Financial Aid

Financial Aid

Please refer to the section on Financial Aid for more information, or address specific questions to the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

• Federal Financial Aid Programs

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

• Student Payment Responsibility

• Other Programs

Although the primary responsibility for financing a university education lies with the student and his or her family, Southeastern University offers many financial aid resources to those who qualify. Southeastern University provides financial assistance to eligible students in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment. The office of Student Financial Services assists students in following the procedures to apply for federal and state financial aid, and counselors are available to discuss students’ financial questions and options.

The location of the university in central Florida provides students with many opportunities for part-time employment. The returns from such work, together with savings from summer employment and financial aid, enable many Southeastern students to work their way through college.

Federal Financial Aid Programs

Enrollment Status Requirements For Graduate Students

For financial assistance purposes, SEU has various credit hour requirements for Graduate programs dependent on the program of study.  Please refer to the SEU Graduate Catalog for details.

Federal Student Loans for Graduate Students

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loans

Both undergraduate and graduate or professional students may qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized student loans.  These loans are non-need based, but do require half-time enrollment and a valid FAFSA on file for each award year in order to qualify. Interest begins accruing as soon as the loan is disbursed, and the borrower is responsible for all interest. Interest rate varies from year to year but is fixed for the life of the loan.

Maximum Total Award Amounts per Year, based on eligibility:

Graduate/Professional Students: $20,500 (unsubsidized only)

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limits

• Graduate/Professional Students: $138,500 (maximum $65,500 may be in subsidized loans). The graduate/professional aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.

Federal PLUS Loans for Graduate Students

Federal Graduate PLUS loans enable students with good credit histories to borrow additional funds to cover educational expenses if enrolled at least half-time. An origination fee is deducted by the lender from each loan prior to disbursement.

Interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan and are determined annually for new loans. Repayment begins immediately after disbursement of funds but can be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Borrowers have 10-25 years to repay depending on the repayment plan chosen.

Students should complete a FAFSA in order to determine eligibility for a Federal Graduate PLUS loan.  Students must apply for the Graduate PLUS loan on studentaid.gov.  

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

Requirements & Eligibility for Financial Aid

Graduate Students

Students receiving federal financial aid (including Direct Student Loans and PLUS loans) must maintain good academic standing with the University in order to continue eligibility for financial aid awards. To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet certain academic progress requirements, evaluated at the end of each academic year (ending the spring semester). Including: (1) credit completion ratio, (2) grade point average, and (3) maximum time frame. This policy applies to all admitted students enrolled in all programs. All terms are included in the review, even those in which the student was/is enrolled and did not receive federal student aid.

1. Credit Completion

Students must successfully complete (earn) at least 67 percent of the credits they attempt in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

At the end of the academic year, academic progress is determined by comparing the number of credits attempted (including any course in which a student was enrolled past the drop/add period) to those actually earned. Note: Transfer credits from another institution are included in both attempted and earned credits.

2. Grade point average (GPA)

Graduate students must maintain a minimum overall cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA). A student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) will be reviewed by the Student Financial Services office at the end of the academic year (the end of the spring semester).

Treatment of Grades:

*Incomplete (I) grades will be considered in the qualitative (GPA) analysis when completed according to the provisions in the University catalog. When an incomplete grade changes to another grade notation, that change will be picked up in the next SAP review.

 3. Maximum timeframe

Students are eligible to receive federal financial aid for a maximum of 150 percent (150%) of the published degree credits required to complete their program. For example, if a graduate degree program requires 60 degree credits, a student is eligible for aid up to 90 attempted credits. Students will not be eligible to receive federal student aid once they have exceeded the maximum time frame (total attempted credits) of 150 percent of the published degree credits required to complete their program.

Loss of Financial Aid Eligibility

A student will lose financial aid eligibility if he or she does not attain any one or more of the required components:

• Minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

• Minimum 67% overall credit completion ratio

• Maximum timeframe of 150% or less of the published degree credits required to complete your program.

