Financial Aid

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The Financial Aid Office of the University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a comprehensive program of financial aid that recognizes the specific needs and talents of its students. The UNG Foundation, along with federal, state, and private agencies, provides funding for our financial aid programs.  These programs provide loans, grants, scholarships and employment.

A student may be eligible for financial aid under the following conditions:

1. Student must be admitted to UNG as a regular, transfer, or transient student in a degree program. 
2. Student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree.
3. Student must be enrolled in and attend courses offered through UNG. 
4. Student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. 
5. Student must register for the Selective Service, if required.
6. Student must not be in default on any federal or state loan, nor owe a balance on any federal or state grant.

All students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at least once.  The FAFSA is used to determine student eligibility for Federal Grants, Direct Student Loans, Work-Study, State Scholarships/Grants and UNG Foundation Scholarships.  The FAFSA must be completed each year to determine a student’s eligibility for federal aid. Apply online at fafsa.gov, using UNG’s federal school code 001585.

Many types of aid require that a student’s financial need be calculated before financial aid can be awarded. Information from the FAFSA is used in a federal formula to determine an EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC). Along with an estimated COST OF ATTENDANCE (tuition, fees, and allowances for books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses), a student’s financial need is determined as follows:

FINANCIAL NEED = COST OF ATTENDANCE - EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

Once financial need is determined, the Financial Aid Office will prepare an individual financial aid package for each student.

Any hours for audited courses are not counted as part of the total number of hours used to determine financial aid eligibility.

All types of financial aid require that a student make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward a degree. To be viewed as making SAP at UNG a graduate student must (a) have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, (b) successfully complete 70 percent of all coursework attempted at UNG, and (c) finish their educational program before attempting 125 percent of the number of hours required for the program.

The U.S. Department of Education mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of SAP for students receiving financial aid. UNG applies these standards to all applicants for federal financial aid, state financial aid and Foundation Scholarships. Students who fail to meet one or more of the criteria listed below are not making SAP and may lose financial aid eligibility. Determination of SAP will be made at the completion of each semester.

Standards

A. Grade Point Average Requirements – To be eligible for financial aid, a graduate student must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0.

B. Pace of Progression Requirements - Student financial aid recipients at UNG must show measurable progress toward earning a degree. This is achieved by successfully completing at least 67 percent of all courses attempted.

                 Overall Completed Hours
Completion Rate = ______________________________ *100 percent
                  Overall Attempted Hours

Semester hours completed will be those college level courses in which a grade of A, B, C, or D was received. Hours attempted will include all college level courses in which a grade of A, B, C, D, F, I, NR, W, or WF was received. Hours for repeated courses and hours for which a student has been granted Academic Renewal will be included in the completed hours and/or attempted hours totals. Hours for coursework receiving a grade of CR or K will not be included.

Transcripts from all previously attended institutions will be required to determine the number of hours UNG accepts as transfer hours. Grades reported as “In Progress” on a transcript will delay the processing of financial aid until the final transcript is received and reviewed.

C. Maximum Length of Study - Federal regulations require that schools measure a student’s pace of progression to ensure the completion of their program of study within the established maximum length of study. Eligible students may receive financial aid for up to 125 percent of course hours required for a degree. Transfer credits accepted by UNG will be counted as part of the maximum length of study.

Hours for coursework receiving a grade of CR or K will not be included. Also, a student who completes the academic requirements for a program, but has not yet applied for graduation is no longer eligible for financial aid.

Once a student exceeds the maximum length of study, they will no longer be considered making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their program of study and will not be eligible for financial aid.  Students have the right to request an extension and may contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.

Students with prior degrees are given a limited amount of additional time to pursue new educational goals. A total of two degrees at the same level will be allowed.

The Maximum Length of Study for a Graduate Degree is 125 percent of the required hours for the degree.

*The Maximum Length of Study does not extend beyond the completion of coursework for a degree.

Monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress

Determination of a student’s SAP will be made at the completion of each semester. Students who do not meet the SAP Standards will be classified as follows.

A. SAP Academic Plan – A student who was making good progress then fails to meet SAP Standards will be placed on the SAP Academic Plan. The student will be required to sign a document indicating their understanding of the academic plan requirements. The student will then be eligible to receive financial aid for that semester for which they otherwise qualify. Evaluation of the student’s SAP will be made at the end of the semester to determine if they have met the stipulations: successfully completing all courses and earning at least a 3.0 GPA for the term. Meeting the stipulations will allow for financial aid eligibility for the next semester unless the student has reached the Maximum Length of Study Limit. Once a student is making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Standards, they will no longer be subject to the Academic Plan.

B. SAP Appeal Plan – A student who was unable to meet the stipulations under the SAP Academic Plan will no longer be eligible for financial aid, but will retain the right to appeal the determination based on extenuating circumstances. Students must complete an SAP Appeal Form available on the Financial Aid Forms page under #7.

C. Maximum Length of Study Appeal Plan – A student who has reached the threshold of the Maximum Length of Study in pursuit of their degree or certificate is no longer eligible for financial aid, but will retain the right to appeal the determination based on extenuating circumstances. Students must complete the SAP Maximum Length of Study Appeal Form available on the Financial Aid Forms page under #7.

