Financial Aid FAQs

To better serve you, we encourage all students to schedule an appointment through our Financial Aid website. Please locate the “Schedule an Appointment” option in the bottom right corner of your screen to select a convenient time to meet with a counselor. Or, you can go directly to our booking page here: Schedule an Appointment . Unless the University campus closes, our office remains open during normal business hours.

If students meet SAP requirements, their financial aid package will remain on their account as long as funds are available. To renew aid in a new semester or term, follow the steps below:

• Complete the FAFSA as early in the calendar year as possible and no later than 30 days before Advance Registration.
• For most aid programs, the financial aid year begins in the Fall semester and ends in the Spring semester. However, for DBU, the summer semester falls at the end of the annual cycle and concludes that year's financial aid year.

If you haven't yet, complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and use the Dallas Baptist University school code 003560 when filling it out. Financial aid for the summer term is generally limited to Federal Pell Grant (if eligible) Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Federal Parent Loan (PLUS), Federal Graduate Plus Loan and private loans. Texas State residents may also qualify for the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG). For most aid programs you must be enrolled for at least six credits in total during summer (Exceptions may include federal Pell Grant or private loans).

When considering financial aid for the summer term, it's important to keep in mind that for most aid programs, you must be enrolled in at least six credit hours. This requirement applies to the Federal Pell Grant (if eligible), Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans, Federal Parent Loan (PLUS), Federal Graduate Plus Loan, and private loans. However, there may be exceptions for the Federal Pell Grant or private loans, so it's crucial to stay informed about the specific requirements.

Moreover, there are additional opportunities for financial aid. Undergraduate students may apply for the Christian Service Scholarship, while graduate students may be eligible for the Master's Christian Leadership Scholarship. These scholarships provide a hopeful avenue for financial support. Please call the Financial Aid Office is you have further questions on how this will be applied.

Here are the important dates to remember for the 2025-2026 academic year:

• DBU School Code for filing the FAFSA is: 003560
• FAFSA Opens: The 2025-26 FAFSA became available on November 14, 2024. However, it is important to note that the official release is normally October for the upcoming school year.
• Early December: Financial aid notifications for new students who have completed all required documents will be available in early December 2025. New students will receive a digital financial aid package via email and via MyDBU account.
• March: Returning/Current students will receive notifications of their digital financial aid package.
• April: Advance Registration opens.
• May: PLUS and private loan applications are available for the upcoming award year.
• Federal FAFSA Deadline: The final deadline for submitting the 2025-26 FAFSA is June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT).
• Corrections and Updates: If you need to make corrections or updates to your FAFSA, you can do so until September 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT. 
• What if you miss a deadline?: If you miss a deadline, contact your school's financial aid office as soon as possible to discuss your options. Some states and schools may still have funds available, but your chances of receiving aid may be lower. You may still be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, however, if you miss the federal deadline of June 30, you will be ineligible to submit the FAFSA for that year. 

Financial aid awarding and the posting of any aid can only occur after the completion and receipt of a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you have any questions about anything financial aid related, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (214) 333-5363 or via email at finaid@dbu.edu.

FAFSA Verification Process

Occasionally, a student's record is selected for a process called verification. This process is typically initiated by the U.S. Department of Education to verify the accuracy and consistency of the information submitted on the FAFSA. If selected for verification, students will be required to submit additional documentation to substantiate the information reported on their FAFSA. Please note that selection for verification is a random process, and being selected does not imply any wrongdoing.

If a student’s file is selected for verification, all requested documentation must be submitted before the student’s financial aid file can be paid to the student’s account.

For more information on the verification process, please refer to our Important Financial Aid Policies page.

Order of Financial Aid Awarding

For financial aid programs that are based on financial need, the awarding process follows this order:

1. Federal Pell Grant: This grant is awarded to eligible students first based on financial need.
2. Other Federal and State Programs: Following the Pell Grant, other federal and state aid programs are posted.
3. Institutional Aid: Any available institutional aid such as academic awards, awards based on talent, or scholarly achievement are then applied.
4. Gift Aid: This includes external scholarships, Church Gifts, and eligible Matching Grants.
5. Self-Help Aid: Once all other financial aid options have been exhausted, loans will be considered to cover any remaining unmet need.

It is important to note that programs with limited funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Getting your application filed as early as possible is important. However, financial aid applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the semester. Retroactive applications are not permitted after the conclusion of an enrollment period. Learn more here.

