Credit Requirements

Most types of financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships, work study, and more) require that you be enrolled for a certain number of credits in order to receive the award(s). Credit requirements vary based on the financial aid award.

Your initial offer of financial aid is based on full-time enrollment for both semesters of the academic year. To receive the full amount of the award(s) you are offered, you will need to be enrolled full-time and meet all the financial aid requirements.

Your award(s) will be delayed, reduced, or cancelled if:

• You are enrolled less than full-time.
• You do not attend UMD.
• You do not complete your registration before the end of the second week of the semester (census date).

Credits added after the census date cannot be considered for some aid sources (e.g., Pell and other grants).

Scholarships usually require full-time enrollment. If you receive a private scholarship that does not require full-time enrollment, the Office of Financial Aid and Registrar must receive written authorization from the donor before your scholarship can be disbursed. Please see the scholarships section of our Web site for additional information.

If your financial aid package is changed during the year, you will be sent an E-mail referring you to the web to view and accept (if necessary) your Revised Electronic Financial Aid Award Notice (eFAAN).

If you drop classes after your financial aid has been disbursed, you may be required to return all or a portion of the aid that was paid to you. Please refer to our Refund Policy.

*Exception: Students must be enrolled for 15 credits to receive the full Minnesota State Grant. Students enrolled for less than 15 credits will receive a prorated award. Students who are delinquent in paying child support or in default on a SELF Loan are ineligible for a Minnesota State Grant.

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