Costs, Billing, and Financial Aid

Costs

UD Fee Policies

Delaware Residency

UD’s Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Tuition (Per Semester)

Differential Charge

Undergraduate Mandatory Fees (Per Semester)

Course Related Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Housing

Dining

Paying Student Account

Payment Due Dates and Installment Payment Plan

Payment Options

• ACH (Automated Clearing House) Payment/Online Check

With your bank account and routing number, your payment will be directly debited from your checking account.  If you are using an equity line of credit or money market account, please check with your financial institution prior to using the ACH payment method; some institutions will not allow ACH payments to be completed and will return the online check.

• Credit Card

Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express credit card payments may be made online through UD’s payment processing vendor, CashNet.  CashNet assesses a 2.75% service fee, which is not paid to UD and is not refundable, even if the related payment to UD is refunded.  The service fee for international students is 4.25%.

• Mail a Check

Using My Finances, you may print a remittance slip and indicate that you will mail a paper check, cashier’s check, or money order for your payment.  Please be sure the check includes the student ID and first and last name and mail to Cashier’s Office, 30 Lovett Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716

• International Wire

UD, along with Western Union Business Solutions, provides international students a simple and secure payment option using their home currency directly through My Finances.  For students wishing to wire payments outside of My Finances, please contact Student Financial Services to obtain wire instructions.

A dishonored check or ACH payment that has been returned by the bank or has not been cleared by the payment deadline does not constitute payment.  The University charges a $25 service charge for dishonored checks.  Students who submit dishonored checks may be required to make future payments by cash, money order, or certified check.  The University has no obligation or liability for erroneous authorized payment instructions.

Payments received prior to 2:30pm EST, Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) will be processed the same day.

Financial Clearance

Financial clearance is required to protect the student account from late fees, registration and transcript holds, and potential course cancellation.  The account is considered financially cleared when one of these criteria is met by the due date:

• Payment in full is made to the student account by the Payment in Full due date (see the University calendar for these dates).
• The first (and all subsequent) installment payment is made on-time according to the installment plan schedule.
• Other funding is recorded via the Report Additional Credits function in My Finances.  Additional sources of funding (e.g., 529 plans, outside scholarships, or loans) may not post before the due date because of processing timelines or other reasons.The Report Additional Credits process allows families to inform UD of these pending credits, allowing them to pay only the remaining balance (as applicable).

Any student not enrolled in the installment payment plan who is not financially cleared by the date specified will be charged a $55 late fee each monthly billing cycle.  New students who are admitted and registered after the payment due date will not be charged a late fee if they make payment at the time of registration.

Students enrolled in the installment payment plan who do not pay at least the required installment amounts at the second, third, and/or fourth installments will be assessed a $25 late fee.

Failure to pay does not relieve students of their financial obligation for courses not dropped within the free drop/add period.  Students who cannot pay or do not plan to attend must drop courses by the drop/add deadline, or be responsible for full charges.

The University reserves the right to cancel registration if students have not made satisfactory arrangements to pay semester costs in a timely manner.  If any fees, fines, or miscellaneous payments are not received by due dates, the student may be dropped by the University.  Subsequent registration will be refused and transcripts, diplomas, and other information concerning attendance at the University will be withheld.  Reinstatement requires payment of the amount due and compliance with the usual readmission procedures.

Students are responsible for any collection agency fees, attorney fees, court costs, and other costs and charges necessary for the collection of any amount not paid by the due date.

Students who fail to make payments by the due date may be denied the privilege of using the installment payment plan in future semesters and may be required to prepay any future tuition charges prior to the start of the term for which they are enrolling.

Financial Responsibility and Tuition Refund Eligibility

The act of registering generates related tuition charges for which students are financially responsible.  Students who opt not to take courses for which they are registered must drop the courses by the free drop/add deadline.  

Students who drop from their classes by the end of the semester’s free drop/add deadline  are eligible for a full refund of tuition and fees.  No refunds of tuition or course fees will be made for withdrawn courses after the end of the free drop/add period.

Holds and Collections

Failure to financially clear a student account can result in a holds and collections activity.

Tuition Discounts

Over 60 Tuition-Free Degree
Matriculated students who are Delaware residents and 60 years of age or older may take credit courses on a space-available basis with no tuition charges.  This discount does not apply to courses taken through Professional and Continuing Studies.  Students must pay all applicable fees, except the Admission Application, Readmission Application, Advance Standing, Student Teaching, and New Student Orientation fees.  For further information, contact the Admissions office at 308-831-2792.

Delaware Teachers
The College of Education and Human Development is committed to Delaware teachers.  Scholarship opportunities offered by the College can be viewed by visiting CEHD.

VA Benefits

The University of Delaware is approved by the Delaware State Approving Agency to offer educational programs to Veterans. If you served on Active Duty, you might be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. To receive benefits, you must apply through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Affairs determines the amount of benefits a student can receive. 

