Financial Aid

All students must live on campus for 6 semesters before being permitted to live off-campus unless they are living with their parents within a 30 mile radius of campus. Students wanting to live off-campus must be approved through the Student Life Office. Student Life will notify Student Financial Services when a student has been approved to live off-campus. Student Financial Services will then make adjustments to the student’s financial aid eligibility.

Students Moving into off-campus housing will be subject to a $2000 per year reduction to need–based institutionally-supported grant assistance (Muskingum Grant, PLUS Grant, Endowed Grant or SEOG) which may be a part of the financial aid package.

Students changing from resident to commuter status will be subject to a reduction to need-based institutionally-supported grant assistance (Muskingum Grant, PLUS Grant, Endowed Grant or SEOG). The reduction amount will be equal to the lesser of all institutionally-supported grant assistance or half the room and board change rounded down to the nearest $100. The maximum reduction for 2024-25 will be $6,400.

Disbursement of Books and Supplies for Pell Eligible Students

(Federal Provision 34 CFR 668.164)

Students who are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant (as indicated on their Financial Aid Award) where the Pell Grant creates a Title IV (federal grants and loans) credit balance may receive a school credit in the form of Muskie Bucks to purchase books and supplies at the University bookstore by the end of the first week of the semester. The school credit will be based on the amount of Title IV credit balance available and will be available at least 10 days before the start of the semester provided the student meets the eligibility requirements and completes a Muskie Bucks Order Form that is submitted to the Business office in a timely manner.

To be eligible for the school credit students must meet the following criteria:

Students who have opted out of using Muskie Bucks, or who were ineligible by the end of the first week of the semester, may still sign-up for Muskie Bucks at any time during the semester to access their credit. Students may also access their Title IV school credit by completing a Refund Request Form in the Business Office and have their refund issued through direct deposit or by check.

• The Pell Grant creates a Title IV credit balance (tuition and fees less the amount of the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct loans). Institutional and/or state grant assistance is not included

Students who have opted out of using Muskie Bucks, or who were ineligible by the end of the first week of the semester, may still sign-up for Muskie Bucks at any time during the semester to access their credit. Students may also access their Title IV school credit by completing a Refund Request Form in the Business Office and have their refund issued through direct deposit or by check.

Students withdrawing/LOA prior to the beginning of an academic term, or during the add/drop period of that term, receive 100% refund of tuition, fee, and room charges (less deposit), and pro-rated board charges based on meals eaten. An early withdrawal fee of $100.00 will be assessed.  

Students departing the University after the term begins, for whatever reason, are recognized as having withdrawn on the date on which the withdrawal process is initiated with the institution. This date will be used for the Federal Return to Title IV calculation. Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence from Muskingum University for any reason after the start of an academic term, or who are dismissed in mid-semester, are entitled to a refund of charges according to the following policy.   

Financial aid awards to students who withdraw or take a leave of absence after the beginning of a term are recalculated on a basis consistent with written University and federal/state policies governing student financial aid in a withdrawal situation. If any portion of a student's charges is to be refunded due to withdrawal, an adjustment must be made to the student's financial aid, since the family contribution must be applied first toward applicable charges. In cases where financial aid awards must be adjusted, the proper amount of student aid is returned to the appropriate fund. The federal recalculation is based on a percent of earned aid for students who withdraw or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a semester. The percentage of earned aid is equal to the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by total days in the semester (scheduled breaks of 5 days or more are excluded from the calculation). The federal aid to be returned (unearned aid) is equal to [100% - percent earned] times the total amount of federal aid disbursed toward institutional charges. 

If the Federal Return to Title IV calculation indicates a refund is due to the student, the refund will be paid by check within 14 days (about 2 weeks). If the Federal Return to Title IV calculation results in an amount to be returned to a Federal Financial Aid Program, that exceeds the school’s portion, the student is required to repay the remaining funds.  Any outstanding loans are repaid by the student according to the terms of the student’s promissory note. Students with an overpayment resulting from federal grants will be responsible to the school to make restitution for the overpayment. Title IV Grants funds are repaid if the amount by which the original overpayment exceeds 50% of the total Title IV grant funds disbursed or could have been disbursed to the student for the semester. If the amount is less than $50.00, the student is not responsible for returning funds to Title IV grant programs. The balance due is the student’s responsibility and will appear on the student’s next billing statement and payment will be expected in a reasonable time.  

