Enrollment Freeze & Financial Aid Eligibility

If you are eligible to receive financial aid, and have satisfied all of your financial aid requirements, your grant(s), scholarship(s) and loan funds (if applicable) will be disbursed approximately 10 days prior to the start of classes for the semester. At the “enrollment freeze date” (which is the last day students are permitted to drop a course with a tuition refund), the FAO will verify your enrollment. If you increase or decrease your enrollment between the disbursement date and the enrollment freeze date, your financial aid will be adjusted accordingly to ensure that it is the appropriate amount for your enrollment. If you are issued a refund, then ADD credits or other charges to your account, you will owe money on your account and must pay this from the refund proceeds you received.

What does this all Mean?

On the enrollment freeze date, your enrollment will be locked and your financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. If your financial aid award was originally disbursed on full-time status and you are not enrolled full-time at the enrollment freeze date, your financial aid may be decreased to match your enrollment and this adjustment could result in a balance owed to the University.

Financial aid refunds will be issued only to those students who have excess funds on their account. Be advised that no refunds will be issued based on pending financial aid. The easiest way to receive a refund is to sign up for direct deposit with the Student Accounts Office.

Enrollment Changes

If you change your enrollment after the enrollment freeze date, with the exception of students who stop attending, completely withdraw or drop a part of term course that begins later in semester, your financial aid will not be revised and you will be responsible for any additional charges. Students who are completely withdrawn, formally or informally, from ALL of their classes, may be responsible for returning financial aid they received prior to withdrawing from school, even if that determination is not made until the end of the term. This determination will be made by the FAO through a process called Return to Title IV. For more information on Return to Title IV, visit the Leaving the University pages.

Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits (half-time) to qualify for the majority of financial aid programs.  Funds may be reduced if enrolled less than full-time.
 
Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits (half-time) to qualify for federal loan funds. Funds may be reduced if enrolled less than full-time.

Enrollment Status Definitions

Undergraduate Students

Credit Hours	Enrollment Status
12 or more	Full-time
9 – 11	Three-quarter time
6 – 8	Half-time
1 – 5	Less than half-time

Graduate Students

Credit Hours	Enrollment Status
9 or more	Full-time
6 – 8	Three-quarter time
5	Half-time
Less than 5	Less than half-time

Enrollment Requirements by Fund

More specific enrollment information by fund is available here.