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Financial Aid Policies

 

The Office of Financial Aid maintains a collection of policies and procedures that facilitate the financial aid process.  In addition, if you are considering withdrawing or dropping a class, you should be aware of the policies and procedures that can impact your ability to keep and/or receive financial aid.

 

Changes to Your Financial Assistance

All financial assistance awarded to you is designated for a specific award period, such as a 9-month academic year. However, these type(s) and amount(s) of aid sometimes have to be revised (or even canceled) for reasons such as:

Absence of Required Documentation

Failure to provide required documents or clarifying information requested by Student Financial Services staff as specified may result in a change to the aid awarded and/or no award eligibility.

Changes to Assistance Received

Receiving additional (or revised) assistance that the UCM Office of Student Financial Services was not aware of at the time you were originally awarded may result in a change to the amount and/or type of assistance received. Examples include, but are not limited to, the Mule Grant,  assistance, non-UCM Scholarship Aid, ROTC, and Vocational Rehabilitation benefits, etc.

Changes in Credit Hour Enrollment

Failure to enroll for or attend the number of credit hours required for disbursement of funds from a specific aid program.

Your offered awards may have been based on full-time enrollment in both the fall and spring semesters. If you register for less than full-time, your aid may be prorated based on your lower enrollment status.

If your enrollment changes prior to Census, your awards may fluctuate according to the schedule below. Dropping credits after your awards have been disbursed (including direct deposit) may result in a bill. Census enrollment figures will determine your final semester disbursement amounts.

Student Financial Assistance does not count audited courses toward students' enrollment status.

Disbursement Schedule

Award

# of Term Credits/Semester = % of Award Received

Undergraduate

Grad

Federal Pell Grant

(less than full time eligibility is dependent upon SAI)

12+ credits = 100%

N/A

11 credits = 92%

10 credits = 83%

9 credits = 75%

8 credits = 67%

7 credits = 58%

6 credits = 50%

5 credits = 42%

4 credits = 33%

3 credits = 25%

2 credits = 17%

1 credit = 8% 

SEOG Grant

12+ credits = 100%

N/A

Federal Stafford Loan
Federal PLUS Loan

6+ credits = 100%

(3+credits = 100%)

Federal Work-Study

1+ credits

1+ credits

TEACH Grant

1+ credit hour

1+ credit hour

Access Missouri Grant

12+ credits = 100%

N/A

Scholarships

See individual donor and/or University criteria for your scholarship.

Duplicate Federal Financial Assistance

Federal financial assistance from UCM and another college or university for the same semester can affect the aid you have been awarded.  Please consult with the financial aid office at the institution for which you are degree-seeking.

Financial Aid Application Information

Erroneous or inaccurate responses discovered on any document required as part of the financial aid application process can affect the amount or type of aid awarded to you.

Living Arrangement Changes

A change in living arrangements, particularly if you decide to reside with a parent, stepparent, or other adult relative (rather than living independently) while attending UCM may result in a change to the financial assistance awarded to you.

Program Funding Adjustments

An unexpected shortfall in program funding provided to UCM by the federal government of the state of Missouri could result in a change to the aid awarded to you.

Student Type Classification Changes

Students classified (or re-classified) as "visiting" or "non-degree" students at UCM may have awarded aid canceled.

Unmet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards

Failure to meet the UCM Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress will result in changes to, or an inability to receive, financial aid.

Cost of Attendance (Financial Aid Budget)

Cost of Attendance (COA), also referred to as a student's Budget or Cost of Education, is the starting point in determining an applicant's eligibility for federal assistance (and many other types of financial aid too). The student's  (calculated from his/her ) is subtracted from the assigned COA to obtain the applicant's . 

It's very important to understand that the COA assigned to a student is an estimate of a typical student's average education and living expenses to attend the University of Central Missouri. The COA seldom reflects the exact costs incurred by any particular individual, nor is it a specific amount owed to UCM. Rather, the COA is the sum of several federally-mandated allowances, and simply represents the student's anticipated expenses at a low but reasonable standard of living.

