This information is accurate at all Aurora University locations and subject to change without prior notice.

1. A student has the right to know the criteria used to determine his/her financial need and the aid he/she has been awarded. A student also has the right to decline any or all of the awarded aid.
2. Students must apply for financial aid every year. Aurora University highly recommends completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible beginning October 1. Students turning in financial aid paperwork and completing their 2024-25 financial aid file after July 1, 2024, may incur late fees and/or penalties. 
3. If a student has been selected for verification, he/she must submit requested items to the Office of Financial Aid. Verification must be completed before any financial aid, including loans, can be credited to their account. Please Note: The verification process may take longer if FAFSA corrections are required. Corrections to FAFSA information may result in changes to a student’s financial aid eligibility, which a student would be notified of via a revised financial aid offer letter.
4. Special Circumstance and Dependency Override Requests: There are times when a student may encounter a situation that is not reflected in the information requested on his/her FAFSA. If he/she has extenuating circumstances, he/she may complete a Special Circumstance or Dependency Override Request. The Office of Financial Aid reviews completed requests weekly. These forms are available here under "Petitions and Appeals."
5. A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid. For additional information, refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedures.
6. Definitions of Enrollment per Semester:

   Enrollment per Semester

   Type	Undergraduate	Graduate - Doctoral
   Full-time	12 or more credits	6 or more credits
   Three-quarter time	9 - 11 credits	5 credits
   Half-time	6 - 8 credits	3 - 4 credits
   Less than half-time	< 6 credits	< 3 credits

7. Definitions of Academic Level: A student’s academic level is a factor in determining their Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loan eligibility.

   Federal Direct Stafford Loan Eligibility

   Academic Level	Credit Hours
   Freshman	0 - 29 hours
   Sophomore	30 - 59 hours
   Junior	60 - 89 hours
   Senior	90+ hours

8. Each student has a cost of attendance that is based on direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are those costs billed by the university. Your actual tuition and fee charges and housing and food charges (if living on campus) will reflect on your billing statement (e-Bill). Indirect costs are common school expenses that a student may incur while attending college. These are NOT billable costs, but these costs are taken into account when determining your eligibility for financial aid. Indirect costs are based on the costs experienced by the average student and can vary based on individual spending decisions.  Specific direct charges can be found at Tuition and Fees, and cost of attendance by student type can be found on the Office of Financial Aid Page.
9. No federal or state aid will be awarded to a student who owes a refund or repayment on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) or who is in default on a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, or Federal Perkins Loan.
10. All financial aid received in excess of a student’s need and/or cost of attendance must be returned/repaid. The total of any financial aid programs designated as applicable toward tuition only cannot exceed the direct cost of tuition.
11. If a student or other individual misreports information or alters documents to fraudulently obtain federal funds, this will result in the cancellation of aid and referral to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.
12. The Student Accounts Office will apply federal and state financial aid to allowable charges such as tuition, fees, housing, and meal plan as well as authorized miscellaneous charges per the Financial Responsibility Agreement form. Excess funds, if applicable, will be refunded to the student and/or parent within 14 calendar days from when the credit balance becomes available. If a student receives a refund of credit and then has a reduction in financial aid, add additional classes, incurs additional charges, or withdraws from all courses, he/she is responsible for paying the outstanding balance. If the student prefers to have any credit balance held on his/her student account during the academic year, he/she can arrange this with the Student Accounts Office.
13. A student’s enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by AU may be considered enrollment at AU for the purpose of applying for assistance under the FSA programs. The student must complete the Study Abroad Consortium Agreement Application and Contract.
14. Students are responsible for reporting any of the following to the Office of Financial Aid:
    1. Change in enrollment
    2. Change in living arrangements
    3. Change in academic level
    4. Receipt of tuition benefits/reimbursement from outside source
    5. Receipt of an external scholarship
15. You will receive a more accurate offer letter for an academic year if you register up front for all of your classes.  It is especially important to register for all modules in a semester before that semester begins.
16. Summer financial aid requires a separate institutional application in addition to the FAFSA for the applicable academic year. Applications will be available beginning in December. If eligible for summer aid, he/she will receive an offer letter. He/She will also be notified if he/she is not eligible for aid during the summer term. Additional items may need to be submitted if requested.
17. If borrowing a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loan for the first time, a student must complete an Entrance Counseling session. He/She must complete an Exit Counseling session if his/her enrollment falls below half time, prior to graduation, or upon leaving the university. At that time, he/she may contact the U.S. Department of Education to inquire about repayment and/or deferment of his/her federal loans. It is important for the student to recognize their obligation to repay loans.
18. A student’s loan disbursement dates have been predetermined by AU. Students enrolled in a semester or a modular program will have one scheduled loan disbursement each semester of attendance. Summer semester loan disbursements are based on summer course dates. The student’s loan disclosure statement from the U.S. Department of Education will indicate his/her anticipated disbursement dates and amounts. Students will be notified by the Student Accounts Office via their AU email accounts upon arrival of their loan disbursement(s). Students can manage their federal loans at studentaid.gov.
19. Tuition Refund Policy: Refer to the Payment of Charges Promise to Pay section of the Financial Responsibility Agreement form on the Student Accounts webpage for additional information. Withdrawing from courses may reduce or eliminate financial aid based on a student’s final enrollment.
20. Housing and meal plan charges are subject to a different refund policy, which is determined by the Office of Residence Life.
21. A student’s eligibility for financial aid may be affected if he/she withdraws from any or all of his/her classes. Check with the Office of Financial Aid before withdrawing from any classes. If a student makes the decision to withdraw from Aurora University at any time, the student utilizes the "Withdraw from Aurora University" or "Request an Academic Leave of Absence" links located in Self-Service.
22. Return of Federal Funds Policy: Students who receive Title IV funds and withdraw from classes up through the 60% point in a period of enrollment may no longer be eligible for the full amount of federal aid. Title IV (federal aid) includes: Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Additionally, students may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement if, prior to withdrawing, the student earned more federal financial aid than was disbursed.
    Further details regarding the federal returns calculations are available in the Withdrawals and Return of Federal Title IV Funds policy at aurora.edu/returnfunds and the Office of Financial Aid.

​This information is accurate at all Aurora University locations and subject to change without prior notice.