Federal Title IV funds are returned to their respective accounts in the following order: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and TEACH grants. State grants are refunded according to the guidelines of the specific state agency. Institutional aid is adjusted at the same rate as the percentage of tuition refund. Funds due to be returned to the Department of Education are returned within 10 business days. The Department of Education requires funds to be returned within 45 days (about 1 and a half months). 

If a student withdraws prior to their federal aid being disbursed and the federal aid could have been disbursed, a post-withdrawal disbursement will be made. If the post withdrawal disbursement indicates that a disbursement of grant funds is due, the funds are automatically applied to the student's account. If the application of grant funds to the account creates a credit balance, then a refund will be issued to the student within 14 days (about 2 weeks) of disbursement. If the post withdrawal disbursement calculation indicates that a disbursement is due from loan funds- the student is sent a letter within 3 business days notifying them of the amount available. If the student wants the loan funds disbursed to their account, they are given 14 days (about 2 weeks) to request the disbursement by calling the Student Financial Services Office.  

In determining if the aid could have been disbursed the following conditions must have been met: 

Pell Grant- Official ISIR received before withdrawal and student meets all other eligibility criteria. 

TEACH Grant- Official ISIR received before withdrawal and a valid Agreement to Serve and Counseling was completed before the withdrawal date 

Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant: The grant was awarded to the student before the withdrawal date. 

Federal Direct Loan and Federal Direct PLUS Loan- The loan had been originated before withdrawal and a Master Promissory Note was signed before the withdrawal date. 

Students who officially withdrawal, take a leave of absence (LOA) from Muskingum University (which is also considered an official withdrawal- see the Muskingum University catalog for LOA eligibility requirements) for any reason after the start of an academic term, or who are dismissed in mid-semester, are entitled to a refund of charges according to the following policy: 

Withdrawal/LOA after the add/drop period will result in a refund of tuition, fees, and room charges (less deposit) according to the following schedule:   

• within the first seven (7) days following the add/drop period - 60% 
• within the next fourteen (14) days – 40% 
• within the next fourteen (14) days - 20% 
• thereafter, no refund of tuition, fees, or room charges (including deposit)   

Board charges will be refunded based upon the following formula: [Number of weeks remaining in the term divided by the number of weeks in the term, rounded down to the nearest 10%] times [Plan board charge for the term] = refund A board week will be considered earned on each Monday’s reconciliation between Campus Services and Student Affairs.   

An appeal process is available for students or parents who believe that individual circumstances warrant exception from this published policy. Appeals should be directed to the Vice President of Enrollment.   

Note: Provisions explained above are subject to final interpretation of federal Return of Funds regulations for federal Title IV financial aid   

Effective August 29, 2010. Updated March 2, 2023. 

Students withdrawing or taking a leave of absence prior to the beginning of an academic term, or during the add/drop period of that term, receive a 100% refund of tuition. 

Students departing the University after the add/drop period, for whatever reason, are recognized as having withdrawn. The student is considered as officially withdrawn on the date the student initiated the withdrawal process with the Graduate and Continuing Studies Office or their academic advisor This date will be used for purposes of financial aid Return to Title IV calculations (i.e., returning federal funds to the Department of Education). Students who stop attending all classes without earning a passing grade are considered unofficially withdrawn from the term and will have their aid recalculated according to the Federal Return to Title IV policy. 

Financial aid awards to students who withdraw or take a leave of absence after the beginning of a term are recalculated on a basis consistent with written University and federal/state policies governing student financial aid in a withdrawal situation. The federal recalculation is based on a percent of earned aid for students who withdraw or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a semester. The percentage of earned aid is equal to the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by total days in the semester (scheduled breaks of 5 days or more are excluded from the calculation). The federal aid to be returned (unearned aid) is equal to [100% - percent earned] times the total amount of federal aid disbursed toward institutional charges. 

Federal Title IV funds are returned to their respective accounts in the following order: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant and Federal TEACH Grant. State grants are refunded according to the guidelines of the specific state agency. Funds due to be returned to the Department of Education are returned within 10 business days. The Department of Education requires funds to be returned within 45 days (about 1 and a half months). 

