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Policies

Financial Aid Census Date Policy for Undergraduate Students

In accordance with federal regulations, the Office of Student Financial Aid will recalculate federal, state, and institutional student aid awards based on the enrollment status as of the published Census Date (Count Day) by the Office of the Registrar, which is typically the end of the 10th day of class for both Fall and Spring terms. (The Census Date for Summer enrollment will vary based on the length of the course(s) taken.)

The Census Date for Fall 2013 is September 9, 2013.
The Census Date for Spring 2014 is January 27, 2014.

If you drop credits prior to the 10th day of class (the census date), you may be required to repay some or all of your aid that was disbursed to you if you do not, at that time, meet the enrollment requirements for the types of aid you have been awarded.
If you add credits after the 10th day of class (the census date), you may not be eligible to receive additional financial aid.

The Office of Student Financial Aid is not able to adjust all types of aid after the Census Date but will work with special situations on an individual basis. Students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at financialaid@iastate.edu before adding courses after the Census Date that would affect enrollment level (for example: moving from half to three-quarter time, etc.).

Enrollment Status Definitions for Undergraduate Students

Full-time enrollment - 12 credits per semester
Three-quarter time enrollment - 9-11 credits per semester
Half-time enrollment - 6 credits per semester
Less than half-time enrollment - 1-5 credits per semester

Concurrent Student Enrollment

Operational policies for concurrent undergraduate/graduate students:

  1. At the point that a student is classified as a graduate student, undergraduate aid will cease. Students will qualify for graduate student aid consistent with current policy.
  2. Students receiving institutional recruitment scholarships may continue to receive them until eligibility is exhausted. Non-resident students on assistantship who receive an in-state benefit will have the award adjusted to reflect the resident rate. This is consistent with current policy for non-resident undergraduates who become resident students.
  3. Students currently receiving institutional gift aid funded through undergraduate tuition set-aside will no longer qualify as graduate tuition does not support the program.
  4. Outside and college/departmental scholarships must meet donor parameters.

Tuition Credit Policy

Beginning August 25, 2008, Iowa State University students who receive a tuition refund when they drop a class after the semester begins will have their institutional aid and/or loan aid reduced. Refunds will be applied to institutional aid first; any remaining funds will be used to reduce a student's loan indebtedness. This will apply to institutional aid when an undergraduate student drops below full time (12 credits) or to student loans when a student is less than half time status (6 credits undergraduate/5 credits graduate). Refunds will be held for 10 business days to adjust a student's financial aid account.

Second Bachelor's Degree

Students working toward their second bachelor's degree will not be awarded priority financial aid, including the following aid types:

  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Iowa State University (ISU) Grant
  • Iowa Grant
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • College Work Study (Federal or State)

Students working toward their second bachelor's degree are also not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

University - FAFSA Listing

Students who complete a FAFSA prior to March 1 but did not list Iowa State University as a recipient must have their FAFSA information submitted to Iowa State University no later than May 1 to be considered for priority financial aid, including the following aid types:

  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Iowa State University (ISU) Grant
  • Iowa Grant
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • College Work Study (Federal or State)

Verification & Tax Extensions

2012-2013 Verification & Tax Extensions

2013-2014 Verification & Tax Extensions

CA & RM Positions

Regarding CA [Community Advisor] / RM [Residence Manager] positions: The U.S. Department of Education requires that room and board received as employment compensation be considered as either a resource in calculation of the student's financial need (reported on Worksheet B of the FAFSA) or as financial aid. Iowa State University considers CA/RM compensation as financial aid. Therefore, the student should not report their CA/RM room and board compensation on Worksheet B of the FAFSA.

Veteran's Benefits

The U.S. Department of Education, starting with the 2009-2010 academic year, no longer requires that education benefits received by the student from the Veterans Affairs Administration (Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607) be considered as a resource toward meeting a student's 'need' when awarding 'Federal' Title IV student financial aid. These chapter benefits are no longer required to be reported on the FAFSA.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require the Office of Student Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of students receiving financial aid.
More information about SAP

Withdrawal From Classes

Withdrawing from classes may affect a student's financial aid eligibility.
More information about Withdrawal From Classes

University Nondiscrimination Statement

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.