Georgia Southern University offers a comprehensive program of financial aid for students who, without such aid, would be unable to continue their education. Through this program an eligible student may receive one or more types of financial aid: Grants, Loans, Scholarships, or Student Employment. Most financial aid at Georgia Southern University is awarded on the basis of a student’s academic progress and proven “financial need,” defined as the difference between a family’s estimated resources and the total estimated expense of attending the University. Georgia Southern University uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form provided by the U.S. Department of Education to measure a student’s financial aid eligibility. Contact the Office of Financial Aid at (912) 478-5413 for assistance. The Office of Financial Aid, part of the Division of Enrollment, Marketing and Student Success, is located on the second floor of Rosenwald Building on the Statesboro campus, and on the second floor of Victor Hall on the Armstrong campus. The fax number is (912) 478-7418.
Mailing address:
Office of Financial Aid
P.O. Box 8065
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8065
https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/
Four types of financial aid:
- Grants - Federal, state and privately funded grant programs are available.
- Loans - Loan programs are available from federal, state, and private agencies.
- Scholarships - Georgia Southern University offers a limited number of academic scholarships to its students.
- Student Employment - Federally-funded College Work-Study Program, or Institutional Work Program.
Application ProceduresTo apply for any Federal Title IV aid:
- Complete and submit an Application for Admission to attend Georgia Southern University.
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov, for EACH year of enrollment. Be sure to list Georgia Southern University’s federal school code, 001572, on the form.
- February 1 of each year is the preferred filing date for financial aid. Applicants not filing by this date may not have funds available by the Fall semester fee payment deadline, which is the first day of class.
More detailed information about financial aid programs can be obtained by viewing our website at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/ or by emailing the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@georgiasouthern.edu.
Employment Programs
The University offers two student employment programs: Federal College Work-Study and Institutional Work Program.
Federal College Work-Study Program - The Federal College Work- Study Program (FWS) provides jobs for students who demonstrate financial need and who want to earn money to help pay for some of their educational expenses. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish financial need in order to be awarded FWS. The amount of the award depends upon demonstrated financial need and the amount of funds available. The standard award allows the student to work 8 to 10 hours per week for a 15 to 18 week period. Visit the Financial Aid website for more information.
Institutional Work Program - The Institutional Work Program helps students find part-time jobs in the various departments on campus. All currently enrolled students may participate, and no financial eligibility requirements apply. Interested students should visit the Student Employment Center website in order to review the various on-campus job openings and part-time job opportunities available in the surrounding area. Students must be enrolled in six or more credit hours to qualify for this program.
Grant Programs
(All grant program amounts are subject to change.)
State Grants
The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers state scholarships and student grant programs. For information contact:
Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 200
Tucker, GA 30084
(800) 505-4732, or
https://www.gafutures.org/
The Georgia College Completion Grant (GCCG) assists eligible students enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution that is experiencing a financial aid gap with their cost of education.
Eligible students must have completed at least eighty (80) percent of credit requirements for graduation from their enrolled certificate, diploma or undergraduate major or program of study.
Eligible students must owe their institution for an outstanding balance of direct costs for the current term of enrollment.
Grant awards are based on program requirements and available allocated funds at the eligible institutions - University System of Georgia (USG), Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) or eligible Private non-profit postsecondary institutions in Georgia. GA Futures-GCCG
The Public Safety Memorial Grant provides grant funds to the dependent children of Georgia Public Safety Officers (law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, highway emergency response operators (HERO) and prison guards) who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. Funds may be used towards the cost of attendance at eligible colleges, universities or technical colleges in Georgia. For more information, visit GA Futures.
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is the primary federal student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It is intended to be the first and basic component of an undergraduate student’s financial aid package. To be eligible, students:
- Must be enrolled in an approved undergraduate course of study and must not have a bachelor’s degree.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen as defined in the instructions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Federal Pell Grant may be received each academic year up to a maximum of 12 semesters. The maximum Federal Pell Grant for 2024/2025 is $7395 for eligible students. Award amounts are prorated based on the number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled. For additional information visit our website at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal program administered by the Office of Financial Aid to assist undergraduate students with financial need. For additional information visit our website at http://em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid. To be eligible, students:
- Must show substantial financial need by using the FAFSA form.