If the R2T4 calculation indicates a refund is due to the student, the refund will be paid by check within 14 days (about 2 weeks). If the R2T4 calculation results in an amount to be returned to a Federal Financial Aid Program, that exceeds the school’s portion, the student is required to repay the remaining funds.  Any outstanding loans are repaid by the student according to the terms of the student’s promissory note. Students with an overpayment resulting from federal grants will be responsible to the school to make restitution for the overpayment. Title IV Grants funds are repaid if the amount by which the original overpayment exceeds 50% of the total Title IV grant funds disbursed or could have been disbursed to the student for the semester. If the amount is less than $50.00, the student is not responsible for returning funds to Title IV grant programs. The balance due is the student’s responsibility and will appear on the student’s next billing statement and payment will be expected in a reasonable time.  

If a student withdraws prior to their federal aid being disbursed and the federal aid could have been disbursed, a post-withdrawal disbursement will be made. If the post withdrawal disbursement indicates that a disbursement is of grant funds is due, the funds are automatically applied to the student’s account. If the application of grant funds to the account creates a credit balance, then a refund will be issued to the student within 14 days (about 2 weeks) of disbursement. 

If the post withdrawal disbursement calculation indicates that a disbursement is due from loan funds- the student is sent a letter within 3 business days notifying them of the amount available. If the student wants the loan funds disbursed to their account, they are given 14 days (about 2 weeks) to request the disbursement by calling the Student Financial Services Office.  

In determining if the aid could have been disbursed the following conditions must have been met: 

Pell Grant- Official ISIR (Institutional Student Information Record) received before withdrawal and student meets all other eligibility criteria. 

TEACH Grant- Official ISIR received before withdrawal and a valid Agreement to Serve and Counseling was completed before the withdrawal date 

Federal Direct Loan and Federal Direct PLUS Loan - The loan was originated before withdrawal and a Master Promissory Note was signed before the withdrawal date. 

An appeal process is available for students or parents who believe that individual circumstances warrant exception from this published policy. Appeals should be directed to the Director of Student Financial Services. 

Note: Provisions explained above are subject to final interpretation of federal Return of Funds regulations for federal Title IV financial aid. 

Effective August 29, 2010. Updated March 2, 2023. 

Students who wish to withdraw from a class may do so any time prior to the last day of class. Students who withdraw from some or all classes following the end of the add/drop period are responsible for paying all tuition and fees for the courses. Financial aid awards to graduate students who withdraw from all classes after the end of the add/drop period but prior to the completion of 60% of the session will have their federal financial aid adjusted in accordance with federal regulations. Graduate students who wish to withdraw from a class after the add/drop period must submit a written request to the Vice President of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Graduate students who withdraw from a course receive a grade of “W,” which is not included in the GPA (Grade Point Average) computation. 

Financial aid awards to students who withdraw or take a leave of absence after the beginning of a term are recalculated on a basis consistent with written University and federal/state policies governing student financial aid in a withdrawal situation. The federal recalculation is based on a percent of earned aid for students who withdraw or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a semester. The percentage of earned aid is equal to the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date divided by total days in the semester (scheduled breaks of 5 days or more are excluded from the calculation). The federal aid to be returned (unearned aid) is equal to [100% - percent earned] times the total amount of federal aid disbursed toward institutional charges. 

Federal Title IV funds are returned to their respective accounts in the following order: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, and Federal TEACH Grant. Funds due to be returned to the Department of Education are returned within 10 business days. The Department of Education requires funds to be returned within 45 days (about 1 and a half months). 

If the R2T4 calculation indicates a refund is due to the student, the refund will be paid by check within 14 days (about 2 weeks). If the R2T4 calculation results in an amount to be returned to a Federal Financial Aid Program, that exceeds the school’s portion, the student is required to repay the remaining funds.  Any outstanding loans are repaid by the student according to the terms of the student’s promissory note. Students with an overpayment resulting from federal grants will be responsible to the school to make restitution for the overpayment. Title IV Grants funds are repaid if the amount by which the original overpayment exceeds 50% of the total Title IV grant funds disbursed or could have been disbursed to the student for the semester. If the amount is less than $50.00, the student is not responsible for returning funds to Title IV grant programs. The balance due is the student’s responsibility and will appear on the student’s next billing statement and payment will be expected in a reasonable time. 

