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Program Applicability

What is a Program Applicable course?

Students will only receive federal financial aid for courses required for their declared Program.

A Program is a student's declared major in an eligible catalog year, along with all other required components (emphasis, minor, cluster). These requirements are determined by Academic Advising. If you have questions about the applicability of your classes, meet with an Academic Advisor as soon as possible. Courses must be program applicable before the Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD) to be eligible for aid.

If a major requires an emphasis, minor or cluster, courses filling those requirements will be eligible for federal aid.

If a major does not require an emphasis, minor, or cluster, courses taken to complete those components will not be eligible for federal aid unless they can fill elective requirements.

Students can view their enrolled program applicable courses by viewing the Program Applicability Tool (PAT) on their myBYUI account.

Students receiving Federal and University Aid are subject to a Financial Aid Determination Date (FADD) for each semester aid is received.

  • Federal Aid will not disburse for classes that are considered substitutes and become program-applicable after the FADD deadline. Substitutions can take up to 1-2 weeks to process depending on the department of the major. Students will need to coordinate with academic advising and the Department Chair of their major to ensure their classes are eligible for aid by the Financial Aid Determination Date.
  • Federal and University Aid will not disburse for classes that are re-instated after the FADD deadline. If a student drops a class and is required to return aid, they must reinstate themselves back into the same class they dropped by the FADD deadline.

Are you in the right Program?

Students must have their Program officially declared before 11:59 pm Mountain Time (MT) on the Major Change Deadline.

The program on record at 11:59 pm MT on the Major Change Deadline will determine which courses are program applicable for the entire semester.

A student can change their Program after the Major Change Deadline, but that new Program will not affect the disbursement of federal aid until the following semester.

Why Program Applicability?

Pell Grants and federal student loans are funded by federal tax dollars for college students who complete the FAFSA and who have financial need. Federal regulations require that these funds are used only for courses that are required for graduation.

These federal requirements are designed to help students:

  • Stay focused on finishing their degree
  • Use tax dollars wisely
  • Graduate faster
  • Lower the cost of their overall education

Who does Program Applicability affect?

Please note that the program applicability requirements only apply to those students who are eligible to receive U.S. federal financial aid (Pell grant and/or federal student loans).