Navigating Financial Aid at Kennesaw State University

Securing financial aid for college can be challenging, but Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers a variety of resources and policies to assist students in funding their education. This article provides a comprehensive overview of KSU's financial aid system, covering eligibility requirements, types of aid available, application procedures, and important policies to keep in mind.

Understanding KSU's Financial Aid Policies

KSU has established specific financial aid policies that students must adhere to in order to receive and maintain their aid. These policies are in compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H. In order to receive any financial aid funds, you must be in attendance at Kennesaw State University. If you are studying away from the KSU campus, transcripts are required to document your attendance. Final grades (transcript) must be received to determine your continued financial aid eligibility. Once KSU allows you to take coursework at another institution, the Financial Aid Office will immediately place a “HOLD” on your financial aid account. If you reduce your course load during the term, you may not be eligible for the entire award offered to you. In some situations, you can use financial aid to pay for classes you repeat. Athletic grant-in-aid can be canceled during the term of the award. These policies are established by KSU.

Enrollment Requirements and Course Applicability

The U. S. Department of Education (ED) regulations require that a student must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program to receive federal financial aid (Grants, Loans, FSEOG, Work Study). Funds will only be disbursed for the courses needed to fulfill the program of study requirements. A student’s course registration will begin being reviewed one week after registration opens. We will continue to review their courses if they add or drop any sessions. A student’s registration will be reviewed one final time on the first business day at the end of drop/add. The only time this would be reviewed again is if a student adds or drops a course for 2nd session.

Consortium Agreements and Transfer Credits

Students will complete the necessary steps required to receive credit for coursework taken at “Host” school. Once KSU allows the student to take coursework at another institution, the Financial Aid Office will immediately place a “HOLD” on the students financial aid account. showing on the consortium form. must be included that the student completed at least one course successfully. The student (whose aid was allowed to disburse) will be given 1 month from the first day of classes in any subsequent term to have the transcript received by KSU. Once a transcript has been received and a determination is made regarding eligibility, the hold will be removed and aid will be allowed to disburse. On a case-by-case basis, and if the “Host” institution provides a document on institutional letterhead, the hold may be relaxed.

Types of Financial Aid Available

The financial aid options available to students at KSU include federal, state, and institutional aid.

Federal Aid Programs

The Federal Government has many financial aid options to help offset the cost of an education. Students seeking financial aid should apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Pell Grant

This federal grant is available to undergraduate students who have NOT received a baccalaureate degree. Eligibility is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated using information provided by the student/parent on the FAFSA. Funds from this award will be divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters and will be credited to the student’s account accordingly. Student’s now may have eligibility for summer Pell Grant under certain conditions. A Pell Grant award is based on the number of hours a student is enrolled. the posted award amount is based on full-time enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This federal grant is awarded based on the student’s SAI and the availability of funds. Applicants who file by the priority date of March 1st are reviewed first. Only students who are Pell Grant eligible may receive this grant (undergraduate students who have not received a baccalaureate degree).

Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. This is a low interest loan that enters repayment six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least on a half-time basis (6 hours). The term “Subsidized” means that the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled in school. Students must be enrolled in 6 hours or more to be eligible during a specific term. Eligibility is determined by filing the FAFSA. New borrowers will also need to complete an Entrance Counseling. will be required to complete a Loan Agreement. In addition, the student must complete Entrance Loan Counseling. This loan program provides financial assistance to all eligible students regardless of income. The FAFSA is required for determining eligibility. This loan is very similar to the Subsidized Stafford Loan in that the repayment terms and loan limits by class standing are the same. The difference is that the student, rather than the federal government, is responsible for paying the interest on the loan while he or she is enrolled. Loan proceeds from the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan will be disbursed like the Subsidized Stafford above, and the total amount of both the Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans may not be more than the annual loan limits set for the student’s class standing. Students must be enrolled in 6 hours or more to be eligible during a specific term.

Federal Work-Study Program

Federal Work Study programs exist for students with a financial need. service position on a part-time basis. the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The FAFSA is required. please visit our Federal Work Study Program page. Funding is limited as prescribed by the U. S. Dept.

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Federal PLUS Loan

students regardless of income level. this loan. assistance the student is receiving. last disbursement of each year. this loan. The student must be enrolled when the disbursements are received by the school. separate loan application must be filed in order to receive these funds. Applying for a PLUS Loan must be completed with the U. S.

State Aid Programs

to a maximum of 15 credit hours per semester. regarding the HOPE Program, please view GAfutures.

Institutional Aid and Scholarships

KSU offers a variety of institutional scholarships to its students. Available scholarships are listed under the appropriate college.

