Impact on Your Financial Aid

Financial aid is initially awarded based on the assumption that undergraduate students will enroll full-time and graduate students will enroll half-time in eligible coursework during fall and spring semesters.  Students may only receive federal and state aid, as well as MTSU Guaranteed Scholarships, for outstanding coursework that counts towards their officially declared program of study.  The financial aid cost of attendance (COA) will be based on outstanding coursework that applies toward the officially declared program of study.  This may result in a lower amount of federal, state, and institutional aid a student may receive since total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.  Dropping and/or not attending your courses can negatively impact your eligibility for current and or future aid.

Enrollment Status Types	Undergraduate	Graduate
Full Time	12+ credits/semester	9+ credits/semester
Three Quarter Time	9 – 11 credits/semester	7 – 8 credits/semester
Half Time	6 – 8 credits/semester	5 – 6 credits/semester
Less Than Half Time	1 – 5 credits/semester	1 – 4 credits/semester

If your financial aid has been reduced due to enrollment in coursework that does not apply towards outstanding requirements in your program of study, you should contact your academic advisor to discuss your academic options.  Otherwise, if you have questions regarding financial aid, contact the MT One Stop located on the second floor of the SSAC or by emailing [email protected]. 

Examples:

• If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and enroll in 12 hours and only 9 of the 12 hours are required towards your officially declared program of study, the Federal Pell Grant will be reduced to a three-quarter time award based on 9 hours. Starting with Fall 2024, your Pell Grant will be reduced for each hour below 12 eligible hours.
• If you are eligible for a TN Lottery Scholarship and enroll in 12 hours and only 6 of the 12 hours are required towards your officially declared program of study, the Lottery Scholarship will be reduced to a half-time award based on 6 hours.
• If you are eligible for a MTSU Guaranteed Scholarship and enroll in 12 hours and only 9 of the 12 hours are required towards your officially declared program of study, you will not be eligible for the Guaranteed Scholarship since you are required to be enrolled full-time in eligible coursework and you will lose continuing eligibility during future semesters unless you successfully appeal.
• Federal Direct Loans for undergraduate students require 6 hours of enrollment or 5 hours of enrollment for graduate students. If you are enrolled in 6 hours and only 3 of the 6 hours are required for your program of study, you are not eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan.