Concordia believes that the talents, hopes and ambitions of our students are among the most valuable resources our church and nation possess. With this in mind, Concordia continues to promote scholarship, loan, and employment opportunities for its qualified, deserving students who must find funds to attend college. The fundamental purpose of the financial aid program at Concordia is, therefore, to make it possible for students who would normally be deprived of a college education because of inadequate funds to attend Concordia.

The amount of financial aid awarded is based mainly on the applicant’s financial need. As a general rule the primary financial responsibility lies with the student and parents. Therefore, in order to help determine student need and make it possible to grant aid fairly, the parents of aid applicants are asked to file Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). On the basis of this financial information, the University is able to determine the difference between University costs and the amount a student and parents can reasonably be expected to provide. This difference is defined as need. If a student is independent according to the Federal Department of Education definition, the student would submit a financial statement without parental information.

GRANTS

The following grants (non-repayable funds) offered at Concordia are based primarily on the undergraduate student’s demonstrated financial need.

PELL GRANTS

A federal Pell Grant provides funds to help pay for higher education. Awards range from $200 to $4,050 per year. The actual amount the student receives depends on the financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), whether a fulltime or part-time student, and the cost of education.

An application must be filed annually through the Office of Financial Aid, Concordia University Wisconsin.

WISCONSIN TUITION GRANT PROGRAM

Wisconsin residents attending Concordia are eligible to apply for the Wisconsin Tuition Grant. The purpose of the grant is ‘‘to provide the Wisconsin student with greater freedom of education choice, thus enabling students to follow a path of self-development in harmony with their desires and the welfare of society.’’ The amount of the grant is based on the student’s financial need and the tuition at Concordia. Grants range up to $2,900 per year. An application should be filed BY MAY 1ST through the Office of Financial Aid, Concordia University Wisconsin.

CUW SCHOLARSHIPS

Concordia does encourage, through scholarships, those students who present a strong composite picture of outstanding academic achievement, unusual diligence, consecrated creativity, and self-sacrificing service. 

Church vocation scholarships are awarded to eligible students regardless of their grade level. The other scholarships are awarded only to persons entering Concordia for the first time. However, the scholarships may be renewed if renewal criteria are met.

Through the generosity of many friends of Concordia University, numerous endowments have been established, the earnings of which financially assist students on the basis of merit and/or need. These grants and scholarships range from $100 to $4000 per year. Additional information about the nature of the endowments and program eligibility is available from the Financial Aid Department. A single application is sufficient for requesting consideration for grants.

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANT (SEOG)

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant  to help pay for education after high school. It is for undergraduates only and it does not have to be paid back.

Awards range up to $2,000, depending on need, the availability of FSEOG funds, and the amount of other aid the student is receiving.

Applications must be filed annually, are not automatically renewed, and should be made through the Office of Financial Aid, Concordia University Wisconsin.

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY GRANTS - SCHOLARSHIPS

Through the generosity of many friends of Concordia University, numerous endowments have been established. The earnings of which financially assist students on the basis of merit and/or need. These grants and scholarships range from $100 to $4000 per year. Additional information about the nature of the endowments and program eligibility is available from the Financial Aid Department. A single application is sufficient for requesting consideration for grants.

CONGREGATIONAL GRANTS, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

In an indirect way, your congregation is assisting you with your educational expenses. Concordia receives financial support from The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod of which your congregation is a contributing member. Hence, your tuition at Concordia is about one thousand dollars less than the tuition at most independent colleges.

In addition, many congregations directly assist their students with some educational expenses. Some students receive as much as $2,000 from their congregation each year; however, the average amount received is closer to $800.

Concordia encourages you to inquire about possible assistance through your pastor.

DISTRICT GRANTS

Most districts of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, through their Board of Student Aid and/or Recruitment, provide grants to students preparing for a church vocation. Grants, and on occasion loans, are awarded in amounts ranging from $100 to $1000 per year. The contact person and address for your district may be obtained from Concordia, your pastor, or the Lutheran Annual. Application must be received by April 1.

SELF HELP 

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

Students who find it necessary to earn part of their expenses may have some opportunity to do so, both on the Concordia campus and in the community.

Fifteen hours of work per week should be considered the absolute maximum for full time students. A reasonable amount of employment could possibly improve the scholastic achievement of many students.

Students interested in on-campus employment can apply for and be offered work assignments by the Director of Financial Aid. Concordia participates in the Federal Work Study Program, which enhances the opportunities for employment.

LOANS

In some cases it is advisable for students to borrow in order to finance their education, provided they borrow only what is needed to maintain a minimum living standard. Students should use caution in borrowing and generally should not rely primarily on loans.

Students who borrow should request a promissory note for a Direct Student Loan from Concordia. This loan program allows students to begin repayment after they graduate or after they discontinue their education. No interest accrues for the subsidized loan while the student is enrolled in school as at least a half-time student.

Repayment begins six months after the student terminates his education. Interest then begins at an annual rate of 6.8% or less.

PLUS, an acronym for ‘Parent Loans for Undergraduate Student’, is a loan program for parents. They may borrow up to the cost of education minus any other financial assistance. The interest rate on PLUS is 7.9% with repayment beginning within 60 days after second disbursement. This program operates through Concordia’s Financial Aid Office.

VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Concordia University in Mequon is approved as an educational institution at which students may receive veteran’s benefits. Prospective students who have been in the Armed Forces should check with their local V.A. office for more complete details. They must file for benefits in Milwaukee if they have made no prior claims. If a claim file has already been established, they should file with that particular V.A. office.

HOW TO APPLY FOR AID

A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is necessary for application for scholarships, grants, loans, or employment from Concordia. These forms need to be completed annually for possible renewal of financial assistance. The FAFSA is to be completed after January 1 and returned for processing to the address indicated on the FAFSA. Signed copies of your and your parent’s previous year’s Federal Income Tax Returns are also required if federal verification is required.

Within one month after your complete application has been received at Concordia, you will be advised as to the various types of financial assistance for which you are eligible. These include employment, loans, grants, and scholarships administered by Concordia. If you are accepted for admission, a firm financial commitment will be made to you during May.

Applications received by April 30 will receive full consideration for all assistance requested. Applications received after that date will be subject to the limitations of available resources.

As a general rule, one half of the grants, scholarships, and loans are applied toward each semester’s tuition and fees.

If you have any questions or need any forms, write or phone the Director of Financial Aid. Detailed information is also available in the form of a fourteen page flipchart.

Any of the above forms are available on the CUW Financial Aid Website.

RENEWAL OF FINANCIAL AID

Concordia makes every effort to continue assistance to a student through his years of college.

Renewal is based upon the following guidelines:

1. The financial aid application must be filed with the Office of Financial Aid by April 30. Late applications will be accepted and funded according to the availability of funds.
2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be filed between January 1 and April 1 in order to assure a timely application.
3. Renewal of scholarships, grants, campus employment, and loans depends upon Financial Aid, and the availability of funds and renewal criterion.
4. Any award or any portion thereof may be either declined by a student or revoked by Concordia if such assistance is not to the advantage of the student or the University.
5. As the funds available must be divided among all deserving students, grants, scholarships, employment, or loans may not always be renewed in their original amounts.
6. You must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined below and maintain at least a 2.00 grade point average.

FINANCIAL AID GOOD STANDING AND SATISFACTORY PROGRESS POLICY

Concordia University is required to establish and consistently apply standards of good standing and satisfactory progress to all students who receive funds from Title IV programs of financial assistance. This federal requirement is contained in the October 6, 1983 issue of the FEDERAL REGISTER, and is meant to ensure that only those students who make good progress toward their degree or certificate objective continue to receive financial assistance.

An appeal procedure exists for use by anyone whose financial aid eligibility is terminated as a result of the Financial Aid Good Standing and Satisfactory Progress Policy. Those students affected will receive written notice of the appeal procedure which is detailed in Section D. Both standards of Good Standing and Satisfactory Progress must be met in order for a student to continue receiving financial aid.

No part of this policy has an effect on any student’s academic record either at this institution or any other. By federal regulation, however, those students on warning status or termination at the time of transfer to another educational institution will have that information included in the Financial Aid (not academic) Transcript provided to that institution, but only if the student applies for aid at the other institution.

1. GOOD STANDING: A student enrolled in an undergraduate program of study is considered in good standing if allowed to continue in that degree or certificate program at Concordia. Detailed information pertaining to the minimum academic requirements of the University can be obtained by referring to the appropriate section of the student’s college catalog. A student enrolled in an non-degree or non-certificate granting program is considered to be a ‘‘special student’’ and may not be eligible to receive financial aid.
2. SATISFACTORY PROGRESS: Satisfactory progress is defined as successfully completing course requirements for 75% of the number of credits for which a student enrolls and receives financial aid each semester, thereby making it possible for a student to make good progress toward a degree or certificate objective. ‘‘Successfully completing course requirements’’ is interpreted to mean that a grade of at least D- or P is received by a student.
   
   Incompletes, withdrawals, and audits, are considered unsatisfactory. Federal guidelines do not allow financial aid to cover courses for which credit is not received. However, incompletes, which are later changed into a grade of at least D- or P are satisfactory for Financial Aid Good Standing and Satisfactory Progress Policy purposes (please note that D- is only ‘‘satisfactory’’ by financial aid standards not by University academic standards). It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of such changes.
3. FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY WARNING STATUS: When a student does not successfully complete 75% of the number of credits for which  funding is approved during the semester, financial aid eligibility warning status is imposed. Aid automatically continues through one semester of financial aid eligibility warning status. If a student does not make satisfactory progress during the semester of financial aid eligibility warning status, the student’s eligibility for financial aid in later semesters is terminated. Eligibility can be regained by completing one semester under the conditions of satisfactory progress detailed above. The appeal procedure detailed in Section D exists for those students whose aid eligibility is so terminated.
4. APPEAL PROCEDURE: Upon receiving a written petition from a student whose financial aid eligibility has been terminated according to the provisions of section C, the appropriate mentor/advisor may reinstate the student’s eligibility by means of a signed memorandum, accompanied by the petition, to the Director of Financial Aid. The petition to the mentor/ advisor must explain why the student did not meet the Satisfactory Progress requirement (what extraordinary circumstances, if any, intervened) and how the student expects to continue making good progress toward a degree or certificate objective (what steps will be taken, if any, to make up the needed credits).
5. TRACKING SYSTEMS: Those students placed on eligibility warning status or whose eligibility for aid has been terminated will have their progress tracked in the next semester. Once satisfactory progress is resumed, full eligibility for aid consideration will be reinstated and the student’s name removed from the tracking system.