financial_help_booklet-12-13 - Southern Adventist University

Be a part *
LET US
LEND YOU
a HAND
2012-13 Financial
Aid Information
*
Romans
12:4-8

If you are trying
to figure out
how you can
be a part
Southern
Adventist
University
can help.
WHERE TO
FIND IT
4 Student Finance Counselors
6 Scholarships and Loans
10 Student Employment
12 Planning a Budget
13 Free Summer Class
14 Applying for Financial Aid
14 Financial Deadlines
94 3,200
= percent of freshmen who receive financial aid
5.06
= average minutes a student waits to visit a student finance counselor
16
= number of consecutive years enrollment has grown
= number of students enrolled at Southern in 2011

Investing in Your Future
Dear Student,
Enrollment Services
What do you see when you envision your future? Do you picture yourself settled into a job you
enjoy, balancing family with service to your community and church? Or is your view obstructed by
a roadblock?
I’ve spoken with many students who feel this roadblock is their ability to afford the college of
their choice. And with the recent financial crisis, you may also be wondering if an Adventist
education at a private university is something that you should invest in. I want you to know
that the answer to that question is yes, and we’re going to show you in this booklet exactly how
that is possible. I truly believe that now more than ever it is absolutely vital to choose a quality
Adventist institution for your higher education experience. You need an exceptional environment
to prepare yourself to face the challenges ahead. As a student recently said to me, “I originally
thought that I couldn’t afford to come to Southern, but now I realize that I couldn’t afford not
to come!”
Do you have one of these financial roadblocks? We can help. Southern has a team of student
finance counselors whose sole responsibility is to help you find the tools to break through that
barrier. From scholarships and loans to tax credits and work opportunities, we can help you find
ways to make college affordable.
If you’re pondering how you’re going to be able to cover the cost of an Adventist education, this
booklet is a good place to start figuring it out. Look it over, and if you still have questions, give me
or one of our student finance counselors a call.
STUDENT Finance Counselors Can Help
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Paula Walters
423.236.2657
pkwalters@southern.edu
PO Box 370 • Collegedale, TN 37315-0370 • 1.800.SOUTHERN • Tel 423.236.2875 • Fax 423.236.1835 • www.southern.edu Power for Mind & Soul
4
Marc A. Grundy
Whatever your financial situation—we want to help you be a part of Southern Adventist University.
Marc A. Grundy
Vice President
Enrollment Services
DIRECTOR
Jason Merryman
423.236.2893
jasonmerryman@southern.edu
4 180,000
= millions of dollars our freshman scholarship program awards yearly
423.236.2875
magrundy@southern.edu
prospective UNDERGRADUATE
student counselor
Fred McClanahan
423.236.2812
fred@southern.edu
graduate student
COUNSELOR
Kristin Welch-Murphy
423.236.2877
kjwelch@southern.edu
13
= average credit hours students take each semester
Wherever you choose to go to college, you’ll be
making an investment, and it’s an investment
that pays. In fact, college graduates with
four-year degrees can expect to earn 61 percent more
in their lifetimes than high school graduates.*
But is Southern’s education worth more than what
you’ll find at a state college or university? Before you
answer, consider this: the Christian values that are
at the heart of Southern’s education hold an eternal
value. As you lay the foundation for your future,
Christian friendships and caring professors will be
there to support you in your spiritual journey.
At Southern…
…you’ll be welcomed into an environment where you
can honestly seek answers to your spiritual questions.
…you’ll be invited to join
in the university’s weekly
Sabbath celebration.
…you’ll have the chance to
participate in ministry outreach
programs locally and globally.
…you’ll be a part of a campus where Biblical creation
is championed.
STUDENT FINANCE
COUNSELOR
Jamie Hall
81
= undergraduate degrees offered
As you discover God’s purpose
for your life, you’ll be
equipped to minister
and share as a valued
member of the body
of Christ, using
your gifts like
Paul talks about
in Romans.
SEE FOR YOURSELF
Experience Southern through freshman
eyes at southern.edu/blogs.
STUDENT FINANCE
COUNSELOR
Lillian Loza
5
“Just as each of us
has one body with
many members, and
these members do not
all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are
many form one body, and each
member belongs
to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to
the grace given us.” (Romans
12:4-6, NIV).
We believe you have a unique
gift to offer at Southern as well. We invite you to be
a part of our campus and to be a part of the body of
Christ here at Southern.
STUDENT FINANCE
COUNSELOR
Carlos Lopez
+
STUDENT FINANCE
COUNSELOR
Christian Patiño
* from the College Board’s 2007 report
YOU CAN ACCESS
our student finance counselors by
calling 1.800.SOUTHERN or by
emailing studentfinance@southern.edu.
= scholarships, grants, and other funds to be found at finaid.org

