Chaminade University of Honolulu

Office of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Awarding Policy

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2026-2027 FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Financial Aid notifications are available on a rolling basis beginning in March. When you receive notification via Chaminade Self-Service Portal:

1. Review your 2026-2027 Financial Aid award and decide whether you will accept all or part of your financial aid package.

2. Indicate your acceptance or rejection of loans. If you are accepting any part of the loan, please indicate the amount of the loan you wish to borrow.

3. Your acceptance of the awards listed will allow the Financial Aid Office to process the receipt of funds.

4. Enrollment status directly affects eligibility for certain aid types.

5. If, after the term begins, you consider dropping a course or withdrawing from the University, please be aware aid may be reduced or cancelled.  If you are receiving financial aid and are thinking about dropping courses or withdrawing from the University, please first contact the Financial Aid Office to determine if there will be any required adjustments to your aid.

6. Eligibility for financial aid is based on the definition of “An Academic Year” as prescribed by the U. S. Dept. of Education. CUH’s academic year is summer, fall, and spring terms.

7. A student may NOT receive financial aid at two schools simultaneously.

8. Carefully read the remainder of this information as it contains very important information and policies concerning your financial aid package.

ABOUT YOUR 2026-2027 FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE

Your 2026-2027 financial aid notice, which is awarded based on full-time attendance, may include one or more of the following (disbursement of aid cannot occur earlier than 10 days prior to the start of the term.):

Federal Pell Grant: This federal grant is available to undergraduate students who have NOT received a baccalaureate or professional degree. Eligibility is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated using information provided by the student/parent on the FAFSA. Not all students that are seeking their first baccalaureate degree will be eligible, as it is a need-based award determined by the FAFSA SAI.  Funds from this award will be divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters and will be credited to the student’s account accordingly. Eligible students in the Flex Accelerated program will see their award split between the four quarters of the Accelerated academic year. Students following the semester schedule now may have eligibility for summer Pell Grant under certain conditions. Eligibility for summer Pell Grant is determined each year in the spring before the summer terms begin.

A Pell Grant award is based on the number of hours/credits a student is enrolled. Typically, the posted award amount is based on full-time enrollment. Should a student not enroll for 12 or more hours/credits (full-time), the award will be prorated at disbursement based on enrollment intensity. Award amounts vary – yet may range from $740-$7,395 annually.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): This federal grant is awarded based on the student’s SAI and the availability of funds. Applicants who file by the priority date of March 1st are reviewed first. Only students who qualify for the Pell Grant may receive this grant. The award amount for this grant varies each year based on funding available.

Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan: This is a low interest loan that enters repayment six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least on a half-time basis (6 credits). The term “Subsidized” means that the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time. Students must be enrolled in 6 credits or more to be eligible during a specific term. Eligibility is determined by filing the FAFSA. This is a need-based loan.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: This loan program provides financial assistance to all eligible students regardless of income. The FAFSA is required for determining eligibility. This loan is very similar to the Subsidized Stafford Loan in that the repayment terms and loan limits by class standing are the same. The difference is that the student, rather than the federal government, is responsible for the interest on the loan while she or he is enrolled. Loan proceeds from the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan will be disbursed like the Subsidized Stafford above, and the total amount of both the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans may not be more than the annual loan limits set for the student’s class standing. Students must be enrolled in 6 credits or more to be eligible during a specific term. All eligible dependent undergraduate students are eligible for at least $2,000 annually –not to exceed the annual loan limit.  All eligible independent undergraduate students are eligible for at least $6,000 freshman and sophomore years and at least $7,000 junior and senior years–not to exceed the annual maximum.

Federal undergraduate Direct Loan amounts are based on credits earned.

Federal undergraduate Direct Loan amounts are based on credits earned.

To accept or reject your loans, please visit the Self-Service Portal. Once logged in, select Financial Aid on the left, and then the academic year from the drop down menu.  From there you can complete the loan steps.  You can find out more information on specific loans by visiting: Federal Loan Information. New borrowers will also need to complete the federal loan Entrance Counseling and federal loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). You will only need to complete these documents (MPN and Entrance Counseling) ONCE.  For an indepth look at the different federal loans, please visit  studentaid.gov.

