FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

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What is the FAFSA and how do I apply?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the application that you and/or your parent/guardian, or the person who can claim you as a dependent, needs to complete in order to be eligible for federal financial aid. You may file the FAFSA beginning October 1st using tax information from the previous year. For example, in October 2024 you will file for financial aid for fall 2025, using tax information from the year 2023.

The Bellevue University School Code is 002538. You will need this code to complete and submit the form.

Complete the form online at studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid. Once you submit your FAFSA, the Department of Education will process your file and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). All the schools you have listed on the application will receive the information electronically.

If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, contact the EducationQuest Foundation, in Nebraska, or reference the official FAFSA help resources on their site.

Once we receive your information we can determine if we require additional documentation of the information reported on your FAFSA. Approximately 30% of applicants will be required to verify some of the information they filled out on the FAFSA as a normal part of the aid application process.

Additional documentation for Verification could be signed copies of tax returns, and/or other documents.

We will then generate a financial aid award letter based upon your eligibility determined by the information submitted on your FAFSA and your enrollment information.

Please note: Before we can determine your financial aid award, you must first be admitted as a student and have completed the steps of enrollment including a review by Student Records of any previous transcripts. Just check with your Admissions Counselor if you have questions about your enrollment status.

FAFSA Filing Updates

In 2024, changes were made to the FAFSA to streamline the application process and form. Check the FAFSA site at Studentaid.gov for updated 2025 timelines and instructions.

Financial Aid Award Notifications and Eligibility

Bellevue University participates in a passive confirmation process in regard to Student Financial Aid. This means that we will accept Federal Direct Subsidized loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, and Parent PLUS loans that a student is eligible for on your behalf.

Graduate PLUS Loans require a credit check. You will need to actively accept the Graduate PLUS Loan which gives Financial Aid the authority to send the loan to the Department of Education to check your credit worthiness.

To Adjust Your Student Loan Award Amount

If you wish to reduce or decline the amount of aid in loans, you will need to complete the following steps:

Log into BRUIN.
From the My BRUIN Homepage, select the “Financial Aid” tile.
After you log in, select "Financial Aid" on the left.
Select the appropriate academic year.
Locate the award you would like to Accept/Reduce/Decline, and select "Review and Update".
Above the "Save Changes" button, you will be presented with options to Accept or Decline the amount you choose.

Note: If you require help with accepting, adjusting, or declining financial aid awards contact your student coach for assistance.

You will also need to read your entire Award Notification to ensure that you are aware of all the policies regarding your financial aid. If you are awarded a Federal Direct Loan, you will need to complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (and PLUS loan Master Promissory Note if applicable) along with Direct Loan Entrance Counseling (and PLUS Loan Counseling if applicable) in order to be eligible to receive the loan funds (disbursement).

Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Aid and the FAFSA

The basic requirements are to:

Be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States
Have a high school diploma from an accredited high school or GED
Be a degree seeking student at Bellevue University
Males over the age of 18 must register with the selective service.
Not be in default of a federal student loan or owe a repayment on a federal grant.

Students who meet these basic requirements should qualify for some type of financial aid regardless of income. The type cannot be determined until you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The only way to determine your eligibility for financial aid is to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The likelihood of receiving some form of financial assistance is probably better than most students and their families anticipate.

The EFC, derived from information on the FAFSA, represents the amount that the federal government expects a student's family should be able to pay towards the student's education. The EFC is a tool which, when subtracted from the cost of attendance, determines a student's need and therefore the type of aid for which a student is eligible. If a student is dependent (by FAFSA's standards), the EFC is based on both student and parent information. If a student is independent (again, by FAFSA's standards), only the student's—and, if applicable, their spouse's—information is included in the EFC calculation.

Yes. In order to receive consideration for all programs you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Since 2016 you are allowed to file the FAFSA beginning October 1st using tax information from the previous year, a full 3 months earlier than previously allowed. In October 2024 you will file for financial aid for fall 2025, using tax information from the year 2023.

Step Three of the FAFSA is used to identify students as either dependent or independent. To be considered an independent student, you must answer 'Yes' to at least one of the six questions listed in this step. Also, the Financial Aid Office can override a student's dependent status but to do so requires some very unusual family situations. These situations require documented evidence from third-party witnesses (police reports, clergy, counselors, etc.).

The parent you live with should complete the FAFSA. If the parent you live with has remarried, the income of that parent and their new spouse (step-parent) must be used.

No. Financial aid does not transfer from school to school. Students planning to transfer to another school should contact the Financial Aid Office at both schools to find out what is required.

Should we request additional information from you or if FAFSA income or identity verification is required, please be aware that you must submit the necessary documents within 7 days. For your initial FAFSA application, the priority deadline is 14 days prior to the start of classes, or prior to being cleared for registration. If you're enrolled in traditional term classes and choose not to complete your initial FAFSA, you have until June 30th after you begin classes to submit it. For students in non-traditional cohort classes who opt not to complete the initial FAFSA, you have a 90-day window after starting classes to submit it. Please note that failing to meet these deadlines may result in us being unable to process your financial aid application for either the current or previous academic year.

Co-Enrollment

Co-Enrollment means receiving financial aid at Bellevue University while also taking classes at another regionally accredited post-secondary school. Bellevue University must have a consortium agreement with the other school, and the classes must count toward your degree requirements at Bellevue University. You will need to obtain documentation from the Financial Aid Office to complete this process. You are responsible for completing the documentation. Co-enrolled means you are taking classes at both schools, for example, six hours at Bellevue University and six hours at Metro Community College during the Fall term, for a total of 12 hours during the Fall term.

No, you cannot receive aid at both schools. You will usually receive aid from the school that you are receiving your degree from.