COA (Full-Time) 2024-2025

COSTS OF ATTENDANCE
Full-Time
2024/2025 School Year

Missouri Residents

COA Allowances

9-month COA

Any student living with a parent or adult relative (other than his/her spouse)

 

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$10,032
1,250
2,994
3,024
100

$17,400

Any student living on-campus or off-campus (but not with a parent or adult relative), single or married, with or without children.

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$10,032
1,250
10,705
2,691
100

$24,778

Non-Residents of Missouri

COA Allowances

9-month COA

Any student living with a parent or adult relative (other than his/her spouse)

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$18,608
1,250
2,994
3,024
100

$25,976

Any student living on-campus or off-campus (but not with a parent or adult relative), single or married, with or without children.

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$18,608
1,250
10,705
2,691
100

$33,354

 

COA (Full-Time) 2025-2026

COSTS OF ATTENDANCE
Full-Time
2025/2026 School Year

Missouri Residents

COA Allowances

9-month COA

Any student living with a parent or adult relative (other than his/her spouse)

 

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$   10,406
1,250
3,072
3,100
100

$   17,928

Any student living on-campus or off-campus (but not with a parent or adult relative), single or married, with or without children.

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$   10,406
1,250
11,036
2,760
100

$25,552

Non-Residents of Missouri

COA Allowances

9-month COA

Any student living with a parent or adult relative (other than his/her spouse)

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$19,256
1,250
3,072
3,100
100

$26,778

Any student living on-campus or off-campus (but not with a parent or adult relative), single or married, with or without children.

Tuition and Fees
Books and Supplies
Room and Meals
Travel and Miscellaneous
Loan Fee

Total

$19,256

1,250
11,036
2,760
100

$34,402

Award Year COA Components


Tuition and Fees

These figures are used to reflect the average estimated instructional tuition and fees charged to a typical student for a 9-month school year. One figure is assigned to students who are Missouri residents, whereas the other figure is assigned to non-residents of Missouri.  UCM records indicate that a full-time undergraduate student usually enrolls for 12 to 15 credit hours per semester. The typical full-time graduate student, on the other hand, normally enrolls for 9 graduate credit hours per semester. The two allowances are based on these credit hour calculations and are weighted averages (according to the percentage of enrolled students at UCM classified undergraduate vs. graduate). If you are a part-time student, your tuition and fees will be adjusted to reflect 3/4 or 1/2 time status.

Books and Supplies

This is the average amount the typical full-time UCM undergraduate or graduate student will spend for the rental and/or purchase of textbooks and necessary supplies during the 9-month school year. The cost of a personal computer is not included in a student’s COA since 1) the purchase of a computer is not required of all students at UCM, 2) many labs exist throughout campus where students have access to computer workstations, and 3) a  personal computer and printer can be purchased from numerous retail sources for a very reasonable sum.

Room and Meals

The Room and Meals allowance, in accordance with federal financial aid regulations, reflects only the student’s estimated living costs. The basic allowance cannot take into account the expenses of a student's spouse and/or children. UCM offers several residence hall and meal plan choices. The Room and Meals allowance for a student not living with a parent or other adult relative reflects the options most frequently selected. This allowance is also assigned to a student who lives in an off-campus apartment or house (singly or with roommates). This is because doing so most often represents a choice made by the student. A lower Room and Meals allowance is assigned to an applicant who will reside with a parent, grandparent, or other adult relative (other than a spouse) during the 9-month school year.

Travel and Miscellaneous Expenses

Two amounts depending on a student's living arrangements are assigned to account for an applicant’s average transportation expenses to and from UCM, operating and maintaining a vehicle, clothing and laundry, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs associated with the person maintaining a low but reasonable standard of living during the 9-month school year.

Loan Fees

$100 ($50 per semester) is added to the 9-month school year COA. This amount accounts for the average loan fees withheld by the U.S. Department of Education from the gross Stafford Loan and/or PLUS Loan amount(s).

