Tuition, Fees, & Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees

Graduate Tuition 2026-27 

for Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Spring 2027

Fees 2026-27

Seattle University tuition and fees are set yearly and subject to change each summer quarter for the coming year. Seattle University reserves the right to revise its charges at any time without prior notice.

Health Insurance

Seattle University recommends that domestic students have their own health insurance coverage. Seattle University does not offer a school-sponsored health insurance plan for domestic students. International students are required to purchase a student health insurance plan or request a waiver and provide proof of health insurance coverage that meets the university’s requirements. The International Student & Scholar Center can provide information regarding quarterly plan cost and coverage levels.

Information related to health insurance and wellness resources is available through Wellness & Health Promotion.

Cost of Attendance 2026-27

Seattle University uses the following figures to build the annual cost of attendance for a full-time graduate student. The amount shown for tuition is an average rate for 9-credits per quarter (fall, winter and spring). It is for illustrative purposes only. Actual tuition will be calculated based on the per-credit rate for each program. Refer to the 2026-27 Graduate Tuition section above for specific per-credit costs for each graduate program.

On/Off Campus 

Tuition Due Dates

Tuition and fees are always due and payable by the scheduled due date or within 14 days of registration or, whichever is later:

Finance and Service Charges

By registering for classes at the university, a student agrees to pay their account in full by the due dates established by the university. Additionally, the student agrees to pay a 1 percent per month finance charge (12 percent APR) that may be assessed on unpaid balances, including finance charges previously assessed, and all service fees and late fees established by Seattle University.

A service fee of $25 will be charged for all checks not honored by the bank and returned unpaid to Seattle University. If the returned check is for tuition, and charges are still outstanding after the tuition due date, a late fee will also be assessed to the student’s account. Students with two or more dishonored personal checks will no longer be allowed to submit a personal check as a form of payment.

Late Payment/University Collection Fee

A late fee of $50 per month (up to a maximum of $100) will be assessed on any unpaid balance remaining after the tuition due date. Students with an outstanding balance after a final demand letter for payment has been sent for the quarter will be assessed a final demand collection fee of $100 in addition to late fees.

Exceptions to this policy will be made only if:

• Payment arrangements for the term’s charges have been made with Student Financial Services by the term’s tuition due date. If the requirements of the plan are not met, all applicable late fees will be applied retroactively.
• An institutional error results in delays in the application of financial aid.

Students are responsible for ensuring that all awarded financial aid is applied to their account by the first class day of the term. This includes endorsing co-payable grant or scholarship checks and completing all required loan documents and counseling.

Past-Due Accounts/Registration Holds/Collections

By registering for classes, a student agrees to pay tuition and other charges and fees as well as any fees associated with collection. A student’s failure to pay in full all tuition and other fees for any quarter or session by the specified due dates will result in a restriction being placed on the student’s record and the student will be prohibited from registering for future quarters, receiving a diploma and use of university facilities. Delinquent accounts may be referred to a commercial collection agency and may be reported to national credit bureaus. All costs, expenses and fees including, but not limited to, attorney fees, court costs, collection costs and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the university in collecting or attempting to collect a past-due account are the responsibility of the student and will be charged to the student’s account.

Payment Methods

Seattle University provides a number of payment options to accommodate specific needs for paying student account balances: 

• Pay by Mail: Payments may be mailed to Seattle University, Student Financial Services, 901 - 12th Avenue, PO Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090. The student’s Seattle University ID number must be included on the check or money order.
• Pay Online: Credit/Debit card or electronic checks (e-check) may be used to make online payment through the Student Account Center. A 2.95% service fee will automatically be added to credit/debit card payment amounts as a separate transaction. There is no additional fee for making an e-check payment. 
• Pay in Person: In-person payments of checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, or debit cards (no fee) may be made at the Redhawk Service Center on the 2nd floor of Vi Hilbert Hall. The office is open from 9:30 AM to 4:00PM Monday - Friday. 
• Sign Up for a Payment Plan: See the Payment Plan Options section below.

Payment Plan Options

Students can enroll in payment plans online by logging on to mySeattleU and clicking the “Student Account Center”. This will direct you to “TouchNet” where you can choose the payment plan option, pay the setup fee, and confirm your payment method for future payments.

If a student enrolls in a payment plan after the first payment is due, the missed payment must be paid at enrollment in the plan or will be incorporated into the remaining two payments for the quarter.  Late payments are subject to the late fee. The payment plan will be canceled after two consecutive late payments.  At that time, any remaining amount owed for the quarter becomes immediately past due and payable in full and future registration will be blocked until the student’s account is current.

