Why Aid May Change

All federal and state-funded programs are subject to change at any time as a result of legislative action. If there are changes which impact your eligibility, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Your financial aid award is based on projected funding from federal, state, and institutional sources. If the projected funding is more than the actual funding available, your financial aid award(s) will be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Scholarships and grants may require you to maintain a specific grade point average or other academic performance requirements. If these requirements are not met, you may not be eligible to continue receiving this funding.

If you receive any additional funds from outside sources (ex. outside scholarships, fee waivers, department awards, or agency awards), your financial aid awards maybe reduced or cancelled. We will adjust your award as necessary to ensure that you do not receive more financial assistance than you are eligible to receive according to state and federal regulations.

 The amount of your financial aid award depends on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled. Your initial award is prepared based on full year enrollment and enrollment in 15 credit hours per term (undergraduate) or 9 credits hours per term (graduate). If you enroll in fewer hours or you will only be enrolled in one term, your awards may be adjusted to reflect these changes.

An undergraduate, degree seeking student must be enrolled in 12 or more undergraduate credit hours to be considered full-time. A graduate, degree-seeking student is considered full-time when taking 9 graduate credits or more. Financial Aid awards for less than full-time status will pro-rate according to enrollment. This may lead to the reduction or cancellation of your awards.

Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 undergraduate credits for UG students, 5 graduate credits for GR students) to receive student loans.

Changes in your actual enrollment status, such as non-attendance, course withdrawals or if you stop attending classes without officially withdrawing (unofficial withdrawal), could reduce or cancel your award and repayment may be required. 

Residency is determined at the time of formal admission to the university on the basis of information included in the university application for admission. If a student becomes a Florida resident after their financial aid has been awarded their award will be recalculated to account for the change.

If you are selected for a review process known as verification, you are required to submit additional documentation in order for us to determine your financial aid eligibility. Once the verification process is complete, your awards may be revised to reflect your correct eligibility. Students who fail to complete the verification process will not receive financial aid funds.

You must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Your award is invalid if the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards have not been met.

Failed courses can be repeated and counted toward enrollment status multiple times as long as the student has never passed the course. Students are only allowed to repeat a class with a passing grade (D- and above) one time and receive financial aid for it. Regardless of repeat performance, if financial aid funds were used in the initial attempt and second attempt (pass or fail), students will not be able to receive financial aid on any subsequent attempt. 

If we receive information from the federal government that you are approaching the maximum lifetime amounts of your awarded loans or Pell Grant, your awards will be adjusted accordingly.

You must attend class and/or complete academic engagement in order to receive your financial aid. Federal financial aid regulations require confirmation that you have begun attendance in your courses before aid is disbursed. Students are expected to complete the attendance verification assignment within the first week of the term. Failure to do so will result in delays to the disbursement of financial aid awarded to them.

A financial aid over-award occurs when the aid a student receives from all sources is greater than the cost of attendance or the federally determined need eligibility. When over-awards occur, the Office of Financial Aid reviews financial aid eligibility and may be required to adjust, reduce or eliminate financial aid awarded to ensure that the total received is within federal guidelines. Loans will be reduced before any reduction is made to any other awards. This may result in a balance due for which the student will then be responsible.

Significant changes in your family's financial situation may merit recalculating your financial aid eligibility through a Change in Circumstances appeal. FGCU makes every effort to work with students and families to discuss and evaluate changes in a family’s financial circumstances.

Did you receive aid from another school in the same academic year? If you attended another school and we are notified that there has been a change in your loan or Federal Pell Grant amounts, your award will be reviewed and may be revised.

Mid-semester or mid-year changes or updates to your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) can result in selection for the verification review process. This review may result in an adjustment in your financial aid eligibility.