Federal Student Aid Programs
To be considered for assistance under the Title IV federal student aid programs, a student must certify certain general eligibility requirements:
Be a regular student enrolled or accepted for enrollment at York;
Have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or complete his or her state's requirements applicable to homeschooling;
Not be simultaneously enrolled in an elementary or secondary school;
Be a U.S. citizen or national, or an eligible non-citizen;
Have a valid, correct Social Security Number (SSN);
Certify by signing a Statement of Educational Purpose, that federal student aid will be used only to pay for educational costs;
Not be in default of a Title IV loan or owe an over payment on a Title IV grant or Federal Perkins Loan;
Not have received grants or loans in excess of the annual aggregate limits;
Not have property subject to a lien for a debt owed to the U.S.;
Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) every year and
Have financial need, if applicable.
You are an independent student if you are one of the following:
At least 24 years old by January 1 of the award year
A married student
A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States
A student with legal dependents other than a spouse
An orphan and in foster care or ward of the court as of age 13 or older
A graduate or professional student
Currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
An emancipated minor as determined by your state of legal residence
In legal guardianship as determined by your state of legal residence
After July 1, 2023, you were determined to be an unaccompanied youth who is homeless, or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless
A student may also be considered independent if the financial aid administrator determines and documents the student's independent student status based on unusual circumstances. The Financial Administrator's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. Awards are paid with the expectation that the student will remain enrolled for the entire semester. A student who withdraws, officially or unofficially, or stops attending may be required to repay a portion or the entire award. A student who withdraws before payment is made may be eligible for a prorated award. For information, students should contact Financial Aid at finaid@york.cuny.edu.
Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant is an award to assist undergraduates to pay for education after high school. You must be enrolled for at least one credit as an undergraduate matriculated student in an approved post-secondary institution and you must need financial assistance to continue your education. Students will be limited to a Lifetime Eligibility Usage of 600% (maximum of 12 terms of full-time study or the part-time equivalent).
Federal Pell Grant Award Schedule
In the 2024-2025 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395. The amount of the award will depend upon your Student Aid Index, the cost of attendance, enrollment status, and whether you attend school for a full academic year, or less.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG is a program which helps exceptionally needy students with educationally related expenses. FSEOG awards are made to supplement other forms of financial aid and do not have to be repaid. Awards depend on the level of student need and availability of funds.
Selection of recipients and allocation of awards to be eligible for FSEOG, you must be:
A U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen enrolled as an undergraduate student in approved post-secondary institution which is eligible to participate in the FSEOG program
Enrolled for at least six credit hours in an institution which will provide the applicant with additional financial assistance at least equal to the amount of the FSEOG award.
All awards are based on the availability of federal funds.
Federal Work Study Program (FWS)
Federal Work-Study is a program which provides employment for students with financial need. The program encourages community service and work related to the student's course of study. Jobs are available both on- and off-campus. The FWS award amount depends on the level of need and availability of funds.
To be considered, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, enrolled at least half-time. In the event that more students are eligible for FWS than there are funds available, preference is given to students who have a greater financial need and have completed applications on file while funding is available.
FWS Award Schedule
The post-secondary institution arranges jobs on campus or off campus with public or private non-profit agencies such as hospitals and libraries. Factors considered by the financial aid officers in determining whether, and how many hours, you may work under this program are: financial need, class schedule, academic progress, and health status. Your earnings are determined by the rate of pay associated with your job, location, and the number of hours you work per week. The award ranges from $900-$8,000 per academic year.
Federal Loan Programs
One of the loan programs CUNY participates in is the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program where students borrow directly from the federal government. Just like any other loan, these loans are repaid with interest. The interest rate on direct loans is adjusted annually every July 1st.