Payment Plan A (Annual Plan): Multiple Quarters With 3 Payments

This is the most efficient and cost-effective plan for students needing a payment plan for two or three consecutive quarters within the academic year: fall, winter, and spring, fall and winter, or winter and spring. This payment plan requires a one-time, non-refundable $75 enrollment fee at setup. The payment method used to pay the enrollment fee will be saved and linked to the payment plan for auto-draft of the scheduled installments on the dates listed below. Students who only need a payment plan for one quarter will want to use Plan B described below. 

This interest-free plan divides a student’s outstanding charges into three monthly payments for each quarter:

• Fall Quarter: September 20, October 20, and November 20
• Winter Quarter: December 20, January 20, and February 20
• Spring Quarter: March 20, April 20, and May 20

Payment Plan B: Single Quarter With 3 Payments

Set up for this 3-payment plan must be done each quarter. This plan requires a $40 non-refundable payment plan enrollment fee each quarter it is used. The payment method used to pay the enrollment fee will be saved for auto-draft of scheduled installments on the dates listed below. Bill-payer will pay one-third of the total quarter’s balance each payment.  

This interest-free plan divides a student’s outstanding charges into three monthly payments for the quarter enrolled:

• Fall Quarter: September 20, October 20, and November 20
• Winter Quarter: December 20, January 20, and February 20
• Spring Quarter: March 20, April 20, and May 20
• Summer Quarter: June 20, July 20, and August 20

Payment Plan E: Employer Paid Tuition Deferred Payment Plan

Students who will receive tuition reimbursement through their employer after coursework is completed and grades are posted, can apply for this payment plan which defers payment of tuition and fees until 30 days after grades are posted at the end of the term. An application must be submitted for each quarter the student wants to use this plan and there is a $50 non-refundable enrollment fee for each quarter.

The Payment Plan E application form is available from the Forms and Documents section of the Student Financial Services website.

The deadline to submit the application and $50, non-refundable enrollment fee to Student Financial Services is the payment due date shown on the student’s online Billing eStatement on the Student Account Center.

Student Account Access for Parents/Supporters

Students can provide direct access for their parents/supporters to both speak to SFS (proxy access) and to view, pay, or enroll in payment plans in the Student Account Center (authorized user access).  Instructions for setting up this access can be found at Third Party Access to Information.  

Proxy Access

To view financial aid information (including award letters) AND to be able to speak to Student Financial Services, students must set up Third Party Proxy Access via MySeattleU.   

Authorized User Access

For access to view and make payments, students must open Student Account Center and select “Authorized Users” to begin the access process for their parent/supporter. The Authorized User will get two emails with their login information (this login is separate from the MySeattleU credentials). The Authorized User will be emailed a payment schedule after setting up the payment plan and paying the payment plan setup fee through the Student Account Center.  

Overpayment of Account (Credit Balance)

A credit balance is the result of payments, including the transmittal of financial aid, on a student’s account exceeding charges. If there is a credit balance after all payments have been posted to the account, that amount can be transferred to the student’s bank account via Electronic Refund (eRefund), which is setup on Student Account Center.  If eRefund has not been setup, a check will be mailed to the student’s mailing address of record as shown on mySeattleU (where students can also go to update that address). SFS begins processing credit balance refunds on the first day of each quarter. Checks take longer to process and are generally mailed after processing. Receipt of checks may be delayed up to 10 days if the student hasn’t provided a current, local mailing address. 

A credit balance on a student’s account that is the result of Estimated Financial Aid being deducted from the charges on the account, is not a true credit balance until the financial aid is actually disbursed.  Thus, it is not available to the student until all financial aid for the quarter has been posted to the student’s account.

An eRefund direct deposit or check will automatically be generated if:

• There is a credit balance for the current term.  This occurs when payments and/or financial aid actually disbursed (not pending or estimated aid) exceed charges
• There are no other balances due to the University
• The student is a financial aid recipient and is registered for at least as many credit hours as are shown on the financial aid award letter

An eRefund direct deposit or check will NOT automatically be generated if:

• A check overpayment was made on the student’s account within the last 10 business days
• The student is not currently enrolled
• The term with the pending credit has not yet begun 

If you believe a refund on your account should have generated but it has not, please contact Student Financial Services for resolution.

There is a 21-day holding period for credits that result from an overpayment from a check or online e-check. 

