Stafford and Grad Plus Loans require students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and at least half-time enrollment.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To be eligible for federal financial aid you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. See the catalog, handbook or FA Pulse page for details on satisfactory academic progress.
Enrollment Status
Failure to maintain half time enrollment will result in loss of all financial eligibility including deferment.
0-4 credit hours – less-than-half-time
5-8 credit hours – half-time
9 or more credit hours – full-time
Withdrawing from your classes completely will result in additional consequences.
Withdrawals and Refunds
It is very important that you contact the appropriate office (Dean or other designated individual) for your program if you decide to withdraw prior to completing your program of study. You need to be informed of how withdrawal will impact your financial aid, grace period and repayment.
If you leave school or take a leave of absence prior to graduating you may be eligible for a partial refund of tuition and fees. The complete Title IV refund policy is available on the DMU website, your DMU student handbook and the DMU catalog. You must complete exit counseling if you withdraw or drop to below half-time.
Student Cost of Attendance Budget
- Budgets are designed for the student only and cannot take into account dependents or spouse. (Certain exceptions are allowed for qualified child day care expenses).
- Student is only eligible to receive up to the cost of attendance budget from ALL financial aid resources combined (includes all scholarships and loans).
- The official cost of attendance budget is an estimate of the average living costs in the Des Moines area. No school certified financial aid is available to meet expense that exceeds the cost of attendance budget. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
Adjustments to Cost of Attendance budget:
It is expected that you keep within the cost of attendance budget. It is recognized, however, that certain reasonable and necessary unexpected expenses may occur, such as: child day care expenses, unreimbursed medical or dental expenses, or certain car repairs. Your budget cannot be adjusted for living expenses, purchase of a car, car payment or credit card payments.
Importance of Budgeting
The cost of attendance budget is an estimate of living expenses and school expenses. You do not have to spend/borrow this amount. The goal is to borrow as little as possible. You should plan a realistic expense budget for yourself and borrow only what is necessary to get by.
- I can request additional financial aid funds for my credit cards and car payments
- True
- False
- I have to borrow the amount listed as my cost of attendance
- True
- False
