Academic Eligibility
Policy and Award Revision
Debt and Default
Financial Aid Assessment

Academic Eligibility
Graduate students must register for at least five credit hours per semester at CMU to be eligible for federal student aid programs. Credit hours are determined after the close of the Drop/Add period.

Federal financial aid program regulations require that CMU develop and apply a consistent and reasonable standard of academic progress. Eligibility requirements for participation in the College Work Study Program or Federal Direct Loan program are as follows: a full-time graduate student (nine or more credit hours) must earn at least 18 new graduate credits per academic year and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average; a half-time graduate student (five to eight credit hours) must earn at least 10 new graduate credit per academic year and maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Students who are not making satisfactory academic progress may be placed on financial aid probation or suspension. Financial aid probation allows receipt of federal aid while working to improve academic performance. To be removed from probation, the student must complete the minimum number of credits in the full or half-time status in which he/she was placed on probation, while earning at least a 3.0 graduate semester grade point average in courses in which credit has not previously been earned. Financial aid suspension eliminates eligibility for federal and university programs. Students may be reinstated for aid eligibility after completing a regular semester as a student in the full or half-time status in which the student was originally suspended, attaining the minimum credit earned and/or grade point requirements while not receiving financial aid programs governed by the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. A copy of this policy is available from the financial aid office.

Full-time students will normally have priority for financial aid since it is assumed that graduate federal aid recipients are enrolled as full-time students (nine hours). Students enrolling for less than full-time may have their financial assistance reduced on a prorated basis or canceled depending upon the availability of funds and university policy. Federal and state financial aid funds are limited and late applicants may be denied assistance if funds are exhausted.
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Policy and Award Revision
CMU reserves the right to revise a student’s financial aid award if government regulations, university policy or sources of funding change prior to or during an academic year; if overpayment occurs; or if acceptance of the award is made after the acceptance date.
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Debt and Default
Federal aid recipients may not owe a refund from any grant or loan or be in default on any federal loan to be eligible for assistance.
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Financial Aid Assessment
The federal need analysis is utilized to determine the student's contribution and the student's spousal contribution, if applicable. Students and their spouses are expected to assist in meeting educational costs. The expected contribution is calculated from previous year earnings and untaxed income, and a percentage of personal savings and assets.
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