Undergraduate Students
Choose your campus to learn more about cost, scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Bolivar Campus
Springfield Campus
Salem Campus
Mountain View Campus
Graduate Studies
SBU offers graduate degrees in the areas of business administration, Christian ministry, education, nursing and physical therapy. Choose your area of study below to learn more about cost and financial aid.
Need assistance?
Incoming freshmen or transfers should contact their admissions counselor. Returning students can contact:
Office of Financial Aid
1600 University Avenue
Bolivar, MO 65613
(417) 328-1822
Email: finaid@rf518.com
Financial aid counselors are available by phone Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Financial Aid Office Hours
Monday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
Thursday: Closed
Friday: By appointment only
* - Closed for an hour over lunch and during chapel services
Make an Appointment
Using military benefits to pay for college?
Grants
Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine your eligibility for state and federal grants, which are financial awards that do not have to be paid back. Use SBU's school code 002502.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a free federal grant for eligible undergraduate students with financial need. Grants are awarded in various amounts up to $7,395 per year.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a free federal grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. SBU award amounts range from $200-$1,000 per year.
State Grant Programs
State program grants are administered by the state of Missouri for eligible undergraduate students from Missouri with financial need. The Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program award amounts range from $1,500-$2,540 per year based upon available state funding.
Student Loans
Loan eligibility is determined based on your submitted FAFSA. After SBU receives your FAFSA, you will receive a personalized financial aid award letter which will include loan documents for any loans for which you qualify.
You can find detailed information about repayment of federal loans, including borrower's rights and responsibilities, by visiting StudentAid.ed.gov.
Types of Student Loans
Federal Loans
- Federal Direct Student Loans — loan is deferred while student is in school, six-month grace period before repayment
begins
- Subsidized Loan — government pays the interest while you're in school
- Unsubsidized Loan — you are responsible for interest accruing while you are in school
- Federal Grad Plus Loan — available to graduate students
- Federal Parent Plus Loan — parents may apply for this loan in any amount up to cost of attendance; if parent plus loan is denied, student will receive additional unsubsidized direct loan eligibility
Parent Plus Loan Online Application
Private Loans
You may seek out supplemental loan(s) from alternative sources up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid.
Important information about private loans:
- These are non-federal loans and do not have the same terms and conditions as federal loans.
- Private loans cannot be combined (consolidated) with federal loans when you enter repayment.
- A private loan may not offer flexible repayment plans and may have a higher interest rate than federal loans.
- Public service loan forgiveness is not available for private loans.
- Private loans may require a co-signer.
Considerations when choosing a lender:
- Compare interest rates.
- Consider whether accruing interest is added to the principal amount while enrolled in school.
- Check to see if the loan requires any upfront or back-end fees.
- Find out if the loan requires payments to be made while enrolled in school.
- Consider co-signer requirements and conditions of the loan.
- Local banks and credit unions may offer competitive interest rates on private loans.
List of alternative loan lenders
You are free to choose any lender and loan product you feel best suits your needs. You are not required to select a lender from our list; however, we have provided a list of lenders for comparison.