Study Abroad

Costs can often be added to a student’s COA in accordance with the information listed on a properly completed and signed  Request to Receive Financial Aid for International Study form.

Flight Training

Costs will be added to a student’s COA in accordance with the flight training classes the student enrolls in and the student normally must also be majoring in an aviation-related degree program offered by UCM’s School of Aviation.

2025 Summer Session

A 2025 Summer Session Cost-of-Attendance is assigned to a summer financial aid applicant. The 2024/2025 amounts for Tuition and Fees, Books and Supplies, Room and Board, etc. are added for the entire 12-month academic period (August 2024 through July 2025) after the student enrolls for the 2025 Summer Session Application for Financial Assistance from the Student Services tab in MyCentral.

Dependency Override

In accordance with the 1965 Higher Education Act,-as amended, an individual who doesn't automatically qualify as an independent FAFSA applicant for the academic award year applied for may be considered for reclassification as independent if (s)he... “is a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of unusual circumstances.” Such a determination is referred to as a Dependency Override.

When a Dependency Override is approved for a FAFSA applicant, a financial contribution from the student’s parent(s) is neither expected nor included as part of the federal financial aid eligibility calculation.

The Higher Education Act prohibits the from prescribing any regulations impacting the authority delegated to college and university financial aid administrators to exercise discretionary professional judgment in the area of Dependency Override decisions. However, interpretive guidance has been issued to help financial aid administrators make consistent, prudent, and reasonable decisions.

Dependency Override 2024/2025

Therefore, in accordance with Department of Education guidance, the University of Central Missouri subscribes to the policy that a Dependency Override cannot be approved for an otherwise dependent FAFSA applicant at UCM if any of the following conditions are the only circumstances cited by the applicant:

  1. the student simply states or claims that (s)he is financially self-sufficient,
  2. a parent is not willing to contribute financially toward the student’s educational and living expenses, elects not to assist the student financially, or simply believes that the student should be independent,
  3. a parent is not willing to provide the data required on the student’s 2022/2023 FAFSA or to assist in completing the Verification process, and/or
  4. the student is not claimed by a parent as a federal income tax exemption.

A Dependency Override may be approved for an otherwise dependent FAFSA applicant if one or more of the following conditions are cited by the applicant in a written appeal and are supported by additional documentation:

  1. an abusive (emotionally or physically), unhealthy, or unsafe family environment,
  2. abandonment of the student by a parent(s),
  3. incarceration of a parent(s),
  4. removal or relocation of the student from the parent(s)’ residence by court order, and/or
  5. other unusual or extraordinary circumstances, events, or incidents.

Please be advised that approval of a Dependency Override cannot be based solely on the fact that you may have been approved for a Dependency Override for the previous award year. However, a previous year’s determination may be a factor in the Dependency Override decision for 2022/2023.

In addition, approval of a Dependency Override by a financial aid administrator at another college or university does not mean that a similar determination will automatically be made by UCM. However, the other school’s decision may be a factor in the Dependency Override determination.

Dependency Override determinations are always made by the UCM Office of Student Financial Services on an individual, case-by-case basis.

To request a dependency override, the following steps must be completed:

  • Complete only the student section of the 2024/2025 FAFSA and submit at . UCM’s federal school code is 002454.
  • Complete our Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2024/2025 Award Year and submit to our office along with all required documentation referenced on application. The PDF for our Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2024/2025 Award Year is included below:

Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2024/2025

Dependency Override 2025/2026

Therefore, in accordance with Department of Education guidance, the University of Central Missouri subscribes to the policy that a Dependency Override cannot be approved for an otherwise dependent FAFSA applicant at UCM if any of the following conditions are the only circumstances cited by the applicant:

  1. the student simply states or claims that (s)he is financially self-sufficient,
  2. a parent is not willing to contribute financially toward the student’s educational and living expenses, elects not to assist the student financially, or simply believes that the student should be independent,
  3. a parent is not willing to provide the data required on the student’s 2025/2026 FAFSA or to assist in completing the Verification process, and/or
  4. the student is not claimed by a parent as a federal income tax exemption.