Financial Aid Notification

Upon completion of the awarding process, students will receive a Financial Aid Notification via email and it will be posted on their Self-Service portal under their MyDBU account. The Award Letter will detail the names and amounts of the financial aid the student is eligible to receive. Additionally, the Award Letter will include important instructions and information about the conditions and restrictions that may affect the student's eligibility for the awarded amounts. It is essential to review this document carefully.

We have provided specific information regarding this topic under the DBU Cashier’s Office webpages, where you can learn all about refunds and how to set up your eRefund account. You can reach the Cashier’s Office at (217) 333-5336 or email them at cashier@dbu.edu.

Yes. Changes in enrollment heavily affect both charges and aid.

When awarding, the Office of Financial Aid attempts to award students using the most current enrollment information available. A student’s current enrollment, changes in enrollment, and the timing of these changes can all affect aid eligibility and amounts, as well as tuition charges.

Students who drop or withdraw from any classes (who cease to be enrolled full-time) may be subject to an adjustment of previously awarded aid based on eligibility requirements for each individual Federal and State, or institutional award eligibility, requirements, and policy criteria. Students are cautioned that dropping classes after being awarded on a full-time basis may affect their eligibility for certain types of aid.

The estimated amounts for scholarships and grants that are paid per semester hour will be adjusted to the actual number of hours enrolled at registration. Awards offered in set amounts may, in some cases, be pro-rated for enrollment that is less than full-time.

Since financial aid rules can be complex and can vary by the particular type(s) of financial aid, we encourage students to contact our office ahead of considered changes to classes or enrollment.

For the purposes of financial aid budgeting and awarding:

For Undergraduate Students:

• Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours or more during a semester or term (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer) to be considered full-time.
• Undergraduate students taking 9 to 11 credit hours are considered to be attending three-quarters time during a semester or term (Fall or Spring semester or Summer term), and
• Undergraduate students taking 6 to 8 credit hours are considered to be attending halftime during a semester or term (Fall or Spring semester or Summer term).

For Graduate/Master's Level Students:

• Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours or more during a semester or term (Fall, Spring, and/or Summer) to be considered full-time.
• Note: Doctoral students are full-time at 6 hours

For purposes of estimating award amounts on the award notification letter, the expected full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is 15 hours per semester. For Graduate students, it is 9 hours per semester, and for Doctoral students, 6 hours of enrollment per semester is considered full-time.

Withdrawing from one or more classes, whether officially or unofficially, can have significant effects on your financial aid. If you choose to withdraw from all your courses, you might find yourself responsible for repaying some or all of the financial aid you’ve received from the government or the university. Additionally, withdrawing can affect your financial aid eligibility in future terms, as every financial aid recipient is required to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards to maintain their aid, with certain programs imposing specific renewal guidelines.

Dropping courses or receiving failing grades can also influence your financial aid in various ways. Financial aid eligibility is determined by your enrollment status on the Census Date, which the university designates and usually marks the conclusion of the add/drop period. On this Census Date, your budget and financial aid are finalized according to the number of credits you are registered for at that time. Therefore, the timing and number of credits you drop can significantly alter the effects on your aid.

Failing a class is a daunting thought for anyone. It carries potential consequences that might surprise you, such as receiving an F on your transcript, incurring additional costs to retake the course, jeopardizing your compliance with federal guidelines or satisfactory academic progress, and having to grapple with the same material again, which can be quite tedious.

Have you considered what failing a class might mean for your FAFSA? Are you concerned that it could reduce your financial aid or even disqualify you from receiving the Pell Grant? These worries are common and valid.

Before making decisions about dropping classes or if you're struggling in a course, it’s essential to consult with your academic advisor and the financial aid office. They are there to assist you with vital information and guidance regarding how these choices might impact both your academic standing and your financial aid. Remember, you don’t have to face this decision alone.

Tuition and fees, along with housing and meals, are essential components of a student's annual budget. Tuition covers the cost of academic instruction, while fees typically fund student services, technology, and other campus amenities. Housing and meal costs vary based on the type of accommodations and meal plans selected. In addition to these primary expenses, students should also budget for textbooks, supplies, transportation, personal costs, and health insurance, if applicable. To stay on track with your budget, it's important to regularly monitor your spending, utilize any available financial aid, scholarships, or payment plans, and set aside a contingency fund for unexpected expenses. Check out our financial literacy resources and budgeting tools to help you manage your finances throughout the year.

