2Financial Aid FAQ
What are the accepted forms of payment?
Cash, check, eCheck, and wire transfer are acceptable
forms of payment. Pepperdine University does not
accept credit cards for payment of tuition and fees.
You may contact Student Accounts for information
regarding your tuition bill.
How does my employer go about paying the school?
Contact Student Accounts for information
regarding employer tuition assistance and company
reimbursement.
Are payment plan options available for online
students?
Visit Student Accounts for information on payment
options and due dates.
What are the consequences if my tuition bill is not
paid when classes begin?
It is the student’s responsibility to have aid set
up prior to the payment due date. If aid has not
been processed due to the student’s delay, then
the student will be charged late fees and will be
responsible for paying them.
If I’m eligible to receive a refund, what is the
process?
Refund processing by the Student Accounts Ofce
begins the business day after the Add/Drop period of
each session. Once it is processed, it may take up to
10 business days to receive your refund, depending
on the method chosen to receive the funds. Should
you have additional questions regarding your refund,
refer to the Student Accounts page.
How much do the Business@Pepperdine
programs cost?
Tuition is based on the number of credits for which
you register. Current tuition rates can be found on the
Business@Pepperdine tuition and nancial aid page.
How much is the enrollment deposit, and when is
it due?
There is a $250 nonrefundable enrollment deposit
due once admitted.
Can I use nancial aid to cover the deposit?
No, federal student aid cannot be used to pay the
deposit.
Will I be able to view my award package before
submitting the deposit?
Once admitted, and if the FAFSA is completed,
students can expect to receive their award
notication as early as two months prior to the start
of the term. Depending on the date of admittance,
the student may or may not have the nancial aid
award information available by the time the deposit
is due.
When will I receive a tuition bill, and when is
payment due?
Payment deadlines are listed on the WaveNet page.
How do I view my bill?
Students may view their tuition bill via WaveNet.
Financial Aid FAQ
Tuition and Billing
3Financial Aid FAQ
What is the Title IV Authorization?
Refund checks are not available until the start of
By completing the Title IV Authorization, found in
WaveNet, Pepperdine can apply your federal aid to
all your charges, such as medical insurance, parking
nes, and other miscellaneous charges.
Who can I contact at Pepperdine for billing and
payment questions?
You may contact Student Accounts for information
regarding billing and payment issues.
4Financial Aid FAQ
What is the Pepperdine student portal?
The Pepperdine student portal is WaveNet. Your
WaveNet account includes access to academic
records, billing, nancial aid, direct deposit setup,
and more. You will need your Pepperdine ID and
password to log in to WaveNet.
Financial Aid FAQ
Pepperdine Student Portal
5Financial Aid FAQ
Does Pepperdine offer internal scholarships to
online students?
Business@Pepperdine does not offer scholarships or
grants for this program.
Are there Pepperdine-specic supplemental nancial
aid forms I need to complete?
Pepperdine does not require any school-specic
supplemental forms If you are a new student and are
planning to apply for federal student aid, you will
need to complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), Entrance Counseling, and the
Loan Agreement Master Promissory Note (MPN) on
the Federal Student Aid website.
What federal student aid is available to graduate
students?
The types of federal student aid graduate students
are eligible to apply for include the Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate
PLUS Loan. Learn more about the types of federal
student aid.
Why are graduate students not eligible for the
Federal Pell Grant or the Federal Direct
Subsidized Loan?
The Department of Education awards Federal Pell
Grants and Direct Subsidized Loans to eligible
undergraduate students who demonstrate nancial
need and have not yet completed their bachelor’s
degrees. The Department of Education does not
evaluate need or income for loans at the graduate or
professional level. Therefore, graduate students are
not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant nor the Direct
Subsidized Loan.
Are there academic standards I must meet to
continue to receive federal student aid?
Students must maintain satisfactory academic
progress (SAP) to continue receiving nancial aid.
What are the minimum number of units required to
receive federal student aid?
Students must register at least half time, which is 3
units per term, to receive federal aid.
How do I determine full-time, part-time, or half-time
enrollment in this program?
Full time is at least 6 units.
Part time is below 6 units.