Federal Student Direct Loans
Repayment begins six months after you are no longer enrolled for a minimum of six credits. Interest on the unsubsidized loan will begin to accrue upon disbursement of the loan. The current Direct Loan interest rates may be found at https://studentaid.gov. The federal government charges all borrowers an origination fee at the time the loan is disbursed which is deducted from the loan amount. Undergraduate freshmen may borrow up to $3,500, sophomores $4,500, and juniors and seniors, $5,500, per academic year up to a total aggregate of $23,000 in a subsidized loan. The subsidized loan is a need-based loan. Additional unsubsidized funds may be available for dependent students based upon income and the cost of education. The unsubsidized direct loan is available to eligible independent students, regardless of family income. Qualified freshmen may borrow an additional amount up to $9,500, sophomores $10,500, and juniors and beyond, $12,500 per academic year. The amount is based upon the cost of education.
Application Procedures for Federal Student Direct Loans
The application for Direct Loans may be completed through CUNYfirst. The Entrance Interview is completed online. When the loan is approved, you will receive notification from CUNY. After signing the Master Promissory note also online, and the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (ASLA) the loan will disburse in accordance with the college payroll calendar.
To be Eligible for a Federal Student Direct Loan You Must:
Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be enrolled at least half-time as a degree student in an approved college, university or other post-secondary institution in any of the United States
Not be in default on a prior Federal student loan or owe a repayment on a PELL Grant or any Title IV Student Aid Program
Have filed a FAFSA with the Department of Education and submitted all required documentation to Financial Aid. All students must undergo a financial needs analysis to determine eligibility
Meet satisfactory progress requirements
Additional Information About Federal Student Direct Loans
Before receiving a federal loan, you must complete an Entrance Interview, which will provide you with your Rights and Responsibilities as a borrower
You must complete and sign your Master Promissory Note and the ASLA
The funds are disbursed once per semester unless it is a one-semester only loan. In that case, the loan will be disbursed in two equal payments during the semester for which you have registered
If you request a loan and later decide that you no longer need the funds, you may decline the loan by notifying the Financial Aid Office
Immediately upon dropping below half-time status, you must complete an Exit Interview
You are responsible for notifying the Direct Loan Servicer when you are no longer enrolled at least half-time and establish a repayment plan
You are responsible for beginning repayment on time or submitting any deferment arrangements
Subsidized loan borrowers taking their first loan after July 1, 2013, may borrow a maximum of 150% of the length of their academic program. This means that students will be limited to receiving subsidized loans for 6 years in a 4-year program. The student may be eligible to borrow additional unsubsidized funds. In addition, borrowers who reach the 150% limitation will have their subsidy end for all outstanding subsidized loans.
You may view your loan information online by visiting https://studentaid.gov/h/manage-loans
Federal PLUS Loan
Parents of dependent students may apply for a PLUS loan. The annual amount of a PLUS loan is limited to the student's cost of education minus any other estimated financial aid awarded. Unlike the Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan program, PLUS borrowers are subject to a credit check. In addition, repayment begins while you are still a student. The current interest rate may be found at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates and is adjusted every July 1st. Applications are available on the Financial Aid website. A completed FAFSA must be filed first. Once the loan is processed, a Promissory Note must be signed online.
Federal TEACH Grant Program
The TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant is offered only to students who are matriculated in a TEACH Grant eligible program. To be considered for this federal student financial aid program:
You must meet the basic eligibility criteria for the federal student aid programs
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
You must be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program
You must be enrolled in a TEACH Grant–eligible program
You must meet certain academic achievement requirements established by your academic department
You must receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation at www.studentaid.gov
You must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve at www.studentaid.gov.
Students not yet admitted into an approved degree program do not qualify for the TEACH grant.
Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines
Federal regulations require the college to establish standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for purposes of the receipt of Title IV financial assistance. When appropriate, this policy may be applied to other aid programs administered by Financial Aid. A student must maintain satisfactory academic progress in a course of study regardless of whether the student was a previous recipient of Title IV financial assistance. The factors required to measure satisfactory progress are qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative measure is the grade point average. The quantitative measure is the time-frame/limitation.
In order to be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, for purposes of receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, an undergraduate student must, after two years of enrollment at the college, achieve a 2.0 GPA ("C") average and accumulate credits toward the degree according to the following standards:
Achieved at least the GPA required for probationary status at York and
Accumulated credits equal to, or greater than, a certain percentage of the total credits attempted according to the following:
Attempted no more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.
