how does dropping a course affect my financial aid

by Jazlyn Heathcote III 8 min read

If you drop or withdraw from classes, you may jeopardize future eligibility for student aid (including loans). If your enrollment drops below half-time, your financial aid awards may be adjusted, and the grace period repayment of loans will begin.

If you drop or withdraw from classes, you may jeopardize future eligibility for student aid (including loans). If your enrollment drops below half-time, your financial aid awards may be adjusted, and the grace period repayment of loans will begin.

Full Answer

How will dropping a class affect my financial aid?

Withdrawing From a Class With Financial Aid

  • If you withdraw from a class, i.e. ...
  • If you drop from a class, and it affects your GPA, you may put yourself in jeopardy of receiving financial aid in the future.
  • If you decide to withdraw from a class during the last sessions without completing your 60% credit hours, you are bound to repay the financial aid.

What happens to financial aid if I drop classes?

So if you’re wondering what happens to your financial aid if you drop a class, you can see that dropping a class could disrupt your academic progress and, as a result, cause you to lose your financial aid.

Does my financial aid affected if I drop a class?

If your financial aid has not been disbursed and you add or drop a class, your financial aid will be adjusted. If your financial aid has been disbursed and you add or drop a class before the 12th class day, your financial aid will be adjusted. You may be required to repay some of your federal grants and/or loans if you dropped a class.

How does transferring schools affect your financial aid?

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Will financial aid be affected if I drop a class?

Dropping a class with financial aid won't necessarily affect your FAFSA and financial aid award. If you're taking extra classes, for instance, you could probably afford to remove one from your schedule.

Is it better to drop a class or fail financial aid?

Croskey notes that dropping a class is better than withdrawing, but withdrawing is better than failing. “A failing grade will lower the student's GPA, which may prevent a student from participating in a particular major that has a GPA requirement,” Croskey says.

Will I lose my Pell Grant if I drop a class?

Pell Grant funds adjust according to your enrollment level. As a result, when you drop a class, the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is required to reduce the amount of Pell Grant to match your new enrollment level.

How many classes can you fail before losing financial aid?

If you failed one class, but received strong marks in the rest of your courses, you should be fine. Each institution has its own satisfactory academic process, but for the most part, you should maintain a “C” average to continue receiving aid. If one “F” doesn't bring you below that average, your aid won't change.

What impact does financial aid have on your eligibility?

Impacts on your aid eligibility: You will be responsible for the balance of your tuition bill if your aid is adjusted. Your financial aid award (s) may be adjusted if your award (s) requires full-time or half-time enrollment and your credits drop below the minimum required.

What happens if you drop half time?

If you drop below half-time (less than 6 credits as an undergraduate and 5 credits as a graduate) enrollment, you may be ineligible for aid, including loans. Depending on the time during the semester that you drop a course (s), your aid may be adjusted.

How long is the grace period for a Perkins loan?

If you received a Federal Direct Loan or Federal Perkins Loan and drop below half-time, the grace period prior to repayment will begin (nine months for Perkins and University Loans, six months for Federal Direct Loans). If you have already used your loan grace period, then you may begin repayment.

Can you drop credits for student aid?

Dropping credits may jeopardize future student aid eligibility, including loans. Whether or not to drop a course is an academic issue; however, it is your responsibility to understand the financial implications of this decision. About future student aid eligibility. If you drop below half-time ...

Can you get a Pennsylvania state grant if you are a half time student?

If you are a Pennsylvania State Grant recipient, your grant may be reduced if you drop from full-time to half-time enrollment, or from half-time to less than half-time. If you have a loan (s) that requires a minimum number of credits, and the loan has not disbursed, you may become ineligible for the loan. Loan eligibility is determined ...

What happens if you withdraw from a course?

Withdrawing from a course can also change your enrollment status, which could reduce your aid. Here’s our guide of what to look out for if you are considering withdrawing from a course.

How does withdrawing from a class affect your degree?

Withdrawing from a class could affect these requirements in several ways. It could affect your enrollment status by reducing the credits you acquire that semester. It could also put you off-course towards your degree. If the class you’re withdrawing from is critical to your degree, you’ll need to determine how to make it up.

What is SAP in college?

Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, is a set of requirements that varies by school. Students who fail to meet these requirements risk losing their financial aid package. Typically, SAP requirements include GPA, class enrollment, and demonstrated progress towards a degree.

What happens if you lose your scholarship?

If you lose eligibility for a private scholarship, it will not usually affect your current disbursement. However, it could affect your eligibility to receive future funds from the organization.

Can a private scholarship affect my enrollment?

Especially if you have a renewable scholarship, make sure to check whether withdrawing will affect your eligibility to renew. Some scholarships may be affected if your enrollment status changes.

