Purpose/Philosophy, Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid, Eligibility for Financial Aid, Scholarships, Grants, Loans, Federal Work-Study Program, Aid Plan Revision
Purpose/Philosophy
Hesston College assists its students by offering a variety of merit-based scholarships. Federal financial aid and some Hesston College grants are awarded on the basis of need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid is used to supplement, not replace, family resources for college.
Procedures for Applying for Financial Aid
Students who wish to receive the best financial aid package possible should complete the application process as soon as possible. The financial aid priority deadline is April 1. All forms must be completed by this date for the student to be assured of receiving financial aid.
All applicants who seek financial assistance from Hesston College must:
- Complete the application for admission to Hesston College.
- Submit a copy of high school transcript and test scores (ACT or SAT).
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Forms may be obtained from high school counselors or the Hesston College Financial Aid Office. You may also complete the FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To be sure to receive the greatest consideration in financial assistance, students should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.
- Financial Aid and Scholarship priority deadline is April 1.
Eligibility for Financial Aid
Requirements
A student must be admitted as a regular student pursuing an associate’s degree to be eligible for financial aid at Hesston College. The student must also satisfy one of the following requirements:
- Be a high school graduate.
- Pass the G.E.D. exams.
- Provide acceptable scores from at least one of eight ability-to-benefit (ATB) exams approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Financial aid is based on the number of credit hours for which students enroll each term, and then adjusted after the second week of the term, which is the end of the drop/add period. In order to receive maximum financial aid, students must be enrolled in 12 hours each semester.
Some aid sources are pro-rated to the following scale:
| 12 hours or more per term | 100 percent of aid awarded | |
| 9-11 hours per term | 75 percent of aid awarded | |
| 6-8 hours per term | 50 percent of aid awarded | |
| less than six hours | Not eligible for financial aid |
For students taking less than six hours, there are limited federal funds available.
All state grants require enrollment in at least 12 hours per term.
Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid
To remain eligible for financial aid a student must make satisfactory academic progress. See details under “Satisfactory Academic Progress” in the Academic Life section of this catalog. A student on academic probation is eligible for financial aid. But satisfactory progress during that probationary term is required in order to receive aid for the subsequent term. Kansas residents who receive a Kansas Comprehensive Grant must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Scholarships
Hesston College offers a number of merit based scholarships. Students receive notification of their eligibility during their senior year in high school. Students must enroll full-time (12 hours per semester) to qualify for institutional aid.
Hesston College Endowment Scholarships
Hesston has an increasing number of endowed scholarships available to students who have particular interests, qualifications, and/or financial need. The scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Following is a list of the endowed scholarships currently available:
| Hesston College Art/Aviation Fund Bachman/Springer Scholarship Philip Bedsworth Memorial Pastoral Ministries Fund Ryan Bender Scholarship Fund Alvin Blough Memorial Pastoral Ministries Fund Buetta Wyse Bontrager Scholarship Fund Emery and Bernice Bontrager Scholarship Arnold and Phyllis Burkey Family Scholarship Amanda Chupp Scholarship Lloyd Coblentz Scholarship Henry and Clara Cooprider Memorial Scholarship DewEze Pastoral Ministries Scholarship Harry and Amanda Diener Memorial Scholarship Jacob R. and Grace D. Diller Memorial Scholarship Karl and Margaret Dorsing Scholarship Doug and Connie Dorsing Scholarship D.D. Driver Memorial Scholarship Emery Eigsti Scholarship Kathrine Eicher Frey Endowed Scholarship Fund for Minority Women Jerry and Letha Gingerich Scholarship David J. and Edith Graber Scholarship Meryl and Gladys Grasse Scholarship John and Elsie Griffin Scholarship Harper Industries Scholarship J.D. and Ada Hartzler Music Scholarship John and Grace (Bontrager) Hershberger Memorial Music Scholarship Hesston College Memorial Scholarship Hesston College Pastoral Ministries Scholarship Nelson and Eunice Histand Family Memorial Scholarship John and Esther Hodel Minority Student Aid Fund Dale and Margaret Jantze Memorial Scholarship Fund Melva Kauffman Scholarship Milo and Clara Kauffman Student Aid Fund Will and Pat Kaufman Scholarship Armeda Kidder—Alta George Student Aid Scholarship Anna Smith King Scholarship Henry and Sarah Kroeker Scholarship Ivan S. and Pearl Kropf Scholarship H.N. Kulp Scholarship Eugene and Vira Lemons Scholarship J.A. Miller Memorial Scholarship Mary Miller Memorial Fund Peggy J. and Orvin L. Miller Nursing Scholarship Richard L. Miller Pastoral Ministries Scholarship Fund Roberta B. Miller Nursing Scholarship S. Enos Miller Memorial Fund Ruth Gisel Nafziger Education Scholarship Scott R. Nafziger Memorial Aviation Scholarship Lewis and Rachel Powell Nursing