Courses and Program of Study Eligibility

Policy statement

In accordance with federal regulations at 34 CFR §668.32 and found in Volume 1 of the FSA handbook, students are eligible to receive federal financial aid only for coursework that applies toward the completion of their officially declared academic program. Courses that fulfill program completion for the officially declared academic program will be counted toward the enrollment status used for federal and/or state financial aid eligibility (for applicable state aid programs as outlined in the handbook). Degree completion requirements which require an approved exception, i.e. using a different course than the one required, are covered under this policy.

Academic and/or faculty advisors work with students to declare their official program of study that includes the degree, major, and/or certificate, and/or minor combination, and utilize the bulletin to guide the mapping of all requirements. The advisors will develop a degree plan based on this officially declared program to identify all courses required for degree completion. This plan serves as the basis for determining which courses are considered “on program” for financial aid purposes. If a course substitution is approved for a student by their advisor to fulfill program requirements, the substitution will be reflected in the degree progress system and marked as “on program” for financial aid eligibility purposes.

The OSFA uses degree progress information (the data mapped by advisors) to evaluate student enrollment each term. Only courses that count toward program requirements will be included when determining eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs, including but not limited to Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, and applicable state aid programs.

If a student enrolls in coursework outside of their program of study, those credits will not be included in financial aid eligibility calculations. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor before adjusting their schedule to ensure continued aid eligibility as it relates to course applicability for program of study. Note, course applicability refers to whether a course counts toward the completion of a student’s program of study.

If a student is enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours as an undergraduate or 9 credit hours as a graduate within their degree program each semester, they will remain eligible to receive the full financial aid package. Students can enroll in any other type of course beyond 12 hours (or 9 credits as a graduate) and remain eligible for aid regardless of whether the course applies to their degree program requirements. Courses taken that are not eligible for federal and/or state aid due to course applicability and the aid program rules, can be paid for by other eligible sources (out of pocket, private loans, applicable institutional aid, etc.).  *Note that part-time students may still receive pro-rated federal financial aid based upon their enrollment status. However, if a student moves from full-time to part-time status, some federal aid programs may need to be reduced or cancelled.

Please note, most state aid programs follow the federal regulations for course applicability and aid eligibility. Each academic year, the requirements of federal and state aid programs, by program, will be followed.


Policy FAQ

Students may meet with their advisor at any time during the semester to discuss their degree path or change their major. Any major changes made after the add/drop period will take effect at the start of the next semester. This ensures the program information is locked in for the term and allows courses taken during the semester to be accurately evaluated for course applicability.

Courses taken toward a double major must apply to the student’s degree program. Degree requirements for either major may be combined within a given semester. Federal regulations governing dual majors (or dual degrees) apply specifically to Title IV federal grant programs, including the Pell Grant and FSEOG. Under these regulations, once a student completes all requirements for one degree, the student is no longer eligible for federal grant aid, regardless of whether the bachelor’s degree has been officially conferred. The student may remain eligible for other federal aid programs. Therefore, to remain eligible for Title IV federal grants and applicable state financial aid, students must complete the final requirements for both majors and/or degree within the same semester.

If a minor is required for the degree program as outlined in the CMU bulletin, the courses taken to meet that requirement are eligible for financial aid. If the minor is optional and not required to earn the degree, the student would need to have free electives toward the officially declared academic program for those courses to be eligible for federal/applicable state financial aid.

If a student has multiple minors and one or more are not required to earn the degree, the student would need to have free electives toward the officially declared academic program for those courses to be eligible for federal/applicable state financial aid.

If the certificate program is embedded within a bachelor’s program, the courses will be eligible for aid. Certificate courses that are optional and not required to earn the degree, the student would need to have free electives toward the officially declared academic program for those courses to be eligible for federal/applicable state financial aid. Students enrolled in a certificate program only are not eligible for aid.

If the certificate program is embedded within a degree program or is an approved standalone certificate program for federal aid by the Department of Education, the courses will be eligible for aid. The list of eligible standalone certificate programs for grad students can be found here: 

Financial Aid For Graduate Students

If a course substitution is approved for a student by their advisor to fulfill program requirements, the substitution should be reflected in the degree progress system prior to the end of the 1st week of classes. It can then be marked as “on program” for financial aid eligibility purposes.

Completed courses are evaluated based on the student’s program requirements. If a student has earned more credits than the minimum required for the degree but has not yet fulfilled all degree requirements, the student may continue to receive aid until the degree is completed. However, once a student has completed all requirements for their degree, they are no longer eligible for certain types of aid (such as the Federal Pell Grant, if applicable). Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree may still be eligible for Federal Direct Loans.

Please note that aid eligibility for students pursuing a second undergraduate degree may change based on federal regulations and state aid policy. Eligibility will be reviewed annually in accordance with current requirements

The OSFA will be using the degree progress system to determine if courses are eligible for aid. Questions about how courses are counting on Degree Progress can be addressed to the Registrar’s Office.

Students with questions about coursework required for program completion or whether their courses apply to their program of study should consult with their academic advisor. 

Students with questions regarding financial aid eligibility should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.