Once the University of Delaware receives a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 for a specific semester or session, the University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Undergraduate degree programs are designed to be completed in four years. The VA will not allow the University to certify VA benefits to students who are not making satisfactory acdemic progress towards degree completion . Therefore, VA educational benefits will be terminated if a student has not completed degree requirements in six years of full-time study or its equivalent. Due to VA regulations the University of Delaware will not certify VA benefits for a repeated course unless a program requires the course to be taken more than once or if a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class is required to complete degree requirements. Due to VA regulations the University of Delaware will not certify VA education benefits for any audited coursework.  Any course(s) audited will be marked as a withdrawal with the VA, effective the day the change to audit occurred.

The University maintains a Veteran Student Services  Office to assist all veterans and students using veteran benefits regarding VA benefits, transitioning to university life and any additional inquires they may have. Additional veterans information can be viewed at the UD Registrar’s website.

Financial Aid

Applying for, Receiving, and Maintaining Financial Aid

Eligibility

Filing the FAFSA

• Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, made up of a username and password, to access certain US Department of Education websites. The FSA ID is used to confirm identity when accessing financial aid information and electronically signing federal student aid documents.
• Using the FSA ID, students complete the FAFSA online, using UD’s federal school code:  001431.
• Filing the FAFSA will encourage the use of the IRS DRT (Data Retrieval Tool), which allows the US Department of Education to access tax year data directly from the IRS.This will ensure the most accurate aid award and may satisfy the need for further tax information if selected for federal verification.
• After submitting the FAFSA, students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal government which contains the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and will also indicate Pell Grant eligibility as well as federal directly loans.Families should review the SAR carefully and correct any errors.
• Remember that the FAFSA must be filed each year and it is available for completion starting on October 1 for the next academic year (UD recommends completing the FAFSA by April 15 for returning students and January 15 for newly admitted students).This ensures that newly admitted students can be notified of financial aid offers timely as they make their enrollment decisions, and it helps returning students finalize their application for the upcoming academic year.  Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and please note that state-funded aid may have differing deadlines.
• Pay special attention not to make any errors on the FAFSA, and verify all personal information entered, particularly social security number and date of birth.Discrepancies with the SSA’s records can cause delays in financial aid awarding.
• Closely review the information sent on the SAR and correct any errors by logging back in to the FAFSA at any time.
• The federal government does require that a Federal Verification Audit of FAFSA data be completed for some applicants.This process can require the submission of federal income tax forms of students and parents.Students selected for verification can find more information on FAFSA’s website.  A statement of Selective Service Registration Compliance also may be required.

Financial Aid Awarding

Awards may be offered based on available resources, the financial need of the applicant, and the student’s continued enrollment in a degree program (with at least half-time status).  Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Notification of Aid

Newly admitted undergraduate students’ financial aid notifications describe the sources and amounts of aid awarded and are made available on the My Blue Hen Home portal, as well as mailed to students’ home addresses.  This information is available prior to Admissions’ decision deadline and deposit due date (May 1).

Returning undergraduate students’ financial aid package notifications are sent via email in early July to the students’ UDEL email addresses; graduate students are notified in late July/early August.  This information is sent before payment is due to the UD student account.  Students can accept, decline, or modify awards from UDSIS after receiving the notice.  Accepting awards is done by completing any additional required steps in order for aid to disburse to the account, and this information can be found on the students’ My Finances To Do List.  Students should carefully review requirements for maintaining their awards, as well.

All students newly accepting federal loans must complete required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory note signing.  These steps serve as award acceptance for newly admitted students.

Financial Aid for Students with Previous Baccalaureate Degrees

A student who has completed their baccalaureate degree is not eligible to receive either a Federal Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG).  It is a student’s responsibility to indicate receipt of a first baccalaureate degree when completing the FAFSA.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal Title IV assistance programs require students to maintain progress toward a degree.  These federal programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, SMART Grant, SEOG, Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS), Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal College Work-Study Program.  Undergraduate satisfactory progress for financial aid purposes requires:

• Completion of a degree within six years of full-time attendance or its equivalent
• A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) after 60 or more attempted hours
• Successful completion of 67% of credit hours attempted

SAP includes both qualitative and quantitative measures of the student’s progress.

The qualitative measure establishes a minimum grade point index (Grade Point Average, or GPA) standard of 2.0.

• A student must have a cumulative grade point average of a ‘C’ (a 2.0 grade point index) at the end of the second year of study (defined as 60 credit hours attempted). A student may be placed on probation or dismissed for academic deficiency when the index for any semester is less than 1.23 or the quality-point deficit is more than 12.99 points. Graduate students must maintain good standing as defined in the Graduate Catalog.
• For financial aid purposes, satisfactory grades are defined as A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, P, and S. Unsatisfactory grades are defined as F, L, LW, N, X, Z, W, WF, I, and U.

The quantitative measure establishes a maximum time frame for students to complete their programs of 6 years for undergraduates with no more than 180 earned credits (graduate students may differ, and a minimum number of credits a student must satisfactorily complete each year equal to 67% of all attempted coursework.

