FINANCIAL AID

 

General Information

Our goal at Southeastern Louisiana University is to provide the resources to help students finance their college education. With federal, state, and institutional assistance, students have the opportunity to accomplish their educational goals. While students may complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before being admitted to the university, they will not be awarded financial aid until the request for admission has been granted.

Students interested in receiving financial assistance through federal programs must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be completed on the web at www.fafsa.gov, or by requesting a paper form by calling 1-800-433-3243. Students should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 to apply for financial aid. Students are strongly encouraged to meet the following priority deadlines:

 

Summer Semester                  March 1

Fall Semester                         March 1

Spring Semester                     October 15

 

Processing time for all financial aid programs is approximately six weeks. It is strongly recommended that the student meet the priority deadline date for the term they are seeking financial assistance.  Students must apply each year for financial aid.

Financial aid is administered as a “package,” which may contain a combination of grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. Below are descriptions of the various financial aid programs. The amount of a student’s eligibility in each of the programs will be based on the student’s grades, financial aid preference, need analysis results, cost of attendance, enrollment status, and timeliness of the financial aid application. In order to receive federal financial aid, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

 

Repeat Course Policy for Financial Aid (Undergraduates)*:

Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor and adjust a student’s enrollment level for Title IV aid if, or when, courses are repeated for which credit has already been earned.

The policy allows a student to receive financial aid under the following situations:

  • To repeat any failed or withdrawn courses until a passing grade is received.
  • To repeat one time for a grade in which a passing grade was previously received.

Once a student receives a passing grade of “D” or better, the student may attempt the class one additional time for a grade.

 

Note* The repeated course policy for financial aid is separate from the institutional academic repeated course policy.

 

Federal Pell Grants

The Pell Grant Program makes funds available to eligible undergraduates who have not earned a bachelors or professional degree. The actual amount of the Pell Grant will be based on eligibility, cost of attendance, number of hours enrolled, and program funding.

 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (SEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Students for are eligible for and receive a Pell Grant may also be eligible to receive these funds. Priority is given to students who fall in the highest need category. Students may be eligible if enrolled at least half-time at Southeastern. When applying for Federal Financial Aid, students are automatically considered for SEOG. 

 

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides a student with up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance if the student is completing or plans to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching.

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, a student must sign an Agreement to Serve promising to teach full-time in a high-need field at a low-income school or educational service agency, or teach at certain low-income schools and within certain high-need fields for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which the grant was received.

If a student does not complete the teaching service obligation, the amounts of the TEACH Grants received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. For detailed information on the grant, visit www.teachgrant.ed.gov.

 

Louisiana GO Grant

The Louisiana Go Grant is a need-based financial aid program aimed at making college more affordable for students from moderate- and low-income families. Louisiana resident students who are eligible for and receive the federal Pell Grant may also be eligible for a Louisiana Go Grant. 

 

Federal Perkins Loan Program

The Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest loan made to students who are enrolled at least half time to help meet their educational expenses. This loan is for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Depending on the availability of funds, undergraduate/graduate students may be awarded between $200 and $4,000 per year. Undergraduate students may borrow up to a total of $20,000. Graduate students may borrow up to $40,000. (This total includes the amount borrowed as an undergraduate).

 

Luther L. Ricks Memorial Loans and Tinsley Memorial Loans (Emergency Loans)

The Luther L. Ricks Memorial Loan Fund and the Tinsley Memorial Loan Fund: In 1951 the faculty established a loan fund as a memorial to Gladney Jack Tinsley, President of the College from July, 1945 to December 8, 1951. Members of the faculty and staff and friends of Southeastern have contributed to this loan fund. Each semester students contribute a portion of their fees to these loan funds. These loan funds are awarded as emergency loans to students who have an overall “C” average. An emergency loan may be applied to tuition, fees, and textbook rental charges, but it does not include housing and meals.

On request, the Office of Financial Aid will furnish additional information. Students may apply online for an emergency loan via the student’s LEONet account.

 

William G. Ford Federal (Direct Loan) Program

Loans made through this program are referred to as Direct Loans, because eligible students and parents borrow directly from the U. S. Department of Education at participating schools. Students must be enrolled as at least a half-time student to be eligible for a loan. Direct Loans include the following:

Direct Stafford Loans

  • Direct Subsidized Loans – Students must have financial need to receive a subsidized loan. The U.S. Department of Education will pay (subsidize) the interest that accrues on the Direct Subsidized Loan during certain periods.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans – Financial need is not a requirement to obtain an unsubsidized loan. Students are responsible for paying the interest that accrues on the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
  • Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Limits – The following chart provides maximum annual and aggregate (total) loan limits for subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans. For current interest rates and rebates, visit the Direct Loan Servicing website at: studentloans.gov.
Year Dependent Undergraduate Student (except students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS loans) Independent Undergraduate Student (and dependent students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS loans) Graduate and Professional Degree Students 
First Year $5,500 - no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $9,500 – no more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $20,500 – no more than $8,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Second Year $6,500 – no more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $10,500 – no more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Third Year and Beyond (each year) $7,500 – no more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $12,500 – no more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Maximum Total Debt from Stafford Loans following Graduation (aggregate loan limits) $31,000 – no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $57,500 – no more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $138,500 – no more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate debt limit includes Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study.


Direct PLUS Loans (PLUS Loans) are loans parents can obtain to help pay the cost of education for their dependent undergraduate children. In addition, graduate and professional degree students may obtain PLUS Loans to help pay for their own education. A FAFSA must be completed to obtain a PLUS Loan. The amount borrowed can be up to the Cost of Attendance minus any other aid.

 

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs on and off-campus for students who have financial need and who want to earn part of their educational expenses.

Students may work on or off campus. Jobs are also available as America Reads Tutors or Community Service Workers. America Reads Tutors work in area elementary schools helping at-risk students learn to read. Community Service Workers may choose from a number of community service agencies in several parishes.

The hours a student may work are limited and wages are determined by the job description. However, students will earn no less than the federal minimum wage. In order to be eligible, a student must demonstrate financial need, maintain satisfactory academic progress and maintain a good work history. Students must be enrolled at least half time.

 

State Work Study

The State Work Study Program provides on-campus jobs for students who want to earn part of their educational expenses. A variety of jobs are available in most departments. The hours a student may work are limited and wages are determined by the job description; however, students will earn no less than the federal minimum wage. Wages are determined by the job description. In order to be eligible a student must be enrolled at least half time.


Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must:

  1. Be eligible under the academic rules and regulations of the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees.
  2. Be eligible under the academic rules and regulations of the University.
  3. Meet the Satisfactory Progress standards applicable to recipients of Title IV Programs. It is the student's responsibility to become aware and knowledgeable of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards; a complete statement of these standards is available on the Financial Aid website.

 

Scholarships

The University awards scholarships to students of high scholastic, creative, and athletic ability. While the University underwrites the vast majority of these scholarships, the Southeastern Foundation has many scholarships funded by generous alumni and friends. 

Southeastern staff work with each donor to create criteria for their scholarship. The University encourages that every scholarship recipient submit a thank you letter to donors before the funds are disbursed to the student‘s LEONet account.

For more information about available scholarships, please contact the Scholarship Office. To learn more about the Foundation scholarships generous donors, visit http://www.southeastern.edu/alumni_donors/foundation/students/scholarships/index.html.

The University is most appreciative of all of the generous donors who assist deserving students in achieving their educational goals.