- Must be eligible for Federal Pell Grant.
- Must be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study, and must not have a bachelor’s degree. The standard grant amount awarded is $600 per academic year. The federal funding for this program is limited; therefore, funds are depleted rapidly.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
This program provides grant assistance to juniors, seniors, and graduate students who have been accepted into the College of Education in specified “high-need” fields and who have a 3.25 GPA or better. Students who receive the TEACH Grant must fulfill a service obligation. If a student does not complete the service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Changes to Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants and Children of Fallen Heroes Award Eligibility
The FAFSA Simplification Act changes eligibility for what were formerly called Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG) and Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) Awards as well as the resulting award amount. Beginning with the 2024-25 award year, students who meet the eligibility requirements for Pell Grants under the Special Rule in HEA Section 401(c) will receive Max Pell, regardless of their calculated SAI. To receive a Pell Grant based on eligibility under the Special Rule, a student must be:
- The child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while (a) serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer; and
- Less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g., for the 2024-25 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible).
Loan Programs
Federal Direct Loan Program
Georgia Southern University participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program. Funding for this program comes directly from the U.S. Department of Education to assist students and parents cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school. When loans are due, borrowers will repay them directly to the federal government through the loan servicer. Additional information is available at https://studentaid.gov/.
The Federal Direct Loan Program provides low-interest, long-term loans which may be subsidized or unsubsidized. Eligible students must be admitted and enrolled in good standing at least half-time in a program leading to a degree. Half-time enrollment is defined as 6 credit hours for undergraduates and 5 credit hours for graduate students, with some exceptions. (Half-time enrollment for Summer graduate students is 3 credit hours.)
The amount students may borrow is determined by federal guidelines. The following are federal maximum amounts that students are allowed to borrow:
- Freshmen (those who have not completed 30 earned credit hours)
○ Dependent students: $5,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $3,500 yearly
○ Independent students: $9,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $3,500 yearly
- Sophomores (30-59 earned credit hours)
○ Dependent students: $6,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $4,500 yearly
○ Independent students: $10,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $4,500 yearly
- Juniors or Seniors (60 + earned credit hours)
○ Dependent students: $7,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $5,500 yearly
○ Independent students: $12,500 yearly; maximum subsidized amount = $5,500 yearly
- Graduate or Professional students: $20,500 yearly (unsubsidized only)
Repayment normally begins six months following graduation or when dropping below half-time enrollment. Payments and the length of the repayment period depend upon the amount of the student’s indebtedness. Under special circumstances, repayment of a Federal Direct Loan that is not in default may be deferred or canceled. Repayment, deferment, and cancellations are handled by a federal loan servicer.
If the student is eligible for a Federal Direct Loan, one will be offered (either subsidized or unsubsidized, or a combination of both) as part of the financial aid package. The student must then access their WINGS account to accept, decline, or reduce the loan(s). There are three types of Direct Loans: Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS Loans. Please read the following paragraphs to learn the differences between the subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans. First-time borrowers are required to complete entrance loan counseling and electronically sign a master promissory note. For additional information visit our website at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/.
Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
The amount of subsidized Federal Direct Loan a student may borrow is the difference between the cost of education (annual budget) and a student’s resources (family contribution, financial aid such as Federal College Work-Study, and any other assistance received from the school and outside resources including scholarships). However, a student may not borrow more than the federal maximum for their grade level.
If a student is eligible for a subsidized Federal Direct Loan, the government will pay the interest until graduation or until enrollment drops below half-time. The student will be assessed a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds but will not reduce the principal balance required to repay. For additional information visit our website at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/.
Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
The unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan can replace all or part of the family contribution. However, the amount of the loan may not be more than the difference between the cost of education and any financial assistance received from the school and any outside source (including the subsidized Federal Direct Loan).
