Full-Time Undergraduate Degree Students
All continuing undergraduate degree students must be making satisfactory progress to be considered for financial aid. This includes Federal Pell Grants, State Student Incentive Grants, Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) --Federal Stafford (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) Loans, and Federal PLUS Loans -- University funds (scholarships, grants, and loans), and federal campus-based assistance (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study and Federal Perkins Loans). Certain special awards may require higher academic achievement than satisfactory progress. Other forms of aid which may be offered by agencies outside the University may also require that a student progress to the next class level prior to making renewal awards.
A full-time undergraduate degree student at North Carolina State University is making satisfactory academic progress for consideration for financial aid if the student:
1. is not suspended or on probation according to University Policy, and
2. has completed 12 or more semester hours with grades of A, B, C, S, CR, or D at the end of the student's first academic year (freshman or transfer), and
3. completes 24 or more semester hours each subsequent academic year with grades of A, B, C, S, CR, or D
A full-time undergraduate student attending only one semester would be expected to complete at least 12 credit hours during that semester to be eligible for the subsequent term or academic year.
A full-time undergraduate degree student pursuing his/her first undergraduate degree will be considered for financial aid for no more than 192 attempted hours of enrollment at the University. Attempted hours includes all withdrawals and dropped courses, remedial courses (if countable towards a degree), repeated courses, courses with incomplete or failing grades, and no credit or audited courses. If a degree has not been earned within this time frame, the student will be denied further aid. A full-time undergraduate degree student receiving financial aid must be registered for at least 12 credit hours per semester. This 12 credit hour minimum also applies to a senior's last semester of enrollment. Determination of academic load is made at the end of the drop/add period for each semester. If hours are reduced below the minimum, the Financial Aid Office must be notified and some financial aid funds may have to be repaid. The student should contact the Financial Aid Office if this situation occurs or is contemplated.
Part-Time Undergraduate Degree Students
A student may receive a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study and/ or Federal Family Education Loan funding as a part-time degree student (at least 6 undergraduate hours per semester), provided the Financial Aid Office has been notified of this part-time status. In some cases, students enrolled in a degree program taking less than 6 undergraduate hours per semester may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. Part-time students are expected to progress at proportionally the same rate as full-time undergraduate students and will be limited to a maximum of 192 attempted hours at the University. Attempted hours includes all withdrawals and dropped courses, remedial courses (if countable towards a degree), repeated courses, courses with incomplete or failing grades, and no credit or audited courses. Part-time students are expected to pass all hours attempted each semester and not be on probation or suspended for continued aid eligibility.
Undergraduate Second Degree Students
A student working toward a second and subsequent baccalaureate degree is expected to make the same satisfactory progress and to be enrolled for the same minimum course load when receiving financial aid as stated above for full-time or part-time students. Second baccalaureate degree students must graduate within the normal time frame based on their classification when admitted into the second degree program (i.e., sophomores, 135 attempted hours; juniors, 90 attempted hours; seniors, 45 attempted hours). Attempted hours includes all withdrawals and dropped courses, remedial courses (if countable towards a degree), repeated courses, courses with incomplete or failing grades, and no credit or audited courses. These are the maximum numbers of hours for which second degree candidates will receive financial aid consideration to complete the second degree. Such students will normally be eligible only for Federal Family Education Loans. Some departments and schools will also consider second degree students for special scholarships.
Full-Time Cooperative Education Students
Students in the Cooperative Education Program who are enrolled in a cooperative education course during the semester or summer period in which they are on a work assignment are certified by the Registrar to be full-time students even though academic credit is not granted for the cooperative education experience. This full-time status applies, but is not limited, to campus housing, campus parking, campus activities, social security, Student Health Service, student loan deferment, and insurance. A student who is required to carry a specified credit-hour load for such purposes as financial aid or cooperative education student enrolled for at least six hours will only be considered for a Federal Pell Grant and a Federal Stafford Loan. (See Cooperative Education Students)
Final Semester Seniors
Even though University policy may consider a final semester senior taking nine credit hours as full-time, Federal policy prohibits the Financial Aid Office from doing so. To be considered full-time, a final semester senior, or any undergraduate student, must be carrying 12 credit hours.
Graduate Degree Students
A graduate student is considered to be making satisfactory progress if he/she is eligible to continue during the regular academic year. Graduate students are considered full-time if registered for at least nine (9) graduate hours each semester unless holding an assistantship (see Course Load in the Graduate Catalog for more details on full-time students with service obligations). Part-time graduate students must be enrolled for at least three (3) hours unless enrolled for thesis or dissertation hours during that semester or term. Determination of academic load is made at the end of the drop/add period for each semester. If hours are reduced below these levels, the Financial Aid Office must be notified and some financial aid funds may have to be repaid. The student should contact the Financial Aid Office if this situation occurs or is contemplated.
International Students
International students at the graduate level may be considered for assistantships and fellowship through the Graduate School. Otherwise, the University has no financial aid for international students except short-term loans (through the International Student Office) and three annual Alumni Association awards for continuing students who demonstrate need.