1. What types of scholarships are available? Show Answer
Answer: Merit and talent awards are offered to
students who show academic excellence through proven high school
records or promise in the performing arts or athletics. Among these
awards are the freshman academic scholarships, athletic
grants-in-aid, Jordan College of Fine Arts Audition awards and
scholarships for transfer students.
2. When will I find out if I am receiving a
scholarship? Show Answer
Answer: Award notification varies with the type
of scholarship. Many scholarships are awarded in rounds, so award
notification occurs over a span of time. Butler's typical award
timeline is as follows:
- Freshman Academic Scholarships: December through February
- Transfer Academic Scholarships: begins in March
- JCFA Audition Awards: on a rolling basis as students
audition
3. How do I apply for need-based financial aid?
Show
Answer
Answer: For need-based financial aid
consideration Butler requires the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) be submitted by March 1, each year to receive
maximum consideration of all aid.
4. When will I be notified about my financial aid
package? Show Answer
Answer: The Office of Financial Aid sends
notification letters beginning March 15th to new students (freshman
and transfers) who have been admitted to the University and have
completed their financial aid file.
5. Is there any way to find out what my family may be
expected to pay prior to receiving my financial aid
package? Show Answer
Answer: Yes. Completing the Preliminary
Analysis of Family Responsibility form before February 1 will
provide you with an estimate of what your family's out-of-pocket
expenses may be. The Office of Financial Aid will contact you by
mail with your estimated family responsibility after analyzing your
information.
6. Should I file my FAFSA online? Show
Answer
Answer: Filing the FAFSA online is the best way
to reduce form errors as well as ensure timely submission of
financial data. Visit the federal processor's
website.
7. What is Satisfactory Academic Progress
(SAP)? Show Answer
Answer: Federal regulations require that all
student financial aid recipients make satisfactory progress toward
achieving a certificate or degree. Progress is measured by your
cumulative grade point average (GPA), the number of credits earned
in relation to those attempted and the length of
your academic program.
8. What are the requirements to meet SAP
standards? Show Answer
Answer: You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
or better after the end of two academic years (4 semesters) at
Butler University. For more information, visit our SAP standards page.
9. How often is my academic progress reviewed?
Show
Answer
Answer: Your academic progress is reviewed at
least once a year. Included in the review are all previous
semesters (including any semesters in which you completely
withdrew), all attempted course work, and transfer hours -
regardless of your receipt of financial aid for those enrollment
periods.
10. May I continue to receive financial aid indefinitely
until I graduate from Butler? Show
Answer
Answer: There is a maximum time frame given for
you to receive financial aid to complete your academic program at
Butler University:
| Program Length |
Maximum hours for which students may
receive aid |
| 120-140 hours |
180 hours |
| 140-180 hours |
210 hours |
| Pharmacy (210 hours) |
300 hours |
11. Will my credits as a transfer or second-degree
student count toward the duration of my eligibility? Show Answer
Answer: All transfer credit hours that appear
on your academic transcript will be counted toward the duration of
your eligibility. If you are pursuing a second Bachelor's Degree,
only hours that apply toward the second degree are counted toward
the duration of your eligibility. Change of major will be reviewed
on an individual basis.
12. What if I have special circumstances that prevent me
from satisfactorily completing a semester? Show
Answer
Answer: If you fail to meet the SAP standards
and have lost eligibility for financial aid, you may appeal that
decision. The appeal must be in writing and accompanied by
appropriate supporting documents. The appeal should be submitted to
the Office of Financial Aid within 2 weeks of the date you are
notified.
The Financial Aid Committee will review your appeal, and you
will be notified of their decision. Circumstances that may qualify
for review include:
- serious illness or accident of the student;
- death, accident, or serious illness in your immediate
family;
- change in academic program; and
- other extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
The reasonableness of your ability for improvement to meet
appropriate standards for the degree program in which you are
enrolled will be taken into consideration. For more information,
visit our special circumstances information
page.
13. My parents don't claim me on their taxes and I want
to be considered an "independent" student. What do I need to
do? Show Answer
Answer: To be considered an "independent"
student for financial aid purposes, you must meet one of the
following criteria as defined on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA):
- 24 years old
- obtaining a degree (master's, doctorate) beyond a bachelor's
degree
- married
- have children who receive more than half of their support from
you
- have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live
with you and who receive more than half of their support from
you.
- an orphan or ward of the court at any time since you turned age
13
- a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- in rare cases: emancipated minors, legal guardianships and the
homeless
If you don't meet any of the above criteria, you are considered
a "dependent" student and must provide parent information to
determine your eligibility for financial assistance. Simply living
separate from your parent(s) without their support does not qualify
you as an independent student.
