholarship	2022-2023 Annual Award	Eligibility	Renewal GPA
Presidents	$15,000	3.50 Transfer GPA	3.25
Deans	$13,000	3.00 Transfer GPA	2.75
University	$11,000	2.50 Transfer GPA	2.25
Transfer	$9,000	2.00 Transfer GPA	2.00
Phi Thea Kappa	$2,000	PTK must be indicated on transcript	3.25

*Institutional scholarships are only available for programs for which regular, block tuition is assessed. The above scholarships cannot be applied to other programs, including online programs. Scholarships for transfer students with less than 24 transferable credits may be determined based on both college and high school work. Official college transcripts are required to validate the cumulative GPA and the number of transferable credit hours. The above scholarships apply to first-time transfer students who begin attendance in the 2022-2023 academic year. For students who began attendance in previous years, please view your academic catalog for renewal amounts

Other Scholarship Awards

Scholarships

Heritage Scholarship

Heritage Scholarship is awarded in two different ways:
Undergraduate students whose parent/sibling graduated from Hardin-Simmons University or who currently have a brother/sister attending HSU.
Undergraduate students whose parent is currently serving in full-time Christian church ministry, or whose parent is currently serving as a full-time Christian missionary. The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to request additional documentation from the churches participating to verify eligibility. The Hardin-Simmons Financial Aid office will have final say related to questions of eligibility for a specific church.
*Not applicable for students with a scholarship from the Honors Program or students taking courses at Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing.

National Merit-Commended

Awarded to 2022 graduates named National Merit Commended or National Hispanic Recognition entering HSU as a new, first-time freshman. Students must provide their National Merit Certificate to be awarded this one-year scholarship.
Not applicable for students with a scholarship from the Honors Program.

Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship

Awarded to 2022 high school graduates who rank #1 or #2 in their class. Students must submit an official transcript indicating class rank to be awarded this one-year scholarship.
Not applicable for students with a scholarship from the Honors Program.

Fine Arts Scholarship

Fine Arts Scholarships are awarded based upon criteria concerning a student’s extracurricular program involvement, interests, or studies in one of the following areas at Hardin-Simmons University: Art, Band, Music, and/or Theatre.
Fine Arts Scholarships applicable to students paying block tuition only.

Ministerial Financial Assistance

Application required through the Logsdon School of Theology. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress required for renewal. Click Here for the current TEC Guidelines. See Logsdon School of Theology page for application and requirements.

Church Match Scholarship

HSU will match designated Christian church gifts $1 for $1 up to $2,000/year, per student. Students must complete and submit the Church Match Scholarship Form annually to receive the match.

International Student Scholarships – (Incoming Freshman Only)

Hardin-Simmons University provides excellent scholarships for high achieving international students who desire to study in the United States at our Abilene, Texas campus. After receiving admission to the university, international students are eligible to be evaluated for these scholarships. HSU considers a student’s academic records, college entrance exam scores, co-curricular involvement, enrollment status, and anticipated major when awarding scholarships to an international.

Requirements and evaluation criteria for international student scholarships are subject to change. Institutional scholarships are applied to fall and spring semesters only for on-campus undergraduate students and are tuition-specific. Students must apply for institutional scholarships through Scholarship Universe.

Scholarship	2022-2023 Annual Award	Eligibility	Renewal GPA
Trustee (freshman only)	$16,000	1330 SAT (or) 29 ACT (or) 89 CLT	3.75
Presidents	$14,000	1230 SAT (or) 26 ACT (or) 81 CLT	3.25
Deans	$12,000	1130 SAT (or) 23 ACT (or) 74 CLT	2.75
University	$10,000	1330 SAT (or) 29 ACT (or) 89 CLT	2.25
Honors Program Awards	Application and admission into the Julius Olsen Honors Program required. Honors scholarships will take the place of academic awards listed above.
Leland Award	100% Tuition	Selection by Honors Faculty Council.
Honors Scholarship	$21,000	Selection by Honors Faculty Council.

*Institutional scholarships are only available for programs for which regular, block tuition is assessed. The above scholarships cannot be applied to other programs, including online programs. The above scholarships apply to first-time freshmen who begin attendance in the 2021-2022 academic year. For students who began attendance in previous years, please view your academic catalog for renewal amounts.