• Degrees must be earned based on one of the following schedules:
• Undergraduate - First bachelor’s degree must be completed within 6 years of full-time attendance or its equivalent, regardless of whether student has received financial aid. In all cases, the bachelor’s degree should be earned while attempting no more than 180 credit hours.
• Graduate - Students must complete degrees within 5 years (10 semesters). During this 5-year period, students have 3 years of full-time attendance or its equivalent to complete required course work (does not include UNIV 868, 869, or 969). A 7-year limit is provided for doctoral students entering without a master’s degree.
• To meet the time limits defined above, all students must complete for credit 67% of total credit hours attempted. This completion rate is defined as the number of earned hours divided by the number of attempted hours, where earned hours are courses in which a student has received a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-. D+, D, D-, P, and S. Attempted hours include all satisfactory letter grades and unsatisfactory letter grades previously listed, including listener or audited classes, withdrawals and incompletes. Transfer credits are counted in both attempted hours and completed hours in this calculation. Repeated courses are also included in the calculation. If a class is repeated, all of the attempted hours are counted, but only the credit hours from the highest grade for the repeated course are counted as completed. Grades for all repeated courses are counted in the grade point average calculation.
• Academic dismissal will result in automatic suspension of all types of financial aid.

Student Financial Services reviews each student’s academic record at the end of every spring term. The academic record is then compared against the following qualitative and quantitative requirements of the University of Delaware’s SAP Standards.

SAP Monitoring & Appeals - SFS reviews academic progress for all students at the end of the Spring Semester. Students who have not met all SAP requirements (regardless of whether they received financial aid) will be notified in writing that they have lost eligibility for financial aid.

A student may appeal eligibility decisions if there were extenuating circumstances which may have affected the ability to meet academic requirements.  Examples of extenuating circumstances include personal or family critical illness (physical or mental), natural disaster impacts on student or family home, assault, and other circumstances outside student’s control.  Students looking to appeal will log in to My SFS Docs using UDelNetID and password, then complete the appeal form, explaining the situations, documenting circumstances, and developing an Academic Recovery Plan with an academic advisor.  SFS will review appeals to determine whether SAP exceptions can be made.

Students whose SAP appeals are approved will be placed on SAP financial aid probation.

Those students will be allowed one semester to meet SAP requirements and remain eligible for financial aid (unless otherwise specified in the Academic Recovery Plan).  Students should contact SFS prior to the start of the following semester after grades have been posted to be considered for the following term. Students will be reviewed term-by-term until SAP requirements are met to ensure progress according to the Academic Recovery Plan. In the meantime, students on financial aid probation may continue to receive aid.

In addition to the Academic Recovery Plan, undergraduate students on probation are required to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 or above, not receive an “I” in any coursework, and receive a “P” in each Pass/Fail course. (For graduate-level students, the minimum GPA requirement is determined by the academic unit.)

Students will be removed from SAP financial aid probation once successfully completing the Academic Recovery Plan. This is demonstrated by obtaining a GPA consistent with the minimum requirement for the relevant academic level and in completing an aggregate of 67 percent or more of all attempted credit hours.

Students who are placed on academic probation by their Schools or Colleges are also considered to be on financial aid probation under SAP.  Students are expected to comply with the requirements of both the college or department and Student Financial Services. See note below regarding academic holds.

Failure to Meet SAP Probation Requirements

Students who do not meet the terms of financial aid probation are not eligible for aid in any subsequent semester. A written notification is sent to all students who fail to comply with the terms of the probation.

A student can regain eligibility by doing the following and notifying Student Financial Services once the following have been accomplished:

• Complete a minimum of 12 credit hours or 8 credit hours for graduate students at the University of Delaware (or as specified in the Academic Recovery Plan) without the benefit of financial aid.  Students may take the credits at another institution of higher education if approved by their academic advisor; and
• Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 for undergraduates (for graduate students, the GPA requirements of their academic unit); and
• Complete 100 percent of attempted credit hours.

Note: A student who has lost eligibility cannot regain it by paying out-of-pocket for the enrolled classes or sitting out (not attending) for a semester.

Students who feel SAP status and aid eligibility were affected by special circumstances can appeal through My SFS Docs with proper documentation of those circumstances (i.e,. doctor’s notice, letter from academic advisor, etc.).  Students filing appeals may be required to work with the academic advisor to develop a plan for achieving good academic standing.

Grades

For financial aid purposes, satisfactory grades are defined as A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, P, and S.  Unsatisfactory grades are defined as F, L, LW, N, X, Z, W, WF, I, and U.  Students who fail to complete at least 67% of attempted credit hours because of incomplete grades or who withdraw from all classes will have financial aid terminated.  A student may receive financial assistance for a course that was repeated.

