Although financial aid applications are not reviewed until the applicant is admitted to the University, students should not wait until being admitted to apply for financial aid. If the student is considering applying for admission to Bryant University but has not yet applied, a financial aid application still must be submitted by the appropriate deadline. Financial aid applications received after the established deadlines will be placed on a waiting list and will be reviewed for University grant program eligibility only if funds remain after all on-time requests have been evaluated.

Financial aid awards will be based, in large part, upon the information contained on the FAFSA. A verification worksheet, tax transcripts, and/or other documents may be required. The Office of Financial Aid will maintain complete confidentiality of all information. Since anyone’s resources are subject to change, the Director of Financial Aid may review and revise awards based on changes in family circumstances. Discrepancies between information on the forms and income tax returns may necessitate such an adjustment.

Financial Aid Calendar*

Financial Aid Calendar

date	description
Oct. 1, 2023	First date FAFSA may be submitted to the Department of Education. See www.fafsa.gov.
Nov. 1, 2023	Deadline to file FAFSA for students seeking January 2024 entrance.
Feb. 15, 2024	Deadline to file FAFSA for students seeking September 2024 entrance.
March 2024	Notification to incoming freshmen and transfer students for September 2024 entrance.
March 1, 2024	Deadline for returning students to file FAFSA to be considered for aid in 2024-2025.
April 1, 2024	Deadline for transfer students to file FAFSA to be considered for aid in 2024-2025.
May 1, 2024	Deadline for completing verification (if required) and for submitting all additional information or documents required by the Financial Aid Office for processing financial aid for September 2024 entrance.
June 2024	First mailing of financial aid notifications to continuing students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

*

 Dates are subject to change. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for further information.

Eligibility for Need-Based Financial Aid

Bryant University subscribes to federal and institutional guidelines regarding financial need. Students and parents have the primary responsibility to provide for a college education. Financial aid is granted to those whose family resources are less than the expenses of a college education. Most financial assistance administered by the Office of Financial Aid is based in part on the individual student’s financial need. Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the calculated family contribution.

Every year Bryant University receives more financial aid requests than can be fulfilled. Many applicants will request help, but regrettably some will not receive aid due to institutional funding limitations.

To be considered for need-based financial aid each year at Bryant a student must:

1. Have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
2. Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States;
3. Be enrolled full time or be accepted for full-time enrollment in a course of study; or be enrolled part time and officially accepted as a candidate in a degree program;
4. Be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of his or her course of study;
5. Not be in default on a Federal Perkins, Stafford, or Direct Loan;
6. Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant.

• Note: If an application is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education or by the University, the student will also be required to submit additional application materials as well as signed copies of the parent and student 2020 federal income tax transcripts.

Independent Students

According to federal regulations, students must generally meet one of the following requirements to be considered self-supporting and independent for the academic year. Students may also be asked to submit supporting documentation to verify their status. Students must be:

Although there are additional criteria, students who do not meet one of the above requirements are generally considered dependent and must file all financial aid forms accordingly.

Special Circumstances

Students confronting extenuating financial circumstances not necessarily depicted on the FAFSA are encouraged to submit formal documentation describing their situation in greater detail directly to the Office of Financial Aid. This will ensure that proper consideration is given at the point the student’s aid application is reviewed.

Financial Aid Packaging

Bryant University reviews on-time financial aid applications on an individual basis, making every effort to accommodate each student’s financial circumstances within student eligibility and program funding limits. Aid packages might include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, State Grants, Institutional Grants and/or Scholarships, Federal Work-Study, and/or Federal Direct Loans.

Law requires students who receive outside sources of aid (i.e., private or state scholarships and grants) to notify the Office of Financial Aid. In some cases, the amount of this outside aid could affect the award offered by Bryant. Generally, students may not receive aid in excess of his or her determined need for assistance. Although Bryant recognizes the needs of all applicants, it is not often possible to award aid to meet full need. Consequently, families may need to seek additional assistance in the form of alternative education loans or other private sources.

Maintaining Eligibility – Satisfactory Academic Progress

Generally, full-time students complete their undergraduate degree requirements in four years (eight semesters). A student may take as many as 10 semesters and still qualify for federal student aid, although after eight semesters the student will no longer be considered for institutional aid. Half-time students (six credits) will have 20 semesters to complete the degree and still remain eligible for federal aid.

To remain in good standing and eligible for financial aid, full-time undergraduate students must at least meet the following minimum standards:

Maintaining Aid Eligibility Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Maintaining Eligibility (SAP)

Year	After...	#of Credits Earned	Cumulative GPA
Year 1	Semester 1	12	1.75
	Semester 2	24	1.75
Year 2	Semester 3	36	2.00
	Semester 4	48	2.00
Year 3	Semester 5	60	2.00
	Semester 6	72	2.00
Year 4	Semester 7	84	2.00
	Semester 8	96	2.00

A complete statement of the University’s policy on satisfactory progress with regard to financial aid eligibility, including the appeal process, can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid. (Part-time students must meet the same criteria relative to the number of credits they have attempted.)

Important Note

Often students or their parents assume they are not eligible for financial aid and, consequently, decide not to apply. Since rules, regulations, and eligibility requirements change from year to year, all students should at least apply. The time involved in completing the forms could pay a surprising dividend. Additionally, the student’s eligibility status could change during his or her years in attendance. It is important to file a new application each year, regardless of the determination made in past years. A college education normally requires a financial partnership between the student and their parents that should be discussed thoroughly.

Although the Office of Financial Aid makes every effort to assist students with demonstrated financial need, there is never a guarantee that this will be accomplished. The ever-increasing cost of education inevitably results, each year, in a greater number of students in need of financial assistance. Given current funding levels of all student aid programs, available resources very seldom meet 100 percent of a student’s eligibility or need for assistance.

Moreover, students whose applications are submitted late must expect delays in aid awards and the possibility that funds may already be depleted.

Offers of federal aid are made on the assumption that the programs will be continued, and that Congress will appropriate sufficient funds. If, for any reason, one or both of these conditions are not met, it will be necessary to withdraw or alter the aid offer. The submission of an application for financial aid does not guarantee the offer of an award or that the offer, if made, will not be canceled or altered.

The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to reduce, increase, or otherwise adjust any financial aid for which it is responsible. For further information regarding any of the above financial assistance programs, contact:

Office of Financial Aid
Bryant University 1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917-1285
401) 232-6020 or (800) 248-4036
fax: (401) 232-6293
email: finaid@bryant.edu