After the loan is awarded and accepted by the student via Self-Service, the student will be required to complete a loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN must be completed, and signed, electronically (utilizing the student’s FSA ID). This is required for the loan to disburse. In addition, the student must complete the loan Entrance Counseling. Should the student withdraw from the University prior to the school receiving the loan disbursement, the student will be ineligible to receive the loan award, and the funds will be returned.

If a student borrower withdraws or drops below ½ time, Exit Counseling must be completed.  Students are notified in writing when they must complete this requirement.

Federal College Work-Study: The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need. FWS gives the student an opportunity of working on campus or in a community service position on a part-time basis. FWS students may work up to 20 hours per week. Pay rate is determined based on job type, job duties and experience. The FAFSA is required to determine eligibility, since the award is need-based. Please visit our website for additional information at Work-Study – CUH. Funding is limited as prescribed by the U. S. Dept. of Education.

Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Parent PLUS Loan): This federal loan is a long term, low interest loan available to parents of dependent students regardless of income level.  The FAFSA application is required to determine eligibility at CUH. The annual loan limit is equal to the cost of attendance at CUH less any financial assistance/aid the student is receiving. This loan enters repayment after the last disbursement of each year unless the parent requests deferment.  Like with the student loans, the parent loan can be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Parents must demonstrate credit worthiness to receive this loan, as a credit check will be conducted upon application. The loan proceeds are divided equally between the fall and spring terms, unless otherwise indicated on the application. The student must be enrolled when the disbursements are received by the school. A separate loan application must be filed in order to receive these funds. PLUS Loan Application for Parents must be completed with the U.S. Federal Government.  A PLUS Master Promissory Note is also required upon approval. If denied, parents have the option of appealing, seeking a credit-worthy endorser (co-signer), or requesting that their student’s Unsubsidized loan be increased to Independent loan level.

CUH Institutional Scholarships and Grants: All first year and transfer applicants are automatically considered for institutional merit-based scholarships. Students filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be considered for federal award programs as well as for need based institutional grants.  CUH also offers several Signature Scholarships to eligible incoming day undergraduate students that require separate applications on the CUH application portal.  More information can be found by visiting Scholarships – Chaminade University of Honolulu.

CUH Donor-Sponsored Scholarships: Generous donors have provided funds for us to award to eligible students through our Endowed and Restricted Scholarships.  These scholarships are awarded each year and require a separate application which is posted on the student portal.  The application opens in January with a firm deadline of March 1st for the upcoming academic year.  Not all students that apply will be awarded and funds are limited.

