Financial Aid FAQ - Eligibility for Aid

All eligible students qualify for some form of financial aid, regardless of income. Financial Aid is offered in the form of grants, scholarships, student and parent loans and work-study. The type of aid you are offered is dependent upon information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated by the FAFSA.

Your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, is a number determined by a federal formula that includes the information you reported on the FAFSA.

Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is the number used by the school to calculate how much and what type of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Yes. Your enrollment at 11:59 pm on the last day to add/drop a regular 16 week course at 100% refund of tution and fees for both fall and spring semester will determine your enrollment status for the MSU Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, the Federal Pell Grant, ND State Grant, ND Career and Tech, ND Academic and other scholarships, be sure all changes to your enrollment are completed by that time.

Your initial award is based on full-time enrollment. If you plan to enroll in less than twelve credits per semester, please notify the Financial Aid Office by email at financialaid@minotstateu.edu.

For a complete schedule of dates and deadlines refer to our MSU calendar.

Yes. The University reserves the right to adjust your award on the basis of additional information that may become available including, but not limited to, verification of your FAFSA information, scholarships, waivers, grants or other third party payments and changes in enrollment status. Total financial aid received cannot exceed the total Cost of Attendance (COA).

Keep in mind that students who officially withdraw from MSU, never participate in academic activity in a class, or stop attending classes within a semester are subject to having their financial aid reviewed and possibly returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

Students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward completion of their degree program in order to continue being eligible for all types of federal financial aid, some scholarships, state grants, and some non-federal alternative loan programs. The SAP policy requires students to:

  • Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA as an undergraduate or at least a 3.0 GPA as a graduate student
  • Successfully complete at least 66.667% of the cumulative credits attempted
  • Complete their degree before they have attempted more than 150% of the published number of credits needed to complete their degree program

SAP is evaluated at the end of each semester for all enrolled students, after all grades are posted - students who are not meeting SAP standards are notified by email and will also see a SAP Hold in Campus Connection. For more detailed information on SAP standards, visit our website.

  • Successfully completing coursework without financial aid to bring your cumulative GPA and rate of completion to meet the minimum standards
  • If the Financial Aid Disqualification was due to an extenuating circumstance, such as a death of a close relative, serious illness or other situations beyond your control, you may file a SAP Appeal
    • The SAP Appeal must include complete documentation of the circumstance(s) and evidence to demonstrate that you are now in a position to be successful in your courses.