Scholarship Universe

our students with Scholarship Universe, a one-stop-shop tool to search and apply for thousands of scholarships. You can also be confident knowing that a third-party company has vetted all scholarships listed and that your information will not be sold. You can also search for a specific scholarship by name if you do not see it in your Matched section. Upload your resume and essay. see this clearly stated in Scholarship Universe. Review and submit your application. The Scholarship Universe application for KSU Foundation Scholarships is open from November 1 through March 1 for most scholarship programs. EST.

Need-Based Scholarships

Awarded to students who demonstrate financial need. criteria will also be considered.

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Staff Senate Scholarship

Awarded to KSU employees enrolled in accredited courses within the University System of Georgia. Online application available from December 1 through January 1.

Applying for Financial Aid

FAFSA Application

Students must complete the FAFSA to apply for federal financial aid. Department of Education to confirm the accuracy of the information provided on the FAFSA. Students who are selected for verification will be required to provide certain documents to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid before their financial aid application can be processed. application. review task underneath "Needs Action" and submit required form(s).

Scholarship Application Process

KSU has launched an easy, mobile and personalized process that makes finding and applying for scholarships easier than ever. We encourage you to research opportunities for external scholarships. When searching for additional funds, you should never have to pay to submit a scholarship application.

Important Steps After Applying

2. Indicate your acceptance or rejection of loans.
4. 5. 6. Eligibility for financial aid is based on the definition of “An Academic Year” as prescribed by the U. S. Dept.
8.

Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment

Families facing severe financial problems due to job loss, medical expenses, foreclosure, or business decline can request a review of their aid eligibility. This is called Special Circumstance - Student Aid Index Appeal. You will need to request a meeting with your assigned financial aid staff member to start the appeal process. Evaluation of financial aid applications is handled through a review process using professional judgment by financial aid professionals in the KSU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval. Timing of requests: All requests will be reviewed as they are received. for meeting the student's educational costs.

Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations, HEA Sec. 484(c), §668.16, 668.34, require all schools participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy that conforms to the requirements detailed below. If, after the first term of attendance you are not making SAP, you will be put on a Warning status and allowed to keep aid for one term. Your continued eligibility will be determined after the next term checkpoint. an appeal will not be permissible. at KSU.

SAP Requirements

Maximum time frame (maximum attempted credit hours) - You must earn your degree before reaching 180 attempted credit hours, which includes transferrable credits attempted at any school prior to and while enrolled at Kennesaw State University (KSU).
- Completion Ratio - You must complete and pass at least 67% of all credit hours you attempt. include grades of A, B, C, D, or S.
- Completion Ratio - You must earn at least 67% of all attempted credit hours. of A, B, C, D, or S.
The qualitative requirements sets a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average for all students. The cumulative GPA includes grades of A, B, C, D, F, and WF. includes transfer work. You are no longer eligible for financial aid - including work study, loans, grants or scholarships.

SAP Statuses

Warning Status - The first time you fall short of meeting the required completion ratio, your status is Warning. You remain eligible to receive financial aid while in warning status. met. is eligible to receive financial aid.

SAP Appeals

A typewritten explanation of mitigating circumstances associated with Failure Status. in the future. Include a “student plan of action” for academic improvement. circumstances. This individual should not be a family member. within the prescribed dates as noted on the SAP Appeal Form. Financial Aid, determines whether the appeal is approved. hours and earn the appropriate grades. If you reach Failure Status as an undergraduate, and then are admitted to a graduate degree program, you will be eligible to receive financial aid as a graduate student. credits.
Repeated courses - count as attempted credit hours each time you register for them. They also count against the allowed maximum. This can also reduce your completion ratio because repeated credits count as earned credits only once. NOTE: The U. S. Dept.
Dismissal and Return - students who are suspended academically or choose not to attend because of SAP Failure will not be automatically eligible for financial aid upon their return. Students must meet both qualitative and quantitative standards of SAP.
Summer Term Courses - all hours attempted and completed in the summer terms are treated as any other semester hours in determining SAP status.
Audit Courses - students are not eligible to receive financial aid for audit courses.
All courses previously taken, even if financial aid was not used, are compared against the current semester to determine if it is a repeated class and whether it can be paid for using financial aid. Your financial aid may be recalculated if you take a class that is not eligible for financial aid. This policy does not provide exceptions if the repeat courses are taken to meet plan of study grade requirements, i.e. The repeat coursework rules only apply to undergraduate students. can also impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress status (SAP).