Half time is at least 3 units.
What are private loans?
Private education loans, also known as alternative
loans, are offered by private lenders to help students
bridge the gap between the cost of education and
the amount the government allows them to borrow
in federal loans. Lenders offer private educational
loans with different rates, fees, repayment terms, and
approval requirements.
Are private loans offered at Pepperdine?
Private/alternative loans are accepted. Please visit
Pepperdine’s site to view a list of private lenders that
students can potentially use to assist them with their
tuition.
When will I receive my nancial aid award?
Financial aid awards are typically prepared once
students are enrolled if a FAFSA is on le for
the year.
Financial Aid FAQ
Financial Aid at Pepperdine
6Financial Aid FAQ
What makes my nancial aid le complete?
Your le is considered complete once the Ofce of
Financial Assistance receives conrmation that the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has
been electronically transmitted to us, as well as any
other required documents.
How do I know if I am missing documents?
Admitted students may log on to WaveNet, view the
self-service menu, and review the nancial aid “To Do
List.” Missing information items will be listed there,
along with access links to the documents needed to
complete your le.
How is nancial aid offered and disbursed to me?
Once your le is complete and an award
determination has been made, you will receive an
email advising you to view your award in WaveNet.
You must “Accept” your nancial aid and complete
the required “To-Do List” items in order for the aid to
be disbursed to the account.
How do I accept my nancial aid award?
Once admitted, your nancial aid award letter will
be sent via email with instructions on how to view
and accept/decline/adjust your award through the
WaveNet student portal.
Am I required to accept the full amount that I am
offered on my award letter?
No, you do not have to accept the full amount
offered. Students are encouraged to borrow only
what is needed. You can choose to accept all, part, or
none of your nancial aid award.
Does my Direct Loan eligibility cover the entire cost
of the program?
Assuming you are eligible for both the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan and the Direct Graduate PLUS
Loan, the aid will cover the current academic year
you are enrolled in.
How soon will loans disburse to my student account?
Federal student loans do not disburse earlier than 10
days prior to the start of classes.
Can I use loans to cover additional expenses such as
living expenses, books, supplies, etc.?
The total cost of attendance (COA) for the academic
year includes tuition, fees, room and board, personal
expenses, and transportation. If there is eligibility
for additional loan funds based on the COA, you are
able to use those resources to cover books, supplies,
and other miscellaneous expenses.
Is there an immersion required for this program? If
so, will I be able to use the loan funds to cover these
expenses?
Yes, there is at least one immersion required for the
Business@Pepperdine program. If there is a surplus
credit from your loans, you may use those funds to
cover expenses associated with your immersion.
Who can I contact at Pepperdine for nancial aid
questions?
If you have any questions about tuition and nancial
aid at Pepperdine, please contact the
Business@Pepperdine Financial Aid Ofce.
7Financial Aid FAQ
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
is the application the Department of Education
uses to determine a student’s eligibility for federal
student aid.
Where can I nd the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is available online at StudentAid.gov.
The FAFSA is a free application; you will not be
asked to pay.
What is the Pepperdine FAFSA school code?
The Pepperdine FAFSA school code is 001264.
Do I need to include my Social Security number (SSN)
in my application for admission to be eligible for aid?
Yes, you will need to include your SSN in your
application for admission in order for Pepperdine to
retrieve your FAFSA from the federal database. If you
did not provide your SSN on the application, you may
update it via WaveNet.
Do I need my parents’ tax information to complete
the FAFSA?
If you are applying for graduate school, you are
considered an independent student and do not
need to include your parents’ information to
complete the FAFSA.
What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a
measurement of your ability to contribute toward
your educational costs. As a graduate/professional
student, your EFC is not a factor in your eligibility for
federal student loans.
When should I complete the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is available every October 1 for the
upcoming academic year. New students planning to
use federal student aid should complete the FAFSA
while applying for admission. Continuing students
will need to submit the FAFSA each year they plan to
receive federal student aid.
Please reference the information below to determine
which FAFSA to complete based on your desired
start date:
Complete the 2019–2020 FAFSA if you plan to start your
program in spring 2020 or summer 2020. A renewal of
the FAFSA is required every academic year to continue
receiving federal student aid. Each academic year starts in
fall, and includes spring and summer trimesters.
