The mission at Grace Christian University is to “Graduate Godly individuals prepared to serve Christ in church and society.” 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 students who wish to apply for financial aid are asked to visit www.Fafsa.ed.gov to complete their FAFSA. At Grace, we ask that students complete their FAFSA one 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.
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 at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/. 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.
Grace Christian University values having strategic partnerships with organizations, corporations, and ministries. Employees of these organizations are able to receive a 20% tuition discount scholarship to our Online programs. Additionally, employees of these partnering organizations may receive credit for skills gained through their work experience, where an agreement with the University exists. On Campus scholarships may also be available.
Grace looks to partner with organizations that have compatibility with our mission and values. Partnerships are formed after our Outreach Team is able to connect with key players of an organization to foster long-term relationships.
Eligibility is determined by proof of employment with a recent pay-stub, or letter, from the organization, indicating the students position with the organization. (An updated pay-stub, or letter, is required each award year.) This scholarship is not available to students who are already receiving the Military Tuition discount, or any other Grace Scholarships.
To learn more about this opportunity or see how your organization can become a partner, please contact our Marketing Development Coordinator, Statia Smith at ssmith@gracechristian.edu.
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.
Graduate Online students who wish to apply for financial aid are asked to visit www.Fafsa.ed.gov to complete their FAFSA. At Grace, we ask that students complete their FAFSA one 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 12 credits per semester in order to be eligible for full 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 https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/. 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.
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.
Click below for more information.
GRAD 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>
GRACE ONLINE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Grace Christian University values having strategic partnerships with different organizations, corporations, and ministries by offering their employees a 20% discount scholarship to our Online Degree Programs. Grace looks to partner with organizations whose employees can benefit from our Online Degree Programs and have compatibility with our mission and values. Partnerships are formed after our Outreach Team is able to connect with key players of an organization to foster a long-term partnership and subsequent 20% Online Program discount.
This scholarship is a 20% tuition scholarship and is available to online students who work for an approved partner organization. If the student works for one of these organizations, the student will be required to provide the Financial Aid Office with a recent pay-stub, or letter, from the organization, indicating their employment with the organization. (An updated pay-stub, or letter, is required each award year.) This scholarship is not available to students who are already receiving the Military Tuition discount, or any other Grace Scholarships.
To recommend a new organization for partnership, please contact our Partnership Coordinator, Statia Smith at ssmith@gracechristian.edu.
GRAD 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.
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.
View the Responsible Borrowing pdf for more information.
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) at studentaid.gov/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.
| Direct Federal Stafford Loans | |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Apply for a private loan at ELMSelect
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. To complete your Loan Exit Counseling requirements, please visit studentaid.gov/exit-counseling.
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 at financialaid@gracechristian.edu, or call 616-538-2330.
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 offer a military tuition discount 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 or under (Honorable Discharge required).
For more information about military services offered at Grace Christian University, please visit gracechristian.edu/online/military
Financial Aid Office – 616-538-2330 – financialaid@gracechristian.edu
Fax: (616) 538-0588 (Attn: Financial Aid)
Kurt Postma (Director) – (616) 261-8557 – kpostma@gracechristian.edu
Jody Ferguson – (616) 264-6651
Hannah Weber – (616) 261-1564
Amber Belmont – (616) 261-8577