Repeated and Not-for-Credit Courses

A student repeating a course may receive aid for that course, and both instances of the course will count toward attempted hours, though only the instance receiving the better grade will count toward completed hours.  Not-for-credit courses are not eligible for financial aid so students should be sure that repeated courses are not designated as not-for-credit.  Any aid disbursed toward a not-for-credit course may require repayment.

Terms with All Failing Grades

Students will be asked to verify attendance during a term in which all grades received are unacceptable (as defined above).  Failure to verify attendance in each class will result in cancellation of all aid for the term.

The University has a range of holds, including financial, that prevent future registration by students who need to resolve various issues.  SFS will not determine financial aid eligibility or release funds of students with an academic hold until that hold is removed by the School or College.  Students can refer to UDSIS for additional information on any holds on their accounts.

Official Withdrawal

Changes to enrollment, including termination through official withdrawal, can cause adjustments to Title IV federal financial aid funds.  Federal regulations mandate that the Title IV aid of students who withdraw be reviewed for possible adjustment, and that any unearned aid be returned to the federal aid programs.  Eligibility is based on the cost of education incurred for any individual semester (or special session) to which federal aid is applied and is contingent upon completion of that term.  Percentage of aid earned is based on the date of withdrawal, divided by the total number of days in the session.  Title IV aid is governed by federal policy for students who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the term.

Students are required to adhere to the University’s official withdrawal policy when terminating their enrollment prior to the end of a given term.  Failure to officially withdraw can result in the cancellation of any federal financial aid funds previously awarded that term.  Federal regulations require that funds for ineligible recipients be returned to the financial aid program accounts.  Students will be billed for semester charges.

Financial Aid Types

Grants

Grants are awarded to undergraduate students seeking their first baccalaureate degree who demonstrate the requisite financial need, and they do not require repayment.  UD automatically considers your eligibility for federal grant funds when reviewing financial aid applications.

• Federal Pell Grants are awarded based strictly on the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA.  The maximum Pell Grant a student can receive is $6,095 for the academic year. Students eligible for these awards will see them reflected on the financial aid award notice.
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) funds are awarded on a first-come basis to Pell eligible undergraduate students based on their overall financial need. These funds are awarded to students directly by the University and are limited to the funds allocated to the University by the U.S. Department of Education. Students eligible for these awards will see them reflected on the financial aid award notice.
• The Teacher Education Assistance for Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants to students who intend to teach full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low income families.In order to qualify, candidates must teach in a high need field at a low income school for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which the TEACH Grant was received.
• The University of Delaware awards a number of University grants and scholarships based on a student’s financial need and academic performance.  Students eligible for these awards will see them reflected on the financial aid notice.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to both new and returning students on the basis of academic merit and sometimes financial need.

• UD offers a range of general scholarships and grants to both in-state and out-of-state students.  Students are automatically reviewed for scholarship eligibility upon application to UD.  No additional application is required for academic merit scholarship review, though scholarships and grants that also consider financial need require that students submit a FAFSA.
• Endowments, or donor scholarships, are made available to students on behalf of UD’s generous alumni and donors and often have specified criteria (e.g., college or major) in addition to the specified merit and financial requirements.  The typical amount of these awards is $2,000 per year.  All students who file the FAFSA are automatically evaluated for these scholarships each June and are notified of any additional scholarship support when financial aid packages are prepared in early July.
• Students are encouraged to pursue available external/outside scholarships provided by other organizations.In most cases, the awarding agency is responsible for selecting recipients and determining value.  (Please note:UD does not endorse any scholarship search engine that charges a fee.Students should never have to pay for a scholarship source.)  Additional information may be found on the SFS website.

Loans

Educational loans are a form of financial aid utilized by many students to help meet the cost of attendance, and these require repayment.  It is important for students to understand the loan options available in order to make informed decisions about loan program selection and borrowing amounts.

• Federal Direct Loans are awarded based on eligibility determined by the FAFSA.
  • The interest on subsidized loans is paid by the federal government while students are enrolled at least half-time in college.
  • Unsubsidized loans accrue interest while students are enrolled, and students can choose to pay the interest each month while enrolled in school or allow interest to accumulate during enrollment periods.
  • Borrowing limits
    • Freshman:      $5,500 (up to $3,500 may be subsidized)
    • Sophomore:    $6,500 (up to $4,500 may be subsidized)
    • Junior/Senior   $7,500 (up to $5,500 may be subsidized)
  • Interest Rates & Fees
    • Rates and fees can be found at the Federal Student Aid website.
• The Federal Perkins Loans program is being discontinued by the federal government and those loans are no longer available for origination.  Students who have existing Perkin loans can review information on the Federal Student Aid website.
   
• The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is a popular financing option for parents of undergraduate students.
  • Parents may borrow any loan amount up to the cost of attendance determined by UD, less any awarded financial aid.
  • A credit check is part of the application process.If a parent is denied the loan, an additional unsubsidized loan will be awarded to the student’s financial aid package ($4,000 for freshmen and sophomores, $5,000 for juniors and seniors).
  • Students are required to complete the FAFSA in order for parents to borrow a Direct PLUS Loan.
  • Interest Rates & Fees
    • Rates and fees can be found at the Federal Student Aid website.
• Alternative loans are another option to fill the gap between federal aid eligibility and the cost of attendance.  Alternative lender information can be found at FASTChoice.

Students borrowing federal loans must complete the following items in order for loans to disburse to the student account.

• Master Promissory Note (MPN)
  First-time borrowing students and parents must sign an MPN, a legally binding agreement to the terms and conditions of the loan.  By signing it, students are promising to repay the loan.  Students should keep a copy for their records.
• Entrance Counseling
  First-time Direct Loan borrowers must complete online Loan Entrance Counseling which discusses rights and responsibilities as a Direct Loan borrower.
• Exit Counseling
  Exit counseling provides loan repayment, grace period, and billing information, and is required of students graduating, leaving UD, or dropping below half-time.Completing exit counseling is mandated by federal law and a condition of receiving a federal student loan.

Lending Code of Conduct

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of August 14, 2008 includes provisions that campuses participating in federal Title IV student aid programs publish a code of conduct which serves as the formal guiding principles in ensuring the integrity of the student loan process and ensures the ethical conduct of University of Delaware employees in regard to student loan practices.

The University of Delaware participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program through the United States Department of Education. This program includes Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct Parent PLUS loans.

Private/Alternative Education loans are also processed for students at their request as needed.

The University of Delaware does not maintain a preferred lender list for private/alternative student loans nor does it recommend any private lender. All decisions concerning private education loans will be made by the borrower based on their independent review of lender benefits and services. The University of Delaware will not refuse to certify or delay certification of any private/alternative education loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender.

To avoid any conflict of interest with the responsibilities of University of Delaware employees with respect to parent, student, and private/alternative loans, the University of Delaware’s Student Lending Code of Conduct prohibits the following:

• Revenue sharing arrangement with any lender. The University of Delaware will not promote or recommend any lender in exchange for a fee or other material benefit from a lender.
• The solicitation or acceptance of gifts from a lender, guarantor or servicer by anyone with responsibilities with respect to loans at the institution. This prohibition extends to staff members’ families.
• Employees or agents of a lender from identifying themselves, whether directly, or by implication, as an employee of University of Delaware to students, parents or any person seeking information about the University of Delaware.
• The assignment of a first-time borrower’s loan to a particular lender, or refusing to certify/originate or otherwise delay certification/origination of any loan, regardless of the lender or guaranty agency the borrower selects.
• The acceptance of any funds to be used for private/alternative education loans in exchange for the institution providing concessions to the private lender.
• Requesting or accepting assistance with financial aid or other office staffing from any lender.
• Any employee with responsibilities with respect to financial assistance at the institution who serves on an advisory board or commission of a lender or guarantor may not accept anything of value from the lender or guarantor, except reimbursement for the reasonable expenses of serving on the board or commission. A Student Financial Services’ staff member wishing to serve on an advisory board must seek prior approval from their supervisor.

Student Financial Services’ staff members are expected to understand and adhere to all institutional policies and any local, state, and federal requirements that are applicable to their conduct or job performance. Any staff member who has a question whether a particular situation or activity creates a conflict of interest or violates any laws or policy should immediately notify their supervisor prior to committing such activity or at the earliest time when such question arises.

Work-Study

Work-study is a form of federal or state financial aid which subsidizes wages, allowing undergraduate students to obtain part-time jobs on-campus and nearby.  To determine work-study eligibility, students must file a FAFSA.  Students earn an hourly wage (at least federal minimum wage) for these jobs, and funding is paid to the student via direct deposit payroll (as opposed to paying to the student account like other forms of aid).  To search for and apply for work-study positions, log in to Blue Hen Careers.

Student Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Students who receive financial aid from the University of Delaware have the following rights:

• To know the costs of attendance to the institution
• To know all available sources of financial aid
• To be informed of all aspects of the financial aid package awarded, including determination of need and disbursement
• To know the academic expectations of the institution
• To know the institution’s refund policy

Students who receive financial aid from the University of Delaware have the following responsibilities:

• To apply for aid by the established University deadline
• To report any outside awards to the University (via Student Financial Services)
• To remain in good academic standing and make appropriate academic progress
• To comply with loan repayment schedules
• To report any changes in family or student financial status to the University (via Student Financial Services)
• To report withdrawal from school to the offices of Student Life, Residence Life, and Student Financial Services

Terms and Conditions

Education beyond high school is a significant investment that involves your time, money, and effort.  By enrolling in the University of Delaware, students agree to accept certain rights and responsibilities.  Students applying for and receiving financial aid further agree to the terms and conditions underlying those awards.  Failure to comply with your responsibilities may result in removal from the University, cancellation or reduction of financial aid, and/or collection activity.

