Applying for Financial Aid

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Download the Financial Aid Checklist sheet.
Download the Financial Aid Application

1. U.S. students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) via the World Wide Web (www.fafsa.ed.gov) or on paper any time after January 1. Doing this by April 15 will allow sufficient time for data to be returned to the AMBS financial aid office by the May 1 financial aid application deadline. However, students may submit the FAFSA at any time during the school year.

2. All students must complete the AMBS Financial Aid Application by May 1 to receive the maximum amount for which they qualify. Applications received after this date will be processed in light of remaining funds. Persons planning to enroll midyear are also encouraged to submit the application by May 1.
   
   People applying for financial aid for spring semester of the 2009-2010 year, may fill out the Financial Aid Application, print it, and send it to AMBS.
   
   People applying for financial aid for the 2010-2011 year will need to wait until the form is updated for the new school year. It will be available around February 1.

3. If students will receive financial assistance from congregations and/or conferences, they must complete the Church Commitment Form, have it signed appropriately and submit it with the Financial Aid application. AMBS will match this support as follows:
   
   Full-time students: For fall and spring semesters, AMBS will match dollar for dollar the support a student receives from congregations and/or conferences up to $750 per regular semester, or $1,500 per year, and will match one-fourth of contributions beyond $750 to a maximum of semester tuition fees.
   Part-time admitted students: Contributions from congregations and/or conferences will be matched four-to-one to a maximum grant of $125 each semester, fall and spring. Students gather the information from the congregation or conference and note the amounts on the AMBS financial aid application. Checks should be made out to AMBS and received by the AMBS Financial Aid Office no later than September 10 for the fall semester and February 10 for the spring semester.
   One-course, non-admitted students are not eligible to receive AMBS matching grants.
   
   Students must inform the congregation or conference of the due dates and contact the financial aid office in writing if an extension is needed.

4. Financial aid award letters will be sent out by the AMBS financial aid office to inform students of their financial aid for the next year.

Completing the FAFSA

All U.S. students are required to complete this form. The data returned by the federal processing center is used to help determine the relative financial need of applicants for AMBS financial aid.

1. You may complete the FAFSA on-line at the FAFSA web site: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will also find instructions to requst a PIN from the Department of Education to serve as your electronic signature.

2. On the FAFSA, Step 6, should contain the following:
   Federal School Code: 001823
   College name: Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
   College address: 3003 Benham Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46517

3. As an independent, graduate student, you do not need to complete the Parent(s) sections on the form.