Settlement of Account
Withdrawal Refund Policies
Cost per credit hour for 2011-2012 (M.S. in Bible and M.Div. programs): $475.00
Cost per credit hour for 2011-2012 (All other programs): $595.00
Audit Fee for 2011-2012: 50% of course tuition rate
Other Expenses:
Tuition charges do not include books, supplies, or personal expenses.
Settlement of Accounts
All students are responsible for payment in full of all tuition and fees and/or have an approved payment schedule shown before financial registration is complete. The University accepts payments by check or cash. Credit card payments can be made online at www.pbu.edu/payments/index.cfm or by telephone. From the Graduate Admissions web page, click the "Paying for PBU" link on the left side of the page or the "Pay bill by credit card" button on Self-Service or call 215-702-4522 or 215-702-4201. (Visa and MasterCard accepted. A 3% convenience fee applies for online and over the phone charges.) It is the student's responsibility to notify his/her employer if tuition reimbursement is available. Tuition payment plans are currently available through NELNET Business Solutions. For more information, contact the Business Services Office at (215) 702-4522 and ask for a NELNET brochure. The NELNET webpage can be accessed via the PBU website.
Any student account that has to be forwarded for outside collection assistance because of an outstanding balance will be assessed with collection costs and fees. Therefore, the student will then be responsible for the full balance of his or her account, including all collection costs and fees.
University Refund Policy
Students who officially withdraw from the University are entitled to an adjustment on their semester bill as listed below. The preferred procedure is to complete the University withdrawal form and submit it to the Business Services Office. However, an oral statement of intent to withdraw from the University made to the Registrar's Office will also be considered official. Students receiving Title IV loans must also complete an exit interview in the Financial Aid Office. The official date of withdrawal shall be the date established by the Registrar's Office as the last date of attendance. Merely ceasing from class attendance does not constitute official withdrawal. No refund is made unless the University withdrawal is official.
If the Student Withdraws The University Retains Refund to Student
Prior to beginning of classes 0% 100%
Within 1st 10% of enrollment period 10% 90%
Within 25% of enrollment period, after 1st 10% 50% 50%
Within 50% of enrollment period after 1st 25% 75% 25%
After 50% of enrollment period 100% 0%
Reduction of Aid on University Withdrawal
When a student withdraws from the University prior to completion of a semester, aid from federal and state governments and the University will be reduced or returned according to the stipulations of each individual aid program. Calculations will be made following the student's completion of the withdrawal process. Aid from private and other sources will be governed by the conditions specified by the donors.
Return of Federal Title IV Funds Upon Withdrawal
A "Return of Federal Title IV Funds Calculation" will be done for students who are Federal Title IV aid recipients upon withdrawal from the University during the first 60% of a semester. Federal Title IV aid programs included are Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Direct (Stafford and/or PLUS) Loans. Federal aid funds are considered "earned" based on the percentage of the semester actually completed. In some cases, funds already disbursed to the student will need to be returned to the federal program. For more information about this calculation, contact the Financial Aid Office.
Individuals who desire to review any consumer information required by federal regulations may contact the Financial Aid Office.
Course Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Refund from course withdrawal applies only when the withdrawal is official. Refunds for tuition are made in accordance with the refund policy schedule. The date of official course withdrawal is the student's last date of attendance in the course. Notification of course load adjustment is given to the Business Services Office and the Financial Aid Office by the Registrar's Office and refunds are applied to the student's account in accordance with the policy stated above. Students who withdraw from courses during the course of a semester will not have their financial aid adjusted after the established drop/add period.
There are no federal or state grant programs for PBU graduate students. Students may apply for a loan through the Direct Stafford Loan Program. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and loan applications are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA must be completed prior to the loan application. For more information and assistance, contact the Financial Aid Office at 215-702-4247 or e-mail financialaid@pbu.edu.
Scholarships/Grants
Graduate students may be eligible for a need-based grant. Students must complete a Graduate Programs Need-Based Grant Application form before the announced deadline each semester. The application includes a "Need Analysis" based on income from the previous year. Deadlines are August 1 for the fall semester, November 15 for the J Term and spring semester, and April 15 for summer sessions. For more information on these and other scholarships/discounts (e.g., International Student Scholarships), contact Graduate Admissions at 1.800.617.4723.
Graduate students must meet both qualitative and quantitative standards in order to remain eligible for aid. The University evaluates student academic records annually following the end of spring semester. Students who lose eligibility for aid because of unsatisfactory academic progress will have eligibility reinstated following the semester in which they again make satisfactory progress. Students who wish to appeal the loss of aid eligibility may do so by contacting the director of financial aid in writing. In cases where unusual extenuating circumstances exist, eligibility may be reinstated.
Quantitative Academic Progress: Students must pass a minimum of 67% of the cumulative number of credit hours attempted. Course and/or University withdrawals during the drop/add period will not be counted in the calculation of academic progress.
Qualitative Academic Progress: The minimum cumulative GPA for satisfactory progress is 2.50 for M.B.A., M.Div., M.S. in Bible, M.S. in Education, and M.S. in Organizational Leadership. The minimum cumulative GPA for satisfactory progress is 3.00 for M.S. in Christian Counseling, M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration, and Teacher Certification.
Maximum Time Frame
The maximum time frame for which a student may be eligible for Federal Title IV aid is 150% of the normal time for degree completion, measured in the number of credit hours attempted. Transfer hours are included in calculation of total hours completed and used in determining an individual's maximum time frame.