A Dependency Override may be approved for an otherwise dependent FAFSA applicant if one or more of the following conditions are cited by the applicant in a written appeal and are supported by additional documentation:

  1. an abusive (emotionally or physically), unhealthy, or unsafe family environment,
  2. abandonment of the student by a parent(s),
  3. incarceration of a parent(s),
  4. removal or relocation of the student from the parent(s)’ residence by court order, and/or
  5. other unusual or extraordinary circumstances, events, or incidents.

Please be advised that approval of a Dependency Override cannot be based solely on the fact that you may have been approved for a Dependency Override for the previous award year. However, a previous year’s determination may be a factor in the Dependency Override decision for 2025/2026.

In addition, approval of a Dependency Override by a financial aid administrator at another college or university does not mean that a similar determination will automatically be made by UCM. However, the other school’s decision may be a factor in the Dependency Override determination.

Dependency Override determinations are always made by the UCM Office of Student Financial Services on an individual, case-by-case basis.

To request a dependency override, the following steps must be completed:

  • Complete only the student section of the 2025/2026 FAFSA and submit at . UCM’s federal school code is 002454.
  • Complete our Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2025/2026 Award Year and submit to our office along with all required documentation referenced on application. The PDF for our Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2025/2026 Award Year is included below:

Dependency Override Appeal: Application 2025/2026

FAFSA Verification Information

In accordance with federal financial aid regulations, the data entered on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid () by many federal aid applicants must be verified for accuracy. The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects the majority of the FAFSA applicants who are required to undergo Verification. However, the UCM Office of Student Financial Services also has the authority to select applicants, and is the office that actually conducts the Verification process. If you're selected for FAFSA Verification, your eligibility for federal financial assistance for the award period will be finalized after this process has been completed.

If FAFSA Verification is required, you'll be contacted by the UCM Office of Student Financial Services, and advised of the documents that must be submitted and/or action(s) that must be taken. Following are the FAFSA Verification documents, one or more of which may need to be provided to the UCM Office of Student Financial Services.

FAFSA Verification 2025/2026

The US Department of Education has created verification tracking groups. The groups are designated by a V1, V4, or V5 as shown on your Student Aid Report. See below for specific requirements for each group.

V1 - Dependent/Independent Verification

If you're a 'Dependent' FAFSA Applicant (parental data was required to be entered on your FAFSA):

  • 2025/2026 FAFSA Verification Worksheet, completed, signed and dated
  • Photocopy of your parent(s)' 2023 IRS 
    • IF YOU DID NOT FILE a tax return, you must obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS. Please visit the  to request this information. You may find the Proof of Non-Filer Letter Directions helpful in obtaining the required form.  Photocopy of your 2023 IRS .

 to obtain a 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript free-of-charge.

If you're an 'Independent' FAFSA Applicant (no parental data was required to be entered on your FAFSA):

  • 2025/2026 FAFSA Verification Worksheet, completed, signed and dated
  • Photocopy of your (and your spouse's, if married) 2023 IRS 
    • IF YOU DID NOT FILE a tax return, you must obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS. Please visit the  to request this information. You may find the Proof of Non-Filer Letter Directions helpful in obtaining the required form.

       to obtain a 2023 IRS Tax Return Transcript free-of-charge. 

V4 - Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

Students must verify their identity/statement of educational purpose.  The first link below is if you intend to complete the form in front of a financial aid counselor.  The second link requires you to complete it in the presence of a notary (when you are unable to complete it in the Financial Aid Office) 

2025/2026 Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

2025/2026 Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose (Notary)

Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose - Bring your valid government-issued photo ID, such as but not limited to, a driver's license, other state-issued ID or passport to the Office of Student Financial Services in 1100 Ward Edwards Bldg. during regular office hours. You must complete and sign the Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose form in the presence of a Student Financial Services staff member. The form, along with an annotated copy of your valid government-issued photo ID, will complete part of the required verification of your 2025/2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data.

