Financial Aid Policies

Policies

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  Use of Financial Aid Funds

  You may use your financial aid funds only for education expenses incurred at UDM for the noted academic year. Financial aid for a specific term can only be used for charges for that term, not to pay prior term balances.

  Financial aid does not cover certain charges. Check your account balance monthly for any unpaid charges. You are responsible for paying all balances due.

  We apply aid directly to charges on your UDM student billing account including tuition, some fees, housing and food, and other charges. Excess funds are released to you in the form of a "refund." Any subsequent charges are your responsibility. 

  Federal financial aid is only awarded for classes that apply to your degree or eligible certificate program. It does not apply to continuing education courses, American Language and Culture Program, courses you take after completing degree requirements, etc. 

  Many UDM scholarships are for tuition only. 

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  Enrollment & Attendance Requirements

  Enrollment Levels by Credit Hours

  Table showing enrollment requirements at various degree levels.

  	Undergraduate	Graduate	Professional
  Full-Time	12+	9+	12+
  3/4	9-11	7-8	9-11
  1/2	6-8	4.5-6	6-8

  Full-Time Enrollment is Assumed

  We assume that you will enroll full-time. You may enroll less than full-time, but you must be enrolled at least half-time in classes that count for degree credit to be eligible for most aid. Federal Pell Grant recipients will receive a portion of that federal grant for less than half-time enrollment.

  While there may be flexible enrollment deadlines offered by some programs, you should still be sure to register based on the official university's calendar. Not-for-credit courses do not qualify for financial aid. If you are repeating a course, take care that your school or college has not designated it as not-for-credit. If so, it is not eligible for aid and you may be required to repay some of your already disbursed financial aid.

  Our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (linked below), addresses situations such as enrollment in incomplete courses, repeated courses, and withdrawal from classes and the impact on financial aid. To remain eligible for financial aid, students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward completing their degrees.

  If you decide to reduce your enrollment level, keep in mind:

  • Some scholarships require full-time enrollment; you could lose your scholarship if you reduce your course-load and
  • Less than full-time enrollment may reduce future aid eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress
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  Dropping Classes and Withdrawal from the University

  We monitor enrollment levels each term. If you drop courses and fall below the minimum credit hour requirements, you may have to repay all or part of your aid. Consult with a financial aid officer before you drop a class. 

  When a failing grade is given due to a student not attending a class (or when a student stops attending), it is considered an unofficial withdrawal and you could be required to repay your aid. If you have questions about your enrollment and aid eligibility, contact our office.

  If you withdraw or are asked to withdraw from the university, you must inform the Office of Financial Aid immediately. If you have received a federal student loan, you will be sent information on completing required loan repayment exit counseling. Depending upon when you withdraw, you might be required to repay all or part of your aid.

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  Required Attendance

  Enrolling in courses is not enough to secure your financial aid. You must also attend the courses in which you enroll. The Office of Financial Aid is required to verify that students who receive a non-passing grade (any grade other than A, B, C, D, or P) in any class attended and had meaningful academic engagement. If you receive a non-passing grade in a course or no grade is reported, we will follow up to determine whether or not you attended the class and had meaningful academic engagement. 
  
  Failure to attend can be expensive: your aid could be reduced retro­actively and you could be required to repay aid you have received. If you have any questions about your enrollment and eligibility for financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for assistance.
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  Completed Degree Requirements

  Once a student has completed degree requirements, whether or not the degree has been conferred, the student is no longer eligible for federal financial aid. For example, if a student has completed 126 credit hours toward a 126-credit hour degree program, but the degree cannot be conferred because the student’s Grade Point Average is less than a 2.0, the student cannot receive federal financial aid to take classes to increase the GPA. Further, any class for which the student received credit should be a class that applies to the student’s degree or certificate program. Students who have earned the number of credits required for a degree or certificate are considered to have finished the degree or certificate program, and are generally ineligible for further federal aid.
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  Funding For a Second Bachelor’s, Double Major, Or Dual Degree

  Undergraduate students who have received one bachelor's degree and are pursuing a second degree in another program will only be eligible for loans.

  However, a student enrolled in an approved dual-degree program or who is a double major may qualify for all types of aid. As long as each of the programs the student is completing is a Title IV-eligible program, the student may receive Title IV aid for each program. If the student completes the degree requirements of both programs at the same time, the student can receive aid from all of the Title IV programs until completion. If on the other hand, the student completes the first baccalaureate degree/major program before completing the other degree/major program, then that student is no longer eligible for Title IV grant funds to complete the second degree/major program. However, that student may still receive Federal Work-Study and Direct Loan funds to complete the requirements of the second degree/major program.

  For institutional scholarships, students should refer to the terms and conditions of their award letter regarding the number of semesters that student can receive the scholarship(s).

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  Declaring a Minor

  In order for financial aid to cover the cost of a minor, the credits taken for the minor must apply towards the degree requirements. 