The information provided here should be used as a guide and is subject to change without notice to comply with federal and/or state governments, the Trustees of the University of Delaware, and the administration of the University.

Questions concerning the content of rights and responsibilities and the terms and conditions of financial aid should be directed to University Delaware Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid Terms and Conditions

Student Account Terms and Conditions

Payment of Fees / Promise to Pay

I understand that when I register for any class at the University of Delaware (UD) or receive any service from UD, I accept full responsibility to pay all tuition, fees, and other associated costs assessed as a result of my registration and/or receipt of services. I further understand and agree that my registration and acceptance of these terms constitutes a promissory note agreement (i.e., a financial obligation in the form of an educational loan as defined by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code at 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(8)) in which the University of Delaware is providing me educational services, deferring some or all of my payment obligation for those services, and I promise to pay for all assessed tuition, fees and other associated costs by the published or assigned due date.)

I understand that I must officially withdraw from classes through UDSIS before the free drop/add period for the term in question ends to receive a full refund of tuition and fees. I further understand and agree that if I drop or withdraw from some or all of the classes for which I register after the end of free drop/add, I will still be responsible for paying the full tuition and fees as stated on my student account prior to drop/withdrawal. I further understand that my failure to attend class or receive a bill does not absolve me of my financial responsibility as described above.

Online Payment Processing Security

I understand that the University of Delaware has chosen CASHNet as the secure third-party payment processor for UD. I also understand that the UD and CASHNet websites adhere to all applicable federal, state, and banking security standards. I understand that CASHNet secures my personal information entered into their website through VeriSign (Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, 128-bit encryption), which creates a protected connection between users and the web server. I further understand that this means my account number and personal data are never sent over the internet unencrypted. Finally, I understand that any payment, e.g., check or ACH, made to the University of Delaware complies with NACHA standards.

Delinquent Account / Collection

Financial Hold: I understand and agree that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owe the University of Delaware by the scheduled due date, UD will place a financial hold on my student account, preventing me from registering for future classes, requesting transcripts, or receiving my diploma.

Late Payment Charge: I understand and agree that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owe the University of Delaware by the scheduled due date, UD will assess late payment and/or finance charges at the rate of $55 per month ($25 per month if I have enrolled in the monthly installment plan) on the past due portion of my student account until my past due account is paid in full.

Collection Activity: I understand and accept that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owe the University of Delaware by the scheduled due date, and fail to make acceptable payment arrangements to bring my account current, UD may refer my delinquent account to a collection agency. I further understand delinquent account may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.

Communication

Method of Communication: I understand and agree that the University of Delaware uses e-mail as an official method of communication with me, and that, therefore, I am responsible for reading the e-mails I receive from UD on a timely basis. I further acknowledge and understand that UD enables me to grant parent/guardian access to My Finances, the University’s online billing and financing site, and to receiving email billing notifications via the Parent/Guardian Services administration website.

Contact: I authorize the University of Delaware and its agents and contractors to contact me at my current and any future cellular phone number(s), email address(es) or wireless device(s) regarding my delinquent student account(s)/loan(s), any other debt I owe to UD, or to receive general information from the University of Delaware. I authorize UD and its agents and contractors to use automated telephone dialing equipment, artificial or pre-recorded voice or text messages, and personal calls, and emails, in their efforts to contact me. Furthermore, I understand that I may withdraw my consent to call my cellular phone by submitting my request in writing to Registrar’s Office.

Updating Contact Information: I understand and agree that I am responsible for keeping the University of Delaware records in UDSIS up to date with my current physical addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Upon leaving the University of Delaware for any reason, it is my responsibility to provide UD with updated contact information for purposes of continued communication regarding any amounts that remain due and owed to the University of Delaware.

Entire Agreement

This agreement supersedes all prior understandings, representations, negotiations and correspondence between the student and the University of Delaware, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters described, and shall not be modified or affected by any course of dealing or course of performance. This agreement may be modified by the University of Delaware if the modification is signed by me. Any modification is specifically limited to those policies and/or terms addressed in the modification.

Method of Billing

I understand that the University of Delaware uses electronic billing (e-bill) as its official billing method, and, therefore, I am responsible for viewing and paying my student account e-bill by the scheduled due date. I further understand that failure to review my e-bill does not constitute a valid reason for not paying my bill on time. I further acknowledge that e-bill information is available on the SFS website.

Billing Errors

I understand that administrative, clerical, or technical billing errors do not absolve me of my financial responsibility to pay the correct amount of tuition, fees, and other associated financial obligations assessed as a result of my registration at the University of Delaware.

Returned Payments / Failed Payment Agreements

If a payment made to my student account is returned by the bank for any reason, I agree to repay the original amount of the payment plus a returned payment fee of $25.  I understand that multiple returned payments and/or failure to comply with the terms of any payment plan or agreement I sign with the University of Delaware may result in cancellation of my classes and/or suspension of my eligibility to register for future classes at UD.

