Student should understand the adverse affects of not enrolling for 15 credits per semester.

How does enrollment affect financial aid for first-years students?

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): Students who meet the eligibility requirements must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and have completed 30 cumulative credits the end of the 2010 spring semester in order to be eligible to receive their second year ACG award of $1,300.

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan: Federal Direct Loan limits require students to have completed 30 cumulative credits by the end of the 2010 summer session in order to be considered a sophomore and offered a second year loan amount of $6,500.

Minnesota State Grant: Students who meet the eligibility requirements must be enrolled for 15 credits to receive a full Minnesota State Grant. When students are enrolled for less than 15 credits the Minnesota State Grant will be adjusted on a credit per credit basis, each term.

Minnesota Achieve Scholarship: Students who graduated after January 1, 2009 and meet the State of Minnesota eligibility requirements must be enrolled for 15 credits, per semester, to receive a one-time scholarship for use in their first academic year. This scholarship ranges from $1,200 to approximately $4,000 depending on financial need. 

Graduation: Students must have at a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and a minimum of 120 credits to be eligible to graduate in 4 years. The extra time and money you will spend on an additional year in college is significant. Not only will students pay another year's worth of tuition, textbook costs, campus fees and other educational expenses, but students won't be earning money in their first job or getting started in graduate school.

How does enrollment affect financial aid for transfer/current students?

Federal National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent) Grant: Students who meet the eligibility requirements must have completed 60 – 89 cumulative credits in order to be eligible to receive the SMART of $4,000. Then students who meet the eligibility requirements and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and have completed 90 cumulative plus credits to receive the additional SMART of $4,000. 

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan: Federal Direct Loan limits require students to have completed 60 cumulative credits by the end of the 2010 summer session in order to be considered a junior and offered a third year loan amount of $7,500.

Minnesota State Grant: Students who meet the eligibility requirements must be enrolled for 15 credits to receive a full Minnesota State Grant. When students are enrolled for less than 15 credits the Minnesota State Grant will be adjusted on a credit per credit basis, each term.

Graduation: Students must have at a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and a minimum of 120 credits to be eligible to graduate.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Financial Aid Office.