What are the minimum units that must be taken to receive financial aid?
I have 14.5 credits of classes and i want to drop one of three. I already received my financial aid money so does this affect me in anyway to have only 11.5 units?
the only person who can answer this is the Fin Aid dept at your school
In most schools, if you are between 9-12 units then that is 3/4 time & 75% of Fin Aid, but at some schools, dropping below 12 can actually put you part-time & with that drop to 50%
If this reduces you to below 12 credit hours & complete full-time status, then you would have to repay the difference & that might not work well for you.
Using our local community college as an example
12 credits & over = full-time status
anything (yes even 11.5) would put you below full-time to 3/4 time
being between 9-12 credit hours would drop you to 75% of aid
if your total aid package was $5,000 for the semester, then it would drop to $3750
you would owe back 1,250 of your fin aid
and, because of your classload, you might actually then owe the college money on top of the repayment for your actual cost
Please, please, please talk to your Fin Aid office
First and foremost contact your financial aid dept. first thing Monday morning. Secondly, it’s part time for FAFSA. You must be at 6 semester credits or 8 quarter credits as a part time student to get aid. Remember one huge thing though. If you get any FAFSA Pell grant part time status cuts your grant in half. Stay full time as much as possible.
References :
works for a university
the only person who can answer this is the Fin Aid dept at your school
In most schools, if you are between 9-12 units then that is 3/4 time & 75% of Fin Aid, but at some schools, dropping below 12 can actually put you part-time & with that drop to 50%
If this reduces you to below 12 credit hours & complete full-time status, then you would have to repay the difference & that might not work well for you.
Using our local community college as an example
12 credits & over = full-time status
anything (yes even 11.5) would put you below full-time to 3/4 time
being between 9-12 credit hours would drop you to 75% of aid
if your total aid package was $5,000 for the semester, then it would drop to $3750
you would owe back 1,250 of your fin aid
and, because of your classload, you might actually then owe the college money on top of the repayment for your actual cost
Please, please, please talk to your Fin Aid office
References :
1) Since you’re current enrolled in 14.5 credit hours, you’re considered a "full time student" and receive funding (aid money) relative to the amount of classes you’re taking.
2) If you change your current course load to 11.5 credit hours, you’re NOT considered a "full time student" and part time students do not receive the same level of funding as full time students.
3) Since you’ve already received your financial aid allotment/refund for this semester, and you did not fullfill your obligations as a fulltime student receiving fulltime funding – your financial aid next semester would be cut and you’d be placed on financial aid probation.
4) You’d have to spend a semester of decreased funding (part time level) while paying out of your own pocket to retain fulltime student status (12 hours minimum) to get off financial aid probation.
5) Check with your Fin. Aid Office at your school, before doing something so dumb, so you don’t end up screwing yourself.
References :