50.2.0 Financial Aid: Academic Eligibility
50.2.1 Satisfactory Progress
50.2.1.1 Federal Aid
(Federal Stafford Loans, Parent Loans, Work-Study, Pell Grant, Seog Grants)
Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain minimum program pursuit and academic progress standards in order to continue to receive assistance. Use the chart below for your degree program to determine your minimum requirements. (Transfer credits will be considered to determine placement on the chart)
| Status | ATTEMPTED CREDITS/REQUIRED GPA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | 1-23 | 24-35 | 36-47 | 48-59 | 60-71 | 72+ |
| Minimum GPA Requirement | 1.25 | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| % of Attempted Credits Successfully Completed | 50% | 50% | 66.7% | 66.7% | 66.7% | 66.7% |
Additionally, students are required to complete their degree with 150% of a normal timeframe. Attempted hours will vary with required program lengths, see examples below.
Example 1: For a 60 credit-hour, degree program, you must complete it with 90 attempted hours. (90 attempted Credit Hours/60 Passed Credit Hours = 150%)
Example 2: The Nursing Associate Degree requires 65 credit hours. 65 Passed Credit Hours x 1.5 (150%) = 98 credit hours may be attempted.
Total attempted credit hours for this purpose include withdrawn courses and transfer credits. Total attempted hours will be used regardless of any program changes that have occurred (switching majors, etc.). Grades of “W” count towards total attempted hours. Repeated courses that were previously passed count only once. Remedial courses that are not credit-bearing do count in the total attempted hours but not in total earned hours.
Courses enrolled in each semester must be applicable to the students’ current degree program.
Failure to Meet Minimum Standards (Please be aware that these are not the same as Academic Recovery & Suspensions given out by the Dean’s Offices.)
Step 1 – Financial Aid Warning
A student who does not meet the required minimum standards will automatically be given a one-time warning semester. This gives the student an opportunity to correct any deficiencies without losing federal aid eligibility. If a student withdraws from college, they have not met academic progress requirements.
Step 2 – Financial Aid Termination
A student who fails a second time to meet the minimum standards will lose all federal aid eligibility. Eligibility can only be regained once they are again meeting the minimum standards.
Note: If ALL courses taken while on warning are successfully passed with a 2.0 or better, you can continue on warning.
50.2.1.2 Waiver Requests
If failure to meet standards is due to extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control, they may apply for a one-time waiver. All waiver applications must include documentation that shows the extenuating circumstances that caused you to not meet academic progress standards and how the situation has been resolved to the point that it should not reoccur. The application and documentation will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Director. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, the student will be given an academic plan to maintain eligibility.
An Academic Suspension from the Dean’s Office overrides this eligibility criteria. Suspended students are ineligible for all financial aid.
Questions should be directed to the One Hop Shop.
New York State Aid (TAP Grant, SUSTA Grant, APTS Grant)
Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain minimum program pursuit and academic progress standards in order to continue to receive assistance. Use the chart below to determine your minimum requirements. Note: Eligibility for all EOP funds is determined separately by the EOP Office.
-
- If you received TAP at another college, be sure to include that in the number of semesters you have received TAP.
- To calculate the percentage of credits you have completed, divide total semester attempted credits by total earned credits.
Certificate/Associate Degree Programs
(Remedial Students*)
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 2 | 9 | 0.75 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 18 | 1.30 | 75%/9 credits |
| 4 | 30 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 45 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
* Remedial Students are EOP Students or any student required to take at least 2 remedial courses with the first two semesters.
Certificate/Associate Degree Programs
(Non-Remedial Students)
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 1.30 | 50%/6 credits |
| 2 | 15 | 1.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 27 | 1.80 | 75%/9 credits |
| 4 | 39 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 51 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
Bachelor Degree Programs (Remedial Students*)
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1.10 | 50%/6 credits |
| 2 | 9 | 1.20 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 21 | 1.30 | 75%/9 credits |
| 4 | 33 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 45 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 6 | 60 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 7 | 75 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 8** | 90 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 9** | 105 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
* Remedial Students are EOP Students or any student required to take at least 2 remedial courses with the first two semesters.
