Academic Catalog 2017-2018 
    
    Dec 09, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Graduate Financial Aid


Graduate student financial aid eligibility is contingent upon the category assigned the student. Programs available for funding of graduate study include the Federal Family Education Loan Program, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Tuition Equalization Grant, Federal Work Study Program, and Institutional Scholarships.

Wayland Baptist University provides student access to financial aid records for at least five (5) years after the student has departed from the institution or for whatever period is required by federal law or regulations by the rules of a respective state student loan guarantee corporation, whichever is longest.

Degree-Seeking

A student in this category who has been granted full admission to the graduate program may be eligible for the programs listed above. Annual loan limits for Direct Loans will be determined by term enrollment. A student enrolled in graduate-level courses is eligible for graduate loan limits. A student enrolled in undergraduate leveling coursework is eligible for fifth-year undergraduate loan limits provided the student has not met their undergraduate aggregate loan limit. For leveling course enrollment, three (3) hours is less than half time, six (6) hours is half time, and nine (9) hours is full time. A period of 12 consecutive calendar months is allowed for completion of leveling coursework imposed by the Graduate Admissions Committee as a degree requirement. Loan limits for students enrolled in graduate and leveling classes concurrently are determined by majority enrollment.

Conditional degree-seeking, non-degree post-baccalaureate or postgraduate students are not eligible for Federal or State financial aid.

Teacher Certification

Non-degree post-baccalaureate students who are enrolled for the purposes of teacher certification may be eligible for Federal financial aid as a fifth-year undergraduate provided the student has not met their undergraduate aggregate loan limit. For teacher certification course enrollment, three (3) hours is less than half time, six (6) hours is half time, and nine (9) hours is full time. These students must be accepted into the graduate program as non-degree seeking students and be fully accepted into the Teacher Certification program in order to receive Federal financial aid.

Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) Ministerial Financial Assistance Program

All Ministerial Financial Assistance recipients must meet the following requirements:

  1. Submit a completed application including all necessary documentation.
  2. Enroll in one of the following: the Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Christian Ministry or Master of Divinity.
  3. Be an active member of a local church affiliated with the BGCT. 
  4. Complete RLGN 5330 - Baptist History / RLGN 4330 - Baptist History  or its equivalent as an undergraduate. 
  5. Master of Divinity students will also complete RLGN 5354 / RLED 5354 - Spiritual Disciplines and Christian Spirituality  and participate in spiritual formation small groups.
  6. Renew application each academic year.

Enrollment Definition

A graduate student enrolled in graduate level courses (5000 level) in a 16-week term must be enrolled in at least nine (9) hours per term to be considered full-time and six (6) hours per term to be considered half-time. A graduate student enrolled in graduate level courses (5000 level) in an 11-week term must be enrolled in at least six (6) hours per term to be considered full-time and three (3) hours per term to be considered half-time. Undergraduate enrollment definitions will apply to students enrolled in undergraduate leveling coursework and non-degree post-baccalaureate students completing Teacher Certification.