CSCC Financial Aid: Federal Financial Aid ... Remaining Eligible

Financial Aid: Federal Financial Aid ... Remaining Eligible

Columbus State Community College (CSCC) is required by federal law to establish, publish, and apply reasonable standards for measuring satisfactory academic progress of students applying for or receiving federal financial aid. These standards are designed to ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward completion of their program of study. The CSCC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy applies to the following financial aid programs:

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
Federal Work Study
Federal Stafford Student Loan
Federal PLUS Loan

You will remain eligible for financial aid so long as you meet the following standards of progress. For a more thorough discussion of eligibility requirements, please review the High Finance Guide (.pdf)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

You must complete 66.66 percent of the credit hours you attempt to remain eligible for financial aid. At the end of Spring Quarter, we divide the number of credit hours you pass by the number of credit hours you attempt.

The following grades are considered satisfactory: A, B, C, D, S, K, Y and KD. The following grades are NOT considered satisfactory: E,U, W, I, P, V, Z and MG.

Incomplete grades
If you have incomplete or missing grades, you will be placed on Financial Aid restriction. You will not be able to receive financial aid until the grade has been officially recorded by the Records and Registration office. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Financial Aid office that the grade has been recorded.

GPA
You must retain a certain grade point average to remain eligible for financial aid. The standard varies depending on how many credit hours you have taken.

Cumulative Credit Hours	Required GPA
1-9	1.0
10-19	1.4
20-29	1.5
30-39	1.6
40-49	1.7
50-64	1.8
65-84	1.9
85+	2.0

Time frame
In order to continue receiving financial aid, you must complete your first associate degree within 150 percent of the published length of the program, as measured by credit hours attempted. Once you hit that 150 percent time frame, you will be restricted from collecting more financial aid.

Students with one associate degree from Columbus State who return for another associate degree need to complete the new degree within 50 credit hours. If you don’t complete the additional associate degree within 50 credit hours, you will be restricted from collecting future financial aid. Transfer credit counts toward your 50 hours.

Attendance requirements
According to federal financial aid law, Columbus State must be able to prove each student receiving financial aid actually started attending classes each quarter. Instructors will submit attendance records, and students will be dropped from classes if they don’t attend. Tell your instructor if you are unable to attend classes.

If you are dropped from a class, you will receive notice through the student e-mail system. Students who are dropped from classes may see their financial aid reduced, or may have to repay financial aid.

Back to the Financial Aid Homepage