Self-Service is a secure, web-based portal that provides 24/7 access to academic records, registration information, financial aid, student accounts, and other scholarship opportunities. Watch the self-service video below to learn more. DBU Self-Service Video Library >>

Within the Self-Service portal, you have access to the following financial aid functions:

• View documents needed to complete your financial aid application
• Submit documents through a Secured Document Submission Upload
• Check the status of documents submitted to Student Financial Services
• Check which funds have been paid to your student account
• Check your student account balance
• Review your account for any holds that need to be resolved
• Review your satisfactory academic progress
• Review and accept your Financial Aid Award Package
• Review and sign your Financial Aid Offer Letter
• Access health insurance waiver
• Review college financing plan

We encourage you to explore Financial Aid Self-Service and familiarize yourself with the features that it offers.

• Current undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students
• Newly admitted freshman students who have committed to DBU
• Newly admitted transfer graduate and doctoral students

Students may log in to Self-Service with their DBU account here: Self-Service >>

If you are unable to log in to Self-Service or have forgotten your user ID or password, please submit a ticket through the IT Support Portal for assistance.

If you have questions about the information presented on Self-Service, you may access our video tutorial page for answers to many of your questions. Or feel free to contact DBU Information Technology (214) 333-5500 or email itsupport@dbu.edu.

• DBU Information Technology
  • New User Account Setup
  • Initial Password Reset Instructions
  • Multifactor Authentication
  • MyDBU Account - single sign-on portal that contains relevant information and applications needed for day-to-day life at DBU. Customized information and applications are available to admitted students, current students, and employees.
  • Proxy Access - Students can grant parents or authorized users, called a "Proxy", access to view their student information in a secure, online environment. For more information, visit the DBU Proxy Access page.
•   Self-Service Student Tutorial Videos
  • Introduction
  • Accessing self-service
  • Viewing your degree progress
  • Adding a note to your advisor
  • Scheduling courses
  • Using the course catalog
  • Registering for courses from your schedule
  • Understanding Notifications
  • Using the timeline in self-service
  • Accessing the Financial Aid Module
  • Student Agreements

Yes, especially if you have never filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many families mistakenly think they will not qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. The FAFSA form is free and is often used to establish state and institutional financial aid scholarships as well as federal aid.

We have provided specific information regarding this topic on the Important Financial Aid Steps page.

The 2025-26 FAFSA is now available. Once you complete the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will provide your information to the schools you listed. Until DBU receives your FAFSA eligibility information, we won’t be able to answer questions about your aid eligibility or status. We look forward to sending you your official Financial Aid Offer within 3-4 days of when your FAFSA submission is received.

The FAFSA for the 2026-2027 school year will open on October 1, 2025. You can submit your FAFSA as early as this date.

The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year is June 30, 2026. However, this does not mean you should wait until the last moment to submit; it’s always best to apply as early as possible to maximize your chances of receiving aid. If you need to make corrections to your FAFSA after submission, the final deadline for corrections is September 11, 2026.

Best Practice:

It's recommended to submit your FAFSA as early as possible, ideally in October, for the upcoming school year. This helps you meet both school-specific and state-priority dates and increases your chances of qualifying for various types of financial aid, such as scholarships and state grants.

Visit the FSA website for more detailed information on how to apply for the FAFSA.

Students who plan to enroll in college in the Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 semester should file the 2025-26 FAFSA right away. For those attending in the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027, the 2026-27 FAFSA will be available October 2025. Texas resident undergraduate and graduate students who believe they are eligible for the Texas Equalization Grant (TEG) should also complete the Texas Residency Form which may be found on the Financial Aid Forms page.

1. Determine your eligibility status. Find out whether you are considered a dependent or independent student—this will help you understand whose information will go on the FAFSA.
2. If you’re a first-time filer, you’ll need to set up an account at studentaid.gov to create an FSA ID username and password. You’ll need a working email address (not tied to your school account) to set this up.
3. If you’re a returning filer, you’ll need to remember your FSA ID username and password so you have them readily available when it’s time to file.

Dependent Students

For students considered dependents, both the student's and the parent's information will be collected. Both parents and students need an FSA ID username and password.

For students whose parents are divorced, the parent who provides the most financial support must include their financial information. This is different than in previous years. Visit this page for more about who is considered your parent when filing the FAFSA.

Independent Students

For students who meet all the criteria to be considered an independent student, only their information and their spouse’s information, if applicable, will be used on the FAFSA.

Unusual Circumstances

Federal Student Aid has made it possible for students to file the FAFSA to the best of their ability if they can’t provide parent information. Students should follow the prompts within the FAFSA to utilize this process and to understand next steps. Students who are homeless or are in foster care will also need to follow the FAFSA prompts in order to input the correct information into the FAFSA. The DBU Financial Aid will contact you to request additional information if needed.

