Scholarships and Awards - 2013-14
Program/Name | Type of Aid | Program Details | Amount |
La Sierra 4-Year Renewable Scholarship | Renewable Scholarship | This is a renewable award for students working on an undergraduate degree. Award amounts will be adjusted on an annual basis based on updated GPA information. Students who are eligible for the National Merit Award or the La Sierra Achievement Award will not get both awards; they will get the higher of the two. Not available to off-campus programs (such as Criminal Justice or Digital Learning) or reduced tuition programs (such as ACCESS and ESL/ELC).
| Cum. GPA: Scholarship 4-Yr Total 2.00-2.49: $1,000 $4,000 2.50-2.74: $2,000 $6,000 2.75-2.99: $3,000 $12,000 3.00-3.24: $4,000 $16,000 3.25-3.49: $5,000 $20,000 3.50-3.74: $6,000 $24,000 3.75-4.00 : $7,500 $30,000 |
La Sierra National Merit Award | Renewable Award for up to four years | This award is for students who demonstrate superior scholastic ability through a nationally established testing process. This award is renewable for up to four years (12 quarters). Evaluation of a student’s continued eligibility will be made each year after the completion of the Spring Quarter. Students who drop below 12 units per quarter for more than one quarter will be withdrawn from the program. Requirements:
| 1. Finalist 100% of tuition and standard fees (renewable) 2. Semi-Finalist 50% of tuition and standard fees (renewable) 3. Commended 20% of tuition and standard fees (renewable)
Students will get the higher of the National Merit or La Sierra 4-Year Renewable Scholarship, not both. |
La Sierra Need Grant | Renewable Award | This is a need-based award for students working on an undergraduate degree. Students must have an official EFC to qualify. Not available to off-campus programs (such as Criminal Justice or Digital Learning) or reduced tuition programs (such as ACCESS and ESL/ELC) | $2,000 if the Official EFC is between 0 and 12,000. |
La Sierra Academic Achievement Award | Scholarship, 1st year only | This award is for first-year students who demonstrate superior scholastic ability through a nationally established testing process, but who did not qualify for a National Merit Award. Students who score at or above 1900 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT will qualify for this award in their first (freshmen) year. Students cannot receive both the La Sierra 4-Year Renewable Scholarship and this award in the same year | $10,000 |
SDA Membership Award | Tuition Discount, Renewable | Students who are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church or non-SDA students who graduate from an SDA academy will receive a tuition discount based on enrollment. This award does not apply to reduced-tuition programs. | $1,350 |
Leadership Scholarship | Scholarship, 1st year only | This award is for students who fulfill the administrative responsibilities of an elected or appointed office, during high school years. Enrollment Services may award to non-freshman students up to the maximum. | Up to $2,100 |
Family Discount | Tuition Discount, Renewable | A discount is available when two or more members of a student’s immediate family (from the same household—living at home or in the residence halls) are enrolled in a paying, non-tuition-discounted, program at La Sierra University. The award is coordinated with each student’s financial aid package and is prorated for less than full-time enrollment. | $300 discount per quarter for each paying family member that is enrolled full-time. |
Orientation Scholarship | Scholarship, 1st year only | New students for the Fall term, who attend an orientation in the summer prior to enrolling may receive an orientation scholarship. To qualify, students must attend the entire orientation, complete placement testing, register, and turn-in all paperwork required by Admissions, Health Services, and Student Financial Services no later than the published deadline. See the current orientation brochure or website for complete details. | $50 to $200. |
Student Missionary/Task Force Scholarship | Scholarship, one time only | Given to students who have given nine to twelve months of “mission” service or an adjusted amount for shorter terms of service prior to their enrollment or re-enrollment at the university. | Up to $2,000 |
Performing Arts Scholarship | Departmental Scholarship | Music: The Music Department recommends students for this award. Students are required to audition to receive this scholarship. All awards are subject to approval by Enrollment Services. Drama & Debate: The Department of English and Communications recommends students from their drama and debate programs for this award. | Up to $3,000 for Music Up to $2,000 for Drama |
Honors Scholarship | Departmental Scholarship | The Honors Department recommends students from the honors program for this award. | 1st Year $350 2nd Year $700 3rd or 4th Year $1,050 4th Year $1,400 (doing Honors Project) |
Sports Scholarships | Departmental Scholarship | The Athletics Department recommends students for this award. Students are required to participate on their designated sports’ team to receive this scholarship. All awards are subject to approval by Enrollment Services. | Men’s Sports Women’s Sports Baseball Basketball Basketball Softball Soccer Volleyball |