Scholarships for Transfer International Students

Scholarship	2022-2029 Annual Award	Eligibility	Renewal GPA
Presidents	$14,000	3.50 Transfer GPA	3.25
Deans	$12,000	3.00 Transfer GPA	2.75
University	$10,000	2.50 Transfer GPA	2.25
Transfer	$8,000	2.00 Transfer GPA	2.00
Phi Theta Kappa	$2,000	PTK must be indicated on transcript	3.25

*Institutional scholarships are only available for programs for which regular, block tuition is assessed. The above scholarships cannot be applied to other programs, including online programs. Based on 24 transferable hours. Transfer students with less than 24 transferable credits will be evaluated under freshman admission and scholarships guidelines. Official college transcripts are required to validate the cumulative GPA and the number of transferable credit hours. The above scholarships apply to first-time students who begin attendance in the 2021-2022 academic year. For students who began attendance in previous years, please view your academic catalog for renewal amounts.

Scholarships will be evaluated at the end of the spring semester and again at the end of the summer terms.

Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarships are those funded by private individuals, foundations, and organizations, that play an important role in providing gift revenue used to pay for educational costs. Students can apply for numerous outside scholarships online, although some scholarships require them to complete a paper application. Outside Scholarships have certain required qualifications that applicants must meet and will have an application filing deadline.

All students are encouraged to notify the Office of Financial Aid upon receipt or notification of receiving an outside scholarship. Such funds can and will affect a student’s financial aid award.

Please see our Outside Scholarship information on the HSU website.

Loan Programs

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs - are available to students who have submitted a FAFSA.

Subsidized Loan - Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students with financial need. The federal government pays the interest on the subsidized loan for as long as the student is enrolled at least half time and through a six-month grace period.

Unsubsidized Loan - Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate and graduate students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. Students are responsible for accrued interest during enrollment periods and the grace period.

PLUS Loan - The U.S. Department of Education makes Direct PLUS Loans to eligible parents through schools participating in the Direct Loan Program. This loan is commonly referred to as a parent PLUS loan when made to a parent borrower.

For more detailed information, borrowers should visit the studentaid.gov website.

Private Certified Loans – are loans taken by or on behalf of the student and normally require a credit approval. Most of the time, a co-signer is needed to help a student qualify for a private loan. Private loans are only for the amount that is left after subtracting qualified financial aid from your attendance cost, just like Plus Loans. But just like Direct Loans, you can defer payment until the student graduates or is enrolled in less than 6 hours.

Most of the lenders offer 6 months of grace period before payment begins. FAFSA is not required, and private loans can be adjusted to fit your needs! Of course, that is within the limits of the calculated Cost of Attendance. Click this link for more info.

C.I.O.S. (Christ is Our Salvation Loan Services – is a private loan program.
The loan is an interest free loan if payments are made on time. If a scheduled payment is not received by HSU within sixty (60) days after the scheduled due date, six percent (6%) interest will be added to the unpaid balance. The interest will be added until the loan is paid in full and a revised payment schedule will be issued.

A Loan application packet must be completed by the recipient prior to funds being disbursed to the student’s account.

Please refer to our website for detailed information on all of the aforementioned programs and more.

Student Employment

Applicants for student employment are required to apply via Cornerstone Applicant Management System. To view open student worker positions, click here. The student worker positions are updated as changes occur. Therefore, if a position is listed on this site as being open, HSU is still accepting applications.

If a student provides an email address on their application, they should monitor that email in the event they are trying to be contacted.

Applicants for student employment are required to apply via Cornerstone Applicant Management System. To view open student worker positions, click here.

More information about working at HSU is available on the Human Resources page.

Federal/State College Work Study Programs

On & Off-Campus Work Study Programs
Work Study Programs are a great way to stay on top of your education and your financial health at the same time! There are two types of work study programs that you can be a part of at Hardin-Simmons. You can work on campus at Hardin-Simmons, or at one of our off-campus jobs available through the federal/state work-study program. Both programs are designed to help undergrad and grad students with financial needs. This gives you an opportunity to have a part-time job earning money to help with your educational expenses.

Students with work-study eligibility are not guaranteed a job. Furthermore, applying for a job does not guarantee you to a job. A student can find more information about job fairs, seminars, and job searching on our Career Services page. By activating your account in our online recruiting platform Handshakehttps://hsutx.joinhandshake.com/, and can view open work study positions on- and off-campus, submit their resume for employers to view, see upcoming event details, and access career documents and resources. Students who want to work on campus may interview during summer orientation or wait until return for the fall semester.

