Maintaining Eligibility

Maintain at least half-time enrollment – in courses required for your program.

Note: Some students may receive Pell with less than six credits. Learn more.

Undergraduate Students:

6 credits/semester

Graduate Students:

5 credits/semester

Undergraduate prerequisite courses for graduate programs are NOT considered part of degree programs for federal financial aid.

Not all certificate programs qualify for federal student aid funding. See which certificate programs are eligible for federal financial aid.

Students who withdraw from or cease to attend their classes may be subject to a Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation which may result in funds being returned to the federal government and a balance due to the university. Check Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) policy for details.

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) – towards completion of your degree program.

To remain eligible for federal student aid, the U.S. Department of Education requires that students are monitored for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). You can always check your academic status in myWilmU.

Learn more about the financial aid SAP requirements for undergraduate and graduate students.

Monitor your Federal Aid History.

Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans and Federal Pell Grants are limited funds. Students are only allowed to receive Pell Grants for a total of six years at full-time status during the pursuit of their first bachelor’s degree. Federal student loans have annual and aggregate borrowing limits.  This means that students may only borrow up to specified amounts per academic year based on their grade level and dependency status (annual limits). In addition, there are aggregate borrowing limits based on dependency status and degree level. If you continually borrow more funds than you need each semester, or if you fail to complete the courses in which you enroll and receive aid, you run the risk of losing your eligibility to borrow federal student loans before you complete your degree. You can monitor your borrowing here.

Finally, your federal student aid does not always cover your entire tuition and fee charges each semester.  Therefore, it is important that you monitor your student billing account and make arrangements with Student Billing to pay any outstanding balance you may have.