The interest rate for a federal student loan varies depending on the loan type and the first disbursement date of the loan. Interest accrues on the unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan while the student is in school and during the six-month grace period before repayment begins. The student has the option of paying the interest monthly, quarterly, or having the interest added to the principal. The student will be assessed a loan origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds but will not reduce the principal balance required to repay. For additional information visit StudentAid.gov.
Additional Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
If the student is an independent undergraduate or a dependent student whose parents are denied for a PLUS Loan, the student may borrow an additional unsubsidized loan as follows: freshmen and sophomores may borrow a maximum of $4,000 per academic year; juniors and seniors may borrow a maximum of $5,000 per academic year, not to exceed the cost of education. For additional information visit our website at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/.
Federal Direct PLUS Loan
Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify.
Parent PLUS Loan: If a student is considered dependent, they may be eligible for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to assist in covering the education expenses. This loan is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The borrower will be the student’s parent (or stepparent), and a credit check will be conducted on the applicant. To apply, the parent must complete the application at StudentAid.gov, and the student must have a valid FAFSA on file.
Graduate PLUS Loan: Graduate or Professional students may be eligible for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. A credit check will be conducted on the applicant, who must be a graduate or professional student enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to a graduate or professional degree or certificate. To apply, visit StudentAid.gov.
The maximum PLUS loan amount for an academic year is determined by subtracting all financial aid from the annual cost of attendance. The borrower has the option to begin repayment on the PLUS loan either 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed or to wait until six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. A loan origination fee is deducted from each disbursement of a PLUS loan. These charges do not reduce the amount required to repay.
Georgia National Guard (GNG) Service Cancelable Loan (SCL)
The Georgia National Guard (GNG) Service Cancelable Loan (SCL) was established as an incentive for qualified men and women to join the GNG and to retain skilled, productive citizens
within the state. It is a student financial aid program that provides loans to be used towards the cost of tuition in an undergraduate or graduate program at an eligible postsecondary institution. For more information, visit GA Futures-GNG SCL.
Private/Alternative Loans
A private/alternative loan is a non-federal education loan through a private lender usually in the student’s name that may require a co-signer. These loans are not subsidized and generally have different eligibility requirements, interest rates, repayment options and conditions. Because private/alternative loans vary, the Georgia Southern Financial Aid Office cannot provide the most accurate and useful information regarding these loans. We strongly suggest comparing interest rates, loan fees, and repayment options before applying. More information may be found at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-scholarships/types-of-aid/loans/private-alternative-loans.
Other Financial Assistance
The academic progress of students receiving federal financial assistance from the programs listed earlier in this narrative must be evaluated by the criteria outlined in this policy. These and other students receiving other types of financial assistance are evaluated based on requirements of the applicable financial assistance program.
Athletes
The Georgia Southern University Athletic Department administers student athletic scholarships. Student athletes who are eligible to receive institutional and/or Federal aid must comply with NCAA regulations. Student athletes interested in receiving financial aid in addition to their athletic scholarship must complete the appropriate application process.
Experiential Learning Program
The Experiential Learning Program at Georgia Southern University encompasses both cooperative education and internship opportunities for students in all majors. Co-ops and internships provide an opportunity for students to evaluate whether their chosen career path or field of study is a good fit for them, develop their professional skills, and apply their academic knowledge while obtaining valuable real-world experience in their field. The Office of Career and Professional Development at Georgia Southern University is committed to recruiting and promoting co-op and internship opportunities for all students and provides a centralized contact for both academic and non-academic related issues associated with experiential learning for all colleges and majors.
