Financial Aid Policies

CARES Act Resources

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides emergency funding and other benefits.

Note: All funds have been exhausted and no longer offered through Teachers College.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Review the disclosure concerning student emergency relief funding under the CARES act.

CARES Act Unemployment Benefits

Visit the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators website to review your eligibility for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act as a current student or recent graduate.

Federal financial aid is awarded under the assumption that a student will attend classes for the entire period for which the aid was granted. When a student withdraws from all courses before completing 60% of the term, the school is required by federal law to perform a Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation to determine how much federal financial aid the student earned and how much must be returned.

What Triggers an R2T4 Calculation?

An R2T4 calculation is required when a student who has received federal student aid:

• Officially withdraws from all classes,
• Stops attending all classes without notifying the school (unofficial withdrawal),
• Is dismissed or otherwise fails to complete the semester.

How the R2T4 Calculation Works?

The amount of federal student aid earned is based on the percentage of the semester completed prior to withdrawal. This percentage is then calculated by dividing the number of calendar days the student attended by the total number of calendar days in the semester, excluding scheduled class breaks of five days or more. 

If the student completes more than 60% of the semester, they are considered to have earned 100% of their aid. If the student completes 60% or less, a portion of the aid must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

Order of Return of Funds

If funds must be returned, they will be sent back in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Other Title IV programs (if applicable)

Responsibility for Repayment

The school must return the unearned portion of Title IV funds it received to cover institutional charges. Students may be responsible for repaying unearned aid that was disbursed directly to them (i.e., a refund credit issued by the College prior to withdrawing from all courses).

Impact on Your Student Account

The R2T4 process may result in a balance due to the College. Students are responsible for repaying any outstanding balance resulting from the return of federal funds.

Questions?

If you have questions about how withdrawing might affect your financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid before making any enrollment changes. We are here to help you understand the financial impact and explore your options.

Overview of Satisfactory Academic Progress at Teachers College 

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a government-mandated process that each school uses to decide if a student is meeting all of the educational requirements needed to graduate on time with a degree or certificate. The purpose of measuring and enforcing these standards is to ensure that you are making satisfactory progress toward degree completion if you receive federal financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid abides by the federal regulations to establish, publish, and apply our standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for federal financial aid eligibility. This section of the website provides detailed information about SAP at Teachers College. If you have questions about SAP, please contact our office. In addition, you may review the Teachers College SAP Policy - Printable Version [PDF].

If you fail to meet SAP, you become ineligible to receive federal financial aid funding until you are in compliance. The following federal financial aid programs are impacted by SAP:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Nurse Faculty Loan Program
• Federal Work-Study
• Federal TEACH Grant

The following information outlines the policies and procedures that TC uses to determine whether to place a student’s enrollment on a Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Denied status. The policies outlined in the document refer to the standards for SAP for the disbursement of federal financial aid only and do not pertain to scholarship funding.

SAP for Financial Aid Regulations

Teachers College (TC) in accordance with federal regulations for Title IV financial aid eligibility has developed the following standards for the evaluation of SAP. Federal regulations require TC to evaluate SAP for all students matriculated at the College whether or not Federal Title IV aid is received. SAP for financial aid is typically evaluated after the grading deadline at the end of each academic term in the Fall and Spring terms. For example, a student who has enrolled for the Fall semester will receive an SAP evaluation after the grading deadline of the Fall term, and the evaluation will affect the student’s eligibility for federal financial aid in the subsequent term(s). Additionally, students who have enrolled during the Summer term will also be evaluated after the grading deadline at the end of that academic term.

SAP standards outlined below refer to the disbursement of federal financial aid only (this does NOT include scholarships). Academic programs at TC will also have academic progress requirements separate from those outlined within this policy and are addressed within the TC Catalog and Program of Study Guides each year.

SAP Warnings vs. SAP Denials

Warning Status

A student whose financial aid status is Financial Aid Warning will receive a notification via the official College email address and federal financial aid will be disbursed for the upcoming semester only. If a student is not in compliance with all financial aid regulations for SAP at the end of the subsequent semester, the financial aid status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied and no federal financial aid will be disbursed until a SAP appeal is completed and approved. Financial Aid Warning lasts for one payment period only and does not require action by the student.

Denials Status

A student whose financial aid status is Financial Aid Denied will not receive federal financial aid for the semester. The student may appeal the Financial Aid Denied status through the SAP appeals process outlined below. If the appeal is granted by the SAP Appeals Committee, the student’s status will be changed to either Financial Aid Approved and Financial Aid Probation. If an appeal is deemed as Financial Aid Approved, federal financial aid will be disbursed for the remaining semesters of the current academic year or for however long the approval term is. If an appeal is deemed as Financial Aid Probation, students will be automatically placed on an academic plan and federal financial aid will be disbursed for the upcoming/approved semester only.  The student’s record will be reviewed before the start of the subsequent semester and will become ineligible for federal aid if the academic plan requirements are not met. If the length of an academic plan spans over several semesters, federal aid will be disbursed for the remaining semesters indicated on the academic plan based on satisfying outlined term-specific SAP requirements. The student must continue to meet all financial aid regulations for SAP and meet all criteria put forth by the SAP Appeals Committee in order to continue to receive federal financial aid each semester. A student may still register for courses and maintain status in his or her degree program even with a Financial Aid Denied status provided he or she still meets the academic regulations of the College and the program.