Official Withdrawal Date

A student is responsible for payment of all fees related to courses for which the student has registered, whether or not the student physically attended the courses. Any reduction or refund of tuition is based on the official withdrawal date which is determined as follows:

Graduate students wishing to withdraw from a course must either withdraw from courses online or complete a withdrawal e-form with the Office of the Registrar. The official date of withdrawal is the date of the online withdrawal or the date the e-form was initiated by the student.  

Tuition Refunds (Policy 75-9)

Refunds are based on the official date of withdrawal. See the quarterly schedule of classes for specific refund periods. A refund to financial aid recipients is applied first to financial aid sources from which it came and the balance, if any, is remitted to the student. Federal loan proceeds are returned directly to the lender. Student Financial Services will issue a check for any credit balance that remains. Petitions for tuition adjustment and fee waivers will be approved only to correct a university error.

Tuition Refund Policy

Short courses (any session not listed above) will be refunded at 100 percent if withdrawal occurs on or before the second class meeting. No refund thereafter.

Financial Aid

Office of Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) has three main service functions:

Financial Aid: SFS Counselors evaluate information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine student eligibility for federal, state and institutional need-based funds.

Student Accounts: The Student Accounts Team prepares and distributes bills for tuition and fees, housing and food, and international student health insurance. The SFS office processes tuition payments, helps students set up payment plans, assesses holds and applicable late fees, and distributes aid.

Student Employment/Work-Study: While positions are not guaranteed and need-based work study isn’t included in initial awards for graduate students, Seattle University’s Handshake portal includes jobs that are funded by the employer/institution and open to any interested student (not just those with work study awards) as well as jobs available to recent graduates.

The SFS office is located on the 2nd floor of Vi Hilbert Hall in the Redhawk Service Center and is open 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Drop-in meetings with SFS counselors, no appointment needed, Monday-Friday from 10am-3pm.

Applying for Federal Student Aid

To be considered for need-based financial aid, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA for the upcoming academic year-summer, fall, winter and spring quarters-becomes available on Oct. 1 at www.studentaid.gov. Seattle University’s Federal School Code-003790-must be listed in the appropriate section of the FAFSA so results will be sent to the university. 

While FAFSA is accepted and processed year-round, graduate students are strongly encouraged to have their FAFSA filed by Feb. 1, or as soon after that date as possible, whether for summer quarter or the academic year starting in September. The earlier a file is completed the more likely funding will be available on the first official day of the term as published on the Academic Calendar by the Office of the Registrar.

Financial need for a school year is defined as the difference between the Cost of Attendance at Seattle University and the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) that is calculated from information provided on the FAFSA. The SFS office prepares a financial aid offer to meet as much of a student’s need as possible. At the graduate level, student awards are primarily made up of Federal Direct Loans.  Descriptions of the federal and institutional aid programs follow.

To be eligible for most financial aid programs students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. 

Scholarships for Graduate Students

Seattle University offers a limited number of scholarships to graduate students. These scholarships are provided in recognition of a student’s ability to enhance Seattle University’s educational community. Scholarship renewal is based on scholarship specifics, satisfactory academic progress and, in some cases, continued financial need. 

The Sinegal Fellowship

The Sinegal Fellowship provides support for Costco Scholars who have graduated from either the University of Washington or Seattle University and who are pursuing an advanced degree at SU. The Sinegal Fellowship is a 2-year award with a stipend of $5,000 for each year.

Program-Specific Scholarships

Several graduate departments and programs offer program-specific scholarships and/or assistantships. Scholarships are generally limited; some awards may be based on financial need and some may be renewable. Students should contact their departments for specific information about availability, eligibility and application procedures.

Americorps/Peace Corps Scholarship

The Americorps/Peace Corps scholarships are awarded to seven students admitted to any graduate (or law) program who have successfully completed one or more terms of AmeriCorps/Peace Corps prior to starting classes in the next academic year. Each scholarship is $3000 and the amount is pro-rated over the duration of the program, not to exceed three years. The application is accessible through ScholarshipUniverse after April 1.

Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarships are scholarships students bring with them to Seattle University. Students must inform SFS if they are receiving outside scholarships because they must be included in the resources available to meet costs. These scholarships then are listed as Private Outside Scholarships on the Seattle University Financial Aid Offer Letter.

