Financial Aid & Scholarships

The U.S. Department of Education requires each college to have a policy that ensures all students receiving financial aid maintain satisfactory progress toward completing their program of study. Your academic record will be reviewed at least annually, prior to receiving financial aid; to make sure you have complied with the standards outlined below.

Attempted Credits: All credits in which you were registered at the end of the add/drop period. This includes courses with grades of F, W, X, I, IR, AU, WA. In addition, all earned credits that appear on the transcript outside of QCC courses are considered attempted (i.e., transfer credits).

Earned Credits: Courses that have been successfully completed, earning quality points no less than 1.0 (minimum of a D grade).

Three criteria will be monitored at the end of the spring semester each academic year (Exception: certificate students enrolled full-time and students on financial aid probation will be monitored at the end of each semester).

• Minimum Cumulative GPA
  • 1-15 attempted credits: 1.50 cumulative GPA
  • Over 15 attempted credits: 2.00 cumulative GPA
• Minimum Earned Credits
  • 1-15 attempted credits: earn 50 percent of attempted credits.
  • Over 15 attempted credits: earn 75 percent of attempted credits.
• Maximum Time Frame
  • You must be able to complete your certificate or degree program by attempting no more than 150% of the total credits required for completion of that program. All coursework applicable to the major will be counted toward maximum time frame. Students are limited to a maximum of three major/program changes. Additionally, up to 30 credits of developmental courses (courses numbered below 100) and all English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework is excluded from this calculation.

Good: You have met all standards as described above.

Probation: You did not meet either criteria I or II above and were previously in good standing. You will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one semester during which time you may still be considered for financial aid. Standards will be checked at the end of the Probationary semester. If standards are met, you will return to Good standing. If not, you will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Suspension: If you do not meet the standards described above and have previously been on Probation, you will be placed on Suspension. Any student who reaches their maximum time frame will be placed on Suspension. While on Suspension you are not eligible for any form of financial aid.

If you have been placed on Suspension, you may appeal this decision, in writing, if you have unusual circumstances that prevented you from meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. The appeal should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office as quickly as possible. You will be notified of the results of your appeal in writing.

After successfully completing at least one semester, without the benefit of financial aid, you may be reconsidered for funding. You must meet all of the standards described above and notify the Financial Aid Office that you would like to have your eligibility for funds re-evaluated.

Examples:

1. During the fall semester you were registered for 12 credits at the end of the add/drop period. During the spring semester you were registered for 9 credits at the end of the add/drop period. Your total attempted credits for the academic year is 21. After the add/drop period, you withdrew from one course in the fall semester, but successfully completed the remaining 9 credits. In the spring semester, you completed all 9 credits with grades of D or better. Your total earned credits is 18. If you have attempted more than 15 credits during your entire time at QCC, you must complete at least 75 percent of your attempted credits. You completed 18 of 21 credits, which is 85 percent, so you are meeting the standards. If you have attempted no more than 15 credits, you must complete 50 percent of the credits attempted, so in this example if you earn at least 11 credits you will meet the standards. You are considered in Good standing for financial aid.
2. You are in an associates degree program that requires a total of 62 credits. You have a total of 93 credits attempted at the end of the academic year. You have reached your maximum time frame (62 credits X 150 percent = 93 credits) and are no longer eligible for financial aid funding. You will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.