In order to participate in the Experiential Learning Program, students must be in good academic standing with the University. In addition, students must complete an Experiences application in Handshake, agree to the Code of Conduct and Waiver of Liability forms, and provide the Office of Career and Professional Development with an offer letter from their employer. Additionally, students must provide the Office of Career and Professional Development with an offer letter from their employer. The compensation package offered to the student is determined by the employer and board and lodging are the responsibility of the student. If students are not completing a co-op or internship for academic credit, then they will be enrolled in non-academic, tuition-free COOP hours that will denote their experience on their student transcript. Because these hours are free and non-tuition-bearing, they are not able to be used toward Financial Aid requirements. Students will be registered for the course through the Office of Career and Professional Development. Students and employers are required to submit evaluations at two identified points during their work term. Successful completion of the requirements will result in a completion grade awarded to the student.
For more information about the Experiential Learning Program, please refer to the program page, visit the Office of Career and Professional Development, or call (912) 478-5197.
School Certifying Officials
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) provides educational benefits under several programs. Eligibility is determined by DVA. Veterans or dependents of certain veterans who wish to attend Georgia Southern University under any of the veterans’ benefits programs should contact the School Certifying Officials located in Military Resource Center (MRC) for assistance at (912) 478-5154, (912) 478-8043, (912) 344-2948 or email MVS@georgiasouthern.edu. The School Certifying Official is responsible for assisting veteran students with the processing of VA forms for educational benefits. Students will be advised of procedural requirements and certification of enrollment will be verified to DVA.
Veterans who have service-connected disabilities and are eligible for disability compensation may qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation. Disabled veterans who think they qualify for this assistance are encouraged to contact the Department of Veterans Administration for further information.
Georgia Southern University encourages all veterans to take advantage of college credit that may be granted for military training, as well as the credit by examination programs. Veterans requesting college credit for military training must provide Military and Veteran Affairs with an official military transcript for evaluation.
For more information please visit our web page at https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/military-veterans/.
Vocational Rehabilitation
The State of Georgia provides financial assistance (equal to tuition and other regular fees in the University) for residents of Georgia who have disabilities. For further information, call toll free (844) 367-4872, or view the web page gvs.georgia.gov.
Qualifying for Financial Aid
To be eligible for federal and state programs, students must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate federal need (may not be required for some loan and institutional programs).
- Have a standard high school diploma, GED, or ATB (Ability to Benefit) on file.
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
- Only courses in the student’s program of study, per the DegreeWorks audit, will be eligible for financial aid.
- Not be in default or owe a repayment of Title IV funds.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen with permanent residency status and an alien registration ID number (may not be required for some institutional programs).
- Be registered with the Selective Service (males between the ages of 18-25). - (for state aid only)
- Have not borrowed in excess of loan limits under the Title IV program.
- Must be maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion.
- Must have all requested documentation on file before disbursements can be made.
Note: Post Baccalaureate students who have a prior degree from Georgia Southern University or Armstrong State University are only eligible for financial aid if they are seeking a different degree. Students adding a major to an existing degree program, or just taking courses to improve GPA or for other reasons, are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.
Refunds for a Student Receiving Federal Title IV Financial Assistance
Students receiving Federal Title IV Financial Assistance who formally or informally withdraw from school are subject to Federal Return of Title IV Aid regulations as specified in the Higher Education Amendment of 1998. The calculation determines the aid earned by the student based on the days enrolled for the semester in relation to the total days in the semester. The aid considered not to be “earned” must be returned to the federal programs in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans, Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans, Federal Direct PLUS loans received on behalf of the student, Federal Pell Grant, Teach Grant and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Receipt of Federal Title IV Aid in excess of aid earned may be subject to repayment by the student if the student has withdrawn from school. The Bursar’s Office notifies the student if a repayment is due. Failure to repay could result in loss of future Title IV Aid eligibility.
If a waiver or contract is treated as a payment of tuition and fees that have actually been charged to a student, then the waiver or contract is considered estimated financial assistance, and the full amount of the tuition and fees must be included in the return calculation.