The number of hours per week a student works depends on several factors:

The amount of the student’s work-study award will dictate the maximum number of hours per week the student is eligible to work. Students may not work more than 19 hours per week while enrolled in classes. During the summer that number increases to 29 hours per week.
Students are encouraged to register for classes before applying for a job. Then, review the job listings on HSU Central.

For addition information, please see https://www.hsutx.edu/tuition-aid/work-study/https://www.hsutx.edu/tuition-aid/work-study/

Students must file a FAFSA, be enrolled at least part time, and have financial need to be eligible to work an off-campus work study job. There is no minimum or maximum a student can earn in federal/state work study funds as long as their earnings do not exceed their financial need.

Tuition Exchange

The tuition exchange scholarship is a partnership of over 500 colleges and universities offering competitive scholarships to dependents of full-time faculty and staff of member institutions. Tuition Exchange scholarships are highly competitive and are not guaranteed to all applicants. The awards cover four years (eight semesters) of undergraduate tuition. Fees, course overload, room and board, and Patty Hanks School of Nursing tuition are not covered. These scholarships cover tuition where regular HSU tuition is assessed. The scholarship will be awarded up to the cost of tuition when combined with any other institutional scholarship or grant.

Note: Housing requirement: Effective for Fall 2022, Tuition Exchange recipients are required to live 4 years on campus (2-years in residence hall; 2-years in university apartments).

Christlieb Program

The Christlieb Program for orphan/abandoned students was established so students could attend HSU with their tuition paid for by a sponsor. These students have either had their parents die, have been permanently abandoned by their parents, or their parents are unknown. Students are identified by HSU Admissions or Office of Financial Aid and sent an application that is processed through the FAO. Students approved for the program will be required to sign and abide by the Christlieb contract in order to receive the award. This is award is good for 5 years or ten long semesters.

Note: Housing requirement: Effective for Fall 2022, Tuition Exchange recipients are required to live 4 years on campus (2-years in residence hall; 2-years in university apartments).

Veterans Benefits

The coordination of benefits for veterans is the responsibility of the Office of the Registrar, which aids veterans and dependents of veterans.

In accordance with the laws regarding veterans in Chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, 35 and 1606 of Title 38 in the United States Code, assistance benefits to veterans and other eligible persons will be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of his/her training objective. Students placed on probation who receive VA benefits must show academic improvement every semester they continue on probation. If improvement in GPA is not made, benefits will be discontinued. Any veteran receiving veteran’s benefits is deemed to be making less than satisfactory progress if he or she remains on academic probation beyond two semesters without an improvement in his or her academic standing. Accordingly, any student who is placed on probation for a third, successive semester will be reported to the Veterans Administration for termination of benefits due to unsatisfactory progress.

The financial aid office will work closely with the VA Coordinator in the Registrar’s Office. https://www.hsutx.edu/admissions/military-veterans/#:~:text=Tuition%20Assistance%20Program&text=Service%20members%20should%20speak%20with,about%20the%20Tuition%20Assistance%20Program.https://www.hsutx.edu/admissions/military-veterans/#:~:text=Tuition%20Assistance%20Program&text=Service%20members%20should%20speak%20with,about%20the%20Tuition%20Assistance%20Program.

Changes In Status that Impact Financial Assistance

Dropping a course may affect a student’s enrollment status depending on the type of term and when the student drops. In turn, enrollment status may impact certain funding sources as described in the below sections.

Enrollment Status – A student’s enrollment status continues to be adjusted throughout the semester when a student drops a course. However, in most cases, the change in status has minimal impact, depending on timing or recent changes in laws. The impact is primarily on student loan repayment. Federal financial aid can only be paid for courses included in the student's degree plan. Enrolling in courses not on the degree plan may result in reduced financial aid eligibility.
Dropped Courses – Timing matters on when a student drops a course.

- Fall & Spring Semesters
Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid. No refunds for courses dropped will be given and no course credit will be issued. Students withdrawing in full are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid. It is highly advised that students receive counseling by the financial aid office prior to dropping classes because:

Class hours dropped with a WF are added to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

- Summer Terms
Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid provided that the student remains in six (6) semester hours, which is a prerequisite for aid received. Students not enrolled in six (6) semester hours for the summer terms (May – Summer II) combined will not be eligible for financial aid and subject to the appropriate adjustments (excluding Pell). Students who are eligible for aid at the time of disbursement will keep their disbursed aid, but no future aid disbursements will be made if they drop below the 6-hour requirement. Students completely withdrawing are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid.

