Eligibility Standards And Important Policies
Financial Aid comes in many forms. Whether it's institutional, external, or loans, ensure you know exactly what is required for any financial aid you receive.
Southeastern Scholarships
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Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA or above to receive institutional aid. The following scholarships have specific GPA requirements greater than a 2.0:
- Southeastern Women’s Fellowship Scholarship – minimum GPA: 3.0
- Daniel L. Akin Kingdom Diversity Scholarship – minimum GPA: 3.0
- R. B. Brown Scholarship – minimum GPA: 3.0
- Katy Hardy Memorial Scholarship – minimum GPA: 3.0
- Vernie W. Lewis Scholarship – minimum GPA 3.0
- The African American & Hispanic Scholarship – minimum GPA: 2.75
- James R. Dillon Scholarship – minimum GPA: 2.5
- Binkley-Keesee Scholarship – minimum GPA: 2.5
Learn more about Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Enrollment Status
Students must be:
- enrolled in classes fulfilling requirements for academic progress in their primary academic plan
- enrolled full-time to receive the maximum amount of the scholarship
- enrolled 3/4-time to receive 50% of the scholarship
Please note, enrollment at or below half-time is not eligible for Institutional Financial Aid. Additionally, leveling courses are not eligible to be covered by Institutional Financial Aid.
The following scholarships require full-time enrollment and are not available to students enrolled less than full-time:
- The Mercy Scholarship
- Southeastern Women’s Fellowship Scholarship
- Daniel L. Akin Kingdom Diversity Scholarship
- African American & Hispanic Scholarship
- The Returning Journeyman Scholarship
- The Missionary Kid (MK) Scholarship
- Katy Hardy Memorial Scholarship
- Vernie W. Lewis Scholarship
- Binkley-Keesee Scholarship
- Barker Scholarship
- Stouffer Scholarship
- Wallace Scholarship
- Royal Scholarship
- Herring Scholarship
- King’s Daughters Scholarship
- Kester Scholarship
- McGill Scholarship
- Edmonson Scholarship
Graduate students who withdraw from courses after the drop date and fall below full-time status will have their institutional financial aid reduced by 33% for each withdrawn course they withdraw from. Those who fall at half-time or below will lose any remaining aid. Please note students who withdraw are charged the total cost of any courses they withdraw from.
Continuous enrollment classes are not eligible for institutional financial aid.
Unless otherwise specified, all institutional scholarships are open to on-campus and distance learning students.
Course Load
Graduate Students (MA, MDIV):
- Full-time: 9+ credit hours
- 3/4-time: 6-8 credit hours
- Less than half-time: 1-5 credit hours
Advanced Degree Students (Ph.D., EdD, DMin, ThM):
- Any enrollment is considered full-time
Restrictions
Institutional Scholarships may only be used for tuition and academic fees (the student enrollment fee, the online course fee, and the counseling supervision fee) for the respective academic term. They may not be used for other fees or expenses including housing, meal plans, late fees, drop/add fees, or kept for future academic enrollment.
According to the Southeastern Institutional Financial Aid Overfunding Policy, any Institutional Scholarship that exceeds the total cost of the student’s tuition and academic fees will be reduced to only cover those costs.
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)
Graduate students at Southeastern are not eligible for government aid accessed through the FAFSA® (such as Federal Pell Grant, Direct Loans, etc.). If you are a college student, please visit The College at Southeastern Eligibility Page for more information about the requirements for each award.
Military & Veteran Education Benefits
Graduate students who are eligible for Military or Veteran benefits can learn more by visiting Military Affairs.
Other Scholarships
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There are many private organizations not associated directly with Southeastern that are willing to provide funding for student education. We encourage all students to explore the many options that are available to them.
If you receive a scholarship from a private organization, it is important to know and understand all the eligibility standards set by the funding organization. That organization is the best source of information regarding the scholarship. Students should be sure to read any award letters that they receive entirely and check the organization’s website for more information.
SEBTS Financial Aid is obligated to confirm that students are meeting the eligibility requirements for all private scholarships. If a student does not meet the eligibility requirements for a private scholarship, SEBTS will return the funds to the originating organization.
Common External Scholarships used at Southeastern
Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund, Inc.
Resources for External Scholarships
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Student loans, if used, should be considered with much caution. Generally, students should consider grants, scholarships, and employment before seeking to borrow in the future.
Southeastern does accept private student loans but does not participate in any federally subsidized students’ loans.
To receive private student loans at Southeastern, students must:
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards
- Complete an application for Institutional Financial Aid
- Students on Financial Aid Termination are not eligible to receive loans
Helpful Articles & Resources
