For many students, financial aid is the only reason they can afford to go to college. Unfortunately, getting approved for aid (which may include scholarships and federal loans), isn’t a guarantee that you will have it throughout all your years in college. Schools can suspend — or even cut-off — financial aid for a number of different reasons, including poor academic performance.
Fortunately, a financial aid suspension typically doesn’t disqualify you from getting aid in the future. You will, however, need to take some steps to appeal the suspension and get your aid reinstated.
Read on to learn why federal financial aid can get suspended and what you can do to get it back.
Table of Contents
Key Points
• Financial aid suspension occurs when previously granted aid is halted due to various reasons such as poor academic performance.
• Students are notified of suspensions by their school’s financial aid office, which can also provide reasons and potential steps for reinstatement.
• Common causes for suspension include not maintaining satisfactory academic progress, taking too long to complete a degree, and not reapplying for aid annually.
• Students can appeal financial aid suspensions by submitting a formal appeal letter to their school, explaining any extenuating circumstances affecting their academic performance.
• Reinstating financial aid may involve improving academic performance, changing study habits, or fulfilling specific academic criteria set by the institution.
What Is Financial Aid Suspension?
Financial aid suspension occurs when the federal financial assistance you qualified for stops coming in.
Financial aid can come in the form of scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study programs. When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are applying for federal student aid.
After your application is reviewed, you will generally receive information on what aid you are eligible for, if any. When financial aid is being suspended, you will be notified as well, generally by the financial aid office at the school where you are enrolled.
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Common Reasons for Financial Aid Suspension
Financial aid suspensions can occur for a variety of reasons. Here’s a closer look at why a student may find there are issues with their aid.
Not Making Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to be eligible for certain financial aid, you need to be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
This means you must be enrolled in a certain number of credit hours and be earning grades that are considered good enough to be working towards completing a degree or certificate in a certain time period.
SAP policies will often vary by school. Typically, SAP rules require students to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, which is a “C” average in classes.
If students receive scholarships, they may have to maintain a higher GPA than 2.0. To find out the SAP policy at a specific school, take a look at their website or contact the financial aid office.
Taking Too Long to Complete Degree
A student may experience financial aid suspension if they’ve been in school for too long. Federal financial aid is generally restricted to a time limit that is based on the length of the program the student is enrolled in.
This information is generally listed in a school’s catalog. For example, federal aid is generally limited to six years for a bachelor’s degree and three years for an associate degree.
Not Applying for Aid Each Year
You must apply for federal student aid by submitting a FAFSA each year that you are enrolled in school. Failing to submit the FAFSA means you may not receive federal aid for that year.
Also keep in mind that when you fill out the FAFSA annually, you might not receive the same amount or type of aid you received previously if your family’s financial situation has changed.
Making a Change to Your Course of Study
You could also lose federal aid if you switched majors and the aid was tied to your original major. Other changes that can lead to loss of financial aid include switching schools, not taking enough credits to qualify for the aid, and defaulting on other student loans.
Not Meeting General Eligibility Requirements
In order to continue receiving federal aid, you need to continue meeting the general eligibility requirements set by the Department of Education.
For example, if a student is not a U.S. citizen and their eligible noncitizen status expired or was revoked, then they would need to reinstate their status to keep receiving aid.
A student could also potentially lose federal financial aid if they were convicted for a drug offense or became incarcerated.
If it comes to light that a student’s high school diploma is not valid, or they have property subject to a judgment lien, that could also cause financial aid suspension.
Even though it can be frustrating and worrisome to lose financial aid, there are steps that students can take to hopefully get it back.
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Appealing a Financial Aid Decision
One of the first things you can do after being notified that your financial aid is being suspended is to call or visit your school’s financial aid office. The office can likely tell you more about why you are losing financial aid and if there is anything you can do about it, like file an appeal.
The appeals process can vary based on the school. In general, you can fill out a form and write an appeal letter to your college. In the appeals letter, you may consider sharing details about the circumstances surrounding your financial aid suspension.
For example, if you lost a loved one that semester, you might have become upset and unable to concentrate on your grades. Sometimes, students experience tough circumstances that have nothing to do with school, but their grades suffer. Schools understand that this happens and they may be willing to work with students who show they are still dedicated to their studies.
After writing the appeal letter, you can mail it or hand it into your financial aid office, depending on preferences and the process determined by the school. It can help to confirm that the office received it. In addition to writing an appeal letter, there are other ways you may be able to qualify for aid again, depending on the issue that caused the suspension of aid.
You may be able to study harder and bring your grades up, for instance. Or, you might enroll in more classes and get back on track to graduate in a certain amount of time. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you could figure out how to reinstate your status.
If you switched majors, you could look into other forms of financial aid for your new course of study. There are many ways to go about it — asking your financial office for guidance can provide insight to help you get back on track.
In some scenarios, you might lose financial aid for the year and then be able to reapply through FAFSA the next year. If you still don’t receive aid, you may need to look into alternative options to pay for your education.
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Avoiding Financial Mistakes in College
If you went through financial aid suspension and couldn’t appeal the decision, you’ll need to figure out ways in which you can pay for school without hurting your financial future.
For instance, you may want to reconsider staying in the dorms and on an expensive college meal plan if you can’t afford it. If you do continue to live and eat on campus, you could run up a huge bill that in and of itself could take years to pay off.
While it may be tempting to put extra expenses on a credit card, debt can add up quickly. If you use a credit card but are unable to pay off your balance every month, you could end up graduating with student loan debt and credit card debt. Credit card debt can have relatively high interest rates which can make it difficult to pay off.
Also keep in mind that, while going to an expensive private school may seem more prestigious, state schools can also be solid options, offering rigorous programs as well.
I Lost My Financial Aid — How Do I Pay For School?
There are many students wondering how to pay for school if they no longer have financial aid — and thankfully, there are a number of ways to cover the cost of college.
One option is to consider transferring to a school that offers a lower tuition or where you can qualify for a more competitive aid package or scholarship.
If you aren’t able to transfer, or already go to a less expensive school, you might try to find a job on or off campus and start earning money to pay for your education.
You might also consider budgeting and cutting costs as needed. A few options to cut expenses might include opting to use public transportation instead of driving, moving to cheaper housing off-campus, cooking meals at home instead of eating out, or limiting how much you spend on entertainment.
You might also consider turning to family members for help. If your parents are able to help pay for your tuition or take out loans to pay for it, this could be a solution.
Another option you might consider is taking out a private student loan. Before applying for a private student loan, however, it’s important to compare different lenders and loan rates and terms. Each lender will also have their own eligibility requirements, so it’s worth looking around at different options.
Unlike federal student loans, private student loans generally require a credit check. If you don’t have much (or any) credit history, you will typically need a cosigner, such as a parent or other adult who has strong credit. With some lenders, you can quickly find out if you qualify, and at what rate, online. Just keep in mind that private student loans don’t offer the same protections, like forbearance and income-driven repayment plans, that come with federal student loans.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
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