Financial aid includes all federal and state grants, VA benefits, work study, and loans, including PLUS loans. Failure to meet any/all SAP requirements will deem the student ineligible for these programs.

Private loan programs and outside financial assistance that do not require a stipulation of meeting satisfactory academic progress are exceptions, and students may maintain eligibility for these types of programs dependent upon the lender’s criteria.

A student may attend the university, at his or her own expense, until the student is meeting all of the required components of satisfactory academic progress and regains federal student aid eligibility.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

To regain financial aid eligibility the student’s transcript/record must reflect satisfactory academic progress requirements have been met.  A student may regain eligibility in one of the following ways:

• Meet satisfactory academic progress requirements: Attend the university or transfer in credits from another institution at his/her own expense until the student is meeting all of the required components of this policy.

• Approved appeal: If a student failed to meet these standards due to unusual circumstances, he/she may submit an appeal by contacting the Office of Student Financial Services as outlined in the e-mail notification alerting him or her to the loss of federal aid eligibility. See section titled “Right to Financial Aid Appeal.”

• Grade change appeal:  SAP is reviewed annually at the end of the spring semester.  The SAP determination is based on the final grades provided at that time.  If there is a grade change that occurs after that review date, an appeal must be submitted in order for the SAP review to be recalculated.  Upon recalculation, if the student is then found to be in good standing as a result of that grade change/update, the student will be eligible for aid to be reinstated so long as it is done prior to the appeal deadline outlined in their notification from SFS.

Notification of Satisfactory Academic Progress Deficiency

Student Financial Services notifies Graduate students at the end of the spring semester via the student’s SEU email account if the student is not meeting either the quantitative (completion ratio) OR qualitative (GPA) component of satisfactory academic progress. Loss of financial aid eligibility is effective immediately.

Summer Semesters and Academic Progress

When a student receives notification of loss of financial aid eligibility at the end of the spring semester and is enrolled in a summer term, he or she will lose financial aid eligibility for summer term courses unless a financial aid appeal has been submitted and approved.

Right to Financial Aid Appeal

A student who has not met SAP (satisfactory academic progress) requirements may appeal the loss of financial aid eligibility if the student has suffered undue hardship such as:

• Severe illness, medical condition or injury

• Death of a family member

• Traumatic life-altering event such as fire, hurricane, etc.

• Other circumstances deemed acceptable by Southeastern University

A student who wishes to appeal his or her satisfactory academic progress status due to extenuating circumstances must submit a written request to the Student Financial Services office for review. All appeals must have supporting documentation attached at the time they are submitted. Acceptable documentation is outlined on the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal for Continued Aid form. To submit an appeal, students must:

• Complete and submit a signed Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal for Continued Aid form, including supporting documentation (including dates) as outlined on the form.

• Attach a signed explanation of the circumstances that prevented the student from maintaining satisfactory academic progress and the reason for the basis as appeal. This explanation must include:

1.      what the problem was;

2.      when the problem occurred;

3.      how long the problem lasted;

4.      how this affected ability to complete coursework, and

5.      what the student is doing to prevent this from happening again.

• Attach a signed copy of the student’s Academic Recovery Plan or its equivalent, depending upon program delivery method.

• Appeals and all documentation must be received by the end of the add/drop period in which the student is appealing for aid eligibility. It is to the student’s benefit to submit the appeal immediately upon receiving notification of ineligibility.

Appeals are subject to committee review and are not automatically approved.

Approved appeals: Should an appeal request be approved, the student will be placed on financial aid probation and may receive financial aid on a probationary status for one semester as described in the academic progress agreement provided with the appeal response. Any appeal conditions will be outlined in the academic progress agreement and may include an ongoing academic plan and timeframe for which a student must meet certain requirements in order to continue to receive financial aid. If a student fails to meet the terms of the agreement or maintain satisfactory academic progress during the period of financial aid probation as assigned, the student will be notified by Student Financial Services of his or her loss of financial aid eligibility, and the loss cannot be appealed again without there being new and extenuating circumstances for consideration.

