Understanding Your Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

Financial aid is awarded per academic school year. Returning students must reapply by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students can begin filing their FAFSA as early as October 1 annually; the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) strongly encourages students to file the FAFSA as soon possible after October 1.

General Information

College of DuPage requires students not fully covered by financial aid or military benefits to enroll in a payment plan or pay their account balance by the payment due date.

Your financial aid award is based on your demonstrated financial need, as determined by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your Cost of Attendance at College of DuPage. Your EFC is calculated by the Federal Processor based on information you submitted on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Your Cost of Attendance includes:

The Board approved tuition and fee charges for full-time enrollment for a 9 month period (academic year)
Allowance for room and board according to the living arrangements specified on your FAFSA
Allowance for books, transportation, and personal expenses as dictated by Federal regulations

Your financial aid award letter may include grants, loans, and/or work study awarded through College of DuPage. You may accept all or a portion of your financial aid award. You may also reject any portion of your financial aid award. To maintain your eligibility for these awards you must continue to demonstrate financial need, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program, and be academically engaged in your classes for the entire length of the term. No Attendance means No Financial Aid. Failure to meet these criteria will result in the removal or reduction of your financial aid award.

After tuition, fees, and other charges are paid, unless otherwise notified, Pell, FSEOG, and STS will be available to students mid-term in the form of a refund. If you signed up for e-Refunds then the funds will automatically be deposited into your designated account. If direct deposit hasn’t been set up, your refund will be available in the form of a check for pick up at the Cashier’s Office. These funds are available for use towards your remaining educational expenses.

If you owe a balance to College of DuPage due to an overpayment of financial aid or are in default on an educational loan, you will not receive financial aid. General Terms and Conditions of Your Award As a recipient of financial aid (which includes grants, loans and work-study), you are the beneficiary of monies made available to you by a variety of agencies – federal, state, institutional, and private. When you accept your financial aid award(s) you are agreeing that you have read, understood, and are aware of the obligations and responsibilities included within this letter.

Your financial aid award was determined in accordance with laws and regulations in effect at the time of the calculation of your award and the availability of funds. Your financial aid is awarded based on full-time enrollment. The aid amounts on your award letter are estimated and may change if your enrollment or eligibility changes. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) reserves the right to modify, reduce, or cancel your award if these laws are amended or funds are withdrawn or exhausted.
The information you submitted on your application is current, complete, and true to the best of your knowledge. You are also a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
You agree to notify the OSFA of any financial assistance you receive that is not listed on the financial aid award letter. This includes tuition waiver(s) and/or scholarship(s) received from College of DuPage departments /programs, receipt or loss of any non-College of DuPage financial assistance, any part-time employment other than Federal Work-Study (FWS), and/or Job Opportunity Training Grant (WOIA) funds.
You will keep the OSFA informed of any changes (favorable as well as unfavorable) in your financial circumstances that occur within the award period including a change of address and/or name. You may request a recalculation of your financial need if there is a substantial change in your family’s financial circumstances. However, this may not result in an increase in financial aid.
Failure to report additional assistance received can result in the adjustment, cancellation, or required repayment of aid offered by the College of DuPage. The OSFA is required to adjust all awards in relation to your financial need.
To receive financial aid funds - whether it is grants or loans - you must be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program. A regular student is defined as someone who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at College of DuPage for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate offered by College of DuPage. You must enroll in classes leading to a U.S Department of Education approved certificate or degree for financial aid purposes at the College of DuPage. Classes must apply to your degree or certificate program. Your financial aid will then be awarded based on the registered credit hours for your degree/certificate program. Financial aid is to be used towards the payment of required tuition and fees, books and supplies, and for maintenance costs related to your attendance at College of DuPage.
You cannot receive financial aid from two schools at the same time for the same semester.
According to the Federal Refund Policy, if you withdraw from or stop attending class(es) prior to completing 60% of the term, you could owe a refund of grant and/or loan funds to the College of DuPage and to the Federal Government. The amount owed is based upon your grant and/or loan amounts and your last date of attendance.
If you withdraw from all classes or drop below half-time enrollment at any time prior to receipt of your Federal Direct Loan or PLUS Loan funds, you may be ineligible to receive your Federal Direct Loan or Federal Direct PLUS loan funds.
If you withdraw from all classes during a term for which you received a Federal Direct Loan or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, you may be ineligible to receive any subsequent funds.
If your instructor reports you as a Non Attend on their Enrollment Verification, then your financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly. In accordance with Federal Regulations, your financial aid awards must be adjusted for any class reported that you are not attending. Federal Regulations require active participation in class to be eligible for Federal funds. This may cause you to owe a balance.
If you are awarded a scholarship and you withdraw completely or fall below the scholarship criteria, you may be responsible for repayment of your scholarship.
To maintain your eligibility for financial aid you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Financial aid can only cover up to 30 semester hours of below 1000 level courses.
Financial aid will not pay for a class that you have taken twice and passed at least one of those times.