If you are unable to appear in person, please download the "Notary" form above or contact our office at 660-543-8266 to discuss your options.

V5 - All the requirements for the groups V1 & V4 as stated above.

Please be aware that you might be selected to complete the FAFSA Verification process, even though you completed your FAFSA using the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

IF YOU DID NOT FILE a tax return, you must obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS. Please visit the  to request this information.

Once all required documents (including the Verification form, tax forms, and Statement of Educational Purpose) have been received, the UCM  Office of Student Financial Services will complete the 2025/2026 FAFSA Verification process as quickly as possible, make the necessary data changes to your FAFSA, and post your financial aid offers at your . You will be notified when this occurs.

Documentation or written clarification other than the materials normally required are sometimes needed by UCM to complete the 2025/2026 FAFSA Verification process and/or finalize your eligibility for assistance. If this occurs, you will be notified about these requirements, which will also be listed at your .

Important Federal Deadline: If your 2025/2026 FAFSA is selected to undergo the Verification process and if your FAFSA data was received by the UCM Office of Student Financial Services prior to the last day of your enrollment (or class attendance/participation) during the 2025/2026 award year, you'll have up to 120 days after this date to submit all required documents and receive Federal Pell Grant aid (if otherwise eligible).

FAFSA Verification 2024/2025

The US Department of Education has created verification tracking groups. The groups are designated by a V1-V6 as shown on your Student Aid Report. See below for specific requirements for each group.

V1 - Dependent/Independent Verification

If you're a 'Dependent' FAFSA Applicant (parental data was required to be entered on your FAFSA):

  • 2024/2025 FAFSA Verification Worksheet, completed, signed and dated
  • Photocopy of your parent(s)' 2022 IRS
  • Photocopy of your 2022 IRS
    • IF YOU DID NOT FILE a tax return, you must obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS. Please visit the to request this information. You may find the Proof of Non-Filer Letter Directions helpful in obtaining the required form.  This requirement applies to independent students and the parents of dependent students.

to obtain a 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript free-of-charge.

If you're an 'Independent' FAFSA Applicant (no parental data was required to be entered on your FAFSA):

  • 2024/2025 FAFSA Verification Worksheet, completed, signed and dated
  • Photocopy of your (and your spouse's, if married) 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript(s)
    • IF YOU DID NOT FILE a tax return, you must obtain a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS. Please visit the to request this information. You may find the Proof of Non-Filer Letter Directions helpful in obtaining the required form.

to obtain a 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript free-of-charge. 

V4 - Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

Students are required to verify their identity/statement of educational purpose, if selected as part of this group.

2024/2025 High School Completion Status

Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose - Bring your valid government-issued photo ID, such as but not limited to, a driver's license, other state-issued ID or passport to the Office of Student Financial Services in 1100 Ward Edwards Bldg. during regular office hours. You must complete and sign the Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose form in the presence of a Student Financial Services staff member. The form, along with an annotated copy of your valid government-issued photo ID, will complete the required verification of your 2024/2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data.

If you are unable to appear in person, please contact our office at 660-543-8266 to discuss your options.

V5 - All the requirements for the groups V1 & V4 as stated above.

 

Please be aware that you might be selected to complete the FAFSA Verification process, even though you completed your FAFSA using the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

If you and/or your parent(s) did not and will not file federal income tax returns for the 2022 year, be sure that the 'non-filer' statement(s) on the 2024/2025 FAFSA Verification Worksheet is completed to indicate this. In addition, a separate letter may be submitted with the FAFSA Verification Worksheet if you wish to more completely explain the income and benefits received during the 2022 calendar year by you, your spouse, and/or your parent(s), or to provide any other clarification.

Once all required documents have been received, the UCM Office of Student Financial Services will complete the 2024/2025 FAFSA Verification process as quickly as possible, make the necessary data changes to your FAFSA, and post your financial aid offers at your portal. You will be notified when this occurs.

