Financial Aid FAQs and Resources

Title IV financial aid includes federal grants, Federal Work-Study, and student loans that you secure under the Higher Education Act. Through the FAFSA, we determine which types of monetary assistance you qualify to receive.

Driven by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and new rules from the U.S. Department of Education, a large number of updates to Title IV federal funding took effect on July 1, 2026. Review the changes that affect your student loans.

Need-based financial aid helps you cover college costs when your available financial resources do not meet the full cost of attendance. We determine your eligibility for need-based assistance using the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is based on information from your FAFSA.

Need-based financial aid often includes grants, work-study, and subsidized student loans, which are federal student loans for which the government pays interest while you remain enrolled at least half time.

Unsubsidized loans, where you are responsible for paying all interest, do not fall into this category. You can use them to help pay for education costs that exceed your need-based financial aid.

SAP stands for Satisfactory Academic Progress. To continue receiving federal funding, you must make consistent progress toward degree completion.

For most APU programs, the SAP policy requires you to

• maintain a minimum grade-point average (GPA);
• complete a required percentage of the units you attempt; and
• finish your program within a maximum time frame.

If you do not meet the SAP requirements for your degree program, you may lose access to federal financial aid.

Financial aid includes all funding that helps you pay for your undergraduate or graduate education. Scholarships are one type of financial aid. Like federal grants, scholarships fall under gift aid, which means you do not need to repay them. Your complete financial aid offer may combine our scholarships with federal or state grants, work-study, and/or student loans.

At APU, we grant some level of academic scholarship to every incoming student in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program. We determine these awards using your GPA and test scores, if submitted. Most academic scholarships renew for up to four years when you meet the eligibility requirements.

We also provide competitive nonacademic or participatory scholarships and outside aid opportunities. These awards, often program-specific, can provide funding based on demographics, career goals, or personal merit in a particular field. As a current or admitted student, you can review all available scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

As a California resident, you may be eligible to receive a Cal Grant. The program includes three specialized, state-funded financial aid opportunities awarded based on financial need and academic performance. These can often cover part of your tuition, fees, and living expenses.

At Azusa Pacific University, you can apply for these two Cal Grant awards:

• Cal Grant A: For students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution
• Cal Grant B: For students from low-income families or disadvantaged backgrounds

Unless you received a Cal Grant during the previous school year, you must submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, which sends a report of your high school GPA to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), by March 2 to be considered for financial assistance.