Policies & FAQ

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application for federal student financial aid. The results of the FAFSA determine your eligibility for federal grants, such as the Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and loans. Through filing the FAFSA each year, a Student Aid Index (SAI) will be determined. This index is an indicator of your financial need. In addition to determining how much federal aid you qualify for, filing the FAFSA may help you qualify for institutional aid and scholarships and grants from other sources. At PBA, your FAFSA results are used to determine your eligibility for the PBA Assist grant as well as some of the scholarships and grant funds available to students.

Visit studentaid.gov (or get the “My Student Aid” app) to complete the FAFSA. You will need your FSA ID and Password.

For the 2024-2025 school year, PBA is recommending completing the FAFSA by March 1. If you are unable to complete the FAFSA by March 1, we encourage you to complete it when you are able.

A subsidized loan is a loan for which the interest is subsidized by the federal government when the borrower is enrolled full time in the university, during the loan’s grace period, or when the loan is in deferment status. An unsubsidized loan in one in which the borrower is responsible for interest regardless of the loan status. An unsubsidized loan will start to accrue interest while the borrower is in school. This interest can be paid or be added to the loan’s principle while the borrower is in school.

If you’d like to use the federal direct loans, you will complete Loan Entrance Counseling (a tool to ensure you understand your obligation to repay the loan) and sign a loan contract called a Master Promissory Note (an agreement to the terms of the loan).

The Financial Aid Office will first apply your loan funds to your PBA student account to pay for tuition, fees, room and board, and other school charges. If any additional loan funds remain, they will be returned to you. All loan funds must be used for your education expenses.

Your loan servicer is assigned once your loan is disbursed. Your loan servicer will provide regular updates on the status of your Direct Loan, and any additional Direct Loans that you receive.

After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will have a six-month grace period before you are required to begin repayment. During this period, you’ll receive repayment information from your loan servicer, and you’ll be notified of your first payment due date. Payments are usually due monthly.

Learn more about managing your loans

View the list of preferred lenders that we have compiled on FASTChoice! This list is created by a board of professionals, comprised of competitive lenders, and reviewed biannually. Lenders are added, or removed, based on criteria about historical data collected and information provided about specific loan products. You may also use a lender that is not on the list.

Yes! PBA offers a variety of merit-based scholarships for academic excellence including Supper Honors Program scholarships and two full tuition, room and board scholarships awarded annually through the Farish Program. PBA offers scholarships to students who qualify for the PBA Lead program and talent awards in athletics, dance, music and theater. Additionally, PBA offers need based aid to students who qualify based on their Student Aid Index established through the FAFSA. For more information about other institutional aid visit our Scholarships & Grants page.

You will need to access your financial aid portal to view your financial aid information and offers.

Yes! Visit the Outside Scholarships page to learn more about how to apply, where to apply, and other local community scholarship foundations.

You will pay your bill on your Student Account Center located on my.pyffwd.com. All one-time or monthly payments will be made here.

Yes! You may use a payment plan to split a balance owed on your account after your scholarships and financial aid has been applied into monthly payments. You may enroll in the payment plan of your choice on your NelNet Campus Commerce account. You will need PBA network credentials to access your account. If you have additional questions you may contact the Student Accounts Office at 561-803-2152 or emailing Student_Accounts@pyffwd.com.

Please refer to your enrollment checklist for health insurance waiver.

Disbursement of financial aid occurs according to federally mandated regulations. Students are expected to receive their refunds approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the end of “Add/Drop” period. If you are enrolled in courses in multiple subterms, the amount of your first refund will be effected by your enrollment. You can view the expected refund dates on your myPBA account.

All student account refunds will be issued via direct deposit to your bank account or a physical check. If you do not select a payment method, the default option will be a check mailed to the legal home address on file; however, please note that physical checks take longer to process. The fastest way to receive your funds is to select Direct Deposit.

To select a refunding preference, log into your Student Account Center account and click the “Refund” tab.

You will apply for the EASE Grant on your Financial Aid Portal.

Must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA and earn the equivalent of 12 credit hours each semester an award was received during the academic year (Credit hours earned during the previous summer may be counted toward the total number of credit hours required).

PBA does not accept the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship because we are not a vocational university. PBA does accept the Florida Bright Futures Academic and Medallion Scholarship.

1. The Bright Futures Scholarship will be paid at a set rate each academic year. The current rates are as follows:Bright Futures Academic Scholarship – $212 per credit hour. Renewable for up to 120 credit hours.

   Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship – $159 per credit hour. Renewable for up to 120 credit hours.

1. Bright Futures Academic Scholarship – Earn 24 credits hours per semester and maintain a 3.0 GPA
2. Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship – Earn 24 credits hours per semester and maintain a 2.75 GPA

After successfully completing the FAFSA and confirming your eligibility, you can search for jobs on PBA Handshake.

You can expect to earn $12-$16 per hour based on your qualifications and experience, and you can work up to 20 hours in a typical week, based on your availability and the needs of the area in which you are working.

You will be paid on the 15th and 30th of each month. You may choose to receive direct deposit or a traditional check. All the hours you worked must be logged into Paycom.

You must register for and maintain an enrollment status of half-time (6 credits) or greater to be eligible for the FWS program. If, for any reason, your course load falls below half-time, you can no longer participate in the program and must stop working immediately.

FWS earnings are considered taxable income by both federal and state governments; however, FWS earnings are not included in the calculation of your eligibility for financial aid. Additionally, the state of Florida does not have a state income tax.

If a student has been approved for a reduced course load, the Office of Disability Services will email financial aid letting us know that a student is approved for to take this reduced course load and continue to receive institutional aid and the EASE grant. However, the student’s institutional aid and EASE grant must be prorated per semester based off the course load the student is taking.

1. Students enrolled in 3-5 hours can receive 25% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.
2. Students enrolled in 6-8 hours can receive 50% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.
3. Students enrolled in 9-11 hours can receive 75% of their institutional aid and EASE grant.

Yes! All official college transcripts must be submitted directly to Palm Beach Atlantic University from every institution previously attended before registration for the subsequent term begins. This includes institutions where courses were attempted and credit was not earned (failing grades or withdrawals). If the transcripts are not submitted, financial aid and class registration will be frozen. We will make an effort to encourage official transcripts prior to the student enrolling for their respective term.

If you have questions or concerns about your transfer coursework, please contact your Admissions Counselor or the Registrar’s office.