SAP for Master's Students (M.A., M.S., and Ed.M. programs)

SAP Flag	Description
Maximum Time to Completion	Master's students are required to complete their program(s) of study within a five-year period of candidacy. Students who do not earn their degree within their five-year period of candidacy will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.
Over Maximum Credit Allowance	Master’s students may not exceed 150% of the required credits/points for the degree program measured by attempted credits/points. If a student’s degree program requires more than the amount of credits/points shown on the chart below, the student’s Maximum Credit Allowance will reflect 150% of the actual program credits/points required. (To find your Maximum Credit Allowance, multiply your Program Credits/Points Required by 1.5.) Students who exceed 150% of the required credits/points for their degree program will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.   Degree Program Minimum Credits/Points Required Maximum Credits/Points Allowed M.A. 32 48 M.S. 32 48 Ed.M. 60 90
Course Completion	Master’s students are required to complete 66% of attempted credits/points cumulatively within their program of study. Calculated percentages will be rounded to the nearest tenth (i.e. 65.4 will be rounded to 65% completion; 65.5 will be rounded to 66% completion). Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Master’s students who fail to meet the required percentage (66%) of attempted credits/points cumulatively will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a completion of 66% of the cumulative total at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning is issued once per degree program.
Grade Point Average (GPA)	Master’s students are required to have a cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (equivalent to a B) within their program of study. Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Master’s students who fail to meet the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning is issued once per degree program. Please note that the calculation of GPA is used only for financial aid purposes and is not reported by the College.

 

SAP for Doctoral Students (Ph.D. programs)

SAP Flag	Description
Maximum Time to Completion	Doctorate (Ph.D.) students are required to complete their program of study within a seven-year period of candidacy. Students who do not earn their degree within their seven-year period of candidacy will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.
Over Maximum Credit Allowance	Ph.D. students may not exceed 150% of the required credits/points for the degree program measured by attempted credits/points. If a student’s degree program requires more than the amount of credits/points shown on the chart below, the student’s Maximum Credit Allowance will reflect 150% of the actual program credits/points required. (To find your Maximum Credit Allowance, multiply your Program Credits/Points Required by 1.5.) Students who exceed 150% of the required points for their degree program will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.   Degree Program Minimum Credits/Points Required Maximum Credits/Points Allowed Ph.D. 75 112
Course Completion	Ph.D. students are required to complete 66% of attempted credits/points cumulatively taking all terms of registration into consideration. Calculated percentages will be rounded to the nearest tenth (i.e. 65.4 will be rounded to 65% completion; 65.5 will be rounded to 66% completion). Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Ph.D. students who fail to meet the required percentage (66%) of attempted credits/points cumulatively will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a completion of 66% of the cumulative total at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning.
Grade Point Average (GPA)	Ph.D. students are required to have a cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (equivalent to a B) taking all terms of registration into consideration. Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Ph.D. students who fail to meet the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning is issued once per degree program. Please note that the calculation of GPA is used only for financial aid purposes and is not reported by the College.

 

SAP for Doctoral Students (Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T programs)

SAP Flag	Description
Maximum Time to Completion	Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students are required to complete their program(s) of study within a ten-year period of candidacy. Students who do not earn their degree within their ten-year period of candidacy will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.
Over Maximum Credit Allowance	Ed.D. and Ed.D C.T. students may not exceed 150% of the required credits/points for the degree program measured by attempted credits/points. If a student’s degree program requires more than the amount of credits/points shown on the chart below, the student’s Maximum Credit Allowance will reflect 150% of the actual program credits/points required. (To find your Maximum Credit Allowance, multiply your Program Credits/Points Required by 1.5.) Students who exceed 150% of the required credits/points for their degree program will be placed on Financial Aid Denied status.   Degree Program Minimum Credits/Points Required Maximum Credits/Points Allowed Ed.D. 90 135
Course Completion	Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students are required to complete 66% of attempted credits/points cumulatively taking all terms of registration into consideration. Calculated percentages will be rounded to the nearest tenth (i.e. 65.4 will be rounded to 65% completion; 65.5 will be rounded to 66% completion). Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students who fail to meet the required percentage (66%) of attempted credits/points cumulatively will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a completion of 66% of the cumulative total at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning is issued once per degree program.
Grade Point Average (GPA)	Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students are required to have a cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (equivalent to a B) taking all terms of registration into consideration. Refer to additional notes regarding readmission to TC degree programs as well as switches in degree and/or programs of study. Ed.D. and Ed.D C.T. students who do not meet the cumulative 3.0 GPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Warning status for one term. If the student is not in compliance in maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the start of any subsequent terms, their status will be changed to Financial Aid Denied. A Financial Aid Warning is issued once per degree program. Please note that the calculation of GPA is used only for financial aid purposes and is not reported by the College.

