Financial Aid Adjustments Due to Enrollment Changes
Financial aid adjustments may result in the student repaying a portion of any financial aid received.
Loan Reduction for Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment
Students who enroll and remain full-time are eligible to receive the full annual federal loan limit, up to the Cost of Attendance, whichever is less.
Students who enroll less than full-time, or who drop below full-time enrollment, may have their federal student loan eligibility reduced in proportion to their enrollment level.
The following federal loan programs are subject to reduction based on enrollment status:
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loans (undergraduate)
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (undergraduate and graduate)
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans (for eligible graduate students under legacy provisions)
Federal Parent PLUS Loans are not subject to reduction based on less-than-full-time enrollment.
Each loan type is calculated and adjusted individually according to the student’s enrollment status. Downward financial aid adjustments may result in the student repaying a portion of any financial aid received.
Course Load Changes During the 1st-12th Class Day (Maintaining Half-Time Status)
Grants and scholarships are reviewed between the 1st and 12th class day (date varies). If a student adds or drops courses during this period, these awards will be reevaluated and adjusted as needed. Downward adjustments may require the student to repay a portion of financial aid received. Any applicable tuition refunds may be returned to the appropriate state or institutional fund(s).
Federal student loans are subject to ongoing evaluation based on enrollment status. Changes in enrollment may result in a reduction of the total loan amount awarded or adjustments to future disbursements. Students should be aware that loan eligibility is determined in part by enrollment intensity over the academic year. To be considered full-time for annual loan eligibility, undergraduate students must complete at least 24 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters, and most graduate students must complete at least 18 credit hours during that same period.
Courses dropped after the 12th class day will not result in a reevaluation of grants and scholarships; however, federal student loans may still be reviewed and adjusted if required based on enrollment changes or regulatory requirements.
Enrollment changes may result in an overaward. In such cases, other forms of financial aid may be reduced or canceled to resolve the overaward. Future disbursements, including loan disbursements, may also be reduced or canceled as necessary.
Pending fund availability, certain financial aid awards may be increased if a student adds additional courses during the review period.
Dropping Below Half-Time Prior to the 13th Class Day
If a student’s enrollment drops below half-time, the student’s loan servicer will be notified, which may trigger the start of the grace period for federal student loans.
Federal student loans are subject to ongoing evaluation based on enrollment status. A reduction in enrollment may result in a decrease to the total loan amount awarded and/or the cancellation or reduction of future disbursements, if applicable.
Grants and scholarship awards will be reviewed and adjusted as necessary, which may result in a balance on the student’s account. Changes in enrollment may also create an overaward situation. In such cases, other forms of financial aid may be reduced or canceled to resolve the overaward.
Students enrolled less than half-time are responsible for paying any remaining tuition, fees, and other educational expenses not covered by financial aid. Continued enrollment in courses at a less-than-half-time status does not guarantee continued eligibility for financial aid.
Withdrawals Within the First 12 Class Days
Students who withdraw after the start of the term are subject to a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation for all federal financial aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed. Federal regulations require the university to determine the amount of aid earned based on the student’s withdrawal date and the percentage of the payment period completed.
Students earn federal financial aid in proportion to the time they are enrolled. If a student withdraws before completing more than 60 percent of the term, a portion of the federal aid received is considered unearned and must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. This may result in a balance owed to the university and/or repayment obligations to the federal aid programs.
Institutional and state financial aid is subject to separate adjustment policies and may be reduced or canceled based on the student’s withdrawal date and institutional guidelines.
Students are strongly encouraged to review the university’s Return of Title IV Funds Policy and consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to withdrawing to understand the financial impact.
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