TERMS OF YOUR FINANCIAL AID

  • Students are awarded financial aid based on FULL-TIME enrollment status (12 hours) unless the student informs the Financial Aid Office otherwise. Please note: CUH Scholarships are awarded at full-time status only and no proration will happen for less than full-time enrollment. Financial aid packages for students enrolled less than full-time may require adjustments. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of his or her less than full-time enrollment status. Eligibility for awards varies with enrollment status. Students must be enrolled in an eligible program of study (a degree-seeking program) to receive any financial aid.
  • If you receive any financial assistance from any source other than what is shown on your award notification, your financial aid package must be adjusted. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Financial Aid Office of any financial assistance received of which is not listed on their award notification (ex: outside scholarship award).  Chaminade University reserves the right to change the content and amount of any student’s financial aid package based on additional financial assistance received by the student at any point in the academic year.
  • Your financial aid award is subject to change, or may be adjusted, at any point in the academic year due to Chaminade University’s correction(s) and/or change(s) in federal appropriations. We routinely audit our financial aid files throughout the academic year to check for accuracy. CUH reserves the right to make corrections to a student’s financial aid information as needed, and these changes may alter a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) or award eligibility and subsequently the financial aid package. In addition, please remember that changes in your SAI due to student’s/parent’s failure to report accurate information on the FAFSA will result in award revision(s) as well. CUH reserves the right to adjust the content and/or the amount of the student’s financial aid package based on the above conditions at any point in the academic year.
  • If you correct your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) after you have been awarded, your financial aid package may be adjusted in accordance with federal regulations at any point in the academic year. CUH reserves the right to adjust the content and/or the amount of the student’s financial aid package based on the above conditions at any point in the academic year.  CUH also reserves the right to make any changes necessary to reflect accurate information if conflicting information is found.
  • If you withdraw after the term begins, your financial aid package is subject to proration as set forth in the federal regulations. If, after the federally prescribed proration is calculated, we have to reduce your financial aid package, you may owe a balance on your account. This balance is your responsibility to pay, not CUH’s responsibility. Institutional aid (including scholarships) may be prorated if tuition charges are adjusted. For further information please visit Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Aid Policy.
  • Contents of the student’s financial aid file are the property of the Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Financial Aid Office. These files are considered confidential information. Requests by the student to review his or her file must be made in writing. Requests by the dependent student’s parent(s) to review the student’s file must be made in writing, and the student must give his or her written consent to release the information. Once a request is received, CUH has 45 days to make the requested information available for review. This review will take place in the Financial Aid Office at a time convenient for the student, dependent student’s parent(s) and the Financial Aid Office, within office hours. This review will NOT take place the same day the written request for review is received by the Financial Aid Office. Requests by anyone other than the student and/or the parent(s) must be approved by the student. A Consent to Release Information must be completed by the student and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. This policy is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, 20 USC § 1232g and 34 CFR § 99.
  • In the case of a divorced/separated student, the ex-spouse is not privileged to any financial aid information on the student.
  • In the case of a divorced/separated parent of a dependent student, the non-custodial parent is not privileged to any financial aid information regarding the student unless that non-custodial parent’s financial information was used to calculate the student’s eligibility for financial aid.
  • For the protection of the student, as well as the protection of the staff of the Financial Aid Office, we will not release information regarding the student’s financial aid package over the phone. Students are required to authenticate their identity by presenting a government-issued picture ID. A CUH ID card will suffice. Information may not be released without the presence of valid identity authentication items. No specifics may be released via the phone or email because of not being able to authenticate the individual’s identity.  For email communication  purposes, students are to use the CUH student email for communication with the Financial Aid Office.
  • Students must apply for need-based financial aid each year; financial aid awards are NOT automatically renewable. We cannot guarantee that the same level of funding will be available each academic year. Funding levels from the federal government and the University change each year. As a result, need-based financial aid packages may vary annually in content as well as total amounts from year to year.  If students are awarded an incoming merit-based scholarship, this scholarship is a discount on full-time tuition, not physical money, and is awarded for a maximum of four consecutive academic years.  The Financial Aid Office at CUH reserves the right to change packaging policies annually.
  • If your permanent home address changes at any time, it is your responsibility to notify the University of your change of address immediately.
  • Because the Financial Aid Office communicates with you via your CUH student email address, it is your responsibility to ensure you are reviewing your email for any communications from our office.
  • Students who leave the University through transfer, graduation, or any other form of leave are not entitled to the remaining eligibility of institutional aid/scholarships and will forfeit such remaining eligibility.
  • Students attending the summer sessions may be eligible for financial aid based on eligibility for the academic year. Federal funds, i.e. student loans are based on an annual limit. The annual amount is a set amount for the year and whatever amount has been utilized already for the year will not be available for the remaining terms in that academic year.  This includes if loan funds were utilized at another post-secondary school during a previous term in the academic year.  The student must be enrolled in at least 6 credits during the summer session to receive a student loan.
  • Current year financial aid may not be used to pay prior year balances.
  • Students who have student loans and withdraw from school or drop below half-time enrollment must complete Exit Counseling– even if the student returns the next term.  If Exit Counseling is completed, a student must complete a new Entrance Counseling before they are able to take out any additional federal student loans.
  • Students have the right to adjust, either through the Self-Service Portal or through a request with the Financial Aid Office, their student loans provided it does not exceed the annual loan limit and the CUH cost of attendance (maximum budget).
  • International students are not eligible for institutional scholarships or grants.  Only US Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens are eligible for federal financial aid through FAFSA.  International students may apply for an alternative loan (outside private student loans), provided they are eligible with the lender they have selected.
  • The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to deny a student a loan – federal or alternative – based on specific federal guidelines and/or institutional policies. Students who have previously defaulted on a student loan may be denied on a case-by-case basis.
  • Financial Aid will disburse to a student’s account in the Business Office no earlier than 10 days before the start of the term.  If said funds generate a credit in the students account, the earliest a refund will be generated, via the student selected refund choice, is the first Friday after the term begins.  Notifications are sent out to new students to select a refund method with Bank Mobile.  It is the student’s responsibility to make a selection.  If no selection is made, a refund check is mailed to the address on file.
  • Refunds are generated no later than 14 days after the credit has been created, unless the student requests otherwise in writing.
  • Students (and parent’s with PLUS loan excess funds) have the right to to complete an FSA Credit Authorization Form to change how the federal aid credit is handled.  This form is available on the portal and through the Financial Aid Office.
  • A student may NOT receive financial aid at two schools simultaneously. This is not allowed by federal law. Should this be discovered, aid may be removed at CUH and the student will have a balance due to the Business Office.
  • A student with a bachelor’s degree who wishes to return to CUH and receive an additional bachelor’s degree must be in a degree program other than the one previously completed.  If a student is seeking a second degree of the same type (i.e. BA received and seeking a second BA), they will not be eligible for federal aid.  If seeking a different degree (i.e. BA received and seeking a BS for second degree) students will not be eligible for Pell/FSEOG grants but may be eligible for student loans, provided FAFSA shows eligibility and they have not reached their undergraduate lifetime aggregate limit (no more that $23,000 Subsidized loan and total cannot exceed $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students).

