Aid-Eligible Coursework

Eligible Coursework and Financial Aid Enrollment Status

Your financial aid enrollment status may be different from your total enrollment status. Your financial aid enrollment status will reflect the number of credits that count toward your degree program. With the exception of the Pell Grant, undergraduate students need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits that count toward their degree to be eligible for all types of federal and state aid.

For example, if you’re enrolled in a total of 12 credits, but a 4-credit class doesn’t count toward your degree program, your financial aid enrollment status would be 8 credits (which is considered half time). In this case, you’d still be eligible to receive your federal and state aid because you only need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits that count toward your degree. So, even if you’re enrolled in a class that doesn’t count toward your degree, you may still be eligible for aid.

The Pell grant works a little differently. If a student is enrolled in less than 12 credits, the Pell grant is reduced. Students with an EFC less than 4401 may still be eligible for a portion of their Pell Grant if enrolled less than half time.

*Students with an EFC less than 4401 may still receive a portion of their Pell when enrolled less than half time.

**Most DU institutional grants and scholarships require at least 12 credits of enrollment.
 

Review your Current Course Schedule

There are two ways to determine which of your courses count toward your degree and therefore count toward your financial aid enrollment status:

• Use the Registrar's Degree Audit tool, which will display a summary of your courses and degree requirements. Courses that do not count toward your degree will be listed under the "courses not required for declared program" section.
• View your current registration on your Aid-Eligible Coursework Audit page in MyDU. This page will indicate whether your registered classes count toward your degree and are eligible for aid. If the total credit hours for courses that say "Yes" in the "Count for Aid" column add up to 6 or more, you'll be eligible to receive your federal and state aid for that term.

 
Notifications and Adjustments

Students whose aid eligibility is impacted by the aid-eligible coursework policy will be notified after class registration via their DU student email. If you’re no longer eligible for federal or state aid, that aid will not disburse for that term.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about your courses and if they count toward your degree program, please contact your Degree Evaluator at registrar@du.edu. For questions about your financial aid, please contact us at finaid@du.edu.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I find out which courses count in my degree program?

  You can view which courses count by logging in to the Degree Audit system. Courses that do not count toward your degree will be listed under the "courses not required for declared program" section.

• I don’t receive any federal or state financial aid. Does this policy pertain to me?

  No. The aid-eligible coursework policy only applies to students who are receiving federal and state aid.

• How will I know if my financial aid is affected because of the aid-eligible coursework policy?

  About a week or so after registration for a term begins, we'll begin sending emails to students whose aid will be affected due to this policy. You'll be notified if:

  • you have applied for financial aid by submitting the FAFSA, and
  • your financial aid enrollment is less than half time or you have the Pell Grant and are enrolled in less than 12 credits (see above for more information on financial aid enrollment).

   
  This means you won't be notified if a course doesn't count toward your degree program. You'll only be notified if it affects your aid eligibility.

• How will elective courses affect my aid eligibility?

  If your degree program allows for electives, and you have available credits remaining in your elective section, adding electives will not impact your eligibility for aid. However, if you have satisfied all your elective credits, those additional elective courses will not count toward your financial aid enrollment status.

• Is the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend impacted?

  No. COF is not impacted by the aid-eligible coursework policy.

• How are scholarships affected?

  While institutional and private scholarships are not impacted by the aid-eligible coursework policy, most have enrollment requirements to receive funding. Feel free to contact us at finaid@du.edu for questions about DU scholarships. For questions about private scholarships, please contact your scholarship provider.

• What if I want to take a course that isn’t required for my degree?

  You can still take courses that aren't required for your degree, but they won't be calculated into your financial aid enrollment status. As long as you're enrolled in at least 6 credits that count toward your degree, you'll be eligible to receive federal and state aid, even if you decide to take other electives.

• How will courses needed for minors or concentrations be treated?

  If your minor or concentration has been officially declared and is reflected in your Degree Audit, then courses needed for your minor or concentration will be considered aid-eligible.

• How will courses needed for double majors be treated?

  Double majors must be officially declared and reflected in your Degree Audit for courses to be considered aid-eligible.

• What about capstone courses, internships, practicums, etc.?

  These courses will be considered aid-eligible if they are required for your degree program.

• How will this affect study abroad?

  Study abroad courses will be considered aid-eligible if they apply toward outstanding coursework in your officially declared degree program.

• What happens if I change my degree program or major for a future term?

  Financial aid is not retroactively adjusted for prior terms. You may change your major or degree program as needed for future terms—this process only looks at the program you are currently in for that term.

• What if a course doesn’t count toward my degree program but I think it should?

  If you believe a course should count toward your degree program but isn’t, please send an email to your Degree Evaluator at registrar@du.edu.

• I’m not enrolled in at least 6 credits that count toward my degree. What types of aid am I eligible to receive?

  If your financial aid enrollment status is less than half time (1-5 credits), you aren't eligible to receive any federal or state aid, including federal loans. (Some students may still be eligible to receive a portion of their Pell Grant, however.)

  Institutional scholarships and grants are not affected by this policy, so you may still be eligible to receive that type of aid. However, most types of institutional aid have their own enrollment requirements; contact your scholarship provider for more information.

  DU offers payment plans that will split your bill into monthly installments. Learn more on the Office of Student Billing website.

  If you have no other means to pay your bill, you may consider a private education loan. These loans are available from a wide variety of financial institutions, and some may offer interest rates and terms that are competitive with those of federal loans. However, private loans typically do not offer the same range of repayment plans or forgiveness options. Learn more about private loans and find a historical list of lenders who have issued loans to DU students on our website.