The following financial aid policies and conditions of award apply to students who are recipients of federal or state financial assistance while attending Columbus State University:

• Students must apply annually for federal aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/. Students seeking only the HOPE Scholarship or Grant may apply on-line at www.gafutures.org. Students must be regularly admitted to Columbus State University in a degree-seeking status and must be enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program prior to the first day of the term to participate in federal and state aid programs. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial assistance. Transient students should contact their home institution for financial aid.
• Students must be regularly admitted to Columbus State University in a degree-seeking status and must be enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program prior to the first day of the term to participate in federal and state aid programs. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial assistance. Transient students should contact their home institution for financial aid.
• Students must:
  1. meet the school's Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards,
  2. not owe a refund on any grant or be in default on any educational loan and
  3. not have borrowed in excess of the loan limits under the Title IV programs at any institution.
  4. take classes that are applicable to their degree program. Any classes that are not part of their program of study will not receive federal financial aid.
• Financial aid is limited to coursework required for the declared major as stated in this catalog. Financial aid is not available for audit courses.
• Students must attend the classes in which they have enrolled to be eligible for aid payment.
• Financial aid awards are based on full-time enrollment for each term awarded. Less than full-time enrollment may require an adjustment to the aid award. Undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more semester hours are classified as full-time; 9-11 semester hours as three-quarter-time; 6-8 semester hours as half time; and 1-5 semester hours as less-than-half-time. Graduate students enrolled in 9 or more semester hours are classified as full-time; 5-8 semester hours as half time; and 1-4 semester hours as less than half time.
• Students awarded a Direct Federal loan must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance loan counseling prior to their first loan disbursement. The MPN and entrance counseling can both be completed at https://studentaid.gov/.
• Institutional charges (tuition, fees, room and board) will be deducted from the financial aid award each term. Students should be prepared to pay any difference owed by the fee payment deadline. For students with aid greater than the institutional charges, any remaining funds are released no later than 14 calendar days after their financial aid disburses.
• No student may receive financial aid for more than 30 semester hours of remedial coursework, which includes all College Preparatory Curriculum deficiencies, remedial courses or learning support courses.
• Students must report any financial aid they receive or expect to receive from an outside source.
• Employment in the Federal Work-Study program is not guaranteed. Awards are based on funding, position availability and an interview with an employer. Students cannot earn more than their annual award. Students who receive an "unsatisfactory" job performance evaluation will be terminated from the program.
• Students receiving financial aid who withdraw or who stop attending all classes are subject to regulations regarding the return of funds to the aid programs. Federal aid recipients withdrawing before the 60% point of the term may owe a repayment of federal funds received. The Return to Title IV policy can be found at https://finaid.columbusstate.edu/return_to_title_IV.php. Refer to the Refund Section of this catalog.