Example: Student received Title IV aid as follows: $1,274.00 in Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan and $782.00 in Pell Grant. The student had $844.00 in Institutional Charges. Student withdrew on day 25 of a semester having 112 days. The student has earned 22.3% (25 days divided by 112 days) of the Title IV aid which equals $458.49 (Loan of $1,274.00 plus grant of $782.00 times 22.3%). The student has unearned aid of $1,597.51 (Total aid received of $2,056.00 minus aid earned of $458.49) that must be returned to the federal programs. The Institution must return $656.00 ($844.00 Institutional charges times 77.7% unearned aid); all of this will be returned to the Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan. The remaining $941.51 (unearned aid of $1,597.51 minus amount Institution returned of $656.00) must be returned by the student. The student must repay $618.00 ($1,274.00 received in loan minus $656.00 returned to loan by Institution) to the Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan in accordance with the terms of the loan. The student must return $162.00 (remaining unearned aid of $941.51 minus $618.00 returned to loan fund by student equals $323.51 multiplied by 50% {students are required to return 50% of unearned grant funds}) to the Pell Grant Program.1
1 Please click the link Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Financial Aid Funds Policy to view information regarding Tuition and Fee Refunds.
Repeated Coursework
Federal regulations limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive Federal financial aid for that course:
- A student may receive aid when repeating a course for the first time (course was previously failed or passed first time).
- If a previously passed course is repeated a third time, the student may not receive financial aid for that course. Also, the course would not be counted towards full-time eligibility. Grants, loans, and scholarships can be affected if a student is not at full-time status.
- A student may receive aid for a repeated course in which they have never received a passing grade for as many times as it takes to pass the course as long as they are meeting other financial aid eligibility requirements.
The federal regulations apply whether or not the student received aid for earlier enrollments in the course.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
Requirement and Definition
Federal and state regulations require the University to establish and apply reasonable satisfactory academic progress standards and to review applicable student records to ensure students receiving financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act or Georgia state law are complying with these standards. Georgia Southern University students who wish to receive financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.
Students are notified of the SAP policy in the Georgia Southern University online Catalog, which is available at georgiasouthern.edu/em/registrar/resources/catalogs/. In addition, the SAP policy is sent to students’ Georgia Southern email accounts. Further, a copy of the SAP policy, instructions for the SAP Appeal Form, and a SAP calculator are available in the University’s Financial Aid Office and on our website at georgiasouthern.edu/em/finaid/policies/satisfactory-academic-progress-sap/.
The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for evaluating satisfactory academic progress of students receiving financial assistance from all federal and state programs, and certain alternative loan programs.
Institutional SAP Policy
Financial aid academic progress standards for students are evaluated on the basis of grade point average (GPA), credit hour completion (PACE), and maximum timeframe (MAX).
Financial aid standards of SAP for students will be checked at the end of each semester.
The Financial Aid SAP Policy is totally separate from the policies of the Registrar’s office regarding Academic Standing and Academic Renewal along with separate appeal processes. All grades previously received will be considered when determining financial aid eligibility, as stated in this policy.
Georgia Southern University’s SAP policy requires maintaining academic standards based on the following three criteria:
-
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Undergraduate students (other than students who have been accepted into the Education Major teacher certification programs):
Undergraduate students will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA required to maintain SAP for the total number of attempted hours is 2.0.
Undergraduate Education Majors in the Teacher Education Program (TEP):
Undergraduate education majors in certification programs will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. Under the University’s academic policy, students who have been accepted into one of the Bachelor of Science in Education certification programs and have been formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
Under the University’s academic policy, students who have been accepted into the education major’s certification programs but do not maintain the required cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 may not continue in a certification program. However, these students may choose to switch to another major in order to complete their degree. If an Education Major certification student is determined not to be making SAP because they have not maintained the required 2.50 GPA, and they subsequently choose to switch to another major, at the next SAP evaluation, the student’s GPA will be evaluated as compared to the requirement for the new major (i.e., 2.0). For purposes of that evaluation, all grades earned to date will be included in the GPA calculation.
Note: Students must apply and gain acceptance into the Teacher Education Program (TEP). In order to be accepted into the Program, a student must satisfy several requirements, including having completed a minimum of 50 semester credit hours (including completion of certain specified coursework), and having earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 (including all coursework completed at Georgia Southern and any transfer credit accepted by Georgia Southern).