The financial aid office must counsel students who drop classes because class hours dropped with a WF add to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for satisfactory academic progress. Also, financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

Student Loan Repayment – students must maintain at least half-time enrollment throughout the semester for student loans to remain in an in-school deferred status. Dropping below half-time enrollment at any time during the semester will trigger student loans to enter any applicable grace period, with repayment required after the grace period has elapsed. Changes in enrollment status from full-time to half-time have no consequence on student loans. Half-time enrollment for an undergraduate student is defined as 6 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.
Withdrawing from the University (Dropping All Classes) – please see the Institutional Refund Policy or visit the financial aid office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To meet federal and state guidelines governing the administration of student financial aid funds, Hardin-Simmons University Director of Financial Aid has established the following minimum standards for “measurable satisfactory academic progress” that students must meet in order to be eligible for and to continue to receive, federal and/or state aid. Review of students’ records to determine satisfactory academic progress are made on both a quantitative basis (hours completed) and a qualitative basis (cumulative grade point average) at the end of each semester once grades have posted and the registrar has notified the FAO.

While Academic Standards are similar, they are separate from Financial Aid Standards.

Certain institutional, state, and federal programs require a minimum GPA. GPA’s are assessed at the end of each semester except for the first semester for first-time freshmen.

SAP Components

There are three components to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Failure to comply with any component may result in a loss of aid eligibility. The three components are as follows:

1. Minimum Financial Aid Grade Point Average (GPA)

HSU Hours 6-32 1.60
HSU Hours 33-48 1.80
HSU Hours 49 or more 2.00

All graded courses are included in this calculation, including failed courses. This could be different from the academic GPA. The academic GPA is used to determine HSU scholarships and institutional aid.

2. Completion Rate

While students are expected to enroll full-time to be eligible for financial aid, each student must successfully complete a minimum percentage of all credit hours attempted. This percentage includes all institutional and transfer credit hours, regardless of whether or not financial aid was received.

75% overall completion rate

Completion rate is calculated using the total number of completed hours divided by the total number of attempted hours. Drops and withdrawals are considered unsuccessfully completed coursework when determining SAP and will impact completion rate. If a student drops below the necessary completion rate they may lose eligibility for financial aid in future terms.

3. 150% Maximum Credit Hours

Students are expected to complete their degree pursuits within a maximum timeframe, including transfer hours earned as well as institutional attempted hours. Students may not receive financial assistance beyond the following:

150% of degree program requirements

Credit hours are cumulative; thus, students working towards obtaining more than one degree in the same category (e.g., double major, undergraduate nursing) may reach this maximum timeframe before completing their course of study and may need to appeal eligibility.

The HSU Office of Financial Aid monitors student's SAP at the end of every semester (Summer, Fall, Spring). GPA’s are assessed at the end of each semester except for the first semester for first-time freshmen. Student’s minimum pace for making SAP (i.e., the quantitative progress) is 75%.

After one semester of not meeting the SAP standards, students will be issued a warning and will be permitted to receive financial aid for the next semester. However, after the one semester of warning, students who fail to meet any one or a combination of the SAP components will be ineligible for financial assistance. Students may appeal ineligibility by providing information on extenuating circumstances, indicating what has changed to allow successful academic progress. If an appeal is granted, students may be placed on financial aid probation and asked to follow an academic plan that will lead to meeting minimum SAP requirements in the near future. If students do not meet the terms of probation, eligibility for financial aid will cease and all remaining aid will be cancelled. Subsequent appeals of the same nature are not permitted. Once a student falls from his/her academic plan and loses eligibility, the only way to regain eligibility for financial aid is to meet the SAP requirements.

The Office of Financial Aid will notify the student who ceases to meet minimum requirements for satisfactory academic progress. For more information on SAP or how to appeal. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Verification

Verification is the federally required process of checking the accuracy of information that students supply on their FAFSA application. Verification is completed based on the Federal Title IV verification guidelines. At Hardin-Simmons University, federal aid will be awarded as an estimate. However, not be disbursed to those selected for verification until all documents required are submitted and the verification has been completed. If selected, you will be directed to your campus logic verification portal to complete the steps necessary for verification.