These are direct gifts to students which do not have to be repaid, UNLESS you withdraw or have an overpayment. These gifts include federal grant programs, academic scholarships, athletic and activity scholarships.

Federal Pell Grant:
The amount of this grant varies according to the student's need as determined by the federal needs analysis, and is available to all students who qualify. Once Pell funds are paid, additional Pell funds will not be disbursed for increased enrollment. You can only receive Pell funds at one college during each term you are enrolled.

Lifetime Eligibility Limit for Pell Grant (LEU)

In December 2011, President Obama signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-74). This law has significantly impacted the Pell Grant Program. Students are now limited to 12 semesters (or 600%) of Pell Grant eligibility during their lifetime. This change affects all students regardless of when or where they received their first Pell Grant. Students that have used 600% of their Pell Grant eligibility will no longer be eligible to receive a Pell Grant.

This regulation limits the receipt of a Pell Grant to a lifetime limit of up to 6 full-time years (600%). This includes community colleges, vocational schools and four year public and private universities. This limit will be tracked by the U.S. Department of Education.

Regardless of the Pell Grant amount, if you receive the full year amount then you have received 100%.

For example, your Pell Grant for the year is for $4,000 and you receive $2,000 in Fall, $1,000 in Spring and the remaining $1,000 in Summer. You have received the entire $4,000 or 100% for the year.

The 600% total eligibility applies at all schools and colleges. However, once you have earned a Bachelor’s Degree, you are no longer eligible for a Pell Grant even if you haven’t received the entire 600% eligibility. In addition, you must also meet and maintain satisfactory academic progress standards to remain eligible each year.

Due to Pell Grant LEU, students do have the right to decline all or part of their Pell Grant awards, or return a previously received Pell Grant award that was awarded during the same academic (award) year you are enrolled in order to preserve future Pell Grant eligibility. We do not recommend you do this. Students may not return any Pell Grant funds from a prior academic (award) year.

The procedure for declining a Pell Grant is by submitting to the Office of Student Financial aid a signed, written statement clearly indicating you are declining/returning Pell funds for which you were otherwise eligible and that those funds may not be available once the academic (award) year is over.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant:
This grant is provided through an allocation of federal money to Butler. It is a campus- based program and awards are limited. Certain priority dates and restrictions apply.

Scholarships available at Butler:
Students maybe required to complete the FAFSA for some of these scholarships as well as the scholarship application.

• Academic and Foundation Scholarships:  13-14 application
• Activity Scholarships
• Athletic Scholarships
• Butler Access Scholarships: 13-14 application
• Vocational Scholarships

State of Kansas Scholarship Program:
Students may be required to complete the FAFSA for many of these scholarships as well as the Kansas Board of Regents Application supplement.

• Kansas State Scholarship
• Minority Scholarship
• Nursing Scholarship
• Teacher Scholarship
• Vocational Education Scholarship

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Know What You Owe - If you have previously borrowed federal student loans, you may setup an account with NSLDS to review your outstanding current loan debt before accepting further loans.

Federal Direct Loans are available for long-term low-interest financing.

• Federal Direct Loans: These loans are obtained through the U.S. Department of Education after a student is determined to be eligible. Students who are not eligible for interest benefits may receive a Federal Direct unsubsidized loan. Repayment for a Federal Direct loan begins six months after the recipient graduates or drops to less than half-time enrollment. The interest rate is 3.4% for subsidized loans and 6.8% for unsubsidized loans disbursed after July 1, 2012. Loans disbursed afteer July 1, 2013 - 6.8% for subsidized and unsubsidized.
  
  
• Federal Direct Plus (Parent) Loans: The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students is available for parents of dependent students. The 7.9% interest rate is fixed and subject to change. Repayment begins within 60 days after the last disbursement for the current term unless parents request in-school deferment.
  
  
• Managing Repayment Options: The U.S. Department of Education has several repayment plans designed to meet your needs.
  
  
• Annual loan limits: The amount you can borrow each year for Federal Direct subsidized and/or unsubsidized loans depends on your grade level and whether you are a dependent or independent student (see below chart).
  

The amount you are able to borrow is also limited by your school costs at Butler, other financial aid you receive, and (in the case of subsidized loans) your expected family contribution.

Aggregate (total) loan limits for all subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, whether solely from the Direct Loan Program or in combination with a previous Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) Stafford loans, are:

• $31,000 for a dependent undergraduate student (no more than $23,000 may be subsidized)
• 57,500 for an independent undergraduate student¹ (no more than $23,000 may be subsidized)
  ¹ This includes dependent students whose parents are unable to borrow a PLUS loan.

With a Federal Direct Plus loan, the parent of a dependent undergraduate student may borrow for the student, up to the student's cost of attendance minus other financial aid the student receives.

If you want to accept a Federal Direct loan listed on your award letter, you may do so via your Pipeline account. Once accepted via your Pipeline account, you are required to complete online loan entrance counseling and/or a MPN. You must be enrolled in at least 6 college credits at Butler and be making financial aid satisfactory academic progress in order for your loan to be officially originated.

Butler students that borrow student loans are encouraged to sign up for SALT at www.saltmoney.org to help track the amount of student loans borrowed, monthly repayment estimate, and repayment options.

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Many opportunities are available at Butler to obtain a job to help defray the cost of education. Students employed through the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program benefit from an 'Income Exclusion' on the following year FAFSA application for Federal Student Aid. To work in the FWS program, the student must be eligible for FWS.

• http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/work-study: This program is financed by the College and the federal government for students who demonstrate financial need. Students usually work 15-20 hours per week.
• Reading and Mathematics Tutor: Students tutor children in reading or math either in a public school system or at the EduCare Center located on the El Dorado campus.

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