Explanation of Financial Aid Awards

If you have any questions about how your financial aid award was determined or if you feel you have extenuating circumstances regarding your financial aid eligibility, contact the OSFA.

The actual disbursement of financial aid varies and is dependent on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and your enrollment status:

Full-time = 12 credit hours or more
Three Quarter time = 9 to 11 credit hours
Half-time = 6 to 8 hours
Less than half-time = 1 to 5 credit hours

Federal Pell Grant

Your Federal Pell Grant award is determined upon your enrollment status after the refund period for each of your registered classes. This date is referred to as the “census date.”

If your financial aid is awarded after the census date, your Federal Pell Grant award could be determined by your enrollment hours at that time. In addition, if term grades post before your Pell Grant is awarded, your Federal Pell Grant award will be based upon your earned hours. Disbursement information can be found online under Important Notes and Dates.
If you register for classes late or after the census date, then your Federal Pell Grant will not include those classes when determining your award amount. Regardless of when you started attending those classes. This may cause you to owe a balance at College of DuPage
You can estimate your Pell Grant award based on your enrollment, by logging into your myACCESS and clicking on PELL Grant Calculator

Charging Books and Supplies

You may be eligible to charge your required books and supplies in the bookstore on the main campus against your financial aid if there is money remaining after covering your tuition costs and you have completed the Bookstore Authorization Form.

The bookstore dates can be found online under Important Notes and Dates.

If you are eligible to charge your books against your financial aid, you must bring a copy of your schedule and a Photo ID to present at the registers in the Bookstore at checkout. Your book charges will be deducted from your financial aid awards. If your book charges exceed your financial aid award, you will be responsible for paying the difference. Please Note: If you add/drop classes after purchasing your books in the bookstore, you may end up owing some money back. Check with the OSFA before dropping/adding any classes.

Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Awards

The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) is available from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to Illinois residents who are undergraduate students at an approved Illinois college. The award is applied to in-district tuition and mandatory fees only and does not include class or lab fees. The Illinois MAP Grant only covers Fall and Spring Semesters. The Illinois MAP Grant cannot be used for Summer Semester.

If your financial aid is awarded after the census date, your Illinois MAP Grant award could be determined by your enrollment hours at that time. In addition, if term grades post before your Illinois MAP Grant is awarded, your Illinois MAP Grant award will be based upon your earned hours.
If you register for classes late or after the census date, then your Illinois MAP Grant will not include those classes when determining your award amount. Regardless of when you started attending those classes. This may cause you to owe a balance at College of DuPage

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) you have been considered for the State of Illinois (IL) Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. All MAP-approved institutions are required by the State of Illinois to announce MAP Grant awards to students who are enrolled or intending to enroll at their institution. An award amount is included on this letter if you have met the eligibility criteria.

The MAP Grant award amount is an estimate made by the financial aid office and is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)". Be aware that the number of available MAP Grants is limited by funding levels approved by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor, and reductions to estimated or actual MAP Grants are possible.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Awards

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded to students who demonstrate the most need and is awarded on a first come first serve basis. The actual disbursement amount will be dependent upon your enrollment status as of the census date. The FSEOG Grant is available for fall and spring semesters; in the event the fund is not exhausted, the institution may be awarded for the summer term.