Post-Baccalaureate students:
Post-Baccalaureate students will be evaluated at the end of each term on the basis of cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA required to maintain SAP for the total number of attempted hours is 2.0.
Graduate students:
Graduate students will be evaluated at the end of each term. Students enrolled in master’s degree, specialist, and PhD programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of each term. Failure to maintain the required minimum cumulative GPA standards will result in the loss of eligibility to receive financial aid.
- Credit Hour Completion (PACE of Progression)
All students will be evaluated at the end of each term to determine if they are making satisfactory PACE of progression in their academic program. PACE is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours the student has successfully completed (earned) by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. Undergraduate, post baccalaureate, and graduate students who enroll for full-time, three-quarter time or part-time course work throughout each academic year must complete (earn) at least 67% of all attempted hours.
- Maximum Time Frame (MAX)
Students must progress through their educational programs at a rate that will allow the student to complete the program within the timeframe allowed for their program.
Undergraduate:
Undergraduate students must be projected to complete their program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. For example, students in a 4-year, 124-credit hour program who have attempted more than 186 semester credit hours will become ineligible to receive financial aid. Degree programs that require more than 124 hours for graduation will have the 186 hours maximum timeframe increased proportionally by the number of hours above 124 required to receive the degree. If at any time, the student has more credits remaining to finish their declared program than they have left in remaining maximum credit, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.
Post Baccalaureate:
Post Baccalaureate students must be projected to complete their Post Baccalaureate program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. Post Baccalaureate students must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in order to receive financial aid. The degree program must be different than one already completed at Georgia Southern University or Armstrong State University. Post Baccalaureate students adding a major, taking courses to increase GPA, or not enrolled in a degree program are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Graduate:
Graduate students must be projected to complete their program in a period of time that is not longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in credit hours. For example, students in a 60-credit graduate program who have attempted more than 90 semester credit hours will become ineligible to receive financial aid. Degree programs that require more than 60 hours for graduation will have the 90 hours maximum timeframe increased proportionally by the number of hours above 60 required to receive the degree. If at any time, the student has more credits remaining to finish their declared program than they have left in remaining maximum credit, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.
Institutional SAP Status
Students not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress are notified of their SAP status and related consequences in writing by the Financial Aid Office. At the end of each SAP evaluation period, one of the following SAP statuses will be assigned:
Satisfactory
Student is making SAP, as measured by all of the following requirements: GPA, PACE, and/or MAX Time Frame. Student is eligible to continue receiving financial aid.
Financial Aid Warning
Student is not making SAP as measured by one or both of the following requirements: GPA and/or PACE. For the next term in which the student is enrolled, the student remains eligible to continue receiving financial aid. The student must make SAP at the time of the next SAP evaluation period, or the student will be deemed ineligible to receive financial aid and will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension (unless an appeal determination is successful and the student is placed subsequently on Financial Aid Probation).
Financial Aid Suspension
Student is not making SAP based on one or more of the requirements (i.e., GPA, PACE and/or MAX Time Frame) after (1) attempting the maximum number of credit hours allowed for the student’s degree program, (2) being on Financial Aid Warning status (for GPA and/or PACE) for one term and failing to meet the required SAP standards, or (3) not satisfying the requirements of the academic plan developed for the student when they were placed on Financial Aid Probation. Financial aid eligibility is terminated until the student has achieved the required minimum standards to make SAP, or the student has obtained an approved appeal.
Financial Aid Probation
A student on Financial Aid Suspension has the right to appeal to have financial aid reinstated. If the appeal is approved, the student is placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students with approved SAP appeals are monitored by the Office of Financial Aid every term of enrollment to determine if they have achieved the goals of their academic plan. Failure to make progress as set out in the academic plan will result in the loss of eligibility to receive financial aid (i.e., Financial Aid Suspension).
