Reasons Why Your Award May Be Adjusted

Changes in funding

Your financial aid award is based on projected funding from federal, state, and Hawkeye sources. If the projected funding is more than the actual funding available, your financial aid award will be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Changes in federal regulations

All federally funded programs are subject to change at any time as a result of legislative action.

Scholarship and grant eligibility requirements

Scholarships and grants listed on your award may require you to maintain a specific grade point average or other academic or performance benchmarks. If these requirements are not being met, you may not be eligible to continue receiving this funding.

Receiving financial assistance from sources not included on your award letter

If you receive any additional funds from outside sources, including scholarships or private loans, that were not included on your financial aid award, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can include the funds in your award. This is required by federal regulations.

If the amount of funding from the outside source changes from what is listed on your award, please contact our office immediately so we can adjust your award accordingly.

We will make adjustments to your award as necessary to ensure that you do not receive more financial assistance than you are eligible to receive according to state and federal regulations.

Change in the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled

The amount of your financial aid award depends on the number of credit hours you are taking. Your initial award is prepared based on full-time, full-year enrollment. If you are not enrolled in at least 12 credit hours or do not plan to come back to Hawkeye for the Spring Semester, your award will need to be adjusted to reflect these changes.

Financial aid award amounts vary depending on the number of credit hours you are taking: 

• Full-time = 12 or more credits
• Three-quarter-time = 9-11 credits
• Half-time = 6-8 credits
• Less than half-time = 1-5 credits

Before your make a change to the number of credit hours you are enrolled in, please contact our office. A change in credit hours can affect your financial aid award even after you have accepted the award. This will also make sure your financial aid is properly disbursed. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes in the number of credit hours you are taking.

Repeated courses

You are only allowed to repeat a class with a passing grade, D- and above, one time and receive financial aid for it. Regardless of your performance in this second attempt (pass, fail, or withdrawal), you will not be able to receive financial aid for it again.

Class attendance

You must attend class to receive your financial aid. Your instructors will report class attendance after the first 14 calendar days of a 16 week semester or the first seven calendar days of a non-16 week semester. This date is also known as the financial aid lock date.

If you are reported as not attending, we cannot include the course credit hours in your financial aid award. The reduced number of credits may reduce the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Special circumstances

Please contact our office if you have a special circumstance come up during the semester. A special circumstance may include involuntary loss of employment, high medical expenses, or other things that impact your financial situation.

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