Enrollment Status and Financial Aid Adjustments

Financial aid packages for students enrolled less than full-time may require adjustments. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of his or her less than full-time enrollment status. Eligibility for awards varies with enrollment status. If you receive any financial assistance from any source other than what is shown on your award notification, your financial aid package must be adjusted. Your financial aid award is subject to change or may be adjusted at any point in the academic year due to Kennesaw State University’s correction(s) and/or change(s) in federal/state appropriations. We routinely audit our financial aid files throughout the academic year to check for accuracy. KSU reserves the right to make corrections to a student’s financial aid information as needed and these changes may alter a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) or award eligibility and subsequently the financial aid package. In addition, please remember that changes in your SAI due to student’s/parent’s failure to report accurate information on the FAFSA will result in award revision(s) as well. If you correct your Student Aid Report (SAR) after you have been awarded, your financial aid package may be adjusted in accordance with federal regulations at any point in the academic year. If you withdraw after the term begins, your financial aid package is subject to proration as set forth in the federal regulations. If, after the federally prescribed proration is calculated, we have to reduce your financial aid package, you may owe a balance on your account. This balance is your responsibility to pay, not KSU’s responsibility. Institutional aid (including scholarships) may be prorated if tuition charges are adjusted.

Confidentiality and Access to Financial Aid Files

Contents of the student’s financial aid file are the property of the Kennesaw State University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. These files are considered confidential information. Requests by the student to review his or her file must be made in writing. Requests by the dependent student’s parent(s) to review the student’s file must be made in writing, and the student must give his or her written consent to release the information. Once a request is received, KSU has 45 days to make the requested information available for review. This review will take place in the Office of Financial Aid at a time convenient for the student, dependent student’s parent(s) and the Office of Financial Aid. This review will NOT take place the same day the written request for review is received by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Requests by anyone other than the student and/or the parent(s) must be approved by the student. A Consent to Release Information must be completed by the student and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. For the protection of the student, as well as the protection of the staff of the Office of Financial Aid, we will not release information regarding the student’s financial aid package over the phone. Students are required to authenticate their identity by presenting a government-issued picture ID. A KSU ID card will suffice. Information may not be released without the presence of valid identity authentication items.

Additional Information and Important Considerations

NOT automatically renewable.
be available each academic year.
and the University change each year.
may vary annually in content as well as total amounts from year to year.
eligibility for the academic year.
an annual limit.
funding for the Summer term.
Students and/or parents who report “No Income” on the FAFSA, or report an income that appears to be exceptionally low, are required to provide additional documentation.
of study. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid reserves the right to deny a student a loan - federal, alternative or Student Access Loan - based on specific federal guidelines and/or institutional polices.
A student may NOT receive financial aid at two schools simultaneously. This is not allowed by federal law.
To be eligible to receive need-based financial aid other than the Federal Pell Grant, a student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) in a program leading to the receipt of a degree. A student who is enrolled less than half-time may be eligible to receive a Pell Grant as long as the student is seeking their first baccalaureate degree.
form in the Office of the Registrar or online.
school in any semester. For those students who withdraw and are receiving federal funding, the refund policy of Title IV Funds (back to federal programs) is dictated by federal regulations governing Title IV financial aid programs. These programs must be refunded according to the calculations prescribed by federal regulations based on the date of withdrawal and percentage of time enrolled. Within 45 days of the date of withdrawal being determined, the amount of funding that must be returned to the Title IV programs will be calculated, and the student’s financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly. This will occur within 45 days of the official date of withdrawal, or, in the cases of unofficial withdrawals (see below); the date that the school has determined the student has withdrawn. not eligible to receive any federal, state, or institutional funds. In the case of an official or unofficial withdrawal from the University, a student who receives a cash disbursement of Title IV financial aid funds may have to repay the University a percentage of those Title IV funds depending on the length of enrollment and the amount of financial aid awarded to the student. If, according to the federal calculations, a student has been “overpaid,” the student will be required to repay the excess amount to the University for reimbursement to the federal programs. If the student fails to repay the calculated amount, the student will be reported to the U. S.

Loan Management and Aggregate Limits

Students at KSU are awarded based on their current NSLDS record, which reflects their federal loan borrowing history at the time of receipt. However, the records may not always be accurate due to timing. Therefore, KSU, will conduct a pre-screening process to capture students who may potentially be approaching or exceeding their aggregate loan borrowing limit. The intent is to capture any overawards prior to the disbursement of aid to prevent any unnecessary return of funds. In addition, a post-screening process is conducted to capture any student who may have inadvertently exceeded their aggregate borrowing limit. These students are identified as a result of updated NSLDS records pushed to the institution by the Department of Education.

Cost of Attendance

components in the Cost of Attendance to actual charges.

Financial Aid for Online Students

fees and tuition only. fees. For students taking only online courses.

Residency and Financial Aid

In-State vs. the FAFSA so that potential sources of financial aid can be identified for you.

Graduate Student Aid

You must be fully accepted to qualify for any student financial aid. programs, may not qualify for financial aid according to federal guidelines. KSU’s scholarship portal, Scholarship Universe, opens every year on November 1 and closes on March 1, and includes a list of scholarships specifically for graduate students. to carry out programs that alleviate poverty. A Graduate Research Assistant works with a faculty member on a specific research project for a certain number of hours each week. In exchange, the GRA is granted a tuition fee waiver and provided a stipend.

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