Bachelor Degree Programs
(Non-Remedial Students)
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 1.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 2 | 15 | 1.80 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 27 | 1.80 | 75%/9 credits |
| 4 | 39 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 51 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 6 | 66 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 7 | 81 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 8 | 96 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 9 | 111 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
For Disabled Students as defined by ADA of 1990 (New as of 2015-16)
Certificate/Associate Degrees
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1.30 | 50% |
| 2 | 9 | 1.50 | 50% |
| 3 | 18 | 1.80 | 75% |
| 4 | 30 | 2.00 | 75% |
| 5 | 42 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 6 | 51 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 7 | 60 | 2.00 | 100% |
Bachelor Degrees
| Semesters of TAP Received | Earned Credit Hours | Cumulative GPA | Percentage of Credits Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1.50 | 50% |
| 2 | 9 | 1.80 | 50% |
| 3 | 21 | 1.80 | 75% |
| 4 | 33 | 2.00 | 75% |
| 5 | 45 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 6 | 60 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 7 | 75 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 8 | 90 | 2.00 | 100% |
| 9 | 105 | 2.00 | 100% |
50.2.1.3 Failure to Meet Minimum Standards
If a student fails to meet state academic progress requirements as outlined above at the end of the semester, they will lose eligibility for the next year they attend. Eligibility will be regained once they meet the above standards. Additionally, students who stop attending for more than one year may regain eligibility upon return for one semester (if over 4 prior semesters of TAP you must have a 2.0 overall GPA). Then you must meet academic progress criteria each subsequent semester.
-
- If a student withdraws from college, they have not met academic progress requirements (automatic).
- APTS recipients who fail to receive a 1.0 (D) in a semester will not be eligible for APTS the following semester, even if otherwise meeting progress requirements.
Waiver Requests
If failure to meet standards is due to extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control, they may apply for a one-time waiver. All waiver applications must include documentation that shows the extenuating circumstances that caused you to not meet academic progress standards and how the situation has been resolved to the point that it should not reoccur. The application and documentation will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Director. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, the student will be given an academic plan to maintain eligibility.
Important things to keep in mind
-
- Grades of “W” count towards total attempted hours.
- Remedial courses that are not credit-bearing will not count in the total earned hours.
- Repeated courses that were previously passed do not count as additional passed or earned hours for the semester
- Courses enrolled in each semester must be applicable to the students’ current degree program.
- Repeating any course in which a passing grade has already been received (D or above) will not count toward full-time status, unless the College Catalog states a higher grade is required for the current curriculum.
An Academic Suspension from the Dean’s Office overrides this eligibility criteria. Suspended students are ineligible for all financial aid.
Questions should be directed to the One Hop Shop.
50.2.2 Financial Aid Processing
Application Process: The FAFSA will be available in October, for the next academic year and will use income information from the tax year two years prior. So for the 2024-2025 award year you will use 2022 income to complete the FAFSA. Everyone who will be providing information on the FAFSA will need an FSA ID to access the form.
Deadline: The preferred deadline for filing the FAFSA for the next academic year is January 1st and the priority deadline is March 1st. Certain Federal funds (College Work Study, and SEOG grants) are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students who file by this deadline. Late filers must have their financial aid processed before their tuition bill is due for fall semester if they plan to use financial aid toward their bill.
The student’s FAFSA process is not complete until all requirements are finished. The student can track these requirements on their UCanWeb account. The FAFSA and NYS TAP applications are required to be completed prior to applying for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship. There will be specific deadlines for the Excelsior application for each semester.