  Courses used solely for a student’s minor cannot be used to determine a student’s federal aid eligibility. Financial
  aid issues arise when minors are added or attempted to be completed after the student has completed all major
  and general education requirements, and has earned the minimum number of earned credit hours to graduate.

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  Taking non degree required coursework

  Students can only receive federal financial aid for courses that count towards their degree. If you want to take a course that isn't a degree requirement, you may still do that but non required courses will not be calculated into your financial aid enrollment status.

  Students can see if the courses they are enrolled in count towards their degree by reviewing their Degree Evaluation.

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  Combined Undergraduate and Graduate/Professional Degree Programs

  Graduate courses taken by Undergraduate students will not be counted in the total enrollment and will not be eligible for financial aid, unless the student is in a combined undergraduate/graduate program and the graduate courses fulfill requirements in the undergraduate degree. Students in the fifth year of these programs are always considered to be graduate students and will be packaged with graduate-level assistance.

  Undergraduate courses taken by Graduate students will not be counted in the total enrollment and will not be eligible for financial aid.

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  Repeated Coursework

  • If a student is repeating a course that was previously failed, the student is eligible to receive financial aid for that course.
  • If a student is repeating a course that was previously passed with a D or better (or “Pass” grade), the student can receive financial aid for the repeated course one additional time. This applies even if the student did not receive financial aid when they passed the course previously.
  • Once a student has completed any course twice and earned a passing grade (with a D or better, including “Pass” grade) both times, they are no longer eligible to receive federal financial aid for that course.

  Students may not receive aid for courses in a degree program for which they have already received a degree. For instance, if a student receives a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, the student is not eligible for financial aid for further courses in the Master’s in Criminal Justice program.

  If a student retakes a course that is no longer eligible for financial aid, the units are excluded from the total enrollment and the student’s financial aid will be adjusted to exclude these units. Unfortunately, this policy is based on federal regulations and can not be appealed, even if a student needs to retake a class to meet their major/program GPA requirements or if a personal desire drives them to improve their grade. 

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  Merit Scholarship Renewal

  Scholarships awarded at the time of admission are for full-time, undergraduate enrollment, and are renewable each year for a maximum of four years (eight semesters, Fall and Winter). 

  Program Exceptions:

  • Architecture: Students who received a merit scholarship as an undergraduate will receive a $4,000 academic scholarship each semester of the graduate phase of the program (two semesters).

  • Architectural Engineering: Students are eligible to receive their undergraduate scholarship and grant offer for the entirety of the undergraduate Architectural Engineering program which is five years (10 semesters).

  • 5-Year Physician Assistant: Students will receive a $2,500 academic scholarship each semester of the graduate phase of the program (six semesters).

  Scholarship and Grant Renewal Requirements:

  • Maintain a 2.0 GPA unless otherwise noted*
  • Maintain continuous, full-time enrollment
  • Contribute to the Detroit Mercy community through service and leadership
  • Be a conscientious and responsible member of the Detroit Mercy community

  *The following scholarships have different GPA requirements. If students do not meet the GPA requirement, their scholarship may be canceled or adjusted:

  • Detroit Promise 2.5 GPA requirement
  • Commerce Scholarship 3.0 GPA requirement 
  • Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship 3.0 GPA requirement
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  Status of Previously Received Federal Aid

  You must be in good standing with Federal Student Aid to continue to receive federal financial aid. Good standing means that you are not in default on any previously borrowed federal loans and that you do not owe back previously received federal grants and/or federal loans from post secondary institutions.
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  Academic Dismissal

  Students who are academically dismissed from their college are automatically ineligible for federal financial aid, as federal regulations require that the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy be as strict as the college policy. Students who are re-admitted may receive aid if they are reviewed for SAP and are deemed eligible.
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  Verification Policy

  Verification is a federal process used to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, additional information will be required to complete your financial aid file.
  
  Students may be provided with a financial aid award before submitting all the required documentation to complete the verification process. Verification documents should be submitted to our office as soon as possible. Financial aid will not be disbursed until federal verification is complete. Should the verified financial information differ significantly from the original information provided on your FAFSA  there may be a change in your financial aid eligibility.
  
  Verification must be completed no later than 120 days after the last date of enrollment for the academic year in order to be considered for a late disbursement.

  Required Documentation

  The documentation required for the verification process can vary. Students can confirm what information is needed by checking their online portal which will indicate the information needed to complete your financial aid file. Typically students selected for verification will have to submit the following documents:

  • Verification Worksheet
  • Signed copies of federal/foreign tax returns or IRS Tax Return Transcripts for the student and parent. 
    If the student or parent is not required to file a tax return, a non-filer statement is required along with copies of your W2 forms. The IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter is required from parents of dependent students who did not file a tax return as well as independent students (and spouse, if applicable) who did not file a tax return. Dependent students are not required to submit an IRS Verification of Non-Filing letter. 
  • Additional documentation may be required for some to verify:
    • Untaxed Income
    • High School Completion Status
    • Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose​