Financial Aid Student Rights & Responsibilities

Students who apply for or receive financial aid are partners in this process and have the following rights and responsibilities.

Student Responsibilities

• Read and retain copies of all financial aid documents and agreements
• Know and register for the required number of credits to receive your financial aid
• Understand that adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses may affect financial aid eligibility and disbursement
• Use financial aid funds only for educational expenses and related living costs
• Read all materials (including emails) sent to you from BYU-Idaho Financial Aid Office and other agencies awarding you financial aid

Students receiving federal financial aid must also:

• Complete the FAFSA annually to be considered for federal aid.
• Provide additional documentation if requested, within the recommended time frames.
• Always provide correct information. Reporting false information is a violation of the law and may be considered a criminal offense.
• Enroll in eligible Program Applicable (PA) credits.
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
• Repay any funds received in error or for which eligibility was not maintained.
• Be in good standing on all prior federal student aid obligations, not be in default on a federal student loan, and not owe a repayment on a federal grant.

Loans

• Complete the required Entrance and Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov
• Review all loan terms, interest rates, fees, and repayment options
• Repay federal student loans according to the terms of the Master Promissory Note.
• Notify their federal loan servicer of changes in enrollment status, name, address, or contact information.
• Comply with provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign.

Students who accept federal student loans are legally obligated to repay the full loan amount, including accrued interest and associated fees, according to the terms of the Master Promissory Note. Students should review the terms of each loan, repayment options, and loan balances at StudentAid.gov.

Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in the reduction or loss of financial aid eligibility.

Continued Eligibility

Continued eligibility for financial aid depends on:

• Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
  
  • SAP standards include minimum GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe requirements.
• Students who fail to meet SAP standards may regain eligibility through an approved appeal or by meeting published SAP requirements. Detailed SAP criteria are available on the Financial Aid website
• Maintaining required enrollment levels
• Satisfying institutional criteria for University Aid
• Meeting program-specific requirements for private scholarships or loans

It is your responsibility to know the implications dropping a course, officially withdrawing, and unofficially withdrawing will have on your student financial aid.

Disbursement of Financial Aid

Financial aid is typically disbursed once per semester by crediting the student’s university account. Federal financial aid is first applied to tuition and on-campus housing charges.

Students may authorize federal financial aid to pay additional institutional charges, including books and supplies, by completing the Federal Financial Aid Authorization form.

Disbursement amounts may change if enrollment changes before the Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD).

Students who do not authorize federal aid to pay additional charges will receive any eligible credit balance as a refund.

As a financial aid recipient, you have the right to: 

• Know the correct procedures and deadlines for applying for financial aid and the types of aid available.
• Know yourcost of attendance
• Know the type and amount of financial aid offered.
• Know how and when financial aid will be disbursed.
• Receive notification if financial aid awards are revised.
• Review the terms and conditions of any loan accepted.
• Access financial aid records in accordance with FERPA.
• Know and access BYU-Idaho’s consumer information.

Additional Information

Detailed information about financial aid and eligibility requirements is available on the Financial Aid website, including:

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards - GPA, completion rate, maximum timeframe requirements, and procedures for re-establishing eligibility.
• Aid Disbursement - Method and timing of disbursements, Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD), refunds, and Title IV authorization.
• Refund procedures - the accounting office helps students with eligible credit balances and refunds.
• Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA) - Application procedures, deadlines, and eligibility requirements.
• Federal Student Loan Information - Loan terms, interest rates, fees, sample repayment information, and repayment plan options.
• University Scholarships and Grants - Eligibility and renewal requirements for University Aid.
• Private Scholarships and other aid - Administered by external organizations. Application procedures, eligibility criteria, how and when scholarships are disbursed, and renewal requirements are determined by the awarding agency.
• Private Loans - The BYU-Idaho Financial Aid office does not endorse any specific lender. Please take the time to research and compare interest rates, eligibility requirements, and the repayment criteria of each lender before accepting an alternative loan.
• Consumer Information Disclosures - Institutional and federal disclosures 

Students are responsible for reviewing applicable policies and complying with published requirements.