GETTING HELP from
SCHOLARSHIPS
and LOANS
We can
help you get
A
student finance counselor will
apersonally guide you in figuring out
what money you may receive. A variety of
resources are available to help finance your
private Christian education. The opportunities
listed here are divided into three categories:
merit-based, need-based, and credit-based.
MERIT-based
Regardless of financial need, a student taking 12 or more credit
hours receives these scholarships based on academic skills, merits,
and/or performance talents.
Freshman Academic Scholarship
The Freshman Academic Scholarship is based on a combination of
your ACT score* and cumulative high school GPA. This scholarship may
be renewed at 50% based on the Departmental Academic Scholarship.
Those eligible for the Honors and Dean’s scholarship also have the ability
to renew at a higher level based on the Silver and Gold Circle criteria.
Here’s how to calculate your scholarship.
Step One Multiply your high school GPA by 1,000 Points
(4,000 points maximum)
Step Two Multiply your ACT* test score by 100 Points
Step Three Add all points from Steps One and Two Points
POINTS (from Step Three) Scholarship Amount Scholarship Name
4,800-5,700 $2,000 Honors Scholarship
5,701-6,600 $4,000 Dean’s Scholarship
6,601-7,300 $6,000 Presidential Scholarship
7,301 and higher Full tuition Full Tuition Scholarship
* Call Enrollment Services at 1.800.SOUTHERN for help converting an SAT score to an ACT
score for calculating this scholarship.
the money
you need for
college.
Freshman Lightbearer
Scholarship
Students who have graduated from
a public high school, home school,
or private high school not run by
an Adventist organization may
qualify for a $2,000 scholarship.
Freshman State
Replacement
Students who live in the Southern
Union and would lose their state
scholarship by attending Southern
may be awarded $3,000.
Freshman Leadership
Scholarship
Students who have served in
specific leadership positions during
their senior year may qualify
for a $2,500 freshman leadership
scholarship.
Performance Scholarship
Each year performance scholarships
are awarded by the School of
Music (for orchestra, wind symphony,
and choirs), Destiny Drama
Company, and Gym-Masters.
Student Missionary/
Task Force Scholarship
A $1,500 student missionary/task
force scholarship exists for qualified
students who attend Southern the
year following their term of service.
The Literature
Evangelism Scholarship
Your summer earnings are matched
50 percent with a cap of $2,000.
Summer Camp Scholarship
These scholarships are available to
students who work at an Adventist
conference-sponsored summer
camp—$150 for each full week
worked with a cap of $1,800.
I AM A CHROMOSOME
Like our chromosomes make
us one-of-a-kind, I think I am
unique, but it didn’t seem appreciated
or noticed at the public
university where I started.
I didn’t realize I could afford
Southern until my student
finance counselor, Paula,
helped me get grants and
low-cost loans. With my
unique talents, I earned a
scholarship for biology majors.
While studying at Southern I
made an impact by working
with professors and students
to extract DNA from plant
fossils. Our work could lend
to a big discovery for the
scientific community!
Ruthie Gulley, 2010 alum
Placement in National Merit
Scholarship Competition*
Finalists in the National Merit
Scholarship Competition receive
a full-tuition scholarship for their
first year at Southern. For the
next three years, they receive a 50
percent tuition scholarship as long
as they maintain a 3.80 GPA.
6 7
View scholarship
eligibility criteria at
southern.edu/
scholarships.
Southern Scholars
Scholarship
Southern Scholars who meet the
honors program requirements for
one academic year are eligible for
scholarships during the remaining
years of their undergraduate studies.
Transfer and Departmental Academic Scholarships
A student transferring to Southern with more than 10 hours of college
credit can qualify for a scholarship based on grade point average.
Students who return to campus for full-time studies are eligible for financial
aid from their academic departments. This is based on cumulative GPA.
Bronze Circle $1,000 with maintenance of 3.40-3.59 GPA
Silver Circle $2,000 with maintenance of 3.60-3.79 GPA
Gold Circle $3,000 with maintenance of 3.80+ GPA
* Southern also has scholarships for students in the National Hispanic Recognition
Program and the National Achievement Scholarship Program for African Americans.