14. My parents refuse to contribute to the cost of my
education and I don't want to include their tax return information
on the FAFSA. I want "to be declared as independent!" What do I
need to do? Show Answer
Answer: To be considered an "independent"
student for financial aid purposes, you must meet one of the
following criteria as defined on the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA):
- 24 years old
- obtaining a degree (master's, doctorate) beyond a bachelor's
degree
- married
- have children who receive more than half of their support from
you
- have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live
with you and who receive more than half of their support from
you.
- an orphan or ward of the court at any time since you turned age
13
- a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- in rare cases: emancipated minors, legal guardianships and the
homeless
If you don't meet any of the above criteria, you are considered
a "dependent" student and must provide parent information to
determine your eligibility for financial assistance. Simply living
separate from your parent(s) without their support does not qualify
you as an independent student.
15. Does Butler University require the CSS Profile for
incoming students? Show Answer
Answer: No, we do not require it.
16. Do I need to file the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) every year? Show
Answer
Answer: Yes! File on or before March 1 each
year to receive maximum consideration of all aid.
17. I want to move off campus but I'm afraid I'll lose
some of my financial aid. How much will I lose? Show Answer
Answer: The amount of aid you receive is not
affected by your choice of housing unless you are a Lilly Scholar.
It is important for you to review the specifics of your awards with
the Office of Financial Aid before you make that decision.
18. I noticed a number of scholarships in the Butler
University Bulletin . How do I apply for these
scholarships? Show Answer
Answer: The scholarships you are referring to
in the Butler Bulletin are annual or endowed scholarships. Most are
used to underwrite Butler University financial aid programs and
cannot be applied for directly. However, by mid-March of each year,
each department (college) is notified of any scholarship funds that
are available for the following academic year. Departments then
identify potential candidates for the scholarships based on the
selection criteria of individual scholarships. The Office of
Financial Aid works directly with departments to insure candidates
meet individual scholarship criteria. Award letters are then sent
to recipients detailing the scholarship requirements. Further
inquiries can be directed to individual colleges.
19. I received an outside scholarship for $1000 but only
$500 was applied to my fall charges. Why wasn't the full amount
applied to fall? Show Answer
Answer: We are very fortunate that our students
are being recognized with scholarship dollars from their
communities totaling over $2 million. As a result of the number of
scholarships received, Butler University must have a standard
policy that adheres to the policy of a majority of scholarships
received and to federal financial aid regulations. It is Butler
University's policy to apply all scholarships equally between fall
and spring semesters. In many cases donors require us to return
half of a scholarship should the student not return for the spring
semester. It is in the best interest of the student and the
university to apply the scholarship to the entire academic
year.
20. Why am I being asked to submit copies of my tax
returns and W2s? My neighbor didn't have to. Show Answer
Answer: One third of all students who file the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are selected for
verification which means copies of tax returns, W2 forms, etc. must
be submitted to our office. In addition to a random selection to
comply with federal regulation, students who estimate their tax
return information on the FAFSA are selected. We cannot proceed
with the request for financial assistance until ALL of the required
documentation has been submitted.
21. I'm currently enrolled in three credit hours. What
type of financial aid is available to me? Show
Answer
Answer: If you are an undergraduate student
with exceptional financial need, you may qualify for a part-time
Pell grant. Students enrolled in less than 6 hours each term are
not eligible for federal loan programs, but may be eligible for
select alternative loan programs.
22. Will my Federal Work Study award be credited to my
student account? Show Answer
Answer: No. Students who have been awarded
Federal Work Study as part of their financial aid package must seek
on campus community service employment. Please contact the
Internship & Career Services office at 317-940-9383 or check
out their
website.
The dollars that are awarded must be acquired by working in an
approved campus job. The student receives a paycheck with normal
withholdings - the money is not automatically applied toward
students' accounts. A work study award of $1,000 will typically
translate into eight hours per week, over the 15 weeks of the
semester at minimum wage.
The primary benefit from utilizing the Federal Work Study award
is the fact that the income from this type of employment (up to the
dollars amount paid) is not included as income reported on the
subsequent years' Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA).
23. I think it will be a waste of my time to file the
FAFSA because I make too much money. How much income is "too much"
to be considered eligible for need-based aid? Show Answer
Answer: Many families mistakenly self-select
themselves out of the financial aid process based on their income
or assets. There is not a magic number, as the federal formula
takes into account several factors including the cost of attendance
at each of the schools you are applying. All families are
encouraged to file every year regardless of income. Regardless of
need, all families can still take advantage of the unsubsidized
Federal Stafford Loan and financing options. Filing for financial
aid is free and we are happy to assist families with this form.