 

Treatment Of WD, IN, F, R, P, DP, * Grades, Repeated Coursework, And Transfer Credit

Grading status/item	Included in GPA calculation for SAP?	Considered as completion of attempted coursework for SAP?
Course withdrawals (WD)	No	No
Incomplete (IN)*	No	No
Failing (F)	Yes	Yes
Attendance credit (R)	No	Yes
Pass (P), Year Course (YC), and Doctoral Pass (DP)	No	Yes
Missing grades (*)**	No	No
Transfer credits	No	Yes
Repeated courses	Yes	Yes

 

*  If the IN grade is replaced with a permanent grade, academic progress will be reevaluated for GPA and course completion calculations.

** Once a grade has been recorded for a missing grade, academic progress will be reevaluated.

A student who does not meet the aforementioned SAP standards will fall under one of the following statuses: Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Denied. Students who are in a Financial Aid Warning status will receive federal financial aid for the upcoming semester, but will need to rectify the SAP issue before the start of the subsequent semester in order to continue to receive federal financial aid. If the SAP issue is not cleared up, the student will fall into a Financial Aid Denied status. For students whose financial aid eligibility status is Financial Aid Denied, the College has established an appeals process for reinstatement of eligibility for federal financial aid; continue reading for additional details.

All students who are requesting federal aid reinstatement must submit a SAP Appeal to the Office of Financial Aid by the published semester deadline on the Office of Financial Aid website. Additionally, students will be notified of the submission deadline through their official TC Gmail. Late SAP Appeal submissions will not be considered.

Reinstatement of federal financial aid after a student is on Financial Aid Denied status can be achieved in two ways:

1. A SAP Appeals Form can be submitted and reviewed by the SAP Appeals Committee. Students must be in a Financial Aid Approved and Financial Aid Probation status to receive aid after being denied. The SAP Appeals Committee will follow the process outlined in the appeals process section below.
2. The student officially registers for TC courses and pays for tuition and fees without federal financial aid meets SAP standards based on their registered coursework by the next SAP evaluation. Students who do not meet the Maximum Time to Completion or Over Maximum Credit Allowance standard(s) cannot regain eligibility this way.

The Office of Financial Aid at TC will evaluate both, Master’s and Doctoral students prior to the start of each academic term to determine if they are meeting SAP standards. Students who are on Financial Aid Probation or in a Financial Aid Warning status at the end of the spring term will have to be reviewed prior to the start of the summer term if they wish to enroll for this additional term.

Students flagged as not meeting institutional SAP standards will be notified via email by the Office of Financial Aid. These students may fall under one of two categories/statuses: Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Denied.  A student whose financial aid status is Financial Aid Warning will receive federal financial aid for that semester only and must be in compliance by the end of the subsequent semester. A student whose financial aid status is Financial Aid Denied will not receive federal financial aid for the semester. Students in a Financial Aid Denied status who wish to take advantage of any federal student aid must submit the SAP Appeals Form, along with any necessary written statements or supplemental documentation, to the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals will only be granted under extenuating circumstances, such as death or extreme sickness of an immediate family member, unexpected injury or illness, extended hospitalization, or another reasonable explanation. Work conflicts and/or an increased amount of reported schoolwork are typically not considered extenuating circumstances.

All SAP appeals will first be reviewed by the designated SAP Coordinator located in the Office of Financial Aid. The SAP Coordinator will ensure that all documents are included and attached to the SAP Appeals Form. Once all documents are successfully received, the completed appeal will be forwarded to the SAP Appeals Committee. The SAP Appeals Committee will typically meet multiple times in a semester, depending on the volume of submitted appeals. Students will be notified of their SAP Appeal decision based on committee review. Students who have been approved for aid reinstatement with Financial Aid Approved or Financial Aid Probation status will need to sign an academic agreement with the Office of Financial Aid.

All students who are requesting federal aid reinstatement must submit a SAP Appeal to the Office of Financial Aid by the published semester deadline on the Office of Financial Aid website. Additionally, students will be notified of the submission deadline through their official TC Gmail. Late SAP Appeal submissions will not be considered.

• If a student’s SAP appeal is APPROVED, they will receive appropriate notification via email and will then be eligible for federal student aid for the specified semester/academic year.
• If a student’s SAP appeal is DENIED, they will receive appropriate notification via email and will not be eligible for any federal student aid until they are in compliance with institutional SAP standards.
• If a student’s appeal is deemed as anything other than the above statuses (i.e. PROBATION or PENDING), the student will receive appropriate notification via email; this notification will detail any additional documentation and/or steps required on the student’s behalf.
• The decisions of the SAP Appeals Committee are final.

Any student who registers for a term is obligated to pay tuition and fees as outlined in the TC Catalog. If a student’s SAP appeal is denied, they are still responsible for paying tuition and fees even though federal financial aid was not awarded.

 SAP Policy - Printable Version [PDF]