COST SUMMARY

A listing of the Cost of Attendance can be found by visiting: Cost of Attendance – Chaminade University of Honolulu

For information regarding billing and payment options, please visit: Student Billing and Payment – Chaminade University of Honolulu

FINANCIAL AID ENROLLMENT, REFUND AND REPAYMENT POLICIES

Enrollment Policy: To be eligible to receive need-based financial aid other than the Federal Pell Grant/FSEOG, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a program leading to the receipt of a degree. A student who is enrolled less than half-time may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant/FSEOG as long as the student is seeking their first baccalaureate degree. A student’s financial aid award may be adjusted at any point in the term due to enrollment changes or noted errors on the part of the student, parent or the institution.  Pell Grant awarding is subject to enrollment and less than full-time enrollment (<12 credits) will result in a proration of the Pell grant award and depending on Pell award total, some enrollments at less than full-time may not qualify for a prorated Pell disbursement. 

Refund Policy after Official/Unofficial Withdrawals (Title IV Funds): To withdraw officially from the University, a student must complete an official withdrawal form in the Records Office or online. The date the Records Office approves the withdrawal is the official date CUH will use in the calculation of any tuition refund or refund to the federal Department of Education. Students who do not formally and completely withdraw are not eligible for a refund.

As part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Congress passed provisions governing what must happen to your federal financial assistance if you completely withdraw from school in any semester. If a student withdraws from CUH, then the University may be required to return some of the federal aid funds awarded to the student.

Title IV Funds (Federal): For those students who withdraw completely before the term ends, and are receiving federal funding, the refund policy of Title IV Funds (back to federal programs) is dictated by federal regulations governing Title IV financial aid programs. These programs must be refunded according to the calculations prescribed by federal regulations based on the date of withdrawal and percentage of time enrolled. If a student withdraws from CUH, before completing the term, then the University is required to complete this calculation called the Return of Title IV Funds Calculation.  This federal calculation determines how much of the aid that was disbursed that the student has earned based on their withdrawal date.  For a student who has completed at least 60% of the term, as determined by the federal calculation, no return of aid to the federal programs is required.  Within 45 days of the date of withdrawal being determined, the amount of funding that must be returned to the Title IV programs will be calculated, and the student’s financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly. This will occur within 45 days of the official date of withdrawal, or, in the cases of unofficial withdrawals (see below); the date that the school has determined the student has withdrawn.  Any funds needing to be returned will generate either a balance or, if applicable, increase the balance already held by the student.  Any balance or balance increase is the responsibility of the student to cover and not Chaminade University.  Students who have federal loans are required to complete an exit loan counseling.

Non-Attendance/Unofficial Withdrawals: Students who register for classes, and do not attend at least one class session after the add/drop period has concluded, are not eligible to receive any federal or institutional funds. Students who attend at least one class after add/drop concludes, cease attending all classes, and do not officially withdraw from the University, are considered to have unofficially withdrawn and are subject to proration even if the school becomes aware of the lack of attendance at the end of the term or after the term has concluded.