If a student withdraws prior to their federal aid being disbursed and the federal aid could have been disbursed, a post-withdrawal disbursement will be made. If the post withdrawal disbursement indicates that a disbursement of grant funds is due, the funds are automatically applied to the student’s account. If the application of grant funds to the account creates a credit balance, then a refund will be issued to the student within 14 days (about 2 weeks) of disbursement. 

If the post withdrawal disbursement calculation indicates that a disbursement is due from loan funds- the student is sent a letter within 3 business days notifying them of the amount available. If the student wants the loan funds disbursed to their account, they are given 14 days (about 2 weeks) to request the disbursement by calling the Student Financial Services Office. In determining if the aid could have been disbursed the following conditions must have been met: 

TEACH Grant- Official ISIR received before withdrawal and a valid Agreement to Serve and Counseling was completed before the withdrawal date 

Federal Direct Loan and Federal Direct PLUS Loan - The loan was originated before withdrawal and a Master Promissory Note was signed before the withdrawal date. 

An appeal process is available for students or parents who believe that individual circumstances warrant exception from this published policy. Appeals should be directed to the Director of Student Financial Services. 

Note: Provisions explained above are subject to final interpretation of federal Return of Funds regulations for federal Title IV financial aid. 

Effective August 29, 2010. Updated March 2, 2023. 

Federal law (34 CFR 668.22(a)(1)) requires institutions to monitor the grades of students who received all Fs in their semester coursework to determine if the student stopped attending all classes before completing 60% of the semester; thus, unofficially withdrawing from their courses.     

Based on Muskingum policy, students who withdraw from all courses during a semester, for any reason, will have their financial aid recalculated based on the Federal Return to Title IV regulations and Muskingum University Refund Policy. This means that if it is determined that a student unofficially withdrew from all courses before the 60% point of the semester, their financial aid will be re-calculated based on the last date of attendance.   

To determine the last date of attendance, at the end of each semester, the Student Financial Services staff will review any student who receives no passing grades and follow-up with faculty to determine if the student received the grade because they stopped attending/participating in class or if they earned the failing grade. Reports from faculty are reviewed to determine the latest date of the student’s participation in an academically related activity. This date is then used as the unofficial withdraw date for the Federal Return to Title IV calculation. 

A student in this situation may not be eligible for all the federal aid they were initially receiving, thus only receiving a portion of their financial assistance; however, the student will be charged for the entire semester. This means that a student will owe a balance to the university and not be able to keep all their initial aid eligibility to reduce or cover the balance. It also means students in this situation cannot register for courses for an upcoming semester until the balance is paid in full. Students wishing to transfer to another school will not receive transcripts until the balance is paid. A 1% finance charge will be assessed monthly to a balance due until the balance is paid in full. If arrangements for payment are not made within 120 days (about 4 months), it will be placed with a collection agency.  

Effective August 29, 2010. Updated March 2, 2023

Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree is monitored per term. Review of progress takes place at the end of each term. For traditional undergraduate students this includes the fall and spring terms (and summer, if attended). For Muskingum Adult Program and graduate students, the review takes place following summer, fall and spring terms.  

SAP Requirements 

To be eligible for financial aid at Muskingum University, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), based on federal, state, and institutional requirements. There are three parts to SAP: 

• Meeting a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA)- (Qualitative) 
• Earning a minimum number of credits per semester (pace of progression)- (Quantitative)  
• Completing the degree within a maximum time frame -(Quantitative) 

The qualitative component of the SAP policy is the same as the institution's academic standards policy and applies to all students. The SAP policy is stricter than the institution's academic standards policy, as it also includes quantitative components (pace of progression and maximum time frame). 

SAP requirements are applicable to federal financial assistance (including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans) and Muskingum University aid. Programs run by state or private agencies are governed by the specific policies of those agencies. 

All financial aid offers are made contingent on students making SAP. If the University makes an award and subsequently discovers that academic progress was not made, the award will be withdrawn.  

Decisions regarding SAP are made by the Financial Aid Committee on Academic Progress. This committee consists of representatives from the Student Financial Services Office and the Provost Office.  

Qualitative Component 

Undergraduate students must have achieved the stipulated minimum grade-point average in accordance with the categories of credit hours attempted:

Muskingum uses an escalating GPA qualitative assessment rather than a fixed 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement for students who have junior class standing (60-91 credit hours earned). This allows students in their junior year, whose GPAs (Grade Point Average) (Grade Point Average) are between 1.8 and 1.999, the opportunity to improve their GPA while taking courses in their preferred field of study. Because of this, a student of junior standing may be meeting the quantitative and qualitative component of SAP but may not be meeting the University’s 2.0 GPA requirement for graduation.  

