Financial Aid

• Types of Financial Aid
• Withdrawal from the College
• Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP)
• Consequences for Not Meeting the Requirements

The Community College of Rhode Island offers financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to further their education without such support. Depending on the type of aid, eligibility is based on one or more of the following criteria: financial need of the individual (in the case of dependent students, family need is used), educational costs, academic program and availability of funds.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Pell Grant

A federal grant awarded when the student does not have a B.S./B.A. degree or equivalent. Awards are based on students’ enrollment status and their expected family contribution. Awards for full-time students range from $657 to $6,195 per academic year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

A federal grant that is awarded when a student demonstrates exceptional need and does not have a B.S./B.A. degree or equivalent.

College Work Study Program (CWS)

A federal work program that provides jobs to help pay for educational expenses. This program encourages community service and work related to the student’s course of study. Students will be paid at least the federal minimum wage and can work up to 15 hours per week.

Student Help

A CCRI institutional non-need-based student work program on campus. Students will be paid at least the minimum wage and can work up to 15 hours per week. Students who are not eligible for need-based CWS may be considered for the Student Help program.

Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan

When a student’s need cannot be met with other forms of financial aid, a federal direct Stafford Loan may be recommended. A subsidized loan has a fixed interest rate of 3.76 percent*. No interest is charged while a student is in school at least half-time, during the grace period or during deferment periods. Repayment is deferred until six months after students graduate, withdraw or enroll less than half time. An origination fee is charged at time of disbursement. Students must be enrolled at least half time (six credits) at time of disbursement.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Not based on financial need. Unlike the subsidized Stafford Loan, interest is not deferred while the student is enrolled, during grace periods and/or during deferment periods. Repayment is deferred until six months after students graduate, withdraw or enroll less than half time. Unsubsidized loans have a fixed interest rate of 3.76 percent*. An origination fee is charged at time of disbursement. Students must be enrolled at least half time (six credits) at time of disbursement.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

PLUS loans allow parents of dependent undergraduate students to borrow up to the cost of education minus other financial assistance. Refer to this page for current interest rates. Like the direct unsubsidized Stafford Loan, interest is not deferred during all in-school, grace and deferment periods. An origination fee is charged at disbursement. Unless deferred, repayment begins 60 days after the last disbursement of the academic year. Student must be enrolled at least half time (six credits) at time of disbursement.

CCRI Grant

A CCRI institutional grant for students enrolled in an eligible certificate or degree-granting program. Student must be enrolled in at least six credits each term and meet certain eligibility requirements. The grant may be prorated based upon students’ enrollment status when considering the amount of grant to be awarded.

Scholarships

Awarded by the CCRI Foundation and the Alumni Association to assist incoming, continuing, graduating and transferring students in meeting their financial needs. More than 90 scholarships, which are need-based and/or merit-based, are awarded to deserving students each year. Detailed information about each scholarship and the application are available here.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

Repayment of Title IV Funds

The Federal Financial Aid Title IV Refund Policy requires colleges to calculate how much federal aid a student has earned if he or she withdraws or stop attending all courses prior to completing more than 60 percent of the semester. Students may have to return a portion of the aid received, as well as owe the college a portion of the tuition and fees.

The policy allows a student to earn a portion of the financial aid awarded for each day of enrollment. In addition, the policy requires a student to repay the U.S. Department of Education a portion of the unearned funds received depending on the withdrawal date. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60 percent point earns all aid for the semester for which the aid was awarded.

If the student unofficially withdraws (stops attending) or the student’s academic transcript reflects unsuccessful completion of all courses, the Community College of Rhode Island will have student aid calculated based on 50 percent completion of the term. Documentation of an academic-related activity, including notification from the faculty, may be used to recalculate aid eligibility based on the last date of attendance. Students who have questions should contact their campus Enrollment Services or Financial Aid office.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY (SAP)

Federal regulations require students to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward an eligible degree or certificate program to qualify for financial assistance. Satisfactory academic progress includes both quantitative (number of credits earned divided by the number of credits attempted) and qualitative measures (financial aid grade point average).