Repayment Policy After Official/Unofficial Withdrawals: In the case of an official or unofficial withdrawal from the University, a student who receives a cash disbursement of Title IV financial aid funds may have to repay the University a percentage of those Title IV funds depending on the length of enrollment and the amount of financial aid awarded to the student. If, according to the federal calculations, a student has been “overpaid,” the student will be required to repay the excess amount to the University for reimbursement to the federal programs. If the student fails to repay the calculated amount, the student will be reported to the U. S. Department of Education and will be ineligible for any other Title IV assistance at any school until the overpayment is cleared.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Policy

Federal regulations, HEA Sec. 484(c), §668.16, 668.34, require all schools participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy that conforms to the requirements detailed below. These requirements apply to all students as one determinant of eligibility for financial aid.

  • SAP is calculated at the end of each academic year after grades have been posted to academic history by the Records Office.
  • If your SAP status is Failure after the check is performed, you will not qualify for financial aid for the following term.
  • If your SAP status is Failure and you cannot mathematically attain SAP requirements, an appeal will not be permissible. Documented mitigating circumstances may allow continued eligibility on a case-by-case basis and will require an academic plan.
  • A student may appeal their SAP Failure status, but approval is on a case by case basis, as determined by the Director of Financial Aid.  If an appeal is denied, then the decision is final and cannot be changed. Documented mitigating circumstances may allow additional appeals on a case-by-case basis if a student regains eligibility only to lose it again.
  • A student that fails SAP and either does not appeal or the appeal is denied, will be ineligible for any federal financial aid until such time as they meet the SAP requirements.
  • Specific SAP information, as well as appeal instructions, can be found by visiting: Satisfactory Academic Progress | Chaminade University – Chaminade University of Honolulu

Quantitative and Qualitative Requirements

1. Quantitative Requirement

The quantitative requirement has two parts:

  • A maximum time frame
  • A required completion ratio

Undergraduate Students

Maximum time frame (maximum attempted credit hours) – You must earn your degree before reaching 180 attempted credit hours, which includes transferrable credits attempted at any school prior to and while enrolled at Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH). Students who are seeking a second undergraduate degree different from their first degree at CUH can appeal the maximum time frame requirement. 

Once you reach the maximum attempted credit hours, you are no longer eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate student. 

Completion Ratio – You must complete and pass at least 67% of all credits you attempt. Courses earned include grades of A, B, C, D, or CR (credit/pass). Courses attempted include any course in which grades of A, B, C, D, F, W, I, IP, or NC (no credit) are given.  If a student receives an incomplete grade, SAP may be recalculated if the incomplete changes to a letter grade.

 Graduate Students

Maximum time frame – Graduate students must complete the academic program within a maximum timeframe that cannot exceed 200% of the total credits needed to complete the academic program. Total credits attempted cannot exceed 200% of the published number of credits needed to earn the degree.

Once you reach the maximum attempted credit hours, you are no longer eligible for financial aid as a graduate student. 

Completion Ratio – You must earn at least 50% of all attempted credit hours. Courses earned include grades of A, B, C, D, or CR (credit/pass). Courses attempted include any course in which grades of A, B, C, D, F, W, I, IP, or NC (no credit) are given.  If a student receives an incomplete grade, SAP may be recalculated if the incomplete changes to a letter grade.

2. Qualitative Requirement
The qualitative requirements set a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average for all students.  The cumulative GPA includes grades of A, B, C, D, and F.  The cumulative GPA will be checked each academic year for SAP.

Undergraduate Students – The cumulative GPA requirement is 2.00 for each term. Exception: Undergraduate NUR students must meet a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5
Graduate Students – The cumulative GPA requirement is 3.00 for each term.

The cumulative GPA is evaluated at the institutional level. Students not meeting the minimum GPA requirements at the end of the academic year will be subject to SAP failure status, as applicable.

Policy Details

When is SAP determined?

  • Initial Review – You are considered to be meeting SAP during your first CUH term.
  • End of Every Academic Year Review– Your SAP status is calculated at the end of each academic year,, after grades are posted to your academic history by the Record’s Office.

What happens when you do not meet the requirements?

  • You are no longer eligible for federal financial aid – including federal FAFSA work study, loans, grants, or scholarships.
  • Because you do not qualify for financial aid, you must pay your tuition and fees by the payment deadline or your registration may be subject to cancellation for the term.
  • You are notified via the Self-Service Portal when you have failed SAP and you can appeal by either following the link for instructions, or by contacting the Financial Aid Office.