Review by the SAP Appeal Committee

The SAP Appeal Committee will review and evaluate the student’s appeal for SAP Appeal Plan and Maximum Length of Study Appeal Plan and make a decision in one of two ways:

1. The studetn could be placed on a plan that will be designed to ensure that the student will be able to meet SAP Standards by a specific point in time. Failure of the student to meet requirements of their plan will result in the student being denied financial aid for future terms, unless the student is once again meeting SAP Standards.
2. The student could be denied further financial aid until the student is meeting SAP Standards.

Following a review by the SAP Appeal Committee, students will be notified of a decision via their university email account.  The decision of the SAP Appeal Committee is final.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility – Once eligibility for financial aid has been denied by the SAP Appeal Committee, a student can only regain financial aid eligibility by meeting the SAP Standards. A previously denied student who meets minimum grade point average and pace of progression requirements, but has exceeded the maximum length of study, cannot regain eligibility.

Federal regulations require recipients of the Federal Grants and Direct Student Loans to repay a portion of the federal funds they received if they initiate a withdrawal from college before 60 percent of the semester has elapsed.

To initiate withdrawal, the student must contact the Registrar’s Office. The repayment amount is determined using a federal formula and depends on the amount of federal funds the student received as well as the percentage of the semester the student completed prior to withdrawal. Students who discontinue attendance without officially withdrawing will have their repayment amount determined based on the last day of attendance or at the midpoint of the semester, if the dates of attendance cannot be determined.

A student will have 45 days from the date of withdrawal to repay the amount owed. Failure to repay by the 45-day deadline will result in the debt being turned over to a collection agency and the student being ineligible for any future Federal, State, or Institutional student aid.

Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant  is designed for students who intend to teach full time in a high-need field at a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families.  Students who receive the TEACH Grant must fulfill a service obligation and have at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Currently, no state programs are available for graduate students.

UNG FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS assist the gifted student (actor, artist, debater, musician, scholar, student leader, or writer), the needy student, and those who meet specific scholarship criteria.  Consult UNG’s Financial Aid website for details on how and when to apply for these scholarships.

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is available for graduate students to help pay for the costs of education.  The lender is the U.S. Department of Education, and it is the responsibility of the borrower to pay off the loan.  Eligibility for this loan program will be determined upon completion of the FAFSA and enrollment in at least five semester hours of graduate coursework per term.  The student is responsible for paying the interest on the loan from the date that the loan is made, with the option of paying the interest while enrolled or letting the interest accrue.  Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 per year.

When a completed file is reviewed, the loan offer will automatically be placed on a student’s financial aid package. The loan amount can be deleted or reduced using the Financial Aid Award tab on the student’s Banner web account.  Any requests for other adjustments to the Direct Loans must be made by the student through their Banner Web account, using the Comment Box on the Financial Aid Award page. Note that all loan amounts are automatically split between two semesters. 

When a Direct Loan is accepted, the student is required to complete an online Loan Entrance Counseling session before funds may be disbursed.  It is important that each student knows and understands his/her rights and responsibilities as a student borrower.  In addition, the student must complete an electronic Master Promissory Note (MPN).  In most cases, the student will sign only one promissory note which will be used for all direct loans at UNG.  Both the counseling session and the MPN are accessible at www.studentloans.gov.

Federal Direct Graduate (PLUS) Loans enable graduate students with good credit histories to borrow money from the U.S. Department of Education.  Graduate PLUS Loans are designated to help pay the expenses for a student enrolled in at least five semester hours of graduate coursework.  The yearly limit on a PLUS loan is equal to the student’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received.  Borrowers must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and an electronic Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov.

Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (5 percent) loan for students with exceptional financial need.  The University of North Georgia is the lender.  The loan is made with government funds with a share contributed by UNG.  Payments are made through the university. 

Students must have completed the FAFSA for any loan eligibility to be determined. For more information on loans, consult our website.

INSTITUTIONAL WORK-AID PROGRAM, funded by the university, provides on-campus jobs for students who may or may not show financial need. The availability of jobs is dependent on the needs and resources of the institution.

A listing of Institutional Work-Aid and OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES can be found on the Job Board on the UNG Counseling & Career Services website.

TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP) is available to full-time benefits-eligible employees of the University System of Georgia who have successfully completed at least six months of employment in a benefits-eligible position, as of the date of the TAP application deadline for the desired academic semester. For further information, contact Human Resources.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS are available to students who are eligible reservists, veterans, or dependents (spouses and children) of veterans who were killed, disabled or listed as missing as a result of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Unless otherwise specified as a condition of a scholarship, the application of scholarships is not restricted to tuition and fee payment only, and funds may be used for supplementary educational expenses.  However, scholarships may restrict application to tuition and fees only.  VA certification of enrollment begins the first day of the semester and ends the last day of scheduled exams for the semester.  For further information, students should consult Veterans Benefits on the UNG Financial Aid website or contact the Veterans Administration (1-888-442-4551).

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE is available to certain individuals with physical or mental limitations. To apply, students should contact their local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, a division of the Georgia Department of Human Resources.