Financial Aid Information

We recognize that preparing to serve our Lord in full time ministry is a major investment for parents and students. The purpose for Piedmont's financial aid is to make a quality education accessible to qualified students. A variety of grants, scholarships, awards, and loans are available to those who meet the requirements. Piedmont contributes approximately $1 million annually and over 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid. We encourage all future and current students to apply.   

Follow these steps to apply for aid:

Step 1 - Apply for a PIN
Step 2 - Complete the FAFSA (Why Apply?)
Step 3 - Complete a Scholarship and Award Application
Step 4 - Complete a VFAO Interview (required for Federal Aid)
Step 5 - Apply for Loans (if needed)

Once you complete the necessary steps, an award notice will be generated.

Note: Final financial aid packages are determined after a financial aid officer reviews all the information for accuracy and completion. Your FAFSA information may be chosen for verification, at which time your aid package will be considered incomplete until the verification process is done. Changes to enrollment status may affect the type and amount of aid you receive.

• STEP 1 - Apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) at www.pin.ed.gov for your FAFSA (Free Application For Student Aid)

  • All future students and parents of dependent student should set up a PIN number prior to completing the FAFSA.

• STEP 2 - Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov

  • After completing your taxes, file a FAFSA. If you plan to receive any form of Federal and/or institutional aid (with the exception of the Ministry Development, Military Appreciation, Vision or Ministry Partnership scholarships), you must complete the FAFSA before you take the next step. Apply now to avoid unnecessary delays and disappointments in the Financial Aid process.

  • You will need the previous year's tax returns for the student and/or parent(s) or spouse, as well as your driver's license number. Please be sure to include our school code 002956. The FAFSA takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. If you have to step away during the application, your information will be saved for 30 days. The FAFSA must be completed annually.  

  • Note: "Verification" - You may be informed by FAFSA that you have been chosen for verification (indicated by an asterisk next to your EFC on the Student Aid Report (SAR) that FAFSA returns to you).  If your FAFSA is selected, you will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office as well as information regarding the verification process.

• STEP 3 – Visit our Financial Aid page at www.piedmontu.edu/scholarships to discover the scholarships for which you may be eligible,* and complete the Scholarship and Award application.
   
  

• STEP 4 – Virtual Financial Aid Student Interview (VFAO)(required for all recipients of Federal grants and/or loans)

  Complete the Virtual Financial Aid Office Student Interview.   Click on “Register” to create a username and password.  If you have a username and password, click on “Login”.

  Remember your login and security question information as you will need this information in the future.  If you do not remember your username or password, click on “Recover login information”.  Should you have problems, please contact the financial aid office at PIU.  DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. 

  After you log in, click on “Student Interview Center”.  Be sure to view the brief instructional video.  You need the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) number from your FAFSA on hand as you complete the interview.  Federal financial aid cannot be fully processed until this step is complete.

  Please note we cannot begin processing your Federal financial aid until Step 4 is complete. Once you have begun the interview, you can step away from it and return to it at any time. The interview is an annual requirement.

• STEP 5 – Loans

  If you need to use student loans, please complete the bulleted steps below.

  • Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN)at www.studentloans.gov.  Use your PIN from the FAFSA to e-sign the MPN. You need two references, your driver’s license number and other general information.
  • The lender is the Department of Education.  Upon approval, your loan funds will automatically come to the college.  Stafford student loan amounts are guaranteed by the federal government. 
  
  

  You are not required to begin repayment of these loans until 6 months after graduation or until you drop below half time.  There are subsidized as well as unsubsidized loans available. 

  A Subsidized loan, at 5.6% APR, is the loan for which the government pays the interest while you are in school.  Unsubsidized loans have an interest rate of 6.8% APR, and the interest accrues while the student is in school.

• Basic loans are available up to the following amounts per year:

  Freshman:	Sub: $3,500	Unsub: $2,000	per year
  Sophomore:	Sub: $4,500	Unsub: $2,000	per year
  Junior/Senior:	Sub: $5,500	Unsub: $2,000	per year
  Graduate:	---	Unsub: $20,500	per year

• PLUS Loans and Private Loans may also be available. Contact the Director of Financial Aid to discuss your options.

See our Payment Options page to learn about how to pay for your remaining estimated balance due (as indicated on your award notice) after Financial Aid.