Information on Financial Aid
for the Massage Therapy Diploma Program
Body Therapy Institute has been granted eligibility by the United States Department of Education (USDE) to participate in Federal Student Aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. These aid programs include:
- Pell Grants
- Stafford (Direct) Loans
- PLUS Loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students)
Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. There is a three-step process to determine your eligibility, and to find out the exact amount of financial aid you can receive.
Step One: Meet with BTI's Financial Aid Officer
After completing the Free Campus Tour and Interview with our Admissions Staff, you'll schedule a meeting to create a personalized financial plan for your training at BTI. Our Financial Aid Department is here to work with you to find the best options available, based on your individual situation.
Step Two: FAFSA
Your next step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Go online to the US Department of Education website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
At the beginning of this application, enter the Federal School Code for BTI: 041728.
To fill out the FAFSA, you will need certain financial information. Click here to see the list of documents you will need. Once you have created a login for FAFSA, you may return to the site to review or add to your application. Note that Pell Grants and subsidized Stafford (Direct) loans are need-based, which is why the USDE requires detailed financial information on the FAFSA.
Parents of dependent students 18-24 years old may apply for a Parent Direct PLUS Loan. These fixed-rate loans are based on credit worthiness of the parents, and the loan can be issued for the full amount of the Cost of Attendance. Information and application for PLUS Loans may be found at: http://studentloans.gov.
Step Three: VFAO
After completing the FAFSA, go to the BTI Virtual Financial Aid Office: https://bti.vfao.com
BTI uses an online system called the Virtual Financial Aid Office, or VFAO to automate the processing of all financial aid applications. BTI has partnered with a well-established company whose sole focus is providing financial aid services to students.
If you're a new user, click "register" and enter a username and password. Write these down for future logins to the VFAO. After login, go to the Student Interview Center and enter the information required on each screen. If you have questions along the way, click the FAQ link on the upper navigation bar.
At the Detailed Financial Plan screen, you will see the maximum award amounts you can receive through Pell Grants and Stafford (Direct) Loans. As the BTI Diploma Program is less than full-time (as defined by the USDE), you will need to multiply each of these award amounts by 73.33% to determine your actual award amounts. [Example: a Stafford Direct subsidized loan of $3,500 x 73.33% = $2,567]
Click "DONE" when complete with the online Student Interview. Your VFAO information will be transmitted to the BTI Financial Aid Office for review as part of the admissions process.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you need assistance in completing these online processes, you can schedule a "work session" with our Financial Aid Officer who will help you with this task.
VETERANS BENEFITS: BTI is approved for the enrollment of persons eligible for education assistance benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Active and retired military, as well as spouses and dependents, may be eligible for benefits under the G.I. Bill. You'll have an opportunity to discuss this during your initial financial aid meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCING: If the amount of your financial aid award is less than the total Cost of Attendance for the Diploma Program, you will have an opportunity to discuss how you will finance this balance during your financial aid meeting.
- Students utilize a variety of sources, including savings, low-interest credit cards, home equity lines of credit, family loans, retirement plans, etc.
- If you are credit worthy, or have a credit worthy co-borrower, you may apply for a BTI Installment Loan. These loans are issued at the discretion of the school for the duration of your enrollment at BTI
- Application fees and interest are added to monthly loan payments. BTI Installment Loans are serviced by a third-party company.
For additional information or assistance at ANY point in the process, contact BTI's Financial Aid Officer at 919-663-3111 ex. 13, or email <finaid@bti.edu>.
Net Price Calculator
At the Body Therapy Institute, it's important that you feel comfortable and well-informed. We respect our potential students and want you to have a clear picture of what it will realistically cost to attend school and train for a rewarding new career.
The Net Price Calculator is designed to help you get a meaningful estimate of total, out-of-pocket costs, based on your particular financial circumstances and anticipated aid.
How It Works
The calculator first factors cost of attendance including tuition and fees, room and board, books/supplies, transportation and personal expenses. Using Financial Data you enter, the calculator then estimates the amount that you/your family would be expected to contribute to pay school expenses. Finally, the calculator evaluates your eligibility for Financial Aid (need-based) by matching your financial and determine financial aid awards.
To complete the calculator you will need to answer some basic questions about you/your family's financial situation. It may be helpful to have recent tax forms and pay stubs/income statements on hand before you begin.
The Calculator takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Launch the Net Price Calculator.
Please Note: Results from this tool are only an estimate of financial aid eligibility. The accuracy of estimated awards is based on information provided and on the assumption that the student will complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Future costs and financial aid estimates are subject to change. Final eligibility for federal and state financial aid is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Actual financial aid awards, if approved, may differ from this estimated figure.