Need-based
These forms of aid are based on financial need that is determined
by a federal formula. The process to apply is the FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid). Go to fafsa.ed.gov.
Endowment Fund
and Other Grants
Southern is blessed with a growing
endowment fund created
by donors interested in
helping students achieve
their educational goals.
Eligibility for some of
this grant money is
determined by filling out
the FAFSA.
Grant-In-Aid Scholarships
Southern alumni and other
friends of the university have donated
money to help students pay
for their education.
Tennessee Grants
and Scholarships
The Tennessee State Grant awards
up to $4,000 in free need-based
money. Tennessee Education Lottery
Scholarships also offer up to
$4,000 per year.
Federal Grants
The federal government awards up
to $5,550 in Pell Grant money.
The government also gives Southern
Adventist University money
called Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grants to designate
for specific students. These grants
are limited, so apply early.
Federal
Direct
Loans
Direct Loans
carry low interest
rates, can be deferred
while you are enrolled, and the
amounts that you can borrow
increase each year as you get closer
to graduation. There are two kinds
of Direct loans available.
Federal Perkins Loan
This is a low-interest, long-term
loan based on a
student’s financial
need.
The interest
does not
accrue
while you
are in college.
Access databases
with more than
180,000 fellowships,
private scholarships,
grants, and loans
at finaid.org and
fastweb.com.
Credit-based
If you still need financial assistance, the following credit-based
loan programs are available. Student loans carry low interest
rates and usually only need to be repaid after you leave school.
Private Educational Loans
Personal loans are available from
lending institutions nationwide.
Your student finance counselor
can recommend programs with the
best interest rates and terms and
help you submit loan applications.
PLUS Loan
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate
Students (PLUS) enables parents
with good credit histories to borrow
money in their name for their
children. Your student finance
counselor can provide more details.
Other FUNDING Sources
You may qualify for other aid from Southern, community
organizations like the YMCA or Rotary Club, your parents’
employers, or your church. Contact resources such as your local
pastor, public library, and Chamber of Commerce to learn more.
After living in many countries,
I’ve learned five languages.
My love of language helped me
obtain an international studies
degree here, and now I’ve
returned as a nursing major.
My family lives in Curaçao,
making it hard to obtain financial
aid. But my student finance
counselor explored the options
with me and helped me find
grants and scholarships for
international students.
By combining my degrees in
language and nursing, I hope
to model Jesus by ministering
to people’s physical and
spiritual needs.
Jorge Patiño, nursing
I AM A TONGUE
Tax Credits
You may qualify for the Lifetime
Learning or Hope tax credits. To
claim these credits when filing
taxes, use the 1098-T IRS form
that Southern sends you to fill
out IRS Form 8863, which you’ll
include with your federal income
tax return. For more information,
contact your tax adviser.
Cost Calculator
In less than five minutes, the Net
Price Calculator gives you an idea
of how much it could cost you to
attend Southern. Simple questions
about your high school grades,
national test scores and leadership
activities combined with information
on your family’s income
and plans for working
Figure out your
in the summer help projected cost for
compute estimated attending Southern
total expenses and at southern.edu/
discounts. With gift
calculator.
aid, loans and income
from a part-time job, you
will see how Southern can be
affordable.
8
9

COVER COSTS
by WORKING
Jobs for students are available on and
off campus. Students contribute a yearly
average of $3,500 toward costs by working
15-20 hours a week. Southern has approximately
1,100 on-campus student jobs, and there are also plenty of
part-time employment opportunities in the community.
FEDERAL
WORK-STUDY
Your financial aid package could include
Federal Work-Study. Federal Work-Study
is an on-campus job that is funded by
the federal government. This allows
Southern to provide more on-campus
jobs for students.
SUMMER
EMPLOYMENT
Many students choose to work
during the summer, whether in
their hometowns or closer to
campus. A good summer job can
easily help you earn an extra
$2,500 during your time off.
As arms help us reach for what
we need, I love to reach out to
serve others. With help from
Brenda, my student finance
counselor, I was able to come
to Southern and serve here, too.
I support myself financially.
Deciding to attend Southern
took a leap of faith, but
Brenda helped me come up
with a plan that I can afford.
Now I help in a university
ministry that reaches out to
the youth in churches all over
the region. I know Southern is
preparing me to work in ways
that will lead others to Christ.
Aimee Burchard, graphic design and
mass communication
I AM AN ARM
35
1,052
= millions of dollars of financial aid provided yearly
= students who received the Federal Pell Grant aid in 2011
10