Presidential Scholar | Renewable Award for up to 4 years. | This scholarship covers all tuition and fees at La Sierra University for one year and is granted to one high-achieving freshman annually. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 and demonstrate outstanding citizenship by improving the world around them through missions, voluntarism, and leadership, and have applied to La Sierra as an incoming freshman. | Full tuition and fees per year. |
Church Matching Scholarship | Renewable Scholarship | La Sierra University will match contributions from students’ congregations or conferences. The contribution check (cash will not be matched) must be accompanied with a signed contract, stating that the funds were processed in accordance with IRS regulations. This scholarship program is available to students who have an unmet need after all other student aid programs have been awarded and may help to reduce the students’ loans. The external funds and the University’s matching portion will pay over three quarters. | Up to $1,000 |
SDA Summer Camp Earning’s Match | Renewable Scholarship | La Sierra University will give a matching scholarship to students who work for the | Pacific Union: 100% up to $2,000 non-Pacific Union: 50% up to $1,500 |
Literature Evangelist Earnings’ Match | Renewable Scholarship | La Sierra University will give a matching scholarship to students who work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church as literature evangelists during the summer prior to their Fall enrollment. The University will match 100% (literature evangelist) of students’ certified summer earnings that are applied to their Fall term accounts. Literature evangelist earnings made during the school year are entitled to be matched, up to an additional $3,000. | 100% up to $3,000 for the summer. |
Payment-in-Advance Discount | Tuition Discount, Renewable | There are two discounts available to students who pay their balance up-front. These discounts are calculated on charges less all aid (including loans). These discounts do not apply to already discounted (i.e. summer undergrad, Divinity School graduate programs, ESL/ELC) or off-campus programs (Digital Learning, PMBA, CJ). A 7% discount is available to students who pay the year-in-advance at Fall quarter registration. This discount is pro-rated over all three terms in the regular school year (Fall, Winter, & Spring). This discount can apply to the off-campus Criminal Justice (CJ) program. A 2% discount is available to students who pay the quarter-in-advance at each term’s registration (not for CJ). | 7% off for year-in-advance payment |
Policy for Institutional Aid Programs: Unless stated otherwise, institutional aid awards are only available for on-campus, full-tuition programs. Institutional aid does no cover charges for trips and tours or other off-campus expenses. Unless stated otherwise, total institutional awards, including endowed scholarships and La Sierra University employee benefits, may not exceed tuition and comprehensive fees. | |||
Financial Aid Time-line/Check List
January
- Complete the FAFSA for the coming school year at www.fafsa.ed.gov (use estimated income if taxes not finished).
- La Sierra’s FAFSA code is 001215.
- La Sierra’s early admissions acceptance begins.
February
- Submit Cal Grant GPA verification (due March 2).
- Reserve a spot in the summer Freshmen Orientation program.
March
- Track your Cal Grant application status at www.calgrants.org.
- Schedule an appointment for a financial estimate with a La Sierra University Enrollment Counselor.
- Current students only: apply for Endowed Scholarship(s) through the Advancement Office.
April
- Go into the FAFSA and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update the financial information after taxes are filed.
May
- Watch for your La Sierra award notification letter from the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Turn in all documents requested by La Sierra’s
Student Financial Services to complete your financial aid file.
June-August
- Complete any paperwork necessary for your student loans to be processed.
- Finalize your payment plan with La Sierra’s Student Financial Services.
September
- Make your first payment by September 15.
- Buy your books before classes begin.
Useful websites:
- www.fafsa.ed.gov
- www.calgrants.org
- www.csac.ca.gov
- www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript
- www.lasierra.edu/csas
- www.lasierra.edu/sfs
- www.lasierra.edu/enrollment
- www.lasierra.edu/bookstore
- www.lasierra.edu/residential
- www.lasierra.edu/undergrad-scholarships
Useful Phone Numbers:
- FASFA: 1-800-4-FED-AID
- Cal Grant: 1-888-CA-GRANT
- IRS Transcript: 1-800-908-9946
- La Sierra Enrollment Services: 951-785-2000
- La Sierra Student Financial Services: 951-785-2175
- La Sierra Bookstore: 951-785-2196
- La Sierra Student Life: 951-785-2100
Have Questions?
Contact or visit the following:
- An Enrollment Services Counselor
- A Student Financial Services Counselor
- www.lasierra.edu/enrollment
- www.lasierra.edu/sfs
- 951-785-2000
- 951-785-2418 (fax)
- info@lasierra.edu
La Sierra On: