The classes you take can affect your financial aid. For Federal Aid, you must enroll in classes that apply to your major (Program Applicable). Follow these steps if you have questions about the amount of financial aid you are receiving.
- Use the Program Applicability Tool (PAT) to make sure your classes qualify for financial aid.
- Talk to an Academic Advisor if you're unsure or if you think your class should apply to your major and isn't. They will help you decide if a class should apply to your major.
- Make sure your courses are Program Applicable before the Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD).
- If you are changing your major, the change must be completed by the Major Change Deadline for classes in your new major to be eligible for aid that semester. If you miss this deadline, your classes may not be eligible for aid.
Financial Aid is always based on participation. If you receive aid, you are expected to advance toward graduation in return. Here are some things to keep in mind when you want to drop a class or withdraw completely from the semester.
Learn More about Returning Federal Student Aid (Title IV Funds)
- Financial Implications
You may be required to repay aid if you drop any or all classes. - Timing Matters
The timing of when you drop classes will impact your current aid and may also affect your future aid. - Participation Matters
If you drop a class you have not participated in, your aid will be returned for that class. If you drop all Program Applicable (PA) credits or stop participating, BYU-Idaho must calculate how much aid you earned. Any aid you have not earned will be returned, and a charge may appear on your BYU-Idaho student account for that return. - Which Class and the Type of Aid you Received are Important
Dropping classes, whether they are required for your program or not, can affect each type of financial aid differently.
Learn More about Returning Federal Student Aid (Title IV Funds)
Because everyone's situation is different, please be sure to talk to the Financial Aid Office before dropping any classes.
Academic Requirements for Federal Financial Aid Eligibility
SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) is a set of academic standards required by the Department of Education for Financial Aid Eligibility.
Completion Rate (PACE)
- Maintain at least 67% cumulative completion rate
- Only Program Applicable (PA) credits count
- Calculation: PA credits earned ÷ PA credits attempted
- Includes PA transfer credits
Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Maintain at least 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Only Program Applicable credits count
- Does NOT include transfer GPAs
Maximum Time Frame (MTF)
- Complete your program within 150% of the required credits for your program
- Example: If your degree needs 120 credits, you have up to 180 credits to finish
Scholarship eligibility is something you maintain through steady academic effort, consistent enrollment, and adherence to campus guidelines. Stay eligible for your BYU-Idaho Scholarships by:
- Maintaining your GPA (depends on the scholarship).*
- Must be an on-campus student.
- Taking a minimum of 6+ credits per on-track semester.†
- Keeping a consistent credit load before FADD.
- You can't have more than 140 credits when you're being evaluated for the scholarship.
*Scholarships are awarded annually, based on grades being checked in the Fall.
†Scholarship award amounts are prorated based on the total credits a student is enrolled in.
If you are planning to defer for the upcoming semester, keep these important things in mind:
- Loans: You will have to start repaying loans if you are not enrolled in at least 6 program-applicable credits for 6 months or more. Contact your loan servicer to plan accordingly.
- Missionary Deferment: If you have received loans and are leaving on a mission, you are still responsible for those loans. Contact your loan servicer to plan accordingly.
- If you officially defer for a mission, your BYU-Idaho scholarships will remain available to you upon your return. BYU-Idaho scholarships are not held for any other type of deferment.
- If you leave school for medical or other reasons, you may have to repay your loans. Talk to your loan servicer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Academic Advising helps students plan for graduation and can explain which classes count for your declared major and why others do not. All courses must be program-applicable before the Financial Aid ...
If you are changing your major, the change must be completed by the Major Change Deadline for classes in your new major to be eligible for aid that semester. If you missed this deadline, your classes ...
Yes. You can receive Pell Grants and Federal Loans for all three semesters at BYU-Idaho, including during your off-track session. You may need to adjust the academic year settings in your Financial Ai...