Situations That May Impact Your Financial Aid

In some cases, significant changes to you or your family’s financial situation may result in changes to your financial aid package. For most HACC students, the package you receive at the beginning of an academic year will remain the same throughout that year. But there are aspects of your course selection, academic performance and withdrawal status that may affect your aid package. HACC will notify you of any changes to your financial aid through your myHACC account.

Special Circumstances

Life changes like loss of employment, loss of untaxed income or benefits (e.g. child support, unemployment), the death of a parent or spouse or a divorce may result in changes to your financial aid package. Changes like these should be communicated to the financial aid office. If your family’s financial situation when filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is significantly different from what is conveyed on your submitted tax returns, you may be eligible to have your aid adjusted.

Coursework

Most of the programs offered at the College are eligible for financial aid. However, some coursework has financial aid limitations.

Developmental courses (for example, ENGL 050, MATH 090 and ENGL 003) do not count toward the credits required to complete your degree. You may only use federal financial aid to pay for developmental coursework until you have attempted 30 developmental credits.

The PA State Grant program imposes separate limitations on how many developmental credits can be covered by financial aid. Learn more about PA State Grant limitations.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a standard established by the College which defines successful completion of coursework and determines eligibility for financial aid. Both federal and state regulations require that HACC monitor your progression towards the completion of a degree. Failure to meet these standards may result in the loss of financial aid eligibility. SAP is checked after each semester you attend.

There are four measures for SAP:

1. Quantitative Measure
   You must complete at least 67% of all credits you attempt. This includes credits you transfer into HACC and credits through dual enrollment programs. Your completion percentage is calculated as the number of credits you have passed divided by the number of credits you attempted.
2. Qualitative Measure
   You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
3. Maximum Time Frame to Complete a Degree
   The maximum allowable time frame for receiving aid is equal to 150% of the published length of your academic program. For example, if you are pursuing a program that requires 60 credits for graduation, you would reach the maximum time frame once you attempted 90 credits. Developmental coursework is not counted in this measure, but transfer credits are included.
4. Additional Degree
   Once a student has graduated from HACC with a certificate and/or associate degree, the student is required to submit an appeal if they are seeking an additional degree. If this is your situation, you can find the Additional Degree Application (ADDAPP) within myHACC.

SAP as it relates to financial aid is separate from HACC’s Academic Standing policies. Questions about the College's Academic Standing policies can be reviewed in the College Catalog.

The PA State Grant Program has their own policies regarding academic progress. Further information can be found at pheaa.org/

Repeated Coursework

Once you have passed a course, federal student aid will only pay for one repeat of that course. If you must repeat the course a third time, federal aid will not cover the cost of that course, and the credits for that course cannot be used when determining enrollment status.

Failing or Withdrawing from HACC

Before withdrawing from courses, please email the financial aid office to determine how it will affect your financial aid. You must officially withdraw through myHACC if you stop attending your classes during the semester.

If you withdraw completely from HACC, receive all “F” grades or receive a combination of “F” and “W” grades, the U.S. Department of Education requires us to recalculate your financial aid. This may result in you owing a balance to the school, and future aid may be canceled.

Failing or withdrawing may initiate the six-month “grace period” for your federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans. Students who drop below half-time status(6 credit hours) will be contacted by their loan servicer to begin repayment. You must complete exit counseling when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure you understand your student loan obligations and are prepared for repayment.

HACC will automatically cancel future disbursements if you owe a balance to the College due to recalculation. If you repay the balance and wish to return to the College, you must submit a written request to have your financial aid reinstated.

HACC may also terminate your student employment position under the student employment program if you drop below 6 credit hours.

Additionally, failing or withdrawing may affect your SAP status for future terms, endangering your eligibility for aid.

Many students who find themselves in danger of failing find that by meeting with their instructor they are able to get back on track and finish successfully.