A SAR is a Student Aid Report, which is compiled from the information provided on the FAFSA by the student and/or parent(s) and sent to you by email or mail from Federal Student Aid. The SAR will contain your Expected Family Contribution. It is important to read all information on your SAR when you receive it, as it informs the student and/or parent(s) if the FAFSA has been rejected for reasons such as missing signature(s) or incomplete information. A rejected FAFSA can cause a delay in receiving all of the federal and state financial assistance for which you are eligible.

Many Berea College students are selected for FAFSA Verification each year by the federal processing center. If you are selected for this process, we will send you detailed information regarding what is needed.  See the Verification section of our website for more details.

There are questions on the FAFSA that determine a student’s dependency status. To be considered independent of parent(s) or guardian(s) by the federal government for financial aid purposes, a student would have to meet at least one of these qualifications:

• Born before January 1, 1999
• Have or will have a dependent child for  whom you will provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023
• Have dependents (other than children or spouse’s children) who live with you and you provide more than half of their support
• Be a Veteran of the U. S. Armed Forces
• Be serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Be married
• In legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
• Be an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
• At any time since you turned 13:
  • both your parents were deceased
  • you were in foster care
  • you were a dependent or ward of the court
• At any time on or after July 1, 2022, you were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless by your high school or school district homeless liaison, the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, or the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program
• Please see FAFSA questions and explanation for further details on the above items

Your term bill for your housing, meals, and fees is going to vary each year. Many times that amount is going to increase. Here are a couple reasons why your term bill may be adjusted. Each year, you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Depending on what information is provided, such as income, family size, and assets, your EFC can change. If the EFC has increased, the amount of financial aid would decrease. Another reason why your term bill might increase is because, as you progress through your program at Berea, you are expected to earn more money, thereby decreasing other forms of financial assistance.

Outside Scholarships (including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, or KEES) may be used in several ways:

1. 1. to reduce term bill costs for housing, meals, and fees
   2. to replace some Berea College term bill grants (E.G. Miscellaneous Endowed Grant)
   3. to replace a portion of the Tuition Promise Scholarship
   4. to assist with other educational costs (e.g. books, art supplies) per Berea College policies.

Due to federal guidelines, scholarships or grants cannot be used to replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by FAFSA.  Outside scholarships cannot replace expected summer savings from Berea College summer labor programs.

Grants and loans are available for students wishing to study abroad. The amount of grants and loans are dependent upon the program, status, and the Expected Family Contribution of the student. Students are encouraged to talk with a financial aid counselor to see the amounts of aid available before committing to a program.

Students enrolled in classes may be eligible for some grants to offset their housing, meals, and fees costs.  Grants for the summer are based on the student’s enrollment and financial need.  Students are encouraged to save $1,000 throughout the summer to use for educational expenses for the upcoming school year.

Complete an Additional Financial Aid Application. Our staff will determine if you have eligibility for additional financial assistance, which could be grants or student loans. Please see Types of Financial Aid for a detailed list of various awards given.

Loan repayment starts six months after you have withdrawn or graduated from college. Depending on the type of loan, you will be notified by the appropriate agency collecting your payments. It is very important that you attend an Exit Interview before you leave campus so that your contact information is correct for future communication. If you only borrowed federal loans, you may complete an Exit Interview online.