If your financial aid is awarded after the census date, your FSEOG award could be determined by your enrollment hours at that time. In addition, if term grades post before your FSEOG is awarded, your FSEOG award will be based upon your successfully completed and earned hours. Disbursement information can be found online under Important Notes and Dates.
If you register for classes late or after the census date, then your FSEOG Award will not include those classes when determining your award amount. Regardless of when you started attending those classes. This may cause you to owe a balance at College of DuPage

FWS Awards

The Federal Work Study (FWS) Program gives you the opportunity to earn money to help pay your educational expenses. The amount of the award represents the maximum amount you may earn under this program; it is not a guarantee of earnings. For more information regarding Federal Work Study positions available, pay rate and hours – visit Human Resources.

FSEOG, and FWS awards are based on the institutional awarding policy and available funds.

Federal Direct Loans

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a low interest loan based on financial need as determined by your Expected Family Contribution and Cost of Attendance. The federal government pays the interest while you are in school or during your 6-month grace period. The interest rate is calculated every July 1. For current interest rate information, visit studentaid.gov. You must enroll and be actively participating in a minimum six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for a Direct Subsidized Loan.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a low interest loan and not based on financial need. You are responsible for interest payments while in school. The interest rate is calculated every July 1. For current interest rate information, visit studentaid.gov. You must enroll and be actively participating in six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is borrowed by the parent on behalf of their dependent student and is not based on financial need. The interest rate is calculated every July 1. For current interest rate information, visit studentaid.gov The student must enroll and be actively participating in six (6) credit hours or more to be eligible for a PLUS Loan.

General Information for Loans

All Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and PLUS Loan information will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system.

First time Direct Loan borrowers at College of DuPage must complete Entrance Loan Counseling before a Direct Loan is processed. Entrance Loan Counseling can be completed online at studentaid.gov

All Direct Loan borrowers must also complete a Master Promissory Note, MPN, online at studentaid.gov

Direct Loan funds (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) and Parent PLUS Loan funds will disburse in two equal payments for each term of the loan. For example, in Fall Semester your loan funds will disburse in two equal payments and the same for Spring Semester, and/or Summer Semesters. Refer to your Notice of Disclosure for specific disbursement information. Disbursement dates may be updated depending on the class sessions in which you enroll (ex: 16 week session vs. 2nd 8 week session). Disbursement information can also be found online under Important Notes and Dates.

Any PLUS Loan refund checks will be issued to the student of the parent borrower, unless otherwise requested by the parent.

All loan recipients – including Direct and PLUS - must enroll and complete a minimum of six (6) eligible credit hours including approved remedial courses, each term. If term grades post before your Federal Direct Loan funds are disbursed, your loan disbursement will be based upon your successfully earned hours. Refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for additional information. You can also review requirements to receive a Federal Student Loan online at studentaid.gov

You are required to complete Exit Loan Counseling before leaving College of DuPage, or if your enrollment drops to fewer than six credit hours. Exit Loan Counseling can be completed online at studentaid.gov

College of DuPage does not process Direct/PLUS Loans for students who attend College of DuPage for Summer term classes only.

If your financial aid is awarded after the census date, your Federal Direct Loan award could be determined by your enrollment hours at that time. In addition, if term grades post before your Federal Direct Loan is awarded, your Federal Direct Loan award will be based upon your successfully completed and earned hours. Disbursement information can be found online under Important Notes and Dates.
If you register for classes after the census date, then your Federal Direct Loans and/or PLUS Loans will not include those classes when determining your award amount. Regardless of when you started attending those classes. This may cause you to owe a balance at College of DuPage

The College prohibits discrimination in its admissions, employment, and educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, creed, national origin, age, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, arrest record, military status or unfavorable military discharge, citizenship status, and physical or mental disability. (Board Policy 5010; 20-5)