Financial Aid

We help you find ways to pay for your education.

SC Rules & Requirements

Jump to a Content Section:

  1. Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities
  2. Attendance, Withdrawals and Refunds
  3. Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program and Policy
  4. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
  5. Ombudsman for Students

Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

Financial aid applicants and recipients are expected to review and follow the policies and procedures established by Schoolcraft College, Student Financial Services and the financial aid programs.

Many of the guidelines, rules, requirements and consumer disclosures can be accessed via the links on this page. However additional rights and responsibilities are also included in the Award Letter Information and Conditions Sheet; and on the Important Information Bulletin Sheet and materials sent directly to students from Student Financial Services and service and funding providers.

All award and eligibility requirements are subject to change without notice.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Calculators

Please Note: Both calculators are intended to provide students with a planning tool regarding the GPA and credits needed to meet the overall SAP requirements. The results of these calculators are unofficial. Official GPA and completion rate results are determined by the Office of Financial Aid and are posted to the official student record.

Attendance, Withdrawals and Refunds

Financial aid assists many students in reaching their educational goals each year. The government requires students to meet several criteria in order to establish current and retain future eligibility for funding.

Academic Progress: Students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, to successfully complete at least 67 percent of all Schoolcraft College credit hours attempted and to attempt no more than 150 percent of the student’s official Schoolcraft College academic program credit requirement. These requirements are the main components of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Students who do not meet the criteria may have their financial aid eligibility suspended or terminated.

Class Attendance: Students need to attend their class(es) to establish and maintain financial aid eligibility. Instructors record the attendance of all students each week. Student Financial Services is notified of the financial aid students who never attended or stopped attending their classes. Not attending a class(es) affects the amount of aid a student is receiving now and in the future. This usually results in the student owing money to the college.

Institutional Refund Policy: The college’s tuition and fee refund policy is 100% refund through the end of schedule adjustment period for each semester. The registration fee is non-refundable. See the Important Dates information foreach semester for specific refund dates. The student initiates a refund by completing the Refund Request Form on Ocelot Access. Students who drop classes and receive a 100% refund will have their financial aid adjusted and may owe money to the college.

Institutional Withdrawal Policy: After the refund period has ended, the college allows students to withdraw from class(es) through the 10th week of the fall or winter semester, and through the 5th week of the spring or summer sessions. See the Important Dates each semester for specific withdrawal dates. The student initiates a withdrawal by completing the Drop Form on Ocelot Access. Students who withdraw from class(es) receive a “W” grade. The grade of “W” does not adversely affect the student’s grade point average. However, a “W” is considered attempted and not completed and therefore, does adversely affect the student’s completion rate. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Complete Withdrawals: Students who receive federal funds as part of their financial aid package and who either officially or unofficially withdraw from all classes during an academic term, may be required to return a portion of those funds.

This webpage provides basic information regarding the Return to Title IV process. However, the complete policy can be found here at SC Financial Aid Return to Title IV. 

When a student completely withdraws or walks away from their classes before completing at least 60% of the semester, federal law requires the college to return a percentage of the Title IV funds received by the student. Title IV program funds include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

The number of days the student has attended during the semester determines the amount of the student’s earned Federal Title IV funds. Earned Title IV financial aid may be used to pay for institutional charges of tuition and fees or used towards non-institutional expenses such as room and board, books and supplies, transportation, etc.

Unearned Title IV funds must be returned to the federal government. The college must return a portion of the student’s unearned aid. The student will owe the college for any resulting unpaid institutional charges (such as tuition and fees). In addition, the student must return to the federal government a portion of unearned funds received in excess of tuition and fees. The student will be ineligible for future financial aid at any college or university if the unearned funds are not repaid to the U.S. Department of Education.

Return of Title IV Funds and Unearned Financial Aid Example:

  • A student has institutional charges of tuition and fees of $1500 for the semester. The student was awarded and received $2000 in Title IV grants and loans. The student completely withdraws after completing only 30% of the semester. The student has earned 30% of their aid; the student has not earned 70% of their aid.

    Student’s earned aid: $600 ($2000 aid x 30% earned)
    Student’s unearned aid: $1400 ($2000 aid x 70% earned)
  • The College must return an amount equal to the lesser of 1) the student’s total unearned aid ($1400) or 2) the student’s portion of unearned aid applied to institutional charges ($1500 institutional charges x 70% = $1050).

    The College must return $1050 to the Federal Government. The College bills the student for the institutional charges (tuition and fees) that are now unpaid due to returning the $1050. Student owes the College $1050.

  • The student must also return the balance of unearned non-institutional funds, which is limited to 50% if returning grant funds ($1400 unearned aid – $1050 returned by College = $350, then $350 x 50% = $175). Student owes the Federal Government $175.

If you have questions regarding these provisions, please contact Student Financial Services.

Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Program and Policy

At Schoolcraft we want our students and staff to be safe, healthy and successful. One way to do this is to offer policies, resources and support that help individuals avoid the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. See Alcohol and Drug Policy:

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) promotes business growth and job creation through streamlined, simple, fair, and efficient regulation, and at the same time protect the health and safety of Michigan’s citizens.  Students or prospective students wishing to file a complaint with this agency may visit their Web site at www.michigan.gov/lara for additional information.

Ombudsman for Students

The U.S. Department of Education provides an Office of the Ombudsman to help resolve loan disputes and problems. The following options are available for contacting the office: call toll free at (877) 557-2575, visit the Web site at www.fsahelp.ed.gov, or write to: Office of the Ombudsman, Student Financial Assistance, U.S. Department of Education, Room 3012, ROB #3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington DC 20202-5144.