Scholarship John and Alice Reschly Scholarship Glen and Jeanne Riegsecker Scholarship Lloyd and Pearl Rodgers Family Scholarship Stan Roth Memorial Aviation Scholarship John Schwanebeck Memorial Scholarship Roy and Esther Selzer Scholarship Menno Shellenberger Memorial Fund Lois Buckwalter Snyder Memorial Scholarship South Central Conference Pastoral Ministries Scholarship Southeast Iowa Scholarship Clarence and Viola Stauffer Scholarship Samuel E. and Barbara Stutzman Memorial Scholarship Loren and Pat Swartzendruber Endowed Scholarship Fund Mary Jane Swartzendruber Nursing Scholarship Clifford and Louise Troyer Scholarship Everett and Naomi Ulrich Scholarship Albert and Ruth Weaver Memorial Scholarship Reuben M. Weaver Memorial Scholarship Raymond and Mary Wenger Scholarship Peter and Rheta Mae Wiebe Scholarship Fund Lester D. and Pauline Yoder Scholarship Levi and Esther Yoder Scholarship Maurice A. and Elizabeth G. Yoder Scholarship Phebe Yoder Scholarship Quinton and Edith Yoder Scholarship Ernie and Marilyn Yutzy Family Scholarship Nora E. and Joe N. Yutzy Scholarship Fund Orpha Zimmerly Scholarship Fund Ernest and Susan Cooprider Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship Other trusts and scholarships Adys and Mary Gingerich Memorial Nursing Scholarship South Central WMSC Scholarship Nebraska Mennonite Mission and Benevolent Board Scholarship Fund William and Edith Zehr Trust La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing Memorial Scholarship |
Grants
Federal Grants
The Federal Pell Grant is designed to provide financial aid to students so they may attend a college or university of their choice. Awards are determined by the Federal Government. Final determination of the amount depends upon the funds appropriated by the Federal Government.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded to Pell Grant recipients. The amount of the award varies.
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grants are awarded to Federal Pell Grant recipients. Students must be full time in their first or second academic year of study, a U.S. citizen, and have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study.
State Grants and Scholarships
Grants are available for residents of Kansas, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to attend Hesston College. Full-time enrollment is required for eligibility. To apply, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some states require an additional application.
Hesston College Church Matching Grants
Hesston College will match up to $500 per semester ($1,000 per academic year) per student any monies given as direct aid by a congregation to its student(s). If church grants exceed $1,000 per year, Hesston matches the first $1,000 at 1:1 and all remaining dollars at 1:4 up to tuition less Hesston College scholarships and/or grants.
To receive the match, the student and/or the congregation must notify Hesston College of the scholarship by the first day of the term for which the student will receive the scholarship.
Loans
Federal Perkins Loan
The Federal Perkins Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan) is a federal loan awarded and administered by Hesston College. Eligibility is based upon the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. An annual interest rate of five percent begins to accrue nine months after the borrower ceases to be a student on at least a half-time basis (six credit hours per term).
Federal Stafford Student Loan (SSL)
The Federal Stafford Student Loan is a federal interest-delayed loan for college students. Eligibility is based upon the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. As long as students are enrolled in at least six credit hours each semester, no interest accrues and no payments are due. After graduation there is a six month period of grace before interest and repayment begin. Applications for this loan are available at local banks or lending agencies which participate in the SSL program. Students who do not qualify for the interest subsidy may still borrow in the Stafford Student Loan program. Students who do not demonstrate financial need will be responsible for the interest while they are in school.
Hesston College Institutional Loan
The Hesston College Loan is awarded and administered by Hesston College. An annual interest rate of 10 percent begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed. A minimum monthly payment of $30 is due during the repayment period which begins six months following the borrower’s termination as a student. Following is a list of available loan funds:
| Clayton V. Beyler Memorial Loan Fund Brenneman Loan Fund Class of 1915 Loan Fund Class of 1927 Loan Fund Detweiler Memorial Loan Fund Rebecca Dubbs Memorial Fund Harold L. Ely Memorial Fund Clara Burkhart Haner Student Loan Fund Hesston College Loan Fund Michael E. Horst Memorial Fund Magnuson Loan Fund Adrian Miller Student Loan Fund Jasper and Dolorez Roth Nursing Loan Fund F.G. Roupp Memorial Loan Fund Ron Shetler Memorial Fund Joseph E. Slatter Fund Yoder Feeds, Inc., Loan Fund Jon Yutzy Memorial Fund |
Federal Work-Study Program
The Federal Work-Study Program is an employment program funded by the Federal Government. It provides funds for employment during the school year. As much as possible, job assignments are made to fit the student’s past experience and career goals.
Aid Plan Revision
The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to revise Financial Aid Awards if necessary. Financial Aid Awards are made in good faith; however, they are contingent upon continued availability of funds