All FAFSA Updates

Below is a running log of updates and information regarding Financial Aid estimates and award notifications. The updates will be time stamped with the most recent appearing at the top.

View steps for Biola’s Financial Aid process. If you have any questions, please call (562) 903-6000.

Return to Main FAFSA Updates Page

We have begun sending financial aid notifications to students who do not need to be processed by the federal government and for whom we have a valid student aid index. We will begin packaging students whose FAFSAs are being reprocessed by the federal government as we receive the new FAFSA information. The government is actively reprocessing FAFSAs and expect to be done around May 1. Additionally, as students complete outstanding FAFSA items, their financial aid packages will be calculated. Once the federal government reprocesses a file or a student completes their FAFSA requirements, an aid notification will be sent within 2–3 weeks of those changes.

We are pleased to announce that Biola has begun to receive FAFSA records. While the federal Department of Education continues to resolve several issues that we are following, we look forward to beginning to calculate financial aid packages in the coming weeks once those issues are resolved. In the meantime, if you have any corrections you need to make to your FAFSA, or if you just need to add signatures to complete the FAFSA process, the federal Department of Education has indicated that applicants are expected to be able to log into their FAFSAs to make corrections as early as next week.

Good news! 

California has extended the state priority deadline for Cal Grant Scholarship from April 2, 2024 to May 2, 2024.

What does this mean?

If you have not already, you can still submit your 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a 2024-25 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by May 2, 2024 and be considered on time for Cal Grant Scholarship consideration.

Though the Department of Education has stated that they will begin releasing FAFSA information to schools by the middle of March, they will be releasing the information in batches over a two to three week period, which means Biola may not have your information right away. In addition, our software provider will be providing us additional system updates later in March that are needed before we can continue to test. In light of this information, we are still hopeful that we will be able to begin sending out financial aid packages to incoming undergraduate students around the middle of April. Continuing student and all graduate student aid packages will be sent out shortly after that.

7 Resources for Finding Scholarship Opportunities

We’ve put together a list of resources that allow you to find scholarships — free money you don’t have to pay back. Take a few minutes and search these sites and see if there are scholarships you qualify for! 

1. Niche: niche.com/colleges/scholarships/
2. Big Future: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-directory
3. Apply: appily.com/scholarships
4. Sallie Mae: salliemae.com/scholarships/
5. Access Scholarships: accessscholarships.com/
6. College Express: collegexpress.com/scholarships/search
7. Do Something: dosomething.org/us/about/easy-scholarships

Now is a good time to explore and apply for institution-sponsored scholarships. Calculate your Academic Scholarship to estimate the aid you’ll receive right off the bat. Then take a look at various Biola scholarship opportunities you can take advantage of, including a $500 Campus Visit Scholarship you can earn just by registering for and attending a campus tour or admissions event.

• Campus Visit Scholarship
• Alumni Dependent Scholarship
• Church Matching Scholarship
• FirstGen Scholars Program Scholarship
• LEAD Scholarship (Leaders Engaging and Advancing Diversity)
• International Student Grants
• TELACU Scholarship
• Ahmanson Veterans Scholarship
• Golden State Teacher Grant Program

Also, be sure to check out our various Departmental Scholarships!

The Department of Education will not begin providing student FAFSA information to Biola and other schools until late March at the earliest. Due to this, financial aid officers will be delayed for students admitted to the Fall 2024 term.

May 1 is National Decision Day when high school seniors and transfer students traditionally say “yes” to their college of choice by paying an enrollment deposit to confirm their intent to enroll. Biola University anticipates admitted students will have received a financial aid estimate, or award, by this time with ample opportunity to review and ask questions. However, should students and families need more time, be encouraged that we are here to help!

Please contact your admissions counselor with questions or concerns.