Online Financial Aid
Financial Aid at Grace Christian University
The mission at Grace Christian University is “Graduating courageous ambassadors for Christ who make an eternal impact wherever they go.” To support this mission, the Financial Aid Office strives to provide our students with access to financial resources to help them achieve their educational goals.
Online Undergraduate Financial Aid
FAFSA
Online students who wish to apply for financial aid are asked to visit fafsa.gov to complete their FAFSA. At Grace, we ask that students complete their FAFSA two weeks or more before their desired start date. After submitting the FAFSA, please allow up to 3-5 days for the school to receive a copy of the FAFSA from the Department of Education.
Online students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester in order to be eligible for full Financial Aid funding from the Department of Education. By filing the FAFSA, online students may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, and Stafford loans. Online students are generally only eligible for Federal grants and loans, and any outside scholarships. Due to our discounted tuition costs in the Online Program, Grace’s On-Campus institutional scholarships are not offered to online students.
Prior to completing the FAFSA, online students will need to register for an FSA ID. The FSA ID is a security feature that allows students to electronically sign the FAFSA application. FAFSA Tech Support number is 1(800) 443-3243.
The Federal School Code for Grace Christian University is 002265.
To better understand how federal financial aid is calculated, please visit studentaid.gov/complete-aid-process/how-calculated
2024-25 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
LOANS
To apply for federal loans, student borrowers must be enrolled at least half-time. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA and the student must be certified as eligible by the University. All Grace Christian University students who will be taking out loans will be required to complete the Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and complete a new Master Promissory Note.
Online students also have the choice to borrow a Private Loan from a private lender. To search for a lender and apply, simply visit elmselect.com and search for Grace Christian University Undergraduate Loans.
Review the Loan Quick Links below for more information.
Online Graduate Financial Aid
FAFSA
Graduate Online students who wish to apply for financial aid are asked to visit fafsa.gov to complete their FAFSA. At Grace, we ask that students complete their FAFSA two or more weeks before their desired start date. After submitting the FAFSA, please allow up to 3-5 days for the school to receive a copy of the FAFSA from the Department of Education. Graduate Online students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits per semester in order to be eligible for full time Financial Aid funding from the Department of Education.
By filing the FAFSA, Graduate Online students may be eligible for Stafford Unsubsidized loans. (Graduate students are not eligible for Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, or Subsidized loans). Due to our discounted tuition costs in the Graduate Online Program, Grace’s On-Campus institutional scholarships are not offered to online students.
Prior to completing the FAFSA, online students will need to register for an FSA ID at Studentaid.gov. The FSA ID is a security feature that allows students to electronically sign the FAFSA application. FAFSA Tech Support number is 1(800) 443-3243.
The Federal School Code for Grace Christian University is 002265.
LOANS
After completing a FAFSA, a Graduate student may be eligible to borrow Federal Stafford Loans from the Dept. of Education. If eligible, they will only be offered Unsubsidized loans, as Subsidized loans are not available to Graduate Students. (Unsubsidized loans are charged interest while the student is in school.)
Graduate students also have the choice to borrow a Private Graduate Loan from a private lender. To search for a lender and apply, simply visit elmselect.com and search for Grace Christian University Graduate Loans.
Please refer to the Loans Quick Links section below for more information on loan types.
GRADUATE PROGRAM INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Graduate Program Alumni Scholarship
This scholarship is a 20% tuition scholarship (not fees) and is available to Graduate students who had previously graduated with an Associate or Bachelor’s degree from the undergraduate program at Grace Christian University, as determined by the Grace Registrar.
Note: Students who have already earned a Bachelor, and/or a Graduate degree, from Grace Christian University and are pursuing a 2nd bachelor’s degree through Grace’s Online Program, would also be eligible for this 20% Alumni Scholarship.
This scholarship is not available to students who are already receiving the Military Tuition Discount, the Employee/Spouse Tuition Scholarship, the Part-Time Employee Scholarship, or the 20% Community Partnership Scholarship.
Download the Alumni Scholarship Application
Graduate Program GGF Scholarship
This scholarship is available to employees of GGF affiliated organizations. While the GGF Organization may choose to award any dollar amount, Grace Christian University will only match up to 50% of the Graduate Program tuition (not fees). A student’s total financial aid cannot exceed the Graduate Program Cost of Attendance. Click here to print the GGF Matching Application, which also includes rules and instructions for submitting the application. Matching Award applications must be filed each academic year. This scholarship cannot be combined with any other Grace scholarships and is not available to students who are already getting the military tuition discount.