Documentation or written clarification other than the materials normally required are sometimes needed by UCM to complete the 2024/2025 FAFSA Verification process and/or finalize your eligibility for assistance. If this occurs, you will be notified about these requirements, which will also be listed at your portal.

Important Federal Deadline: If your 2024/2025 FAFSA is selected to undergo the Verification process and if your FAFSA data was received by the UCM Office of Student Financial Services prior to the last day of your enrollment (or class attendance/participation) during the 2024/2025 award year, you'll have up to 120 days after this date to submit all required documents and receive Federal Pell Grant aid (if otherwise eligible).

Failure to Earn a Passing Grade

In compliance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, the UCM Office of Student Financial Services is required to identify each undergraduate and graduate student who has received federal grant, loan, and/or employment assistance for a semester, but earns no grade other than an F for that semester. The purpose of this regulation is to determine if these aid recipients received F grades because they did not satisfactorily complete the requirements of their class(es) or because they elected not to attend classes or stopped attending prior to the normal completion date of the classes or, in the case of an on-line class, did not participate (or stopped participating) as normally expected/required.

Important! If a determination is made that you earned a grade of F due to lack of class attendance/participation, some (or even all) of the assistance that was credited to your UCM account for the semester may have to be reversed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education. This required action will normally result in you having a balance due the University of Central Missouri. Attending your classes is one of the primary responsibilities of all students who benefit from taxpayer-supported federal financial assistance.

FERPA/Release of Information

A copy of the University of Central Missouri policy implementing and further explaining FERPA may be obtained from the Registrar's Office or in Ward Edwards 1000 (660-543-4900). If a student wishes to allow access to his/her educational records and/or Student Financial Services accounts by members of his/her family, employer or any other third party, an Authorization to Release Educational Records form must be completed.

The University of Central Missouri is committed to helping you protect your privacy and personal information and will never sell or intentionally share your confidential information with a third party unless we have your written consent or the disclosure is allowed under the guidelines of FERPA.

Payback of Financial Aid/Return of Title IV Aid Policy

Federal Public Law #105-244 states that if a federal financial aid recipient withdraws from all classes prior to reaching the 60% point of the semester, some (or even all) of the federal (Title IV)  and  assistance credited to the student’s UCM account must be reversed from the student's UCM account and returned to the U.S. Department of Education. The amount reversed is based on whether the student began attendance in each class AND the official date of withdrawal or the student’s last date of class attendance/participation (as reported by the student's instructors), whichever is earlier.

According to the exact number of calendar days that elapse from the first day of classes until the day you withdraw or your last day of class attendance/participation, (whichever is earlier), you are considered to have 'earned' a portion of the total federal grant and loan aid that was credited to your UCM account for the semester. The unearned portion of this assistance is the amount that must be reversed.

The order of funds returned are as follows:

  • Unsubsidized Direct Loan
  • Subsidized Direct Loan
  • Direct PLUS Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
  • Other non-University aid programs (as applicable)

The UCM Office of Student Financial Services will calculate the amount of return within 30 days of your withdrawal, return those funds as required within 45 days of your withdrawal, and advise you by mail of the amount reversed, which will normally result in a balance due to UCM. You will then have 30 days to either remit the full amount or make satisfactory arrangements for repayment. Failure to satisfy the amount owed in a timely manner will result in a financial hold being placed against your UCM records.

Please be aware that calculation of the unearned portion of your federal financial aid is a completely separate process from any refund of tuition, housing, or meal plan charges provided for by the University of Central Missouri policies published in the UCM catalogs.

Important! Please realize that you're not eligible to receive any institutional financial aid at all, if you:

withdraw during the 100% tuition and fee refund period, do not earn a minimum of 12 credit hours for a term, or have no record of class attendance or participation at all for a semester.

In these instances, some grant, loan, and scholarship assistance that was credited to your UCM account for the semester will be reversed and returned to the U.S. Department of Education, and the resulting balance due UCM must be repaid.  If you attended at least one day and was eligible for the Pell Grant, you may receive some of that federal aid, subject to R2T4 calculations mentioned above.

