Financial Aid Available

NEED-BASED GRANTS:

Need-based grants are packaged based upon financial need. To be considered for all need-based grants, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. To be considered for Iowa’s state aid, the FAFSA must be completed by the July 1st state application deadline.

Simpson College Grant, Transfer Simpson Grant and Amy Robertson Grant: These grants are based on calculated financial need and are packaged to eligible students upon enrollment. Although you may be eligible for any of these grants, they may not be a part of your financial aid if you have received other gift aid from Simpson College that is being used to fill the need portion of your financial aid package.

Endowed Scholarships: A student’s achievements are recognized through the endowed scholarship program. These scholarship funds are provided through the generous financial support of alumni, trustees and friends of Simpson College and are often based on financial need. When these funds are packaged to a student, an adjustment will be made to other Simpson College aid previously packaged to the student. Endowed scholarships are not intended to increase the total financial aid package amount. As a result, many of these scholarships are designated for students with specific academic interests or backgrounds. There is no separate application for the endowed scholarships. A student has automatically applied for these scholarships when he/she completes the process of applying for financial aid. Several of these scholarships are designated at the upperclassman level.

Simpson Promise Grant: This grant is based on very high need and is packaged only to first year students (renewable for 4 years) who are residents of Iowa and deemed eligible. It is not available to students who are commuters.

Iowa Tuition Grant: The Iowa Tuition Grant is based on financial need with priority given to the neediest applicants. The statutory maximum grant is $8,500 for each year of full-time undergraduate study (12 or more day credits) but is based on state appropriations. The Iowa Tuition Grant is prorated for students attending less than full- time.

Federal Pell Grant: The Federal Pell Grant program is designed to provide financial aid to eligible undergraduates. The Federal Pell Grant program provides grants to full and part-time students and may be used at any eligible college or university you attend for your undergraduate degree. The Pell Grant amount may vary according to the cost of the institution and the number of credits for which you are enrolled. You must be enrolled for 12 credits per semester to receive a full grant. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Federal Pell Grants ranged from $740 to $7,395. These grants are generally available to families with very modest incomes.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG): SEOG grants are given to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need to enable them to attend college. The grants are made by the federal government to Simpson College, which selects needy students who have applied for financial aid. The maximum eligibility for this grant is $4,000 per student per year. Typical annual Federal SEOG grants at Simpson are $833 per year. The SEOG packaging policy is available in the office of financial aid upon request.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship: Effective with the 2024-25 award year, as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, a student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001 or actively serving as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year provided the student has not reached their 33^rd birthday as of the 1^st of January of the FAFSA processing year. Students will self-certify on the FAFSA if their parent or guardian was killed in the line of duty.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant OR Additional Federal Pell Grant Funds: Effective with the 2024-25 award year, as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, a student whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001 or actively serving as a public safety officer is eligible to receive a maximum Pell Grant for the award year provided the student has not reached their 33^rd birthday as of the 1^st of January of the FAFSA processing year. Students will self-certify on the FAFSA if their parent or guardian was killed in the line of duty.

RENEWAL OF ACADEMIC AND TALENT SCHOLARSHIPS
A student must apply annually for the renewal of all federal or state aid by filing the FAFSA. The renewal of an academic scholarship at Simpson is based on a student maintaining satisfactory academic progress. This requires a student to maintain the following GPA at the following intervals:

OUTSIDE NON-NEED BASED GIFT AID:

Federal TEACH Grant Program: The Teacher Education Aid for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year (prorated for part-time students) to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families in designated shortage teaching areas. The Grant becomes a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan with interest accruing back to the date of initial disbursement if the student fails to meet the forgiveness requirements. To be eligible, students must maintain a minimum 3.25 college cumulative grade point average or meet certain ACT benchmarks. Forgiveness requirements are somewhat extensive and should be reviewed at the time of signing the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.

Veterans Benefits: The Veterans Administration administers programs for veterans and service people seeking aid for education and training. If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran and will be receiving education benefits as determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs, contact the office of the registrar well in advance of enrollment to request certification. If you served on Active Duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, commonly known as Chapter 33, provides financial support for educational and housing expenses to individuals with at least 90 days of aggressive service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Aid program. Check your eligibility status and the amount for which you qualify with your service prior to enrolling.
If you are the spouse or child of a service member who is serving on active duty Title 10 orders in the pay grades of E1-E5, O1-O2, or W1-W2, you may be eligible for financial aid from the Department of Defense for education training and/or the occupational license and credentials necessary for a portable career.
If you are the spouse or child of a service member, you may be eligible for transfer of the service member’s Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to you.
You may view your College Financing Plan on your student portal, SC Connect, under financial aid self service.

Yellow Ribbon Program: The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Aid Act of 2008. The program is designed to supplement the Post 9/11 tuition benefit, which is limited to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition. Under the Yellow Ribbon program, Simpson College entered into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs to jointly pay the portion of an eligible veteran’s tuition and fees that exceed the maximum amount otherwise provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. Veterans are encouraged to visit the VA’s webpage at www.va.gov to determine their eligibility.

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits: The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Iowa Department of Public Instruction, or a similar division in other states, makes aid available to physically and mentally challenged students, who are residents of the state. More information is available from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 200 Army Post Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 515-281-4211 or the student’s home state office.

*GI BILL® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)

Wesley Scholarships: Wesley Service Scholarships are provided to support students who are involved in volunteer service. Wesley scholarship funds will be credited to the student account at the end of each semester once the student has fulfilled the service requirements listed below. Students are packaged a $1,000 stipend in exchange for:

• 70 hours of verified service,
• Meet on-on-one with the program director each semester,
• Participate in 3 small group reflection meetings per semester in which you reflect your experience,
• Submit 1 reflection journal each semester in which your write about your service and what you are learning, and
• Present at the Research and Creativity Symposium in the spring semester during the Service Poster Session.

Outside/Direct Scholarships: An outside or direct scholarship is one given by an independent grant source such as a civic organization or foundation. These scholarships are considered a part of the student’s financial aid package and must be reported to the office of financial aid. Scholarships and grants administered and regulated by the State of Iowa and the federal government are not considered direct scholarships. If the student’s financial aid is based on financial need and contains federal and/or state funds, the college cannot exceed the student’s demonstrated financial need. If the student’s financial need has not been met in full, direct scholarship funds will be added to the student’s financial aid package. If the student’s need has been met in full, reductions will be made first in the Federal Direct Student Loan. If the financial aid package does not include a Federal Direct Loan but does include federal or state funds and the student’s need has been met in full, the outside scholarship will cause a reduction in the other federal, state or institutional funds. A student receiving Simpson funded aid not based on financial need will receive the direct scholarship in addition to any financial aid offered by the college, provided the total financial aid packaged does not exceed the cost of attendance at Simpson College for the academic year during which the financial aid applies.

It is the responsibility of the student receiving the direct scholarship to notify the office of financial aid of all the details pertaining to the scholarship. At that time, any appropriate adjustments will be made to the student’s financial aid. No student may receive financial aid in excess of the budgeted cost of attendance at Simpson College.