Pepperdine University Admissions Office

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contact Information:

Pepperdine University
GSEP Financial Aid Office
6100 Center Drive, 5th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-568-5775
Fax: 310-568-2399
Email: gsepfaid@pepperdine.edu

Financial Aid in Wavenet

For instructions on how to view financial aid application status, financial aid eligibility, Accept/Decline financial aid awards and apply for a student loan, click here.

 

Applying for Financial Aid and Eligibility

I completed my FAFSA. Is my file now complete?
Yes, but…we may need additional documentation from you, such as a copy of your birth certificate, certificate of US Naturalization, Social Security card, etc. If this is the case, the Financial Aid Office will request additional documentation from you via email.  The required documents will also be listed in the "To Do" section of your Wavenet Student Center until you submit them.  Please respond right away to requests for additional documentation; a delay in submitting the required documentation will result in a delay in the processing of your financial aid.

How do I obtain a tax return transcript?
A tax return transcript can be obtained in 3 ways:

• Online at www.irs.gov 
• Call 1-800-908-9946
• Mail or fax a printed Form 4506T-EZ, which can be printed from the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

Do I need to maintain good academic standing in order to remain eligible for financial aid? Yes, a student must maintain academic progress at Pepperdine University in order to remain eligible for financial aid.  Students should consult academic program descriptions in the GSEP Academic Catalog for specific details.  In general, students whose GPA falls below a 3.0 have one term to raise their GPA to 3.0 before losing eligibility for financial aid and being dismissed from the program.  A student who loses aid eligibility may regain eligibility if a GPA of 3.0 is achieved; however, aid eligibility is not retroactive.  Aid eligibility will resume in the term after the GPA of 3.0 is achieved.

How do I know what I have been awarded?
The Financial Aid Office will send you an Award Notification email to your Pepperdine email address after you have submitted all documentation and your file is complete. The email will contain instructions to log into your Wavenet Student Center(http://wavenet.pepperdine.edu) and view your financial aid awards and accept/decline your financial aid awards and apply for a loan, if needed.

What if I need additional financial aid?
You may be eligible for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS.  The Graduate PLUS Loan requires credit approval from the U.S. Department of Education and it is generally available to students who do not have adverse credit.  Please contact the GSEP Financial Aid Office at 310-568-5775 or gsepfaid@pepperdine.edu to confirm the amount your are eligible for and then we will process the loan for you. 

I have a high income. Do I still qualify for aid?
Yes. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not based on need.  Students must still complete a FAFSA and the financial aid application process in order to borrow a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

What happens if I decide to take fewer classes/units?
If you enroll for fewer units than anticipated, it may affect (reduce) your financial aid eligibility. You must contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if your aid will be affected.

I have a poor credit history. Do I still qualify for aid?
Yes. The Federal Direct Stafford  Unsubsidized Loan is not based on a credit history. Students are eligible as long as they meet the general eligibility requirements for federal financial aid and are not in default on a prior student loan. To apply for financial aid, go to: http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/financial-aid/

Student Loans

What if I want to borrow less than the amount I have been awarded?
When you view your financial aid awards in the Wavenet Student Center, you will have the option of declining or reducing the amount of student loans that you have been awarded.

What is the interest rate on the Federal Direct Loans?
Effective July 1, 2011, the in-school interest rate for Federal Stafford Loans is 6.8% (fixed) and 7.9% (fixed) for the Graduate PLUS Loan.  Interest rates for private loans vary.

Can I defer my undergraduate loans?
Yes. As long as you are enrolled in at least half-time status at an accredited college or university, your student loans are eligible for deferment (repayment of the loans is deferred). Pepperdine University reports your enrollment status to the federal government for loan deferment purposes at several times each term.

What if I need additional financial aid?
You may be eligible for a Graduate PLUS Loan. The Graduate PLUS Loan requires credit approval from the U.S. Department of Education and it is generally available to students who do not have adverse credit. Please contact the GSEP Financial Aid Office at 310-568-5775 or gsepfaid@pepperdine.edu to confirm the amount your are eligible for and then we will process the loan for you. 

Tuition / Refunds / Student Accounts

When will I receive my financial aid and when is tuition due?
If your financial aid file is complete before the start of the term, your aid will be disbursed during the first week of classes each term and any financial aid in excess of your tuition and fee charges will be refunded after the Add/Drop period each term.

Tuition is due the day after the last day of the add/drop period each term. If you have completed your financial aid application, including Loan Counseling and MPN (if necessary), AND your financial aid covers your tuition, you do not need to make a payment; the Student Accounts office will consider your pending financial aid.

If financial aid does not cover your tuition, you must make payment arrangements for the balance due each term. For more information, go to Student Accounts.

How do I know how much I owe or if I will receive a refund?
Tuition rates can be found on the Program Costs link to the left.  A Tuition Calculator is also provided at the left to assist you with the calcualtion.  Use the following calculation to determine your balance due/refund each term:

TUITION COST (# of units x per unit rate) 
-  FINANCIAL AID

= BALANCE DUE/REFUND

For updated student account information go to the Student Center in Wavenet (https://wavenet.pepperdine.edu) and click on the "Account Inquiry" link in the Finances section.

Why is my refund check amount less than what I expected?
A 1% in origination fee is deducted by the U.S. Department of Education for processing your Federal Direct Stafford Loan (or 4% for the Graduate PLUS Loan).   Origination fees are automatically deducted from the total amount that you borrow at each disbursement to the school; therefore, the net amount that is credited to your student account will be 1% (or 4% for a Graduate PLUS Loan) less than the total amount you were awarded. Please note that you must repay the total amount that you borrow, including origination fees.

What if I need additional financial aid?
You may be eligible for a Graduate PLUS or private educational loan.  The Graduate PLUS Loan requires credit approval from the U.S> Department of Education and is generally available to students who do not have adverse credit. Please contact the GSEP Financial Aid Office at 310-568-5775 or gsepfaid@pepperdine.edu to confirm the amount your are eligible for and then we will process the loan for you.