The FAFSA will ask you questions about yourself, and your family, as well as about your financial situation. Demographic questions will include your name, Social Security Number, birthdate, federal tax information including income, business and farm assets, and investments including stocks and bonds.

With the new FAFSA, most financial questions will be collected via the IRS federal income tax information exchange. You and your parents, if you’re a dependent student, will need to agree to have your tax and financial information shared from the IRS to the FAFSA. Your family size will also be determined by your tax 2022 records. If your family size has changed since filing your 2022 taxes, you’ll be prompted to answer additional questions to make a manual update within the FAFSA.

Watch out for scams! The FAFSA form is FREE, so if a website asks you to pay to fill it out, you’re not on the official FAFSA site. Visit studentaid.gov to access the correct website.

Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle all individuals – regardless of their citizenship status – are required to have a StudentAid.gov account to access and sign the FAFSA form. View this FSA website to review the process for individuals without a social security number (SSN) to create their StudentAid.gov account. Contact FSA at 1-800-433-3243 if you have any questions.
DBU's School Code for filing the FAFSA is: 003560 This code is used to inform the U.S. Department of Education which college you are interested in attending and where you want your FAFSA information sent.

To apply for financial aid at DBU, applicants must complete the following steps:

1. Obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) from the U.S. Department of Education. One parent will also need an FSA ID if you are considered a dependent student (see note below).
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as soon as possible. The FAFSA becomes available in December each year.

When completing the FAFSA, you will use tax return data from the prior-prior year (i.e. two years before the year you plan to enroll). The FAFSA requires all contributors (both students, spouses (if applicable), and parents (or other contributors) are required to give consent to transfer their tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA or to confirm their non-filing status, ensuring accurate and efficient data transfer.

Your FAFSA should be fully completed no later than 30 days before Advance Registration begins. Otherwise, the student will be expected to make payment arrangements with the Cashier's Office using personal resources when he or she registered for classes.

Late aid applications will be processed after registration for aid as it becomes available. Each scholarship program has an individual deadline that must be met to be considered for an award from that particular scholarship program.

Attention Fall Enrollees

Complete your financial aid file by March 15 to be eligible to receive the maximum amount of federal and/or state financial aid funds.

Note about Dependent or Independent Student Status

A student is NOT considered an independent student just because parents have not included them on their income tax filing, if parents provide little financial support, or if a student will be paying for all their own expenses. The information below lists what constitutes an independent student. If these do not fit your situation, you must file with your parents' information and signature.

To be considered an independent student, the student must be at least 24 years old by January 1 of the award year. A student who has not attained this age is also considered to be independent if he or she:

• is married;
• is a graduate (master) level or above or professional student;
• applies for and is approved for a dependency override;
• is not married but has legal dependents, as defined by Federal regulations;
• is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or currently serving on active duty for purposes other than training; or
• is an orphan, in foster care, an emancipated minor, homeless youth, or a ward of the court (documentation required for confirmation).

Learn more about Dependent or Independent Status >>

If you are still unsure if you qualify as an independent student, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (214) 333-5363 or finaid@dbu.edu.

After the FAFSA has been processed, the federal processor will send a FAFSA Submission Summary to you and an electronic version to DBU if you include DBU’s school code on the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office will then begin the financial aid awarding process and contact you by e-mail about your financial aid award.

The FSS indicates whether you have been selected for a process called verification and whether you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. If you do not have a copy of your FSS, you can request a duplicate copy from the Federal Student Aid Information Center by calling 1-800-433-3243.

The Student Aid Index (SAI), previously the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), is an index number that college financial aid staff use to determine how much financial aid you would receive if you were to attend their school. The information you report on your FAFSA is used to calculate your SAI.

The SAI is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. The SAI Formula guide shows exactly how an SAI is calculated.

Your SAI is not:

• a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
• what your family is expected to provide, or
• your final financial aid offer.

Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

There are helpful tools and tips throughout the application which should assist you with the questions you may have. You can also visit the Filling Out the FAFSA Form page on the Federal Student Aid website and you can always reach out to the Financial Aid Office.

Be sure to visit the rest of our DBU website for more information that may meet your specific questions and needs. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us for more information about the financial aid process, status of your awards or how to submit documents.

DBU Financial Aid Office
Phone: (214) 333-5363
Fax: (214) 333-5586
Email: finaid@dbu.edu

DBU Financial Aid will be available to assist you with any questions to help you file your FAFSA. Please contact us if you have financial aid questions or need help completing your FAFSA.