POST-WITHDRAWAL DISBURSEMENTS

If the student receives less Federal Student Aid than the amount earned, UCM will disburse the earned aid that was not received, if eligible. If the student receives more Title IV Aid than the amount earned, either UCM or the stu­dent or both must return the unearned funds in a specified order.   The Financial Aid Office notifies the student through a letter the amount of the post-withdrawal disbursement within the 14 day time frame mandated by federal regulation.

SPECIAL REFUND REQUESTS

If a special refund request is approved by any UCM office), any credit, or negative student account balance, generated as a result of the refund will be applied as follows:

  1. Institutional Scholarships (if student did not achieve the required 12 credit hours that semester); then
  2. Unsubsidized Loan; then
  3. Subsidized Loan; then
  4. Student

Student attendance must be confirmed by the Financial Aid Office for any federal aid for that term, or any aid could be returned to the Dept. of Education, per the existing regulations.  This revised policy will be in effect beginning Summer 2022 semester, or May 16, 2022.

Preferred Lender List Policy

 Please view the Private Educational (Alternative) Loan Programs page for information about the application process and policy regarding non-federal loans.

Repeat Coursework Regulations

The Department of Education has implemented regulations governing repeated coursework. The regulations have been implemented to improve the pace of graduation completion for students, which in turn should reduce loan indebtedness and preserve grant funding levels.

Below is an outline of important points for this new regulation.

  • Applies to undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Applies to full-time and part-time students.
  • May repeat previously passed course only once. Passing includes grades of A, B, C, D.
  • Exceptions include courses such as Art and Music whereby the content of the course changes, but the course number does not.
  • May repeat failed or withdrawn courses until a passing grade is received.
  • Full-time, for the purpose of determining repeat course eligibility is defined as 12 hours. A student who is enrolled in 15 hours, for example, to include a repeat course will not be impacted because the student is enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours which are not repeats.

Federal financial aid, to include student loans, parent loans, grants and Federal Work study cannot be applied for any previously passed course that has been repeated more than once.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

 

Generally, all students are evaluated annually at the end of the Spring semester to determine if SAP standards are being met. The semesters evaluated consist of the student's entire body of work as described below.  If students are on an academic plan, they could be evaluated at the end of the semester(s) encompassing that plan.

Students that are unable to meet SAP requirements will lose their eligibility to receive .

SAP Requirements

1. GPA

Undergraduate students must maintain a Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above

Graduate students must maintain a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above

2. Excessive Hours (Maximum Timeframe Standard)

Complete your degree within the following parameters:

Bachelors Degree

180 Undergraduate Hours

Masters Degree

54 Graduate Hours

Educational Specialist Degree

45 Graduate Hours Beyond a Masters Degree

2nd Bachelors Degree

30 Undergraduate Hours Beyond the 1st Bachelors Degree Received

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification

30 Undergraduate or Graduate Hours Beyond the 1st Bachelors or Masters Degree

 

3. Pace of Completion (Quantitative Standard - 66.67% completion of cumulative credit hours)

Successfully maintain a cumulative 66.67% in completed credits to attempted credits.  Completed credits are those where grades of A, B, C, D, CR, SC, or P are posted. Attempted credits are those posted to the transcript with grades of F, W, WF, LD, LW, NR, WP, or NC.  Credits classified as “In Progress” (ex. “IP” and “U-incomplete” grades) are not included if that is the current classification and once a grade is established is checked at the time of the next SAP review the following May, unless a student appeals prior to that time.

Examples:

New Freshman Student completes Fall semester with 15 hours and withdraws from 12 hours in the Spring semester.  Completed vs. attempted hours: 15/27 = 55.55% In this scenario, this student would be suspended for financial aid purposes with the opportunity to appeal.

Transfer student brings in 64 completed hours of 67 attempted (WD from one class) and has to withdraw from the 15 hours in the Spring semester at UCM.  Total hours completed/attempted: 64/82 = 78%. This student would not be placed on suspension for SAP.