Students will be measured against the satisfactory academic standard at the end of the spring term to determine eligibility for receipt of Title IV student financial assistance for the upcoming year. Students who fall beneath the conditional standard may petition the Committee on Satisfactory Academic Progress (CSAP) to retain their eligibility for receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance. These appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting from events such as personal illness, injury, and personal tragedy, and for indicators that the student will achieve the appropriate standard. A successful appeal will result in a one or two-semester probationary plan or period during which the student must meet the appropriate standard. A student who chooses to be enrolled without receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance may request a review of his/her academic record after the summer, fall or spring terms for a determination of whether or not the coursework taken in those periods have brought them up to the appropriate standard. If the standard is met with the inclusion of the coursework, eligibility for receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance may be restored for subsequent terms in that year.
Other than having eligibility restored through filing a successful appeal, a student on financial aid suspension may regain eligibility only by taking action that brings him or her into compliance with the appropriate progress standard. The mere passage of time is insufficient to restore Title IV eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility due to not meeting the SAP standard. Therefore, students may not re-establish eligibility solely by leaving the institution for at least a year because this action, by itself, would not bring the student into compliance for Title IV SAP. If a student is on financial aid suspension at the beginning of the academic year for not meeting one or more components of the school's SAP standard, but meets them at some point later in the academic year, he or she may regain Title IV eligibility upon request of review of academic record.
Actions that Can Affect Financial Aid Eligibility
Course Withdrawals
Withdrawals recorded on your permanent record will be counted in your cumulative record of credits attempted and will adversely affect your ability to meet the satisfactory progress standard.
Note: Changes to your enrollment record caused by retroactive "non-punitive" administrative withdrawal activity can result in your having to repay the assistance you received that term.
Incomplete Grades
Your cumulative record of attempted credits must include any course for which you receive an incomplete grade. This course cannot be counted in your record of accumulated credits until you have received a completion grade. If you fail to meet the satisfactory progress standard for credit accumulation due to an incomplete grade for a course, the recording of a successful completion grade within a term which brings your accumulated credits up to the satisfactory progress standard will restore eligibility for this and subsequent terms within the academic year.
Repeated Courses
Successfully completed courses can generally be accepted toward degree requirements only once. However, each time you attempt a course, it is included as part of your cumulative record of attempted credits. Therefore, repeating a course, regardless of prior grade, reduces your ability to meet the satisfactory progress standard. Note, federal aid permits repeat of a previously passed course only once.
Withdrawals and Return of Federal Financial Aid
There are federal regulations pertaining to recipients of financial aid funds who withdraw from school. They require the school, and sometimes the student, to repay some or all of the financial aid that was received. When these regulations require a larger repayment of federal funding sources than the amount specified by the school's refund policy, the student will be responsible for the difference. In general, the law assumes that you "earn" your federal financial aid awards directly in proportion to the number of days of the term you attend. If you completely withdraw from school during a term, the college must calculate according to a specific formula the portion of the total scheduled financial assistance you have earned and are therefore entitled to receive up to the time you withdrew.
If you receive (or the college receives on your behalf) more assistance than you earn, the unearned excess funds must be returned to the Department of Education. If, on the other hand, you receive (or the college receives on your behalf) less assistance than the amount you have earned, you may be able to receive those additional funds. The portion of your federal grants and loans you are entitled to receive is calculated on a percentage basis by comparing the total number of days in the semester to the number of days you completed before you withdrew. For example, if you complete 30% of the semester, you earn 30% of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. This means that 70% of your scheduled awards remain unearned and must be returned to the Federal Government. Once you have completed more than 60% of the semester, you can be said to have earned all (100%) of your assistance. If you withdraw from the college (either officially or unofficially) before completing 60% of the semester, you may have to repay any unearned federal monies that were already disbursed to you.
Your withdrawal date may be determined by the college as:
The date you notified the Office of the Registrar or
The midpoint of the semester, if you withdraw without notifying the college
The Financial Aid Office will determine how much aid is to be repaid based on the documentation. You must repay the required amount during the term in which you withdraw. Students failing to repay the required amount will have a hold placed on their records and will not be eligible for federal financial aid.