Who to consult before withdrawing from a course?

It’s always a good idea to consult with your school before withdrawing from a course. This includes the financial aid department, your advisor, and your professor. Oftentimes, the school will be willing to work with you to make a plan.

Should I talk to my school about dropping a course?

If extenuating circumstances are affecting your academic progress, it’s better to be vocal about them than to hide them. It’s never too early to talk to your school about any academic struggles that may lead to you dropping a course. This way, you will learn early on what the consequences may be if you drop a course.

How does dropping out affect financial aid?

While dropping out is sometimes necessary if you’re having academic, personal or family problems, it can have a huge impact on your financial aid situation. Here’s how it affects the different types of financial aid:

What happens to financial aid if you drop a class?

During this time, you can drop a class and get a refund on tuition. Colleges may charge a small drop fee of around $20 each time you do this.

What happens if you drop out of college before you get your degree?

If you drop out before then, you may be required to repay the money. Student aid expert Mark Kantrowitz said if you’re considering dropping out for financial reasons, contact your scholarship providers first.

How long do you have to pay off student loans?

This happens when you graduate or drop out. Federal loans and most private loans give you a six-month grace period after entering repayment mode. When those six months are up, you have to start making payments.

What happens if you drop out of financial aid?

The federal government dictates if you drop out before the 60% point of the semester, you will have to repay part of the grants you’ve received. If you wait until the 60% mark or after, you won’t have to repay any grants you’ve received. Don’t try to calculate the 60% date yourself. Instead, contact the financial aid office and ask them for ...

What happens if you fail a class?

When you fail a class, it goes on your official college transcript and decreases your total GPA. This can affect your ability to resume college later on and get into graduate or professional school. Even if you don’t think you’ll ever return to school, always contact the university and formally withdraw.

What happens if you don't do anything in college?

In terms of your college career, it’s always better to withdraw from a class or college than to fail.

What happens if you don't cancel your financial aid?

However, failure to cancel your registration and failure to attend classes will result in the cancellation of your financial aid and you will be responsible for 100% of all charges. If you officially process a withdrawal from the University after classes begin, but before the end of the first week of classes ...

What happens if you stop attending classes?

If you stop attending classes and do not initiate an official withdrawal, it is unlikely that you will receive passing grades for the semester and will incur significant financial penalties, including full or partial cancellation of the financial aid you received for the semester. Because of this, it is CRITICAL that you initiate an official withdrawal prior to the end of the semester and that you keep your mailing address current.

How is Title IV financial aid calculated?

Title IV Financial Aid is recalculated based on the number of days attended, the total federal aid, and total institutional charges. The percentage of unearned aid to be returned is equal to the number of days remaining in the semester/term divided by the number of calendar days in the semester/term. If you initiate an official complete withdrawal after the 60% point in the semester, you will have earned 100% of the aid you received for that semester/term. The date of withdrawal is counted as a completed day. Scheduled breaks of more than 4 consecutive days within a semester are excluded.

How many breaks are allowed in Troy University?

Scheduled breaks of more than 4 consecutive days within a semester are excluded. If a return of Title IV aid is required, Troy University will return the unearned portion of Title IV financial aid funds to the federal programs on behalf of the student. Any return of financial aid funds made by the University on behalf ...

What happens if you withdraw after 60%?

If you initiate an official complete withdrawal after the 60% point in the semester, you will have earned 100% of the aid you received for that semester/term. The date of withdrawal is counted as a completed day. Scheduled breaks of more than 4 consecutive days within a semester are excluded.

How long does it take for a student loan to go into repayment?

If you withdraw or drop to less than half-time, you must complete an Exit Counseling for your Federal Direct student loan which will go into repayment six months after you are less than half time. You agreed when you signed your MPN to contact your lender if you drop to less than half-time.

Does withdrawal affect financial aid?

Withdrawal from all sites and locations impacts your financial aid differently depending on when the withdrawal is initiated and the type of financial aid you received. However, in all cases, your financial aid must be recalculated.

What happens if you drop a class in financial aid?

If your financial aid has not been disbursed and you add or drop a class, your financial aid will be adjusted. If your financial aid has been disbursed and you add or drop a class before the 12th class day, your financial aid will be adjusted . You may be required to repay some of your federal grants and/or loans if you dropped a class.

Is it the same as dropping classes?

Dropping classes and withdrawing are not the same. If your circumstances require you to withdraw from all classes during a semester or summer term, you may be required to repay some of your federal grants and/or loans. Visit a Texas One Stop counselor to review your situation.

Do you have to repay federal grants if you drop a class?

You may be required to repay some of your federal grants and/or loans if you dropped a class. If your financial aid has been disbursed and you add or drop a class after the 12th class day, there will be no change to your financial aid.

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