Withdrawal

If I decide to completely withdraw from the University of Delaware, I will follow the instructions on the Registrar’s website, which I understand and agree are incorporated herein by reference.

Privacy Rights and Responsibilities

I understand that the University of Delaware is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits UD from releasing any information from my education record without my written permission. Therefore, I understand that if I want the University of Delaware to share information from my education record with someone else, I must provide written permission by following the procedure outlined on the Registrar’s website. I further understand that I may revoke my permission at any time as instructed in the same procedure.

IRS Form 1098-T

I agree to provide my Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN) to the University of Delaware upon request as required by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations for Form 1098-T reporting purposes. If I fail to provide my SSN or TIN to UD, I agree to pay any and all IRS fines assessed as a result of my missing SSN/TIN.

I consent to receive my annual IRS Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, electronically from the University of Delaware. I understand that if I do not consent to receive my Form 1098-T electronically, a paper copy will be provided. I understand that I can withdraw this consent or request a paper copy by submitting a request to SFS.

Student Age

I understand and agree that if I am younger than the applicable age of majority when I execute this agreement, that the educational services provided by the University of Delaware are a necessity, and I am contractually obligated pursuant to the “doctrine of necessaries.”

Financial Aid Eligibility Guidelines

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is checked at the end of each spring semester. Students failing to meet SAP are placed on financial aid suspension beginning with the summer term. Students placed on financial aid suspension are ineligible to receive any federal student aid funds.

SAP Guidelines

Federal and state regulations require the University of Delaware to monitor students’ Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to disburse federal and state funds.

All students who wish to qualify for financial aid while attending the University of Delaware must meet certain standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress. These standards include:

• A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
• A minimum credit hour completion rate
• Completion of a degree or program of study within a maximum number of credit hours.

Student Financial Services will evaluate students’ academic records and compare their records to the federal standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress at the completion of the Spring term.

The satisfactory academic progress policy includes both qualitative and quantitative measures of the student’s progress. The qualitative measure establishes a minimum grade point index (Grade Point Average, or GPA) standard. The quantitative measure establishes a maximum time frame for students to complete their programs and a minimum number of credits students must satisfactorily complete each year.

Quantitative Standard

1. Students must earn their degrees based on one of the following schedules:
   1. Undergraduate - Whether a student has received aid or not, a student must earn their first bachelor’s degree within 6 years of full-time attendance or its equivalent. In all cases, the Bachelor’s degree should be conferred while attempting no more than 180 credit hours.
   2. Graduate - All graduate degrees must be completed within 5 years (10 semesters). During this 5-year period, a student has 3 years of full-time attendance or its equivalent to complete required course work (does not include UNIV 868, 869, or 969). A 7-year limit is provided for doctoral students entering without a master’s degree.
2. To meet the time limits defined above, all students must complete for credit 67% of total credit hours attempted. This completion rate is defined as the number of earned hours divided by the number of attempted hours, where earned hours are courses in which a student has received a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-. D+, D, D-, P and S. Attempted hours include all satisfactory letter grades and unsatisfactory letter grades previously listed, including listener or audited classes, withdrawals and incompletes. Transfer credits are counted in both attempted hours and completed hours in this calculation. Repeated courses are also included in the calculation. If a class is repeated, all of the attempted hours are counted, but only the credit hours from the highest grade for the repeated course are counted as completed. Grades for all repeated courses are counted in the grade point average calculation.
3. Academic dismissal will result in automatic suspension of all types of financial aid.

Students who fail to meet one or more of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards at the time their academic progress is reviewed are not eligible for financial aid*. Students will be notified of their failure to meet standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress by email and through UDSIS; however, students are responsible to stay informed of the University’s Satisfactory Academic standards and to monitor their own academic progress.

*Financial Aid affected by this policy include the following:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS)
• Federal Nursing Loan

If you have been notified that you are no longer making Satisfactory Academic Progress and extenuating circumstances impacted your progress, you may submit an appeal to determine if your aid can be reinstated. To access the appeal form, go to My SFS Docs and log in with your UDelNetID and password.

Please note the USAP appeal is for one term only. If the appeal is approved, the student must contact SFS prior to the start of the following semester after grades have posted to be considered for aid for the following term.  For instance, the student would contact SFS after fall grades are posted to be reviewed for aid in the spring semester if the appeal was approved for the fall.

By the end of an undergraduate student’s second year of study (defined as 60 credit hours attempted), s/he must have a cumulative grade point average of a ‘C’ (a 2.0 grade point index). Student may be placed on probation or dismissed for academic deficiency when the index for any semester is less than 1.23 or the quality-point deficit is more than 12.99 points. Graduate students must maintain good standing as defined in the Graduate Catalog.

Students who fail to maintain SAP will be notified on how to submit an appeal, citing any special or mitigating circumstances they believe should be considered. Students submitting successful appeals are placed on financial aid probation and allowed to receive federal student aid for one semester. Each successful appeal includes academic requirements that must be met to receive aid beyond the one semester. Students denied aid for failure to meet these satisfactory academic progress requirements may re-establish eligibility once they meet the requirements.