Responsible Borrowing
Many students borrow more than they need for their tuition, books and fees. We want to strongly encourage you to consider borrowing only what you need or using only subsidized loans when possible. Subsidized loans do not collect interest while you are attending your program, however, unsubsidized loans do.
Loan Quick Links
Direct Stafford Loans
Apply for Direct Stafford Loans
The FAFSA is the application for the Stafford loans, so if you have already completed the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will send you an award letter indicating how much in loans you qualify for at Grace Christian University, up to the maximum loan amount allowed per student. (Cost of Attendance limits apply).
Students wishing to accept their Stafford loans must complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is your promise to the Department of Education that you will pay back the federal loans. After the MPN is completed, the Department of Education will notify the Financial Aid Office.
Dependent Students |
Subsidized + Unsubsidized = Total |
| 1st year undergrad | $3,500 + $2,000 = $5,500 |
| 2nd year undergrad | $4,500 + $2,000 = $6,500 |
| 3rd year (up to graduate) | $5,500 + $2,000 = $7,500 |
Independent Students |
Subsidized + Unsubsidized = Total |
| 1st year undergrad | $3,500 + $6,000 = $9,500 |
| 2nd year undergrad | $4,500 + $6,000 = $10,500 |
| 3rd year (up to graduate) | $5,500 + $7,000 = $12,500 |
Entrance Counseling
Students wishing to borrow Stafford loans are required by the Department of Education to complete the Loan Entrance Counseling. Stafford Loan funds will not be released to the school without completion of the required Entrance Counseling. Complete the Entrance Counseling.
If you have any questions as you complete the Entrance Counseling requirements you may email the Financial Aid Office or call (616) 538-2330.
Direct Parent Plus Loans (for dependent students)
Direct PLUS loans are available to a parent with a good credit history to pay the education expenses for a child who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half-time. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA and the student must be certified as eligible by the Financial Aid Office.
To complete the Parent PLUS Loan application, the parent must go to studentaid.gov/plus-app and login using their FSA ID and password. Parents who do not have an FSA ID can create one at studentaid.gov/fsa-id.
The PLUS application performs a credit check, and if the application is approved, the parent would contact the Financial Aid Office to request a loan, up to the amount allowed, based on the student’s cost of attendance.
Parents applying for a Direct Parent PLUS loan are required to complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN is the parent’s promise to the Department of Education that they will pay back the federal loans. After the MPN is completed, the Department of Education will notify the Financial Aid Office.
Private Loans
In some instances, a student may still need additional loans to cover the remainder of their school bill. Private loans are available to help students meet costs that are not covered by federal, state, and institutional aid.
- Private loans are typically for students who still have an amount owed after applying for Stafford and PLUS loans.
- Private loans usually require a co-signer, but in some cases (if the student has established credit) the student may be able to apply for a loan without a co-signer.
Apply for a private loan at ELMSelect
Exit Counseling
When a student withdraws or graduates from college, if they borrowed Direct Stafford Loans, they are required to complete the Loan Exit Counseling. This process helps a student understand their rights and responsibilities with the loans that they borrowed. Complete your Loan Exit Counseling requirements here.
Also, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) provides students with a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. Just click the above link to login.
If you have any questions as you complete the counseling requirements you may email the Financial Aid Office or call 616-538-2330.
Military
Veteran’s Benefits
Grace Christian University cooperates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the training of honorably discharged service members. Prior to enrolling at our institution, it is recommended that Service members reach out to their Educational Services Officer, or their Military Service Counselor, to discuss their benefits.
As a military-friendly school, the Online Programs at Grace Christian University offers a discounted military tuition of $250 per credit hour on our Online Associate, Online Bachelor, and Online Master courses. (The military discount applies to our Online degree programs only, and does not apply to the On-Campus degree program). This discount is offered to all military service members, veterans, military spouses, and dependents 23 and under (Honorable Discharge required).
Academic Partnerships
Financial Aid
Contact Us
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Financial Aid Office.
Phone: (616) 538-2330
Email: FinancialAid@gracechristian.edu
Fax: (616) 538-0588 (Attn: Financial Aid)
Kurt Postma (Director): (616) 261-8557 or kpostma@gracechristian.edu
Jody Ferguson: (616) 264-6651
Ken Myers: (616) 261-8577
Jamie Bristol: (616) 261-1564
Outside Scholarship Links
FastWeb
UNIGO
CollegeScholarships
Scholarships
Scholarship Points
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