Annual limits and requirements for awards still impact a student’s ability to receive funding and an approved appeal does not automatically enable a student to receive aid in a probationary semester if all funding has already been exhausted for that academic year.

A student is limited to two (2) appeals for his/her degree program. For example, if a student exhausts his/her two appeals as an undergraduate student, he/she still has two appeals as a graduate student.

Denied appeals: If the appeal is denied, any already awarded federal student aid funds for any upcoming or current semesters or terms will be removed making the student financially responsible and liable for tuition and fees for the term if enrolled. Due to the timing of summer courses and the completion of the SAP review there may be instances where aid was awarded and disbursed for summer prior to being aware of the failure to meet SAP requirements.  If this occurs, funding will need to be returned without an approved appeal and the student will be liable for all fees.

(NOTE: State programs have separate Academic Progress Requirements.)

STUDENT PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY

SEU makes every attempt to help secure finances to meet the needs of every student. Any financial aid you receive that is administered by the Office of Student Financial Services will appear on your account and will be applied directly against your institutional charges (tuition and fees). Any excess balance that is not covered by financial aid is due and payable in full 30 days prior to the first day class. Students are financially responsible for all charges related to your academic registration. Understand that if you decide not to attend the course(s) which you are registered for, it is your responsibility to drop the course(s) by the drop/add date (date varies by semester) to avoid any financial liability to you the student. Students are also responsible for past due balances on your student account. The account balance must be paid in full before the start of the next semester.

Students who borrow Title IV loans are responsible for using such funds for related educational expenses. Understand that you are responsible for repayment on any loans borrowed. The amount of repayment is established by the Department of Education.

Other Programs

Florida Bright Futures Scholarships

A FAS or FMS scholarship recipient, who graduates with a baccalaureate degree in seven or fewer semesters, or in 105 semester hours or fewer, may receive funding for one semester of graduate study, not to exceed 15 credit hours paid at the undergraduate rate. Graduate school funding must be used within the applicable scholarship length.  Please contact Student Financial Services with questions and to determine eligibility. 

Veterans Benefits

Southeastern University is approved by the State Approving Agency of the State of Florida for the education and training of veterans and eligible dependents under public laws in effect. Students who are eligible for educational benefits under any Veterans Administration program should apply through the US Department of Veteran Affairs website. All information, instructions, and procedures are provided on the website.

In accordance with VA regulations, students are required to actively confirm/authorize SEU to invoice for benefits on their behalf each semester in order to secure funding.  Students must be enrolled for 12 or more semester hours to be eligible for full-time benefits. These semester hours do vary and differ for our non-traditional student population. ​A student cannot receive educational benefits for audit courses. VA regulations require that students take courses that are applicable to their degree program, make satisfactory progress toward their degree, and maintain satisfactory attendance for the degree program as stated in the Standard of Progress. Students using VA educational benefits are “required” to submit all transcripts from prior higher ed institutions for evaluation of course credit. Veterans’ benefits will be terminated for students who fail to make satisfactory progress or receive dismissal for academic or disciplinary reasons.

The student is responsible for notifying the certifying official at Southeastern University of any enrollment changes such as withdrawal and/or dropped courses or termination of enrollment. The VA student is responsible for any overpayment of benefits resulting from a change in enrollment. The VA toll-free number is 1-888-GIBILL1 (888-442-4551).

Southeastern University also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Three Easy Steps to receiving VA benefits at Southeastern University:

1.        Apply for benefits on the US Department of Veteran Affairs website.

2.        Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the VA Certifying Official in the Student Financial Services Office via email or fax (863-667-5961) .

3.        Our Certifying Official will certify your enrollment hours and tuition to the VA website following the drop/add period for each semester that you are enrolled.

Southeastern University VA Representative(s):

• Natalie Wolfe, VA Certifying Official/Associate Director of SFS (nlwolfe@seu.edu; 863-667-5454)

• Joshua Breed, VA Certifying Official/Associate Director of SFS (jabreed@seu.edu; 863-667-5327)