Special Circumstances Affecting SAP Criteria
Learning Support Classes
The first 30 credit hours of learning support course work will be excluded from the calculation for maximum timeframe and from the calculation for the required percentage of credit hour completion. Learning support credit hours in excess of 30 credit hours will be included in both the calculation of maximum timeframe and the required percentage of credit hour completion. All grades earned through learning support course work will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
Dropped and Repeated Courses
All credit hours attempted during each term in which a student is enrolled will count toward the maximum timeframe and minimum credit hours completion. A student is considered enrolled based on the number of credit hours registered after the drop/add period of each academic term. Students who drop courses during the drop/add period will not have those hours considered in determining total hours registered. Students who drop courses after the drop/add period will have those hours considered in determining total hours registered, which will count toward the maximum timeframe calculation (see below for complete withdrawals).
Repeated courses will count in the calculation of attempted hours. All grades earned in repeated courses will be used to calculate the GPA for purposes of SAP.
Grades of A, B, C, D, or S represent satisfactory completion of a course. Grades of F, I, W, WF, U, or Audit represent unsatisfactory completion of a course. Grades of IP or V will not be included in the number of hours earned toward the completion of a degree.
Complete Withdrawal from School
A financial aid student who withdraws from school during the 100% refund period of any term, which runs through the first day of classes, will not have their registered hours included in the maximum timeframe calculation nor be required to meet the minimum credit hour completion percentage. However, any student withdrawing from school after the 100% refund period (after the first day of classes) will have their registered hours included in the maximum timeframe calculation and be required to meet the minimum credit hour completion percentage.
Effect of Grades on GPA
Grades of A, B, C, D, F, or WF are included in determination of GPA for purposes of SAP. Grades of I, IP, K, NR, S, U, V, W, WT, W% or WM are not included in this calculation. Appeals will not be reviewed until “I” (incomplete) grades have been changed. For HOPE scholarship recipients, “I” grades could affect HOPE eligibility status when the grade for the incomplete is eventually submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Students who had been awarded HOPE, but later become ineligible with the grade change, will have HOPE awards canceled until the next checkpoint, and will be responsible for the repayment of any HOPE funds received while not eligible.
Transfer Credits:
Credits transferred from other institutions will count toward maximum timeframe, credit hour completion percentage, and the cumulative GPA calculation for SAP evaluation purposes.
Consortium Agreements:
Credit hours earned through consortium or contractual agreements (contracts with other higher education institutions) will count toward maximum time-frame, credit hour completion percentage, and cumulative GPA.
Reestablish Financial Aid Eligibility
A student seeking to reestablish eligibility of financial aid may do so by:
- achieving SAP standards towards their course of study, as set forth in this policy, at the time of a future SAP evaluation, or
- acquiring a successful appeal through the appeal process and being placed on Financial Aid Probation status.
SAP Appeal Process
Students who have been placed on Financial Aid Suspension due to failure to progress toward academic degree completion have a right to appeal to have their financial aid reinstated. The appeal process is as follows:
- Students must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Form. Instructions on how to access the appeal form and deadlines for appealing are found on the Georgia Southern University Financial Aid website under the Policies tab.
- The completed SAP Appeal Form along with all appropriate documentation must be submitted online to the Office of Financial Aid as early as possible for review. The documentation submitted must include:
- A statement explaining the circumstance(s) which prevented the student from making satisfactory academic progress (e.g., serious injury, illness, or mental health condition of student or immediate family member; birth or adoption of a child; death of an immediate family member; divorce/separation; military service; personal difficulties; academic difficulties beyond the student’s control; or other circumstances related to exceeding maximum timeframe).
- Documentation that supports the student’s statement (e.g., physician’s statement, birth or death certificate, divorce decree, military papers, letter of support from someone aware of the student’s academic difficulties).
- Information about what has changed in the student’s situation that will allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation.
- A detailed coursework plan for completing your degree requirements which includes confirmation you have met with your academic advisor.
- A detailed academic improvement plan that includes upcoming semester goals and GPA calculations that will place you back in good standing. For undergraduate students, the improvement plan must be created with, and approved by, the Academic Success Center. Graduate students should contact their department head or advisor for this documentation.