A degree audit is performed by the Registrar’s Office for all undergraduate students of junior class standing whose cumulative GPA is at least 1.80 but below 2.0.  The degree audit explains the remaining courses that are required for completion of the degree based on the student’s major, and indicates the necessary overall GPA required in these remaining courses to achieve both the overall graduation and major GPA requirements.  

Quantitative Component (Pace of Progression and Maximum Time Frame) 

A student’s pace of progression (or class completion rate) is evaluated at the end of every term to ensure that the student completes a program of study within a maximum time frame. Students must successfully complete 67% of all coursework attempted at Muskingum to meet the quantitative SAP requirement. Muskingum University considers four years of full-time study as the standard time frame to complete a baccalaureate degree program, and thus limits financial aid eligibility to six years of full-time study, which is 150% of the program length. A student who successfully completes at least 67% of their attempted coursework each semester will complete their degree requirements within the 150% time frame. Appropriate considerations are made for students whose standard program length is greater than four years, and for students who enroll part-time. 

The following are considered when evaluating quantitative requirements: 

• Undergraduate students in programs requiring 124 credit hours for graduation are eligible for financial aid during the first 186 attempted hours as an undergraduate (150% time frame). All attempted hours are counted, whether financial aid was received, or the coursework was successfully completed. 
• An attempted course is one for which the student is registered at the end of the add/drop period.
• Withdrawals, incompletes, and failures are considered attempted but not earned hours. Courses where credits are not calculated as attempted hours toward a degree are exempt from the SAP calculation. Audited courses are not considered attempted or earned.  
• Repeated coursework will count toward the maximum time frame. Students may repeat a previously passed course one time and still be eligible for financial aid. Students may repeat a course they withdrew from or failed and still receive financial aid provided SAP requirements are still being met. Repeated courses are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.  
• Passing credits received for pass/fail courses are considered attempted and earned credits; failing grades in pass/fail courses are considered attempted but not earned.   Transfer credits, including those received prior to entering Muskingum University and those earned after entry, such as in off-campus study, do not count in the calculation of the GPA, but are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned credit hours.
• Transfer hours are not counted in the calculation of maximum time frame.  A change of major does not typically affect the calculation of SAP and maximum time frame. In an appeal situation a change of major(s) may be considered as a special circumstance in the calculation of maximum time frame. 

Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility will occur immediately upon the student's attainment of both the quantitative and/or qualitative benchmarks of SAP. Coursework taken at a school other than Muskingum may count toward meeting the quantitative requirement, but not the qualitative requirement. 

Incomplete Grades 

If a student is not meeting SAP requirements because of an incomplete grade, the student’s financial aid will be suspended (provided the student was warned in a prior semester) until the grade is changed. Student progress on incomplete grades is monitored throughout the semester. Students whose incomplete grades change are reviewed for SAP at that time. 

Repeated Courses 

Undergraduate students may repeat a previously passed course once if the original grade is a C- or lower. Both grades of a repeated course will remain on the student’s transcript but only the most recent grade is used in computing the GPA. 

Muskingum University does not offer noncredit remedial courses. 

Course Withdrawals 

Undergraduate students may withdrawal from full semester courses through the 50th day of the semester, and from partial semester offerings until the course is three-fourths completed. Withdrawals are not permitted after the specified time. Withdrawals are considered attempted but not earned hours. 

SAP Requirements for Undergraduate Students Pursuing a Second Degree 

To obtain a second bachelor’s degree in a major different from that of the first degree conferred, a student must develop a plan of study comprised of at least 30 semester hours of courses that do not duplicate those constituting the majors of the first degree. The student must successfully complete at least 30 semester hours in residence at Muskingum beyond the first degree, including a capstone experience and half of the hours for the major. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress review will only cover coursework completed towards the additional degree. A minimum grade point average of 2.00 or above must be earned for all coursework presented in the new program. 

To meet the quantitative Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement, students must successfully complete 67% of all coursework, and financial aid is limited to 150% of the time required to complete the degree program. 

