Maintaining financial aid eligibility
Our office may be required to make adjustments to your financial aid each semester to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of financial aid. Be sure to monitor your MaineStreet account for any changes to your bill!
Merit Scholarship Criteria
Merit scholarships are renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters over four years or 120 credits, whichever happens first, and require students to maintain a minimum GPA.
Merit Scholarship Adjustments
Merit scholarships cover up to 30 credits per year. Students can use our Financial Aid Planner to understand their merit aid eligibility over the course of the year.
overawards
If the total amount of financial aid you receive from all sources exceeds your cost of attendance or exceeds your financial need as determined on the FAFSA, we may be required to reduce some of your aid in accordance with federal regulations.
requesting changes to a loan
Reach out if you declined a federal loan, accepted less than you planned to borrow, or have questions about making adjustments to your loan eligibility.
aid eligibility when repeating a course
Federal regulations allow for financial aid funds to pay for one repetition of a previously passed course. The Department of Education considers a “D” grade or higher to be a passing grade even if a higher grade is needed to advance in the program or is required for a subsequent course.
Impact on Financial Aid
– Financial Aid Cost of Attendance is adjusted
– Grants that are calculated in part on the student’s enrollment level (full-time, ¾ time, ½ time, or less than ½ time) are adjusted if the student has dropped into a lower enrollment level
– Adjust any other financial aid as required.
Students who are impacted by this policy are notified via MaineStreet Message Center Communication and are sent an updated award notice if financial aid adjustments are required.
satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
Federal financial aid regulations require financial aid recipients to make progress toward earning their degree, stay above specific GPA minimums and to complete the degree within a maximum time-frame. You can lose eligibility for aid if you are not doing well in your classes and/or if it is taking a very long time to earn your degree. If you are not meeting the minimum standards, even if you are allowed by your academic dean to continue your enrollment, you will have to do so without benefit of financial aid.
At the University of Maine, there are separate Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies for Undergraduates and Graduate students. For more detailed information on each policy, click on one of the links below.
What If There Are Special Circumstances?
Every student has the right to appeal in writing if you believe that you have special circumstances which have impacted your academic progress. If you want to appeal, please complete the appropriate Appeal Form below. The Office of Student Financial Services will cancel aid for any student who does not appeal, or for whom an appeal is denied.
Federal Student Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations
Your eligibility might be suspended if you received a drug-related conviction during the time you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, or work-study).
When you complete the FAFSA, you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes, you will be provided a worksheet to help you determine whether your conviction affects your eligibility for federal student aid.
If your eligibility for federal student aid has been suspended due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program. If you regain eligibility during the award year, notify the Office of Student Financial Aid immediately so you can get any aid you’re eligible for.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offense after you submit the FAFSA form, you might lose eligibility for federal student aid, and you might be liable for returning any financial aid you received during a period of ineligibility.