Grants for Graduate Students

Catholic School Special Tuition Grant

Eligible full-time religious and lay teachers and principals of Catholic schools under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Seattle may apply for the Catholic School Special Tuition Grant provided they are matriculated in an eligible graduate degree program in the College of Education. Master in Teaching (MIT) and Doctor of Education (EdD) students are not eligible; the grant cannot be used to pay for MIT or EdD credits. Grants pay half of regular tuition for eligible graduate education courses and the student is responsible for the remainder of the charges. Additional information and the application for this grant become available on May 1 preceding the upcoming academic year. The grant is not retroactive. 

Federal TEACH Grant

Students participating in master’s degree programs in special education or teaching may qualify for a Federal TEACH Grant. In return for receiving a TEACH Grant, a student agrees to serve: as a highly qualified full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which they received a TEACH Grant.

Important: Failure to complete the service obligation in full will result in conversion of the TEACH grants to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest charged from the date the grant was originally disbursed. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan must be repaid to the U.S. Department of Education.

Veterans’ Educational Benefits

The federal Department of Veterans Affairs website is the best source for information about all VA Educational Benefits Programs.

Veterans may also use the Federal VA’s online Ask Us a GI Bill Question to see answers to specific questions others have asked about benefits and/or to ask questions or call the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).  Veterans can also visit the Veterans page on the Seattle U website.

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs is a good resource for students to find information about benefits within the state.

VA Pending Payment Compliance

DVA Facility Code: 31-8080-47

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  This school will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment
• Assess a late penalty fee to
• Require students to secure alternative or additional funding
• Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class
• Provide a written request to be certified
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies 

Loans for Graduate Students

These are low-interest student loans that must be repaid.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Effective July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students whose loan periods began after that effective date were no longer eligible to receive Subsidized Direct Loans. Subsidized Direct Loans received prior to July 1, 2012 continue to be subsidized as long as the student meets the criteria to receive that interest subsidy per the terms and conditions of their Master Promissory Notes.

Loan repayment begins six months after a student graduates, leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan awards are limited by the program’s annual and lifetime limits and by the student’s cost of attendance. The Unsubsidized loan begins to accrue interest after the first disbursement.

The interest rate for these loans can be found on the FSA website. An origination fee is charged before it is disbursed to the student’s account.  Federal regulations require review and, if necessary, adjustment of both the interest rate and origination fee for new, subsequent year loans on an annual basis.

First-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers must complete an online entrance counseling session where the loan terms and benefits are explained and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before their loans can be disbursed. Students can complete these loan pre-requirements at www.studentaid.gov.  

After a student’s financial aid file is complete and the appropriate documents have been completed, loan funds will be disbursed to the student’s account each quarter according to their enrollment intensity. Students are eligible for the full amount of the loan each term when enrolled full-time and are eligible for a prorated amount for less than full-time enrollment when enrolled at least half-time.. , provided the student is enrolled at least half-time. For graduate students, full-time enrollment for purposes of receiving financial aid is a minimum of six credits each term and half-time enrollment is a minimum of three credits each term.. 

Annual and aggregate loan limits are shown in the chart below.

		Annual Loan Limits	Aggregate Maximum Limits
Subsidized Stafford		Combined Subsidized & Unsubsidized Stafford	Subsidized Stafford	Combined Subsidized & Unsubsidized Stafford
Graduate & Professional Students
All Years of Study	$8,500 for loan periods beginning prior to July 1, 2012 Graduate and professional students are no longer eligible for subsidized Stafford Loans for loan periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012	$20,500 For loan periods beginning after July 1, 2012, this entire annual amount will be unsubsidized.	For Subsidized Stafford Loans with loan periods beginning prior to July 1, 2012: $65,500 For loan periods beginning on July 1, 2012, or later, the loan amount will be unsubsidized and will add to the aggregate limit as determined by the U.S. Department of Education	$138,500

Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate Students (Grad PLUS)

This loan has been discontinued for new borrowers beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

Some graduate students may be eligible for “legacy status” to access the Grad PLUS Loan to borrow up to their total Cost of Attendance (COA), as certified by the SFS Office, less any financial aid they have been awarded if they have previously borrowed a federal direct loan (Unsubsidized or Grad PLUS prior to July 1, 2026), continue to be enrolled in the same credentialed program and are within the normal time to credential for their program. These students may borrow a GradPLUS Loan (up to the COA less any other financial aid), until their degree requirements are complete or up to three years, whichever is shorter. 

The Grad PLUS Loan is a non-need-based loan with a fixed interest rate. An origination fee is also deducted from the awarded amount before the loan is disbursed. Federal regulations require review and, if necessary, adjustment of both the interest rate and origination fee for subsequent year loans.   

Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed for the academic year. For an academic year loan for three quarters (fall, winter and spring), repayment begins 60 days after the spring quarter disbursement. Students may request in-school payment deferment by contacting the Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394.

As part of the Grad PLUS Loan application process, students must complete a FAFSA, which will determine initial eligibility for the PLUS Loan and also for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. While not mandatory, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of their annual Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility before applying for a Grad PLUS Loan because the terms and conditions of the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan are more favorable than those for the Grad PLUS Loan.

Students wishing to apply for a Grad PLUS loan should submit an online application after May 1st at www.studentaid.gov After submitting the application the borrower will receive the results of the credit check for the loan.  If the credit check is approved,Seattle University will be notified and SFS will process the loan.

Private Educational Loans

Students needing to pursue other financing options can research private educational loan programs through participating lending institutions who may approve loans up to the total COA minus any financial aid the student has been awarded. Eligibility to receive these loans is based on creditworthiness as determined by the specific lender to which the student applies.

Private educational loan considerations:

• Staff in the SFS office are available to students who need assistance determining the amount they are eligible to borrow.
• Unless specifically instructed otherwise, SFS certifies loans to be evenly disbursed over the quarters of attendance the student lists on the loan application.
• If the student applies for an amount that is more than the total due on their student account, the remaining balance will be refunded to the student as a credit balance refund.
• Because it can take up to three weeks after the loan is approved to receive the loan funds, students should apply early and for the entire academic year if possible.

Students who choose to take out a private educational loan will be required to complete and submit a loan self-certification form to their lender. They can contact the lender or the SFS office to request a self-certification form. 

SFS will certify a private educational loan from any lender a student selects, regardless of whether or not the student has chosen to apply for federal loans or other financial aid. However, SFS strongly recommends that students look at the federal loans first and carefully compare rates, terms and benefits offered with any private loan they’re considering because the federal loans generally have better borrower benefits and repayment terms and conditions.

Private Educational Continuing Education Loans

Several lenders provide loans for students who are not seeking a degree (non-matriculated) or students who are enrolled less than half-time. These loans are generally called Continuing Education Loans and may be researched on the internet using any standard search engine. 

Private Lender Direct to Consumer (DTC) Loans

Some private lenders will make loans directly to students without contacting the SFS office to verify how much the student is able to borrow without affecting their other existing financial aid. SFS strongly encourages students to talk with an SFS Counselor before taking out one of these loans because they may be eligible for other financial aid, including additional federal loans or certified private educational loans, that have better terms and conditions than DTC Loans.

Students must report the amount of their DTC Loan to SFS where it must be considered as a resource in combination with any other aid the student may be receiving. If the student has not coordinated with SFS ahead of time, the amount of the DTC Loan could result in a reduction or required repayment of other aid.

Work Study for Graduate Students

Work study is not included in initial awards for graduate students because funding is extremely limited. Graduate students interested in work study can contact SFS to request to be placed on a waiting list should funding become available, in which case, a graduate student could be considered for these programs:

On-Campus Federal Work Study

This need-based work program is federally funded. Students may work up to 20 hours per week at a position on campus and are paid for hours worked. 

Off-Campus State Work Study

This need-based work program, for students who are permanent residents of Washington State, is state-funded. Participating students may work up to 19 hours per week in off-campus positions. Opportunities are available in approved private businesses, nonprofit organizations and in city and county government. 

Student Employment

Students who are not awarded need-based work-study but who want to work while attending Seattle University can also seek employment.

All students can use the university’s free job listing service, the Handshake Portal. 
Student’s may find jobs on-campus that are paid directly through the institution/department as well as off-campus positions.

Dropping or Withdrawing from Classes

Dropping or Withdrawing from SOME, But Not All, Classes

Important note before reading further: Dropping or withdrawing from some classes but remaining enrolled in others in the same academic quarter has different consequences, from a financial aid perspective, than dropping or withdrawing from all classes (that is, ceasing to be enrolled).

If the student is considering dropping or withdrawing from all classes within the same academic quarter, please read the next section below. 

Depending on several factors, adjustments to financial aid may be required for students who drop some, but not all, of their classes for the same academic quarter.  Students who are considering or have decided to withdraw from one or more courses, and are recipients of financial aid, should speak to the SFS to understand the implications for financial aid.

Students who withdraw from all classes after financial aid has been transmitted to their student account should refer to Dropping or Withdrawing from All Classes below.