Graduate Students 

Qualitative Requirements 

All graduate students at Muskingum University must have at least a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing and to graduate. Higher grade or GPA standards mandated by individual graduate programs or by licensure requirements, however, take precedence over university minimum standards. The GPA requirement for SAP is 3.0. Students below a 3.0 GPA after their first year of full-time enrollment will need to meet with their academic advisor to ensure they can achieve a 3.0 required for graduation. 

Graduate students who enroll in a second-degree program or enroll in additional licensure/endorsement programs will be reviewed for SAP in each program. Credits and the GPA earned in completed or inactive programs are not counted towards SAP when reviewing progress in the current program. 

Quantitative Requirements                  

A student’s pace of progression is evaluated at the end of every term. Graduate students must successfully complete 67% of all coursework attempted each semester at Muskingum. Degree, licensure, and endorsement programs must be completed within a maximum time frame, 150% of the average credits to complete the program.  

Students may repeat graduate courses with permission of their academic advisor. While the transcript will record both grades, only the second grade will be included in the calculation of the grade point average unless the second grade is I, WIP (Work in Progress) or W. Students may not register for any one course more than two times. 

SAP Statuses (Undergraduate and Graduate) 

Warning Period 

Academic progress is reviewed at the end of each academic semester. If it is determined during the review that the student is not meeting SAP, they will be placed in financial aid warning status. Students in financial aid warning will be eligible to receive financial aid during the warning period. Students will receive notification of their warning status via their Muskingum e-mail account. Students in warning status who do not meet SAP requirements after their next enrollment period will be placed on SAP suspension and will not be eligible for federal, state, and institutional aid. 

Financial Aid Suspension 

Students in suspension status will be mailed a letter to the home address on file with the University, explaining the reason(s) they are not meeting SAP. Future enrollment will be at the student's own expense until both qualitative and/or quantitative academic progress guidelines are met unless the student submits an acceptable appeal.  

Financial Aid Probation 

Students who have submitted an acceptable appeal will be placed on financial aid probation. Students are eligible for financial aid during the probationary period. More information regarding financial aid probation is provided below.  

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Information 

Students on Financial Aid Suspension may appeal their status to be considered for Financial Aid Probation. To appeal, students must complete the following: 

Appeal Letter and Academic Plan 

A form is provided to students to assist them with completing the process. Students are required to meet with their academic adviser. On the form students must indicate why they failed to make SAP and what has changed that will allow them to make SAP at the next evaluation. Students must be able to document mitigating circumstances that occurred during the semester in question that could not have been anticipated prior to that period, and that adversely affected their ability to successfully complete their required coursework. Events such as the death or hospitalization of a family member, extended illness suffered by the student, or other unforeseeable events that may have caused significant hardship for the student, may be considered as examples of mitigating circumstances.  

Students submit the form to the Student Financial Services Office. It may be mailed to Muskingum University, Student Financial Services, 260 Stadium Drive, New Concord, OH 43762-1837. The appeal may also be e-mailed to finaid@muskingum.edu.

After Submitting Your Appeal and Academic Plan  

Appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee on Academic Progress. Many extenuating factors are reviewed during an appeal review. The factors listed below will be considered, as well as other information that the student provides: 

• Whether the student can meet the SAP requirements after successful completion of the next semester of enrollment. 
• Whether the student is successfully following their academic plan (if required) and is making progress under that plan 
• Validity of the reasons for failing to meet the SAP standards 
•  Resolution of the problems leading up to failure to meet the standards 
•  Prior academic history 
• Meetings with the student’s academic advisor and usage of the Student Success Center 
• Number of previous suspensions and reinstatements. 
•  Student’s demonstrated motivation to succeed 
• Quality of appeal and supporting documentation 

Students will be notified through their Muskingum e-mail of the results of the appeal. Students with questions about their appeal may contact Student Financial Services at 70-826-8139. 

Students whose appeals have been approved by the Committee will be placed on Financial Aid Probation status. A student may continue to receive financial assistance during the probationary period. At the end of the probationary period the student will either be removed from probation because the student is meeting SAP standards, remain on probation because the student is meeting the requirements of their academic plan (although still not meeting SAP requirements), or the student will be placed on suspension because standards are not met. Students placed in a subsequent suspension status have the option to appeal; however, the Committee may not accept appeals with similar circumstances as appeals submitted during prior terms. Students whose appeals are not approved will be placed in suspension status. 