- Students completing the SAP appeal process are required to pay current term fees by the fee payment deadline to avoid class cancelation. Classes will not be held while an appeal is being reviewed. Questions regarding student fee payments should be directed to Enrollment Services at (912) 478-3675.
- Notification of the appeal decision will be sent by email to the student’s Georgia Southern email.
Scholarship Programs
New Student Scholarships
Scholarships for first-time freshmen and transfer students are administered by the Office of Admissions. To review scholarship opportunities, please access the Admissions website at admissions.georgiasouthern.edu/.
Continuing Students
All continuing students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through their MyScholarships portal found on MyGeorgiaSouthern. Doing so qualifies the students for a wide variety of scholarships - including departmental, general, and study abroad. The site may also be accessed by visiting: georgiasouthern.academicworks.com
State Scholarships
The Georgia Student Finance Commission administers state scholarships and student grant programs. For information contact:
Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 200
Tucker, GA 30084
(800) 505-4732
www.gafutures.org/
The HOPE Scholarship (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) and Zell Miller Scholarship are Georgia’s unique programs that reward hard-working Georgia students with matriculation scholarships in degree programs at any Georgia public college, university, technical college or eligible private institution. The programs are funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education and amounts are subject to change.
To qualify for HOPE, a student must meet the residency requirements before the first day of the term for which funding is sought. Students must be considered a Georgia resident at the time of high school graduation and maintain that residency for 12 consecutive months prior to the start of the term in which the funding is sought. Students who do not meet the residency requirements at the time of high school graduation must establish 24 consecutive months of residency prior to the first day of the term for which funding is sought. Students who graduated from high school with a high school core curriculum HOPE GPA of at least 3.0 may qualify for the HOPE Scholarship as incoming freshmen.
Students who did not qualify for HOPE as incoming freshmen may still receive a HOPE Scholarship if they graduated from high school less than seven years ago, meet the Georgia residency requirements at the time of enrollment for the school term for which the scholarship is sought, and have a 3.0 cumulative HOPE GPA after attempting 30, 60, or 90 credit hours of University course work.
HOPE eligibility is reviewed at various checkpoints during the academic year and all attempted credit hours are counted in the review. “Attempted hours” refers to all credit hours attempted in a degree program at a postsecondary institution after high school graduation, including classes that were dropped or failed. The deadline to apply for HOPE is the last day of class for the semester for which you are applying in addition to having a valid application on file.
The Zell Miller Scholarship provides full-tuition funding to undergraduate Georgia residents who graduate from high school with a 3.7 or greater HOPE GPA or an ACT composite score of 25 for students graduating high school after December 31, 2023. The ACT composite score requirement may change each year based on the equivalency to the 1200 reading and math score on the SAT. To remain eligible, students must maintain at least a 3.3 college HOPE GPA at the checkpoints (30, 60, 90 attempted credit hours and after every spring semester).
The Georgia HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) provides educational scholarship assistance to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones, and the children and the spouses of such members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reserves. For more information, visit GA Futures-HERO.
Dual Enrollment is a dual credit enrollment program for eligible high school and home study students who wish to earn high school and college credit for postsecondary coursework. Dual Enrollment funding is available during the fall, spring and summer terms of the school year. Dual Enrollment funding may cover the cost of standard undergraduate tuition, mandatory fees and a book allowance for a maximum of 15 semester hours. GA Futures Dual Enrollment FAQ
The REACH Scholarship Program (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program designed to ensure that Georgia’s academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, attend college, and achieve postsecondary success. Students eligible for the REACH program are selected for the program in middle school and participate throughout their high school career. GA Futures-REACH
Other Outside Sources of Financial Aid
Many foundations, companies, and other groups have established scholarships or loan programs for use by Georgia Southern University students. To review these, access the Georgia Southern University Financial Aid website at georgiasouthern.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-and-scholarships/types-of-aid/scholarships. Other helpful websites to use in searching for external scholarships may be found on our Financial Aid website under “Types of Aid”.
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