ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

 Federal Qualifiers

A minimum of 9 credit hours are required to qualify for federal aid program:

Full-Time Undergraduate                                  9 Hours

Part-Time Undergraduate                                  6 Hours

Financial Aid Application Deadlines

The Financial Aid Office accepts applications at any time before or during the academic year; however, there are priority deadlines that are enforced for the awarding of any institutional grants and scholarship.  The deadlines are as follows for each quarter.

1. Winter December 1 St.
2. Spring March 1 St.
3. Summer June 1 St.
4. Fall September 1^st

Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; there for, it is important to apply long before the priority deadlines.  Institutional fund may be exhausted before the priority deadline dates.  Applications received after the priority deadline dates will be reviewed for federal grant, work study, and loan eligibility (if a loan request has been made).

Prospective and currently enrolled students interested in applying for Federal Student Financial Aid program must have the following requirements:

1. Be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree-seeking program.
2. Establish financial need by a recognized analysis.
3. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
4. Be registered with the Selective Service (if required).
5. Sign a “Statement of Education Purpose” indicating that aid received will be used only for education related expenses.
6. Not be in default on a federal loan or owe a refund on a federal grant.
7. Maintain satisfactory academic progress.

In addition:

1. Less than Part-Time students may be eligible for Federal Pell Grants or other Federal Student Financial Aid programs.
2. Students who have received a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants or SEOG but may be eligible for other Federal Student Financial Aid program.
3. Students attending two schools in the same enrollment period cannot receive Pell Grants at both schools.
4. Conviction for drug distribution or possession may make a student ineligible for federal aid.
5. Students must maintain at least half-time status (6 credits) to be eligible for a federal student loan.

Eligibility requirements, loan and grant limits may change annually as mandated by federal regulations.  Students must apply each year for those financial aid programs in which they wish to participate.  Information and application forms for all types of Federal Student Financial Aid may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

To maintain eligibility for Federal Student Financial Aid programs, students must comply with Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress.  The Office of Financial Aid is required by federal regulations to monitor the academic progress of Federal Student Financial Aid recipients.  Satisfactory Academic Progress will be monitored at the completion of each term.  A detailed copy of the policy described below may be obtained from the office of financial aid.

Students who receive Federal Student Financial Aid must maintain cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (undergraduate) will be placed on financial aid probation.  Students who receive Federal Student Financial Aid must successfully complete a minimum of 67% of credits attempted on a cumulative basis or be placed on Financial Aid probation.  Students must earn their degrees within the maximum allowable time frame regardless of their program of study.  Students who exceed the maximum time frame cannot receive Federal Student Financial Aid until they have completed their current program.  A student placed on financial aid probation is eligible for Federal Student Financial Aid during the probationary term, after which he/she will be disqualified from receiving financial aid if standards are not met.  Students may request a review of their Federal Student Financial Aid eligibility after Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress has the right to submit a written appeal if there are mitigating circumstances.

FINANCIAL AID REFUNDS TO INSTITUTION AND TITLE IV PROGRAMS

When a student leaves the University during the quarter during which federal or institutional aid has been received, some or all the financial aid received may have to be cancelled.  The amount of aid which must be cancelled (refunded to the federal-institutional program) is calculated on a prorated basis according to the length of time (in days) a student has been enrolled.  For example, if the quarter is 90 days in length and a student withdraws on the 28^th day, the student has attended 32% of his or her aid.  (68 divided by 28= 32%) The remaining 68% (unearned amount) of the financial aid must be cancelled.  In this example, a student who receives a total of $5,000 in financial aid will keep $1,600 (32%).  The remaining $3,400 will be refunded to the financial aid program source.

If all or part of the financial aid was given to the student as a financial aid refund for living expenses, the student may be responsible for repaying a portion of this unearned financial aid.  Required financial aid refunds to Title IV Programs will be made in the following order: Federal Stafford and Plus Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and other Title IV assistance.  Please be aware that the above required policy governing the return of financial aid funds as a result of student withdrawal is different than the university’s policy for refunds of university’s charges.  Financial aid refunds may be required even though there may be no reduction to the student’s charges.  Please read the section titled Refunds After Withdrawal from the university for further information on adjustments to university charges.