PLANNING
YOUR
BUDGET
You can go to the
web for more resources
on affording college:
studentaid.ed.gov
college.gov
GET A FREE
SUMMER CLASS
Save more than $1,750 and get a
taste for college life at Southern’s
SmartStart session beginning in July.
Y
ou can find affordable solutions by
working out the details with your
student finance counselor. Here are
some of the numbers you’ll be crunching.
The estimated total cost for
Southern’s 2012-2013 academic
year is $25,808 (or $20,224
for community students). There
are two types of payment options:
Year in Advance
A cash discount of 5 percent is
available by paying the academic
year in advance. If you’re planning
to use a credit card, the discount
is 3 percent for paying the year in
advance.
Monthly Payment
The monthly payment plan
allows you to spread out the cost
of tuition over the academic
year. With this plan you
will have payments
interest-free through
out the eight
month school year.
Sample Year
student Budget
UNDERGRADUATE Tuition
Hours* Per Semester Per Year
6 $4,644 $9,288
7 5,418 10,836
8 6,192 12,384
9 6,966 13,932
10 7,740 15,480
11 8,514 17,028
12-16 9,162 18,324
*Tuition for less than 12 semester hours is $774 per credit hour. Tuition for each credit hour more than
16 semester hours is $594. Summer tuition is $594 per credit hour.
12
To contact us, call
1.800.SOUTHERN
or email enrollment@
southern.edu
Residence Hall Student Community Student
Undergraduate Tuition $18,324 $18,324
(12-16 hours each semester)
General Fee 800 800
Estimated Books/School Supplies 1,100 1,100
Residence Hall Rent 3,484 —
Food 2,100 —
Total $25,808 $20,224
Take us out for a
test drive. New
students can take
a three-credithour
summer
class without
paying a single
penny of tuition,
and your free
class credit can
transfer anywhere.
SmartStart Finances
Tuition
FREE
Residence Hall Rent $300
Commitment Deposit* $250
Food & Books varies
Total
$550 + food and books
When the four-week session is over, 9 out of every 10 students decide to
stay at Southern. To take advantage of this offer, just apply with Enrollment
Services or find more information at southern.edu/smartstart.
I AM A LARYNX
I was ready to attend a public
university until my pastor told
me how Adventist education
would benefit my spiritual life.
That’s when I decided to
attend Southern. Coming here
has been worth the investment.
I was pretty lost about my
finances, but my student
finance counselor, Lillian,
helped me apply for the
Federal Work-Study program
and find other sources of
money.
With my degree, I hope to be an
advocate for children who need
access to better education.
As a larynx, I will be able to
speak out as a voice for good.
RoseMerlyn Louis, broadcast journalism
*holds your place for Fall 2012 and is non-refundable after June 1
13

APPLYING for
FINANCIAL
AID
Every year,
Southern Adventist
University provides
more than $9 million
in scholarships.
I
t’s likely that you’re eligible for a
variety of scholarships, grants, or federal loans—there’s no
secret formula for deserving financial aid. But with 13 million
college students in the United States, funding can be claimed
quickly, so make sure you turn in your FAFSA on time.
One of the first steps to paying
for your college education
will be to apply
for federal aid.
Any student
who is a U.S.
citizen or
permanent
resident
may receive
assistance based on financial need.
Most college students in the United
States receive aid; so apply even
if you don’t think you’ll qualify.
Filing for student aid begins with
the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), which will
help determine your eligibility for
certain federal and institutional aid.
Fill the out form at fafsa.ed.gov. A
Student Aid Report is issued approximately
two
weeks after
completing
the FAFSA.
This helps
Southern
award your
financial aid.
Fill out the
Free Application
for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) at
fafsa.ed.gov.
Financial DEADLINES
We want you to be a part of Southern, so note these dates to ensure you receive the most aid options.
When Who What
Before April 1, 2012
All students
needing financial aid
Complete and submit the FAFSA to receive priority in all financial
aid, including state, federal, and institutional funds.
April 1 to
September 2012
All students
needing financial aid
Those who missed the above deadline should still submit the FAFSA
as soon as possible to receive funds still available. Southern awards
institutional grants and scholarships fully to new students during
this time, with institutional aid awarded to returning students only
until funds are depleted. Some state funds may no longer be available.
Before June 1, 2012 All new students Pay the $250 commitment deposit.*
Before June 1, 2012 All SmartStart students Pay SmartStart fees. ($250 commitment deposit* and $300 residence hall rent)
*holds your place for Fall 2012 and is non-refundable after June 1
3,611
= average amount Pell Grant recipients receive from the federal government
17,207
= degrees granted since 1904
14 15

a HAND
LET US
LEND YOU
0
= people who could replace you at Southern
Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, Tennessee
1.800.SOUTHERN | southern.edu