Receiving an education at The College of Idaho is an investment that gives students a competitive advantage throughout their lives. We believe that an outstanding learning experience at The College of Idaho should be available to every qualified student, regardless of financial considerations, and we are committed to helping families find the financing options to support students’ goals.
Pursuing a graduate certificate or degree represents a major financial undertaking. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services is eager to work with students to help them develop an educational funding strategy. The College of Idaho seeks to identify and obtain maximum funding from all available sources with a combination of scholarships, grants, and loans.
Applying for Financial Aid
Students applying for financial aid must be admitted as regular students who are working toward eligible degrees at The College of Idaho.
Federal Aid
The College of Idaho encourages all students and families to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA must be filed each year in order to determine a student’s eligibility for federal grants and loans, as well as any need-based institutional aid. Continuing students reapply each academic year.
All students receiving federal aid must be working toward a degree or teaching certificate to maintain eligibility. NOTE: Graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal or institutional financial aid.
The College of Idaho’s Federal School Code is 001617.
As changes occur regularly in federal regulations concerning financial aid programs, information in this catalog may change without notice. Additional information about financial aid can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.
Outside Scholarships
There are many other sources of financial aid available through private foundations, companies, service clubs, or other organizations that are not directly managed by the College. The College recommends all students seek out and apply for any source of financial assistance available.
Private Loans
Private loans are loans issued through an independent lending institution instead of the federal government. These loans are not part of a federal loan program and usually have higher interest rates than comparable federal loans. If a student decides they need a private loan, the College recommends that the student research all options and review the terms to select the loan that best suits the student’s needs.
Aid Offer or Notification
When students receive their financial aid offer letter, it may list any combination of scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study funds. All awards are based on being a full-time student for the entire academic year. Students will be notified if a revision of their awards occurs based on new or updated information, including changes in their eligibility.
We reserve the right to review and adjust the award package if we become aware of new or misrepresented information, and awards may change without notice. Your award is based on the information provided on your application materials. It is important that the Office of Student Financial Aid Services is notified of any changes in your enrollment or status while attending. You have the right to appeal, in writing, in the event of a revision, non-renewal, or cancellation. Documents in support of your information may be required.
Maintaining Eligibility for Financial Aid
The information contained in this section is referring specifically to Federal Direct Loan opportunities under Title IV available to College of Idaho students. This information is required for all students who apply for and accept Title IV funds. For more information about Federal Direct Loans and other types of financial assistance, see the Office of Student Financial Aid Services’ website.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
According to the United States Department of Education regulations (34CFR 668.16 and 668.34), all students receiving Title IV funds must meet and maintain a set of academic standards that demonstrate they are meeting satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is measured in terms of qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (time-based) standards and must be measured regardless of whether the student received financial aid for the terms and credits measured. Academic progress will be checked for all graduate students at the end of each semester.
Qualitative Measure
The qualitative, or grade-based, measure of a student’s progress is measured by reviewing a student’s cumulative grade point average. The minimum cumulative GPA students must maintain to remain eligible to apply for Title IV financial aid is as follows:*
The following will not be included in the GPA calculation: transfer grades of TR; withdraw grades of W; incomplete grades of I; and in progress grades of CIP. When the incomplete or in progress grade has been replaced with the final grade, this course will be included in the GPA calculation at the first SAP review following the final grade entry. Repeated courses are only calculated into the GPA on the most recent attempt.
* This measure is in addition to the academic performance requirements for each relevant graduate program.
Quantitative Measure
Pace of Progression
The quantitative or time-based measure of a student’s progress is measured by reviewing a student’s pace of progression. Every student’s pace of progression is measured at the end of each semester by dividing cumulative credits successfully earned/completed by cumulated credits attempted.
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Cumulative credits successfully earned/completed ÷ Credit hours attempted = %
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Federal financial aid recipients must maintain a 70% minimum completion rate for attempted credit hours. Credit hours for a course are earned by completing and passing the class. Attempted hours include hours from which the student withdrew (W), received a grade of incomplete (I) or in progress (CIP), and remedial courses and repeated courses. Audit grades (AU) are not considered when calculating a student’s pace rate.
For example, if a student successfully passes three out of four 3-credit courses, the student has attempted 12 credits hour, but only earned 9 credit hours, yielding a pace of progression rate of 75%. This meets the SAP minimum requirement, and therefore, the student’s SAP status would be satisfactory, which continues their eligibility to receive Title IV loans. If, however, the student successfully passes only two of the four courses, the student’s pace of progression rate would be 50% and would not meet the SAP minimum threshold. The student would therefore be moved to SAP Suspension status and lose their eligibility to receive Title IV funding unless an appeal is granted.
Maximum Timeframe
Graduate students are eligible for financial aid for a maximum of 150% of the published length of the education program. All attempted, withdrawn, failed, repeated, and/or transferred credit hours that apply to a student’s program count toward this maximum timeframe.