Maximum Time Frame (maximum attempted credit hours) – When you have attempted the maximum credit hours, you are no longer eligible to receive financial aid.

Is there extended eligibility for a 2nd bachelor’s degree? –  Yes.  Students pursuing a 2nd bachelor’s degree are granted additional eligibility for maximum timeframe.

Is there extended eligibility for a 2nd master’s/graduate degree? – Yes.  Eligibility is based on the degree level being pursued.

Low Completion Ratio – 

  • Failure Status – If you do not meet the required completion ratio, your status becomes Failure Status. You are no longer eligible to receive financial aid until the required standards are met. You must successfully appeal to regain eligibility. Appeals are not guaranteed and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Probation Status – After being placed on a Failure Status, AND a student has successfully appealed and financial aid has been reinstated, the student is eligible to receive financial aid. This status is only for one term and quite often will carry conditions and/or stipulations for continued eligibility.  An agreement for conditions will be signed between the student and the Director.  If the student fails to meet the conditions, then they will be put back on Failure Status, ineligible for appeal.  In this situation, with very rare exceptions, a student may appeal again, but the mitigating circumstances must warrant as determined by the Director of Financial Aid.

How do you regain eligibility? 

  • SAP Appeal – If mitigating circumstances during a specific term of enrollment prevented you from meeting the requirements, you may file an SAP Appeal.

Appeal Requirements:

  • A typed or written explanation of mitigating circumstances associated with Failure Status. Indicate how these circumstances have changed so that you can comply with regulations in the future. Attach supporting documents to corroborate mitigating circumstances mentioned in the letter.
  • Include a “student plan of action” for academic improvement. This requires that you meet with your academic advisor and create a plan for getting back in good academic standing.
  • Attach at least one letter of support from someone that can substantiate the mitigating circumstances. This individual should not be a family member. Examples would include a medical doctor, clergy, professional, professor, etc.
  • The appeal form must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office within the prescribed dates as noted on the SAP Appeal Form. Failure to provide these within the prescribed dates will result in a delayed determination.
  • The Director of Financial Aid reviews all appeals and makes a decision based on the documents received. The decision of the Director is final and cannot be appealed further.

Appeal Denials or Non-appeals – If you are denied an appeal, or you decide not to appeal, you must complete the necessary hours and earn the appropriate grades. Once you have reached the prescribed standards you become eligible to receive financial aid.

You change from undergraduate to graduate – If you reach Failure Status as an undergraduate, and then are admitted to a graduate degree program, you will be eligible to receive financial aid as a graduate student. You must be in a degree-seeking status and fully accepted into the graduate program.

Academic Circumstances that Affect Your Status:

  • Changes in major, double majors or minors – may cause you to reach your maximum attempted hours, and lose your eligibility before earning a degree.
  • Incomplete grades, missing grades, failing grades, course withdrawals all reduce your completion ratio, because they are counted as attempted, but not earned credits. They also count against your maximum attempted hours.
  • Repeated courses – count as attempted credit hours each time you register for them. They also count against the allowed maximum. This can also reduce your completion ratio because repeated credits count as earned credits only once. NOTE: The U. S. Dept. of Education allows only one retake for Title IV credit.
  • Academic Renewal – count against your maximum attempted credits, and also lower your completion ratio because the credits count as attempted but not earned.
  • Transfer credits, credits taken while cross-registered, enrolled in study abroad, transient study – in some instances may be included toward your maximum attempted credits and your completion ratio. 
  • Remedial courses – count as attempted and earned credits and are included in the GPA calculation.
  • Late posted grades or grade changes– Once notification is received from the Record’s Office of grade changes, the SAP status will be recalculated.
  • Dismissal and Return – students who are suspended academically or choose not to attend because of SAP Failure will not be automatically eligible for financial aid upon their return. Students must meet both qualitative and quantitative standards of SAP. If not meeting standards, a student must appeal or use means other than federal financial aid for educational expenses. Absence does not restore eligibility for financial aid. It remains the responsibility of the student to be knowledgeable of their SAP standard when returning to school after dismissal or choosing not to return because of SAP Failure.
  • Summer Term Courses – all hours attempted and completed in the summer sessions are treated as any other semester credits in determining SAP status. SAP will be checked at the end of the academic year including the summer sessions as well.
  • Audit Courses – students are not eligible to receive financial aid for audit courses. Audited courses are not included in hours attempted or earned for SAP determination.
  • Students pursuing dual bachelor’s/master’s degrees – Students who are pursuing dual degrees are subject to the maximum time frame rules but may be reviewed on a case by case basis by the Financial Aid Office.