Do I need to complete the FAFSA each year?
Yes. Because eligibility for federal student aid does
not carry over from one award year to the next, you
will need to complete the FAFSA for each award year
for which you are or plan to be a student.
What constitutes an academic year for federal
student aid?
An academic year is the year for which nancial aid
is used to fund your education. Generally, this is the
12-month period that begins on July 1 of one year
and ends on June 30 of the following year.
Financial Aid FAQ
FAFSA
8Financial Aid FAQ
What is the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan?
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a federal
loan offered to students to help with the cost of
education. The Federal Unsubsidized Loan is not
based on income or nancial need.
What criteria is used to determine eligibility for
federal student aid?
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on
income. In order to apply for federal student aid, you
must:
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• Have a valid Social Security number (SSN).
• Be registered with Selective Service if you’re male (you
must register between the ages of 18 and 25).
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible
degree program.
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
• Not currently be in default on previous federal
student loans.
• Not have exceeded the maximum aggregate loan limit.
Learn more about federal student aid eligibility
criteria on the Federal Student Aid website.
How do I nd out if I am near my aggregate loan limit
or have defaulted on a federal student loan?
Log in on theStudentAid.gov homepageto view
your federal student loan borrowing history and loan
servicer details. Please note that private education
loans are not listed on this site. Students in default
are not eligible for additional federal loans. Contact
your lender for default resolution options.
What is the aggregate loan limit?
The aggregate loan limit is the total amount
that you may borrow in federal student loans for
undergraduate and graduate study. In addition
to borrowing limitations based on the cost of
attendance for the program, students are also
limited in terms of lifetime borrowing. The maximum
aggregate loan limit for federal loans is $138,500.
This amount does not include PLUS loans, nor
private loans.
If the total loan amount you receive over the course
of your education reaches the aggregate loan limit,
you are not eligible to receive additional loans.
However, if you repay some of your loans to bring
your outstanding loan debt below the aggregate loan
limit, you could then borrow again, up to the amount
of your remaining eligibility under the aggregate
loan limit. You can learn more about graduate annual
loan limits on the Federal Student Aid website.
What is the difference between a Direct
Unsubsidized Loan and a Direct Subsidized Loan?
Direct Subsidized Loans are available to
undergraduate students with nancial need. The
U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on
subsidized loans while students are enrolled in their
undergraduate program. The Direct Unsubsidized
Loan is available to undergraduate and graduate
students and does not require demonstration
of nancial need. The unsubsidized loan begins
accruing interest as soon as funds are disbursed.
Learn more about the difference between
unsubsidized and subsidized loans.
Financial Aid FAQ
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
9Financial Aid FAQ
How much am I eligible for in the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan?
Graduate level students are potentially eligible
to receive up to $20,500 per academic year for
the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Learn more about
graduate annual loan limits.
How do I apply for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan?
To apply for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must
complete and submit the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
What is the current Direct Unsubsidized Loan
interest rate?
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan interest rate is
determined on an annual basis. Learn more about
interest rates on the Federal Student Aid website.
Are there any additional loan fees for the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan?
There is a loan origination fee that is a percentage
of the total loan amount. The loan origination
fee is deducted proportionately from each
loan disbursement you receive. Information on
unsubsidized loan origination fees can be found
on the Interest Rates and Fees page of the Federal
Student Aid website.
10Financial Aid FAQ
What is the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan?
The Direct Graduate PLUS Loan is a federal loan that
graduate or professional degree students can use to
help pay education expenses in addition to the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan. Learn about Direct PLUS Loans.
What is the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan?
Only Direct Subsidized/Direct Unsubsidized Loans
(formerly referred to as Stafford Loans) and federal
loans made through the Federal Family Education
Loan (FFEL) Program count toward your aggregate
loan limit.
What are the eligibility criteria to apply for the Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan?
A credit check will be conducted when applying for
the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. In addition to the
federal student aid eligibility criteria, applicants
cannot have an adverse credit history.
What are the credit criteria to receive the Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan?