For example, a student pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree requiring 36 credit hours may attempt up to 54 credit hours before financial aid eligibility is suspended (36 x 150% = 54). Students on SAP Suspension lose their eligibility to receive Title IV funding unless an appeal is granted.
Monitoring Progress
Collectively, the relevant graduate program, the Registrar’s Office and the Office of Student Financial Aid Services conducts a SAP review at the end of each semester for each graduate program. Students not making SAP are notified via their College email account and placed on SAP Suspension. Students on SAP Suspension cannot receive financial aid until they meet all SAP requirements. If an appeal is granted (see below), the student is placed on SAP Probation.
Regaining Eligibility
Federal financial aid may be reinstated when one of the following conditions has been met:
- The student completes courses at their own expense (without federal aid) until they meet all SAP measures. Students exceeding the maximum timeframe cannot regain eligibility on their own.
- The student files an appeal, which is successful (see below).
Appeals
Occasionally, extenuating circumstances contribute to a student’s inability to meet the requirements for satisfactory progress. Extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Death of an immediate family member;
- Severe injury or illness of the student or an immediate family member;
- Emergency situations such as fire or flood;
- Legal separation from spouse or divorce; and
- Military reassignment or required job transfers or shift changes.
Students who have extenuating circumstances may submit a written appeal to the Registrar. The written appeal must (i) explain why the student failed to make SAP and what has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation; and (ii) attach supporting documentation to document the relevant extenuating circumstances (e.g., physician statement documenting a severe injury/illness; an obituary/death certificate documenting the death of an immediate family member; insurance claim/FEMA application documenting a traumatic life-altering event, such as a fire, flood or hurricane).
The Registrar in collaboration with the Director of Student Financial Aid Services and the director/chair of the relevant graduate program (or their designee) will review the appeal to determine if the student will be able to meet SAP standards by the next evaluation. If the appeal is denied, the student may take classes at their own expense to try to regain SAP. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on SAP Probation and an academic plan will be developed in conjunction with the director/chair of the relevant graduate program in order to help the student meet SAP standards in a specified timeline in order to graduate from the program. Graduate students on SAP Probation will continue to receive aid as long as they earn grades of a B or higher. If a student earns grades of a C or lower, W, I or CIP, they are placed on SAP Suspension again and cannot receive financial aid. All appeal decisions are final.
Exit Counseling
Exit counseling is a mandatory information session which takes place when a student graduates or attends school less than half-time; the session explains loan repayment responsibilities and when repayment begins. If the student borrowed for federal loans, unlike grants and work-study, this constitutes borrowed money that must be repaid, with interest, just like car loans and home mortgages. Students cannot have these loans canceled because they didn't like the education received, didn't get a job in their field of study, or because they are having financial difficulty. Loans are legal obligations that students must repay.
Exit counseling:
- Is required before a student withdraws, graduates, or drops below half-time attendance (even if one plans to transfer to another school).
- Helps the student understand rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower.
- Provides useful tips and information to help the student manage loans.
These procedures, as well as the federal regulations they are based on, are subject to change without advance notice.
Return to Title IV
The U.S. Department of Education regulates the management of Title IV funds and, in some cases, students who receive Title IV financial aid but do not complete their coursework are not considered to have "earned" the Title IV aid they received.
If students are enrolled beyond the census date in any term/semester in which they receive financial aid and then withdraw (officially or unofficially) or otherwise do not complete the full length of the term/semester or receive unsatisfactory grades in all of their courses, repayment of a portion of the financial aid received for that term/semester may be required. The College of Idaho is required to determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid the student was scheduled to receive. If the College determines that the student must return a portion of the Title IV funds received, it will return those funds in the following order:
- Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
- Federal GradPLUS Loan
The College will also notify the student of the determinations and calculated values used in the Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation and the resulting balance owed to the College and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
NOTE: If a student attends beyond the 60 percent point of a semester, that student is considered to have earned 100 percent of the aid received for the semester.
If students enroll but do not attend classes, they will need to repay all financial aid. Students who do not attend classes have not established eligibility for the financial aid received, and all financial aid must be repaid within 30 days.
Students agree that if they withdraw or otherwise cease attendance up through and including the 60 percent point of a term/semester, they may owe a repayment of all or a portion of the financial aid received and agree to pay back any and all amounts due to either the College or the U.S. Department of Education.
Amounts required to be returned to the U.S. Department of Education by The College of Idaho become debts immediately due and payable to the College upon completion of the R2T4 calculation and will be billed to the student. The student must make prompt payment or payment arrangements to satisfy the debt owed to the College. The College reserves the right to refer the debt to a collection agency for servicing. Amounts returned by the College to the U.S. Department of Education on the student's behalf and owed to the College must be paid directly to the Business Office. Do not send payments to any other department or agency.