Repeated Coursework

Repeated Coursework

Effective July 1, 2011, the Department of Education published new regulations that impact students who repeat courses. Repeated courses may impact financial aid eligibility and Federal Title IV financial aid awards.

In order for a repeated course to count toward the student’s enrollment status for financial aid purposes, the student may only repeat a previously passed course once (a total of two attempts). If the student enrolls in a previously repeated course for a third time, this course will not count towards their enrollment for financial aid purposes. This rule applies whether or not the student received aid for earlier enrollments in the course.

• A student may receive aid when repeating a course for the first time.
• A student may receive aid when repeating a course that was previously failed or withdrawn from regardless of the number of times the course was attempted and failed. 
• A student may receive aid to repeat a previously passed course one additional time. If a student fails the second attempt no more financial aid will be given to repeat the course a third time. If the second attempt is a withdrawal then it is allowed for a third attempt.
• Once a student has completed any course twice with a grade; he or she is no longer eligible to receive aid for that course. If a student retakes a course that is not aid eligible, the credit hours will be excluded from the financial aid enrollment for that semester. When counting credits to determine aid eligibility for that semester, repeated classes will be excluded from the financial aid eligible credit count. This may mean less Pell Grant if the eligible credits are less than 12 credit hours. No Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans can be awarded if the financial aid eligible credits are less than 6 credits for undergraduate students.

Examples:

Allowable: Repeated coursework may be included if the student received a failing grade or withdrew from the class. There is no limit on the number of repeats if the student does not pass the class.

Allowable: A student takes Biology 110 and receives a grade of W or F. The student repeats the class and receives a D. For financial aid purposes, the student is considered to have now passed the class. He or she may repeat the class one additional time and receive financial aid. If on the second attempt, the student receives a W then the student can repeat the class again. If a grade is assigned (including an F) then the student cannot repeat the course again and the class cannot be counted for enrollment purposes for financial aid.

Not Allowable: A student takes Biology 110 and receives a D. The student repeats the course and receives a B. The Biology 110 course cannot be considered for financial aid on a third repeat.

Not Allowable: A student is enrolled in 12 credit hours, including 3 credit hours that are considered to be a third repeat; therefore only 9 credits will count toward financial aid eligibility.

Note: All repeated courses affect financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations. Regardless of whether the student received financial aid or not, all repeated coursework must be counted as attempted credits in SAP calculations.