Special Circumstances: If a student feels that they have a special circumstance that needs to be taken into consideration for financial aid eligibility, the Student Service Center may be able to recalculate their eligibility within Federal guidelines. To request a special circumstance review you must contact the Student Service Center and speak with a Financial Aid counselor to discuss your special circumstance and determine what documentation will be required based on your individual situation.
Applications for special circumstances consideration must be submitted and completed prior to the end of the student’s enrollment.
Study Abroad: Enrollment in a study-abroad program approved for credit by the student’s School Dean may be considered in determining eligibility for Federal student aid.
Drug Conviction: Students convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while they received federal financial aid will no longer be eligible for federal aid until certain conditions are met. Please refer to the Financial Aid webpage for details.
50.2.3 Excelsior Scholarship
General Eligibility Requirements
- For 2019-20 and thereafter, family AGI must be less than $125,000
- Students must be NYS residents
- Students must have filed their FAFSA and NYS TAP applications
- Students must be full time and on track for a degree (more info below in academic eligibility)
- Must agree to NYS residency requirements for term of receiving scholarship
Initial Academic Eligibility
Freshmen
For this purpose a freshman is considered someone who has not ever been matriculated at a college prior to their enrollment at SUNY Canton. A freshman is eligible as long as they meet general eligibility requirements and other grants/scholarships do not exceed tuition.
Transfers
For this purpose a transfer is considered someone who has been matriculated at a prior college in the past. A transfer is eligible if they transfer in the appropriate number of credits to remain on track for graduation(for ex. After 1 year of enrollment must transfer at least 30 credits toward new degree).
Academic Requirements to Maintain Eligibility
Full Time Status
Students must enroll for a minimum of 12 credits that are applicable to their degree program each semester. Remedial credits are NOT counted in this 12 credit requirement. An exception to this rule is that students who meet ADA eligibility may enroll part time but must complete all coursework attempted or meet the 30-credits rule during the year.
Annual Credits completed
Students must successfully complete an average of 30 credits per year toward their degree program. Students can earn 32 credits their first year and 28 their second for example but it cannot be the other way around. As soon as a student is decertified for not meeting credit hours, they lose the Excelsior Scholarship forever. Summer and Winterterm courses can assist in completing the 30 credits. A student’s year begins when they first matriculate whether here or at their prior school if a transfer. See “Exceptions to Above Rules” for additional information.
Example – student is matriculated in the Fall 2019 term. They have the Fall 19, Winterterm 19, Spring 20 and Summer 20 term to complete the 30 credit requirement. However, it is important to note that if the student’s Excelsior year starts in the Fall semester, the following summer is part of their first year and not their second.
Note: Jumpstart students matriculate now in the Summer so their year begins with Summer and ends with the next Spring.
Maintain on track to graduate
Students must be on track to graduate in their current degree program from their first date of matriculation. If they are in a 2-year degree they must be on track to graduate in 2 years and the same for 4 year programs. Certificate programs are not eligible for Excelsior Scholarships. Changes of major can affect this greatly and students should discuss with their advisor. They must maintain being on track to graduate on time even if changing a major.
GPA Requirement
There is no GPA requirement for Excelsior. If the courses are acceptable to their program they are acceptable to Excelsior. Therefore we will be reporting completed credits when certifying awards and not GPA.
Breaks in Attendance
If there is a break in attendance the student automatically loses Excelsior and cannot regain eligibility due to not being on track to graduate any longer. If there are extenuating circumstances they can appeal this to Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in Albany.
Residency Requirement
They must live in NY state for the same length of time that they received the scholarship.
Ex. If they only get for one semester they need to live in NY for 4 months which can be while still in school.
Exceptions to Above Rules
EOP Students – need to enroll for 12 credits within their degree program but only need to complete average of 24 per year instead of 30.
ADA Students - Can be part time or full time but must complete all courses enrolled for. If they do not complete all coursework they must meet the 30 credit annual requirement. These students must be registered as ADA with the Office of Accessibility Services to meet this.