SAP for financial aid applicants is reviewed at the end of each spring semester regardless of financial aid received for the semesters being reviewed. SAP will be measured at the end of each semester (fall, spring and summer) for students enrolled in a certificate program and/or who have an appeal approved to ensure compliance with the conditions of their education plan.

Requirements

• Students must maintain a cumulative financial aid grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 to retain eligibility for financial assistance.
• Students must earn at least 67 percent of all cumulative credits attempted. For example, students who have attempted nine credits must earn six credits to maintain a 67 percent completion rate. Students who have attempted 24 credits cumulatively must earn 16 credits cumulatively. Transfer credits accepted by CCRI are included when calculating completion rates.
• Students must complete their program of study within 150 percent of the time frame allowed. For example, students enrolled in a 60-credit degree program must complete their program before exceeding 90 attempted credits. Transfer credits accepted by CCRI are included when calculating maximum time frame.
• The first 30 credits of a student’s developmental coursework do not count toward the 150 percent limit; however, developmental credits attempted and grades earned in these courses are counted in the qualitative and quantitative academic progress measures. Any developmental coursework above 30 credits will count toward the 150 percent limit and, therefore, may affect the student’s eligibility to receive financial aid. Financial aid does not pay for developmental coursework above the allowed 30 credits.
• The financial aid GPA includes all grades from developmental coursework. The institutional GPA excludes developmental coursework.
• All courses withdrawn from are considered credits attempted but not earned.
• Attempted credits are all credits registered for at the end of the add/drop period. To earn credits, a student must receive a final grade of A, B, C, D or P. Students who receive a final grade of F, I, IC, NA, NR, NS, W, WP or WF will not earn credits for that course.
• The Financial Aid office is not notified when grades are changed after the final grading period. It is the responsibility of the student to request a re-evaluation of his or her eligibility.
• All students can repeat a course one time. Once the student repeats the course, the following applies:
  1. If a student receives a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F, financial aid will not pay for a third attempt.
  2. If a student receives W, WF, WP or NA in a course, it is considered attempted and not completed. Financial aid will pay for additional attempts until a student receives a grade of A, B, C, D or F.
  A course is considered completed when a grade of D or better is earned. Therefore, courses initially graded as Ws and Fs are eligible for Financial Aid until a D grade or better is assigned. Once a student receives a grade of D or better, option 1 or 2 will apply.
• All students receiving financial aid should register only for courses applicable to their current program of study.

Consequences for Not Meeting the Requirements

• Students who do not meet the requirements will be notified via email following the semester that their progress falls below the standards. Students also may view their current SAP status via the Academic Progress link on the “For Students” tab of MyCCRI.
• A student will become academically ineligible and placed on financial aid suspension if not making SAP following any warning or probationary period. This will result in ineligibility for all federal, state and institutional financial aid (including federal work-study, student help and direct student loans). Once placed on financial aid suspension, a student may regain financial aid eligibility by completing a cumulative average of 67 percent of all attempted credits with at least a 2.0 cumulative financial aid at CCRI.
• When a student becomes academically ineligible, the student has the right to appeal the suspension of his or her financial aid based on mitigating circumstances. All appeals must be submitted in writing and documentation must be provided when applicable. Situations such as serious illness and family emergencies may be considered as mitigating circumstances. The Office of Financial Aid then may grant the student a probationary semester based on these mitigating circumstances and may adjust the maximum time frame requirements.
• Students who are placed on probation after exceeding the 150 percent time frame will be given a plan of study by an academic adviser. During the probationary period, students must earn all credits attempted with at least a 2.0 financial aid GPA, and must continue to enroll in only those courses outlined in the plan of study and/or courses specifically required for graduation from their current program of study. Failure to follow these conditions will result in the loss of financial aid for subsequent semesters without the right of appeal.

Visit the OES website for further information about:

• How to apply for financial aid.
• Student loan information.
• CCRI bookstore authorizations.
• Student employment.
• Determining eligibility.
• Terms and conditions.