One of the eligibility requirements to receive a
Graduate PLUS Loan is that you must not have an
adverse credit history. A credit check is performed to
determine whether a Graduate PLUS Loan applicant
meets this requirement.
How much can I borrow from the Direct Graduate
PLUS Loan?
If approved for the Grad PLUS Loan, you can borrow
up to the cost of attendance as determined by
Pepperdine.
When can I apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan?
You can apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
within 180 days of the start of your program, or once
you are enrolled.
How do I apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan?
In order to apply for the Direct Graduate PLUS
Loan, you must rst complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you have
completed the FAFSA, apply for the Direct Graduate
PLUS Loan by completing the credit application on
the Federal Student Aid website. If approved, you
will also need to complete the Graduate PLUS Loan
Agreement Master Promissory Note (MPN).
What are the next steps if I’m approved for the Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan?
If approved, complete the Graduate PLUS Loan
Agreement Master Promissory Note (MPN) on the
Federal Student Aid website.
What are my options if I’m denied the Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan?
If you are denied the Graduate PLUS loan, you may
reapply with an endorser or follow the instructions
on the Department of Education’s website to appeal
the denial.
What is the Direct Graduate PLUS Loan current
interest rate?
The Direct Graduate PLUS Loan interest rate is
determined at the beginning of each academic year,
and is available on the Federal Student Aid website’s
Interest Rates and Fees page.
Financial Aid FAQ
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
11Financial Aid FAQ
Are there any additional loan fees for the Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan?
There is a loan origination fee that is a percentage
of the total loan amount. The loan origination
fee is deducted proportionately from each loan
disbursement you receive. Information on Direct
Graduate PLUS Loan origination fees can be found
on the Interest Rates and Fees page of the Federal
Student Aid website.students and does not require
demonstration of nancial need. The unsubsidized
loan begins accruing interest as soon as funds are
disbursed. Learn more about the difference between
unsubsidized and subsidized loans.
How much am I eligible for in the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan?
Graduate level students are potentially eligible
to receive up to $20,500 per academic year for
the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Learn more about
graduate annual loan limits.
How do I apply for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan?
To apply for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, you must
complete and submit the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).
What is the current Direct Unsubsidized Loan
interest rate?
The Direct Unsubsidized Loan interest rate is
determined on an annual basis. Learn more about
interest rates on the Federal Student Aid website.
Are there any additional loan fees for the Direct
Unsubsidized Loan?
There is a loan origination fee that is a percentage
of the total loan amount. The loan origination
fee is deducted proportionately from each
loan disbursement you receive. Information on
unsubsidized loan origination fees can be found
on the Interest Rates and Fees page of the Federal
Student Aid website.
12Financial Aid FAQ
Do I have to repay my student loans while I’m in
school?
You can defer payment on your federal student loans
if you are enrolled at least half time. You should be
aware that although you can defer payments while
you are in school, interest will still accrue on your
loan(s).
Your federal student loans will go into repayment
six months after you graduate, fall below half-time
status, take a leave of absence, or withdraw from
the program. Most private loans also have deferred
payment options while you are in school; however,
you will need to check with your loan servicer.
When do I have to repay my loan?
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 will be
notied of your rst payment due date. Payments
are usually due monthly. You are not required to pay
while in school; however, if you choose to, there is
no penalty to prepay. Learn more about repayment
timelines.
What are the repayment plan options, and how do
I select one?
The Department of Education (DOE) offers
multiple options for repayment. You may visit
the DOE website for more information on loan
repayment plans.
Is there a repayment calculator or estimator that I
can use?
Yes, visit the DOE page for repayment calculators.
Can I consolidate my graduate loans and my
undergraduate loans?
A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to
consolidate (combine) multiple federal education
loans into one loan including both graduate and
undergraduate loans. The result is a single monthly
payment instead of multiple payments. Learn more
about loan consolidation.
Are there any loan forgiveness options available?
In certain circumstances, a portion of a borrower’s
federal student loans may be forgiven under the
federal government’s loan forgiveness program.
Please review the Department of Education website
for more information on federal loan forgiveness
programs.
