Financial Aid for DPT Students

Admitted Bellarmine Undergraduate Students

For students selected as Early-Entry (3+3), they are eligible to receive a discount of 25% off
graduate tuition for their first year of the DPT program only (including their first summer, fall,
and spring semesters). This is a significant benefit to Early-Entry (3+3) students.

For students selected as Early-Entry (3+3), they will be enrolled in graduate level coursework
once they begin the DPT program, so they will no longer be eligible for the majority of their
previously awarded undergraduate scholarships at that point (with some exceptions). Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information. 

Additionally, students selected as Early-Entry (3+3) will still be classified as an undergraduate
student during their first year of the DPT program, so they can file the FAFSA as an
undergraduate student and remain eligible for federal and state funding at the undergraduate
level.

Early-Entry (3+3) students are encouraged to contact our Financial Aid Office at
finaid@bellarmine.edu or (502) 272-7300 to discuss further.

Bellarmine Undergraduate Students Moving To Graduate Status After 3 Semesters

Once undergraduate students complete their first three semesters of the DPT program, they are designated as graduate students. Graduate students are no longer eligible for Bellarmine scholarships or undergraduate financial aid. They are, however, eligible to apply for graduate financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If students previously completed a FAFSA for the fall and spring semesters, the Office of Financial Aid will go in and make changes to the FAFSA to make the student an independent graduate student. Students should complete a Summer Financial Aid Form, which is available in the Office of Financial Aid each summer, to indicate interest in receiving summer financial aid. Once the forms are on file, these new graduate students will then be considered for loan programs. Direct Loans limit amounts increase due to graduate status. Graduate students are eligible to borrow $20,500 in Unsubsidized Direct Loans per year. For each summer semester students are considered graduate, the summer loan amount is determined by subtracting the amount of loan money borrowed in the previous fall and spring semesters from $20,500. Students are encouraged to save funding for summer if able, or not borrow the full amount for fall and spring to have funding available for summer. Other loan programs will be evaluated so students with no summer eligibility will have an opportunity to borrow funding to help pay for the program.

Admitted New Graduate Students

Students who do not enter the program as Bellarmine undergraduate students will be admitted to the program as graduate students. Graduate students are eligible to borrow $20,500 in Unsubsidized Direct Loans per year. For the first summer semester, the loan amount is determined by subtracting the amount of loan money borrowed in the previous fall and spring semesters from $20,500. For the next academic year, students again regain eligibility at the rate of $20,500. If students choose to borrow the full $20,500 in fall and spring, no remaining eligibility for summer from the Direct Loans program will exist. Students are encouraged to save funding for summer if able, or not borrow the full amount for fall and spring to have funding available for summer. Other loan programs will be evaluated so students with no summer eligibility will have an opportunity to borrow funding to help pay for the program. Each summer, students should complete the Summer Financial Aid Form, available in the Office of Financial Aid.

Costs

The tuition costs for the DPT program for admitted Bellarmine undergraduate students are listed on the Graduate Tuition Rates page.

Need more info?

Students with questions can contact the Office of Financial Aid Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Office of Financial Aid can be reached at 502.272.7300 or email finaid@bellarmine.edu.