Dropping or Withdrawing from All Classes

In this section you’ll find general information about the effect on financial aid of dropping or withdrawing from all courses for the quarter including the amount of aid received, the amount that will be withdrawn and returned and future eligibility. Individual circumstances and information vary from student to student, and because dropping or withdrawing from all classes may have different consequences for financial aid purposes than for academic purposes, SFS strongly encourages financial aid recipients to talk to an SFS Counselor before actually dropping or withdrawing from all classes for the quarter.

Aid for subsequent quarters will be canceled unless the student notifies SFS that they plan to return. Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for more information.

For graduate students, the official withdrawal date will be the date of the online withdrawal transaction.  If a student begins attendance but ceases attending classes without dropping their courses or notifying the University and the last date of attendance cannot be documented, the required return of financial aid will be based on attendance for 50 percent of the quarter and the student will not be eligible for a tuition refund.

The SFS office will determine a student’s eligibility for a refund of charges for the quarter based on the student’s official date of withdrawal as described above. Tuition refund periods and amounts are given in the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.

Federal regulations require that federal funds be returned to federal programs based on the percent of the term remaining after the student is no longer enrolled unless the student has completed more than 60 percent of the term. If the student has completed more than 60 percent of the term, no return of federal funds is required. If the student has completed less than 60 percent of the term, SFS will determine how much federal aid was unearned as defined in federal regulations, and then return the unearned aid in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Grad PLUS Loan
• Federal TEACH Grant
• Other Title IV Programs

Seattle University is required to return, on the student’s behalf, the balance of unearned aid to the federal programs. Work study funding is not included in the calculation that determines the student’s return amount, and the student will not be required to repay any work study payments received for hours worked. The student will be responsible for repaying, in accordance with the terms of the MPN, any balance owed on the federal student loans disbursed to them that is not required to be returned by the university.

Federal law requires students who have received federal student loans while attending Seattle University to complete loan exit counseling. That counseling provides information about the students’ rights and responsibilities for loan repayment. Loan repayment will begin at the end of the student’s grace period(s) as defined by the MPN(s) the student completed to receive the loans.

If most of a student’s tuition costs were covered by financial aid, then most of those funds will be returned to those financial aid programs. This does not apply to any private educational loans received. Repayment of these loans is solely the responsibility of the borrower once the funds have been applied to the student’s account.

If payments were made with check or credit card, the amount refunded will be based on the applicable refund percentage at the time the student withdrew.

In some cases, the changes in the amount of financial aid earned prior to a student’s complete withdrawal may result in a balance due from the student to the university. In these cases, SFS mails a revised student account invoice to inform the student of the amount owed as a result of their complete withdrawal. The student’s future registration will be blocked, and diplomas will be withheld until this balance is paid.

Withdrawals for Medical Reasons

Students granted a withdrawal for medical reasons by their dean should keep in mind this withdrawal is for academic purposes only; tuition refunds follow the standard refund policy and are based on the official withdrawal date. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Financial Aid Recipients

 Students receiving financial aid must:

1. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) and
2. Complete their degrees within the maximum time frame allowed and
3. Maintain progress toward their degrees at a minimum cumulative pace.

These requirements apply to a student’s entire period of attendance at Seattle University, and in some instances may include enrollment at other institutions before transferring to Seattle University, even though the student may not have received financial aid for all the terms in which they were enrolled.

It is important for financial aid recipients to understand that SAP requirements and enrollment standards for financial aid purposes may not be the same as those for academic purposes. It is possible to meet SAP requirements for academic purposes while at the same time not meeting SAP for financial aid purposes. Therefore, it is important that students contact SFS to talk with a counselor when considering reducing the number of credits for which they are enrolled.

SAP for financial aid eligibility is reviewed at the end of each spring quarter. While students will be notified via email if they have not maintained SAP, it is their responsibility to monitor their own progress.

Financial aid will be suspended for students who do not make SAP for financial aid purposes as outlined briefly above and explained in detail below and that suspension may be appealed as explained in the Appeals section below.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Federal regulations require that students maintain GPAs that are consistent with successful completion of their program:

Graduate students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or the minimum cumulative GPA required by their program, whichever is higher.

Maximum Time Frame

Federal regulations require that the institution establish the standard length of time that students can receive aid while pursuing a degree. This requirement is called the “maximum time frame” for aid eligibility.

• For graduate students, the maximum time frame of eligibility to receive federal financial aid is 6 years (24 quarters) as long as the minimum, cumulative GPA and pace requirements continue to be met.

Pace

Pace measures progress toward a student’s degree within the maximum time frame and is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of credits the student has completed by the cumulative number of credits the student has attempted at the end of any review period.

Seattle University has established the minimum acceptable cumulative pace to be 67%. Pace considerations:

· For students with transfer credits, all accepted credits count as both attempted and completed for the purpose of evaluating pace.

· A passing grade includes A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, CR and P. A passing grade for financial aid considerations may not allow progression in the major and may not be accepted to fulfill a degree requirement.

· Incomplete (I’s), suspended (N’s), in progress (IP’s), missing grades (M’s), withdrawals (W’s), withdrawals for medical reasons (MW’s) and failed classes (F’s) count as attempted credits but not completed credits.

o At the time incomplete, no grade, and missing grades are converted to a passing grade, they are considered in the calculation as completed credits.

o If a class is repeated, successfully completed credits count only once; but each enrollment will count as credits attempted. Additionally:

§Students who repeat a class they have previously failed may receive financial aid for each time the class is repeated until they receive a passing grade.

§Students may only receive financial aid for one re-take of a class for which they’ve previously received a passing grade.

o Coursework that may not apply to the degree, such as Culture and Language Bridge courses, will be counted toward the qualitative (GPA) component of satisfactory progress, although will not be included in the cumulative GPA on the student’s transcript. This coursework will not be counted toward SAP’s pace quantitative component.

o Audit grades (Y’s) and audit withdrawal grades (YW) have no impact on pace as they are not included in either attempted or earned credits.

o Credits earned by means other than by completing a college level course at another institution do not count as either attempted or completed credits.

Students must complete the minimum number of credits based on:

• The higher of their actual enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter-time, half-time or less than half-time) or
• The enrollment status for which they received financial aid, as noted in the “Enrollment Status” line of their award letter.

For example, if a student receives aid for initial enrollment of half-time (3 credits at the graduate level) but adds credits later in the term resulting in full-time enrollment, progress will be evaluated based on that full-time enrollment.

Enrollment Status

Enrollment status is defined as:

Enrollment Status	Graduate Students
Full-time	6 credits per quarter
Three-quarter-time	4 or 5 credits per quarter
Half-time	3 credits per quarter
Less Than Half-time	The # of credits for which you enroll

 

Less than full time enrollment:

To be eligible for financial aid for less than full-time enrollment, federal, state and/or institutional aid may require pro-ration based on the reduced enrollment level which may, in turn, result in a reduction in the financial aid.

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid includes aid awarded through SFS and other offices at Seattle University which originates from the institution’s general fund, departmental funds, the financial aid budget, gifts to the university, and endowed scholarship funds.

Considerations to receive institutional aid:

• Students must maintain full-time enrollment during the fall, winter and spring terms to receive their institutional aid.
• Institutional aid will be pro-rated, rather than withdrawn, if a student isn’t required to enroll full-time in their final quarter to complete their degree requirements.

Additional Requirements for Specific Institutional Scholarships

All institutional gift aid is limited to the student’s class standing when they are admitted to Seattle University as outlined above in the “Maximum Time Frame” section.

All scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative pace of 67% as outlined above in the “Pace” section.

It may be possible for students who have met the maximum time frame and pace requirements, but who did not maintain the required cumulative GPA (see specifics below), to improve their GPA by taking classes in the summer (without aid). For more information about this option, students should contact SFS to talk with a counselor.

In addition to the named scholarships below, there are other institutional scholarships which come with specific requirements. Those requirements are disclosed in the offer letter associated with those scholarships.

Alaska State Loan Borrowers

Alaska State Student Loans are available only to students or their family members who are residents of Alaska. Students may receive these funds in addition to, or in lieu of, Federal Direct Loans.

Students or their family members who are residents of Alaska also have the opportunity to apply for an alternative education loan from the Alaska Advantage Program. These loans are credit based and students or their family members may borrow up to the annual limit of the loan programs.

Graduate Students: Alaska State Loan borrowers must enroll for a minimum of 6 credits per quarter and achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

Appeals for reinstatement of Alaska loan eligibility are made to the Alaska Student Loan Commission.

More information is available at the Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education’s website.

