The U.S. Department of Education mandates that only the courses in a student’s declared program will determine that student’s eligibility for federal financial aid, which can include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct loans, and the Federal SEOG. Course Program of Study (CPoS) is a Banner function that identifies these courses.
Specifically, for federal aid to pay for courses in your degree, your courses must be part of your program of study or be necessary to earn the total hours required for your degree. Taking courses that are not a part of your program of study could result in receiving less federal financial aid and potentially having to pay for courses out-of-pocket.
For our degrees, CPoS normally includes general education + major requirements + required electives. Academic departments determine program requirements which are then built into the degree evaluation program, Degree Works. The degree requirements for your program of study can be found by visiting your course catalog or reviewing your Degree Works audit.
- Student registers for courses that are not required for the declared program.
- The course is a substitution, but the official substitution process is not complete.
- Courses are not required in the student’s catalog year.
- The course was previously repeated and no longer qualifies for aid.
- If a student has already repeated the course after passing it once, it is not eligible for financial aid.
- The course is an elective, and the student already fulfilled all electives.
- Electives are correctly calculated in Degree Works. If electives are fulfilled and a substitution is not completed, the course is not eligible for federal aid.
- Student has registered for courses for a major that they have not declared.
You may only receive federal financial aid for outstanding coursework that counts towards your declared program of study. Institutional aid (such as scholarships) is not subject to the same federal regulatory restrictions; however, your cost of attendance will be based on coursework that applies to your declared program of study. This could result in a reduced amount of aid, as total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Dropping or not attending courses can negatively impact your eligibility for current or future aid.
- Courses Must be Federal Aid-Eligible to Count Toward Enrollment Requirements
- Federal Aid that requires at least half-time enrollment
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Pell Grant
- Pro-rated based on enrollment in courses that count for Title IV federal aid
1. What is a program of study (as defined for financial aid purposes)?
A program of study consists of courses required to complete a degree, inclusive of required coursework within the major and catalog. The specific courses for a student are identified through Degree Works.
2. What types of Aid are affected by CPoS?
- Federal Aid: Pell Grant, SEOG, Work-Study, and Direct Loans
- Veteran Assistance: Montgomery GI Bill (CH 30 and CH 1606), VA Vocational Rehabilitation
3. How does CPoS impact Cost of Attendance (COA)?
Cost of Attendance is an estimate of the cost for students to go to school for a specific amount of time (semester or year) and is based on the student’s enrollment status. Enrollment status for financial aid is based on outstanding coursework that applies toward the officially declared program of study. If you are enrolled in 12 hours that count towards your program of study, you will be considered a full-time student for cost of attendance purposes. However, if only 9 out of the 12 hours are required for your officially declared program of study, the tuition and book components of your COA will be reduced to a three-quarter time amount.
4. What and when will the process be run to identify courses not in the program of study?
Degree Works will be used to determine if a course is part of the program of study. The process is run daily from the time registration opens until the census date of each semester. Students enrolled in ineligible coursework will be notified via their ASUB email.
5. What about courses that will be substituted and thus become part of a student’s program of study?
All course substitutions (exceptions) must be initiated by your academic advisor and processed through the Registrar's Office by the census date each semester for it to be included as eligible coursework for federal financial aid.
6. How will elective courses noted in program of study be treated?
If a program of study has specific courses that can count as electives, then only those will be eligible unless the academic advisor makes an adjustment. If there is no specified list, then any course will count if open elective hours exist in the program of study.
7. What about prerequisite coursework?
These courses count for federal financial aid only if they are required in the student’s program of study. However, if a student is enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program of study and is required to take a prerequisite course prior to enrolling in a required course for the program, the prerequisite may be included in the COA and federal aid determination. No more than a maximum of 30 attempted hours inclusive of remedial/developmental and prerequisite coursework can count for federal financial aid purposes.
8. Can I change my program of study to receive federal financial aid for a course that does not apply toward my current program of study?
If you need to take courses that are not in your program of study, it is likely that you are not in the program that best fits your educational goal. You need to meet with an Academic Advisor to ensure you are in the correct program of study. Changing your program of study can only be done with your advisor and should be done with great caution because it may impact your eligibility for future semesters. Always work with an academic advisor when you are changing from one program to another as it can cause you to lose financial aid eligibility by reaching the maximum timeframe for completion of degree.
9. How are scholarships affected?
Institutional Scholarships do not currently require your courses to count in your officially declared program of study. However, the cost of attendance will be reduced for courses that are not counting in the program of study, which may result in a lower amount of institutional aid a student may receive.
10. What if a course doesn't count toward CPoS but I think it should?
Email or make an appointment with your academic advisor if you need to adjust your officially declared program.
11. Some of my classes do not apply toward my program of study. What do I do next?
Your federal aid is based on coursework that applies toward outstanding requirements in your program of study. Therefore, your federal aid may be reduced. You have two options:
- Meet with your Academic Advisor to discuss your academic options. If the semester has not started, it may be in your best interest to drop the ineligible course(s) and enroll only in courses in your officially declared program that will be eligible for federal financial aid. OR
- If the semester has already begun and your financial aid does not cover all your tuition costs, you will be responsible for the outstanding balance owed. In some instances, your financial aid, although it has been reduced, is still enough to pay for your course(s) that are not in your program. If not, the ineligible courses can be paid for out of pocket or with a private loan.
12. None of my courses apply toward outstanding requirements in my officially declared program of study, but I still want to take them. What does that mean?
You are not eligible for federal financial aid. If eligible, you may use your scholarships toward your balance owed. A Payment Plan through Student Accounts may be the answer. You may also look into a private education loan to help with the balance due.