The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to review denied appeals, cumulative GPAs, and completion rates on a case by case basis.

RETAKING COURSEWORK

Federal regulations define how financial aid can be used for classes taken more than once.

You CAN receive federal financial aid:

  • To repeat a course that has already been passed (D- or higher) only one additional time, unless the second attempt results in a W.  Then a third attempt can receive payment of financial aid.
  • To repeat a course that you have failed a first time.  If the course is failed (F) a second time, then no aid can be paid out for retaking it a third time.
  • If the repeat course is not a true repeat as it is a one of the few ‘Special Topics’ classes, which are different classes under the same course code.

All courses previously taken, even if financial aid was not used, are compared against the current semester to determine if it is a repeated class and whether it can be paid for using financial aid. Your financial aid may be recalculated if you take a class that is not eligible for financial aid. This policy does not provide exceptions if the repeat courses are taken to meet plan of study grade requirements, i.e. a grade of C or higher must be earned to count towards your major.


The repeat coursework rules only apply to undergraduate students. Repeating a course can also impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress status (SAP). All grades count for SAP and all hours attempted and earned count as well. PLEASE NOTE: If you have questions regarding your courses and repeat coursework, please contact the Financial Aid Office. The rules for repeat coursework are quite complex and your individual situation will need to be reviewed.

PRORATION

Per federal regulation CUH is required to prorate a dependent or independent undergraduate student’s annual Stafford loan limits, when they are enrolled for less than a full academic year and will graduate in the same academic year. This mostly will affect students that will graduate from their program of study at the end of the fall term.

Loan Proration Formula:

  • Number of credits the student has enrolled in / number of credits in an academic year (24) X annual Stafford loan limit

EX:

Student enrolls in the Fall semester for 15 credits before completing their degree. 

            18 credits / 24 credits in a year = 0.75 or 75%

            75% x $5,500 annual loan limit = $4,125 loan eligibility

OVER/UNDER AWARDS

Students at CUH are awarded based on estimated full-time enrollment (12 credit hours). Once drop/add ends, the Financial Aid Office will adjust any enrollment dependent aid if the student’s enrollment changed from when aid was first disbursed. The resulting change can create an over or under award situation and aid is adjusted accordingly.  These changes may result in an increase or decrease to the student’s balance with the Business Office.

COURSE PROGRAM OF STUDY

The Department of Education requires schools to identify the courses that may be included in the calculation of enrollment (Full-time, 3/4-time, 1/2-time, and less than half-time) for award and disbursement of Federal Funds.

  • To summarize, these regulations include the following key points:
    • Courses must count towards the student’s degree or certificate 
    • Eligible remedial courses may be included conditionally 
    • ESL courses may be included conditionally 
    • Only one repeat of a previously passed course maybe included 
    • A withdrawal from a course does not count as an attempt of a previously passed course 
    • Courses that must be repeated due to failure of another course cannot be included in enrollment calculation. 
    • ESL courses may be included if part of an eligible program 
    • Courses do not need to be at secondary school level 
    • Do not count towards the one academic year’s worth of Remedial/Developmental courses

The Financial Aid Office will review these items prior to payment of federal aid.

PRE/POST-SCREENING 

Students at CUH are awarded based on their current NSLDS record, which reflects their federal loan borrowing history at the time of receipt. However, the records may not always be accurate due to timing. Therefore, Chaminade will conduct a pre-screening process to capture students who may potentially be approaching or exceeding their aggregate loan borrowing limit. The intent is to capture any overawards prior to the disbursement of aid to prevent any unnecessary return of funds. In addition, a post-screening process is conducted to capture any student who may have inadvertently exceeded their aggregate borrowing limit. These students are identified as a result of updated NSLDS records pushed to the institution by the Department of Education. The resulting change in a student’s loan borrowing history can create an overaward and aid will be adjusted accordingly.