Get to know the following terms:

This is the sum of the estimated “Direct Costs” and “Indirect Costs” and is an estimate of what it might cost a typical student to attend BGSU full-time for both fall and spring semesters.

It represents the highest dollar amount of financial aid a student can receive during an award year and should be used for budgeting purposes only.

Direct Costs generally include tuition, fees, on-campus housing, meals/food or any other expenses paid to BGSU.

A student’s enrollment status is determined by the number of credits they are enrolled in. Full time enrollment is defined as 12 credit hours or more for undergraduate students and 8 hours or more for graduate students.

Any loan that is applied to cover educational expenses is considered an educational loan. This includes both loans from the federal government and private loan sources. Educational loans must be repaid.

Visit the Type of Aid webpage to learn more about the various types of loans, their terms and repayment options.

Also referred to as the Direct Loan Program. These loans are borrowed from the federal government to cover educational expenses and must be repaid.

A full listing of terms and conditions, along with additional acceptance documents (i.e., Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling), can be found on studentaid.gov.

There are several types of direct loans. Visit the Type of Aid webpage to learn more about:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

This program provides undergraduate students with funding through part-time employment on campus. It is paid directly to students as they earn funds by working. Students must file the FAFSA annually and apply for jobs through the online portal Handshake.

This information is sent to a student and outlines the amounts and details of the financial aid being offered to the student. The financial aid offer will include any scholarships, grants, loans, employment and other forms of financial assistance to pay for college expenses.

Any money provided to students that does not have to be repaid or earned. Gift aid may be awarded based on merit or financial need and includes grants and scholarships.

Also referred to as Gift Aid, grants may be awarded based on merit or financial need. Visit the Types of Aid web page for more information on:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Ohio College Opportunity Grant

These expenses are associated with receiving an education, but not paid directly to BGSU. Estimated by the university, Indirect Costs will differ from student to student based on their individual circumstances. Examples of costs paid to others include books, supplies, off-campus housing and food, transportation and personal expenses.

This is the Cost of Attendance (COA) minus the Student Aid Index (SAI).

Determined by the data provided on the FAFSA, need-based aid is the amount of financial assistance provided to a student based on their financial situation. This type of aid can include grants and scholarships (gift aid that does not have to be repaid), low-interest loans like a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan or the Federal Work Study program.

This number reflects what the student may expect to pay for their education on their own. It is the difference between the Cost of Attendance and all grants and scholarships.  

Students and their families may pursue alternative funding options outside of grants and scholarships. These other funding options include parent PLUS loans, student federal loans, student employment, institutional payment plans or personal savings.

Also referred to as Gift Aid, scholarships may be awarded based on merit, community service or financial need. BGSU offers scholarship opportunities through the student’s Admission Application and annually through the BGSU General Scholarship Opportunities Application (available Oct. 1 for the new school year). Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for a scholarship will see their award(s) listed on their financial aid offer.

Students receiving a non-BGSU scholarship should send their checks and award letters to the Office of the Bursar, 1001 E. Wooster, Bowling Green, OH 43403.

Self-help aid includes aid in which a student must take action to receive the funds.

Loans that a student is required to accept terms and conditions before payment and must repay after graduation are an example of this type of aid. It also includes aid that is earned through student employment.

There may be a special financial or unique family circumstance that the data on the FAFSA does not accurately represent. Students and their contributors may request to have their circumstances reviewed further.

Contact a Financial Aid Advisor to discuss your situation and to see if an appeal will benefit you.

One of the changes with the 2024-25 FAFSA is the transition from the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is the eligibility index that determines a student’s eligibility for federal — and in some instances, state and institutional need-based — financial aid. The SAI is based on the information provided by the student and their family on the FAFSA.

This is a federally mandated process that confirms the accuracy of the data provided by students and their families on the FAFSA. BGSU will review the documentation provided by the student and if it does not match what was reported on the FAFSA, verification could result in changes to the student’s financial aid eligibility and their financial aid offer. Documents needed to complete this process will be listed on the students To Do Lists in their MyBGSU.