Appeals

SFS notifies students via their Seattle University email account if it appears that they have not met SAP requirements. Students who failed to make satisfactory progress due to unanticipated circumstances beyond their control that prevented regular progress, such as illness or injury, a serious illness or death in the student’s family, may appeal to have their aid reinstated. Students begin the appeal process by contacting SFS by phone at 206-220-8020, by email at financialservices@seattleu.edu or by coming to the SFS office in Vi Hilbert Hall (2nd floor) to see a counselor during that office’s drop-in appointment hours (10am-3pm, Monday-Friday) and which are posted on the SFS website. Counselors work with students to determine the best course of action based on each student’s specific circumstances.

If the student and counselor determine that submitting an appeal is the best next step, the student will be given a SAP Appeal Form on which to provide the following information:

• An explanation of the special circumstances that prevented the student from meeting SAP requirements for financial aid and
• What has changed in the student’s situation that will allow them to regain SAP in the future and
• Any supplemental documentation that supports the student’s case. In the case of maximum time frame, students must provide an academic plan as described in the next paragraph.

Because eligibility to receive financial aid is suspended pending the outcome of an appeal and the appeal process can take a few weeks to complete, it is important to contact SFS just as soon as possible to begin the process. This is particularly important if you want to receive financial aid for a summer session.

An SFS Counselor will review the student’s appeal and make one of the following determinations:

If it appears possible and likely that the student will be able to resume progress within the next quarter:

• The student will be placed on probation for that quarter,
• The student’s progress will be monitored at the end of that quarter,

oIf the student is successful, the probationary status will be lifted, and the student will again be making satisfactory progress

oIf the student is not successful, eligibility will again be suspended, and the student will again have the right to appeal that suspension

If it appears unlikely that the student will be able to resume progress within the next quarter and/or the request is that eligibility to receive institutional gift aid be extended, the student will be required to work with an academic adviser to develop an academic plan that, when followed, will:

• Set the requirements the student will be required to meet to ensure that they are able to meet the institution’s SAP standards by a designated point within the maximum time frame, or
• Indicate the courses required for completion of the student’s degree in support of their request that their eligibility to receive institutional aid be extended.

oThe plan will designate, quarter-by-quarter, the courses, number of credits of enrollment and GPA that must be earned in order to regain progress.

oThe student’s progress will be monitored each quarter.

§If the student successfully follows the academic plan, they will continue to be eligible to receive financial aid for the following quarter.

§If the student is not able to successfully follow the academic plan, their eligibility to receive financial aid will be suspended and the student will again have the right to appeal that suspension.

Each appeal will be considered on its own merit. However, while there is no limit to the number of appeals a student may submit, repeat appeals must generally be for reasons different than those of the previous appeal to be approved and will take longer to process because they will be reviewed by a committee of SFS Counselors.

Readmitted students who were not making SAP as financial aid recipients when they left Seattle University must resolve that deficiency under the policy in place when they re-enter. Readmitted students should make an appointment with an SFS Counselor who will make a determination about how the student needs to proceed using the options outlined above for continuing students.

If the student’s appeal is denied, they will be notified of that decision via their Seattle University email address. A student may appeal that decision by sending an email or letter to the Director of SFS, explaining in as much detail as possible why they’re asking that the decision be reversed.

Regaining Eligibility to Receive Financial Aid

If a student’s aid eligibility is suspended due to failure to make SAP, they may be able to regain eligibility by pursuing their education without the benefit of financial assistance from Seattle University. This may involve taking additional classes at Seattle University to raise their cumulative GPA to an acceptable level or taking credits at Seattle University or another institution to regain “pace.” Please note that taking credits from another institution will require official transcripts and evaluation of transfer credit, and sometimes an application for readmission, before eligibility can be restored.

Regaining eligibility is generally difficult to do, SFS highly recommends that students meet with an SFS Counselor to ensure that they understand what is required to regain eligibility. When a student believes they have regained satisfactory progress and are again eligible to receive financial aid at Seattle University, they must submit an email request to the SFS office to confirm that they have regained eligibility. If additional courses were taken, that request must be submitted after the student’s courses have been evaluated and posted to their Seattle University transcript by the Office of the Registrar.

Student Consumer Information and Privacy Laws

As part of Seattle University’s compliance with the reporting requirements of federal consumer information regulations, the University produces and delivers to students reports on a broad range of areas, including retention and graduation rates, campus security, student privacy, drug and alcohol issues, financial assistance, and athletics. For more information, see the University’s web page on “Student Consumer Information,” at www.seattleu.edu/policies-regulations/student-consumer-information/

Contact information for inquiries about the content of the reports or to obtain printed copies is provided below.