How to Keep Your Grants & Loans

Don’t lose your aid

You’ve met the eligibility requirements. You’ve completed your FAFSA. And your financial aid has been credited to your account. Now what?

Maintain your enrollment

Any change to your enrollment may result in a change to your financial aid eligibility. This includes:

If any of these occur, you may be asked to return money you’ve already received, and may not receive money you’re expecting.

For most types of financial aid, you need to be enrolled at least half time during any semester you’re receiving aid:

  • Undergraduate: 6 credit hours
  • Graduate: 4 credit hours

Note that waitlist hours aren’t counted when determining enrollment status—only classes you’re actually registered for will count.

Exceptions to the half-time rule

Federal Pell Grants

The amount of your Pell grant is determined by your enrollment status at the end of the 100% tuition refund period, so be sure to finalize your schedule before the end of this period.

Frank O’Bannon Grants

If you’re receiving a Frank O’Bannon Grant, you’re required to be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours through the 25% tuition refund period . If you were enrolled in 12 credit hours and received your award, then dropped below 12 credit hours, the grant will be removed from your account. This may create a balance on your bursar account that must be repaid.

21st Century Scholarship

If you’re receiving a 21st Century Scholarship, you’re required to be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours through the 25% tuition refund period. If you were enrolled in 12 credit hours and received your award, then dropped below 12 credit hours, the grant will be removed from your account. This may create a balance on your bursar account that must be repaid.

How repeating courses affects your aid

If you repeat a course more than once in which you received a letter grade of D– or higher, federal regulations say that repeated course can’t be included in your enrollment status when we calculate your federal financial aid eligibility.

If you’re enrolled in 12 credit hours during which you repeat a previously passed 3 credit hour course for the second time, only nine of your credit hours can be used to calculate your financial aid eligibility. Your enrollment will be reported as three-quarter time rather than full time, which may affect your federal grants and loans.

Learn more about financial aid