Financial Assistance

Even graduate students need help in covering the cost of their courses. Luckily, there are programs to assist in meeting the financial obligations of a graduate degree.  Whether it is through a loan, scholarship, or graduate assistantship, Bemidji State wants students to be able to succeed without the hindrance of financial burdens.

Loan Programs

The link below will direct you to a list of loan options which may be right for you.

http://www.bemidjistate.edu/students/financial_aid/types/loans/

Tuition Reciprocity Programs

North Dakota and Wisconsin residents must have approved tuition reciprocity through the Higher Education Board of their home state to receive the reduced reciprocity tuition rate. Beginning with the 2005-06 school year, all other non-resident students will pay the in-state rate.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid

To be continued on financial aid, a student must meet all of the following standards at the end of each term.

1. Qualitative Standard. A graduate student must maintain a 3.00 ("B") cumulative grade point average to remain on financial aid.
2. Quantitative Standard. A graduate student must maintain a minimum completion rate of 67 percent.
3. Maximum Time Frame. A student who reaches or exceeds the maximum number of credits listed below, without completing a graduate program, will have aid terminated at the end of that term.

Master's degree: 45 semester credits

Return of Title IV Funds Policy

Repayment requirements for students who cease attending all of their classes: Financial aid recipients, who withdraw or cease attending all of their classes prior to 60 percent of the term being completed (including courses with a grade of "F" for non-attendance), are subject to the federal rules for the Return of Title IV Funds for any federal aid not earned. The percentage of unearned aid is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the term divided by the total number of calendar days in the term. The calculation of Title IV funds unearned has no relationship to the student's incurred institutional charges as determined by the university's refund schedule for students that officially withdraw from a term. The Records Office is the university's designated office to accept notification of official withdrawals. In the event that the last date of attendance cannot be determined, the mid-date (50 percent) of the semester will be used.

The Business Office will determine the repayment based upon federal and state procedures, the last date of attendance, type of aid awarded, and charges for tuition, fees and residence hall. The repayment amount is considered unearned aid that a student was not eligible to receive because of not completing the term, necessitating the repayment of funds. The university may have an obligation to return funds to an aid program that was previously applied to the student's account. The student may have an obligation to repay funds that were paid directly to him/her. If the university returns funds that were applied to the student's account, a balance due the university by the student will result. Federal student aid may not cover all unpaid institutional charges due to the university upon withdrawal. Failure to repay will prevent future registration at the university and initiate delinquent collection procedures, which will adversely affect the student's credit rating.

Actual Sample Withdrawal Case: (1) Student received $1,970 Federal Direct Loan and $2,025 Federal Pell Grant. (2) Student completed only 27 percent of the semester. (3) Student was required to repay $2,535 of the $3,995 total aid received. A student may contact the Accounting Office in Deputy Hall 202 to receive an estimation of the required financial aid repayment, if any.

Non Federal Funds: Repayments to state aid programs and non-state aid programs will be calculated on a proportional basis using the institutional refund policy. To calculate the minimum refund due to the Minnesota State Grant, SELF Loan program, and other aid programs, the OHE Refund Calculation Worksheet will be utilized.