Dependency Status

When you apply for federal student aid, you will answer certain questions that will determine your dependency status. If it is determined that you are dependent on your parents, you must report their income and assets as well as your own. If it is determined that you are independent of your parents, you should report only your income and assets (and those of your spouse, if married).

You are considered an independent student if one or more of the following applies to you:

• are age 24 or older (or will turn age 24 before January 1 of the academic year for which you are applying),
• are considered married as of the date of FAFSA filing (this also includes students who are separated but not yet legally divorced, and living apart from their spouse),
• are enrolled in a graduate or professional degree (master’s or doctorate) program
• are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training,
• are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces,
• have legal dependents for whom you provide more than half of their financial support,
• were an orphan, foster child, or ward/dependent of the court at any time since age of 13,
• are an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship, or were when reaching the age of majority in your state (NOTE: The United States Department of Education does not recognize Emancipation of a Mississippi Resident as being valid to establish independent student status for Federal Financial Aid.),
• are/were confirmed as an unaccompanied youth, or are/were homeless or at risk of being homeless

Unless you meet one or more of these conditions, you must be evaluated as a dependent student. This means that your parents’ financial data will have to be considered in determining your need for financial assistance.

Financial Need

Financial need is the difference between what it costs you to attend the University and the resources you have available to meet those costs. Cost of attendance (COA) includes tuition and fees; room and board or an allowance for housing and food for students living off campus; allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Your individual family’s ability to meet your costs of attendance is determined by a formula established by Congress that calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a measure of how much you and your family are expected to contribute to the costs of your education for the year. The EFC is determined by an analysis of the financial data you and your parents (or you and your spouse, if married) provided on the FAFSA. If your costs of attendance (COA) exceed your EFC, then you demonstrate financial need (amounting to the difference between the COA and the EFC). If your EFC exceeds your costs of attendance (COA), then you do not have financial need and are, therefore, ineligible for need-based student financial aid. Eligibility for most scholarships, the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program, and the Federal Parent (PLUS) Loan program is not based on financial need.

Verification

Verification is a federally mandated, quality control process in which some FAFSA applications are selected by the Federal Processor. Your Student Aid Report will tell you if you have been selected for verification. If so, our office must then complete a verification review in order to “verify” the accuracy of your FAFSA data. We will notify how to complete the verification process, as well as how to submit the required documentation in My SFS Docs. The verification worksheet must be completed and submitted through your portal along with other required documentation based on your verification selection status. After the verification review process, our office may need to correct any inaccurate information on your FAFSA. If no corrections are needed, and all FAFSA data are verified as accurate, your financial aid will be awarded based on your eligibility.

Since the verification process can delay your financial aid disbursement, you are encouraged to provide our office with requested information as soon as possible.

Professional Judgment

Although the process for determining eligibility for federal student aid is the same for everyone, there is some flexibility. If you feel that you have special circumstances that might affect your costs of attendance or the amount you and your family is expected to contribute (EFC), you should contact SFS. You should be aware that the evaluation of special circumstances usually results in a delay in the awarding of financial aid. For more detail and documentation, submit an inquiry and your SFS Advisor will be in contact to discuss your situation and what type of documentation you will be required to submit.

Status Change

Student aid recipients are required to report to Student Financial Services any changes in financial or residency status. This includes the reporting of the receipt of funds from sources such as scholarships, loans, and fellowships not reported in the original application.

Review

Student Financial Services reserves the right to review and revise, or cancel awards at any time for the following reasons: changes in financial or academic status, discovery of incorrect or falsified information, or errors in the determination of need and eligibility for assistance.

Disbursement

Scholarships, loans, and grants are disbursed (pay) by direct credit to the student account at the beginning of each semester. Refunds of any excess funds can be requested by the student at https://udel.edu/udsis-student and be mailed to your permanent address or directly deposited to your personal account.

Refund/Payment for Withdrawals

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 defines withdrawal as failure to complete the period of attendance on which federal aid eligibility was based. Therefore, this policy affects not only those individuals who complete the formal withdrawal notification process, but also those students who simply stop attending classes.

Students withdrawing after classes begin will be required to repay a prorated portion of funds received.

Special refund provisions apply for students who withdraw after receiving financial aid for a specific term of enrollment from any of the following Title IV programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH)
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal PLUS Loan (Undergraduate and Graduate)
• Other Title IV programs

Renewal

Financial aid awards are not automatically renewed from year to year. Students must file the FAFSA each year. Students wishing to apply for financial aid for the summer or winter term should complete a special sessions request.

Overawards

The receipt of federal funds in excess of a student’s eligibility is called an overaward. Students are liable for overawards, whether the overaward is a result of incomplete or erroneous data provided by the student or an error on the part of the University.