Repeats: For the Qualitative component, per the UCM Catalog, the most current grade earned will be the only one calculated in the grade point average, even if it is not the highest grade.  Accordingly, the Quantitative component will only record the most recent course as well.

A student may receive federal financial aid for retakes of any previously failed courses and federal financial aid will pay for one retake of any previously passed course.

Remember, once the 100% refund date for 1st half semester classes passes--any class you withdraw from or drop will still be counted as part of the number of credit hours you initially enrolled in.

 

Notification of Unmet SAP Requirement(s)

By the 1st week of June each year, students that have not met all three areas of SAP will be notified in the following ways:

1. Email notification to official UCM student email account

2. Electronic messages posted in MyCentral, Student Services tab:

a. Financial Aid Status link, select next aid year, click Submit

b. Eligibility link, Academic Progress, select next air year, click Submit

 
  • Low GPA
  • Excessive Hours
  • Insufficient Hours

*All Federal Aid will be canceled if previously accepted and/or authorized for future academic years, beginning with the Summer semester.

Continue to the SAP Appeal Process section if you would like more information related to your next steps.

SAP Appeal Process

Students that are Academically Suspended or Academically Dismissed must first appeal for reinstatement to the University. SAP appeals will only be reviewed if reinstatement is granted. Students otherwise in Good Academic Standing, Academic Probation, or reinstated may pursue the following options:

SAP Appeal
If you were unable to meet SAP Requirements due to extreme circumstances and would like to have the privilege of Federal Aid eligibility restored, you may:

1. Complete a SAP Appeal form; some examples of extreme circumstances may include:

  • Illness or injury (your, your spouse, or child)
  • Death of a close family member
  • Family difficulties (divorce, separation, etc)

2. Submit the SAP Appeal form to Student Financial Services with required documentation

  • Specific examples regarding required documentation can be found on the appeal form
  • The only exception related to documentation may be in cases of excessive hours if the information is already on file; for example, a continuing UCM student working on a second degree

3. Meet the deadline listed on the SAP Appeal form

4. Monitor your student email account in case the committee needs additional information from you

You will be notified within 10 business days of the decision via electronic message in MyCentral on the Student Services tab, under the Financial Aid Status link.

Financial Aid Probation Status:  If an appeal for federal financial aid is granted, the student will be placed on probation status and may receive federal financial aid. While on probation, the student must successfully complete all hours attempted (for example, no Fs, WDs, Drops, Incompletes, etc.). The student may need to sign an Enrollment Agreement attesting that all hours must be successfully completed during the semester following the appeal if a single semester’s work allows the student to fall back within the SAP standards, or will need to complete an Academic Plan in cases where multiple subsequent semesters are required to regain eligibility.

Re-establishing aid eligibility:  Financial aid eligibility will only be reinstated with a successful appeal process or by the student paying on his own (see below) until he achieves SAP standards listed above. Not attending one or more semesters will not affect or change SAP status.

A student not making SAP, either because an appeal was denied, the school does not permit appeals, or because he/she did not submit an appeal, may re-establish eligibility on his/her own. In order for a student to regain his/her eligibility, he/she must take action that brings him/her back into compliance with UCM’s SAP standards. This can be done by attending UCM (without Title IV funding) or another institution and falling back into qualitative and/or quantitative compliance. The student must then resubmit an appeal to the Office of Student Financial Aid to request their SAP status to be reviewed.

Special Circumstances - Recalculation of Aid

If a significant change occurs to your (or your parent's) personal, family, or economic circumstances after you submit your FAFSA, adjustments can often be made (in accordance with federal state and UCM guidelines) to the types and/or amounts of financial aid you've been offered. Such circumstances include but are not limited to:
  • loss of employment (yours or your parents)
  • death of a family member
  • divorce or separation (you or your parents)
  • loss of untaxed income and benefits (you or your parents)
  • retirement 
  • dependency override

To report a change in circumstances, complete and submit the Request for Recalculation of Financial Aid Eligibility to the UCM Office of Student Financial Services, after February 1 prior to the school year for which the adjustments will be effective.

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