Financial Aid FAQ
Loan Repayment
13Financial Aid FAQ
How do I apply for military education benets?
To begin the process of applying for eligible military
education benets, visit the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs website. Questions regarding
eligibility should be directed to the VA at
888.442.4551.
What documents are required to process military
education benets?
Visit VA.gov to access and manage your VA
education benets. If you are applying for Post-
9/11 GI Bill benets, complete the Education
Benets Application, which generates a request for
a Certicate of Eligibility (COE). The COE is mailed
to you within six to eight weeks of submitting the
application. A copy of the COE must be provided to
the Pepperdine VA contacts located in the Ofce of
the University Registrar.
Will my military benets cover the entire cost of the
program?
Please visit the GI Bill comparison tool to view what
your VA benets will cover at Pepperdine.
What are the eligibility factors for the Post-9/11
GI Bill?
You are potentially eligible for this VA-administered
program if you have at least 90 days of aggregate
active-duty service after September 10, 2001, and
are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably
discharged veteran or were discharged with a
service-connected disability after 30 days. Learn
more about the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
How is the Post-9/11 GI Bill benet calculated at
Pepperdine?
Learn more on our Veterans Services page.
What is the deadline to apply for VA education
benets?
Students should apply as soon as possible, before
tuition payments are due.
What are the current rates of benets, including the
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)?
The tuition and fee payment rate and the MHA
are determined at the beginning of each military
academic year on August 1. The current rate table is
located on the Education and Training page of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site.
Because Pepperdine is a private university, students
who receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benets are subject
to a maximum tuition and fee reimbursement per
military academic year (August 1 through July 31).
The amount of the national cap changes each year
on August 1, and is available to be used from August
1 to July 31 of the following year. When VA benets
are calculated, the amount of this national cap must
be expended before Yellow Ribbon Program benets
can be awarded, if applicable.
What is the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP)?
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows degree-granting
colleges and universities in the United States to
voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA
to fund tuition expenses that exceed the annual
Financial Aid FAQ
Military Education Benets
14Financial Aid FAQ
national maximum cap per military academic year.
Participating institutions choose their contribution
amount, and the VA matches that amount and issues
payment directly to the school.
Veterans who are utilizing Post-9/11 GI Bill benets
and who are entitled to 100 percent of their benet
may be eligible. For additional information on the
Yellow Ribbon Program, visit the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs website.
Does Business@Pepperdine participate in the Yellow
Ribbon Program (YRP)?
Yes, the Business@Pepperdine program participates
in the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP). Students who
are 100 percent eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
will receive those benets, and if their tuition and
related charges exceed that amount, the difference
will be covered by Pepperdine and the VA jointly
under the provisions of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
This ensures that eligible students will have their
tuition and related fees covered. Pepperdine is proud
to share that we do not have a limit on the number
of Yellow Ribbon-eligible students we accept.
Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program at
Pepperdine.
Who can I contact at Pepperdine for questions about
using military education benets?
For questions regarding the use of your military
education benets, visit the Pepperdine Veterans
Services page.
15Financial Aid FAQ
How do I qualify for a tuition tax credit?
For details on tax benets for education, see IRS
Publication 970: Tax Benets for Education, which
provides detailed information. Pepperdine is unable
to provide tax advice. We urge you to contact your
tax advisor or the IRS (at 800.829.1040 or irs.gov)
if you have any questions regarding the HOPE or
Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.
What is the 1098-T form?
It is an informational form led with the Internal
Revenue Service to report the amounts billed to you
for qualied tuition, related expenses, and other
related information. The primary purpose of IRS
Form 1098-T is to inform you that we have provided
this required information to the IRS.
What information is included in the 1098-T form?
Form 1098-T reports amounts paid for qualied
tuition, scholarships, and grants processed in 2018
to students enrolled in courses at Pepperdine for
which they received academic credit. The information
reported on the 1098-T form helps students evaluate
whether they are eligible for an educational tax credit.
How do I obtain my 1098-T form?
Please contact the Ofce of Financial Assistance for
current instructions on obtaining your 1098-T form.
Financial Aid FAQ
Tax Benets for Education