Students who are in suspension status may use one or more of the following payment options while attempting to regain SAP: 

• Student's own resources
• Private Loan (with approved credit) 
• Muskingum University Payment Plan 

Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility will occur immediately upon the student's attainment of both the quantitative and/or qualitative benchmarks of SAP. Coursework taken at a school other than Muskingum may count toward meeting the quantitative requirement, but not the qualitative requirement. 

Academic Plan Status 

A student on an approved academic plan will have his/her status reviewed after each academic term to ensure they are successfully following the plan. Students who are meeting their academic plan will still be eligible for financial aid. If the student does not meet the plan requirements (and is not meeting SAP) at any time, financial aid eligibility will be revoked for the subsequent term and placed in suspension status. The student can appeal the suspension status. Students following an academic plan can exceed the maximum time frame requirements. 

Updated March 3, 2023. 

•  A student must be enrolled as a full-time traditional undergraduate to receive the following types of scholarships and awards from Muskingum. Please consult the chart below for scholarship and award renewal criteria.

*Please read the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy in the tab above these provisions.

•  Academic standing is reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who fall below the standard for academic scholarship renewal will receive a warning and be given one semester to improve their academic standing before losing their scholarship or award. Students with Departmental Scholarships should consult with the department regarding criteria for renewal.
• Students who lose their scholarship may appeal the decision in writing to the Student Financial Services Office. Students may regain eligibility for their scholarship by achieving the renewal criteria in a subsequent semester.
• Scholarship and award amounts remain constant for the duration of attendance at Muskingum except for the John Glenn Scholarship which is adjusted annually to match tuition (excluding overload charges) and International Scholarships which are adjusted annually to cover the same percentage of tuition. Performance Awards may vary based on the level of participation. Annual scholarship and award amounts are disbursed to the student's account in equal semester installments.
•  The standard duration of scholarships and awards is four years, or eight regular (fall and spring) semesters, except for the PLUS Opportunity Award which is limited to three years. Permission to use the scholarship or award beyond eight semesters may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
• To be considered for need-based financial assistance in addition to scholarships and awards, students must annually file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Non-need-based Muskingum assistance will be included as part of a financial aid package.
• In cases where Academic Scholarships, Muskingum Awards, Performance Awards, or Awards of Circumstance are made or increased after a need-based financial aid package has been offered, the total increase in Muskingum-funded aid is limited to $1,000 (for a single increase or additional award), or $1,500 (for multiple increases or additional awards).
• Annual scholarship, award, and grant assistance from Muskingum University is capped at 75% of tuition (except for John Glenn Scholarship recipients). Students may still receive financial aid from federal, state, and other external sources which is capped at the total cost of attendance.

Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may be selected by the US Department of Education or Muskingum University for review in a process called verification. Verification is a systematic means of comparing various financial and informational documents with the information you provided on the FAFSA. The following information is an outline of the policies and procedures that govern the verification process, your responsibilities and the appropriate deadline dates for the Federal Student Aid Programs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Muskingum University Student Financial Services.
Our Verification Policy: It is the policy of Muskingum University to withhold the awarding of Federal Student Financial Aid to returning students until the verification process is considered completed. This policy ensures that the information provided by the Federal Processor to our office and your aid eligibility determination is correct before any funds are awarded to you. For entering students it is our policy to provide an estimated Financial Aid award before the verification process is considered completed. By receiving an estimated financial aid award earlier the student has more time to make a decision about enrolling. After verification is completed corrections will be made to the FAFSA and estimated financial aid and a revised award will be sent to the student as necessary.
Verification Completion: The verification process will be considered complete once the following has been accomplished:

1. Submit copies of any documents as requested by Student Financial Services.

2. Student Financial Services will compare your FAFSA results with the documents requested. If verification reveals that data provided on the FAFSA is accurate, then returning students will receive an award letter from Student Financial Services and entering students will have their financial aid changed from estimates to actual awards.

3. If verification reveals that data provided on the FAFSA is incorrect, Student Financial Services will electronically correct your data with the Federal Processor. As a result, you will receive notification of the corrections, either by mail or e-mail, from the Federal Processor. After we receive the corrected information, returning students will receive an award letter and entering students will receive a revised award letter as necessary.

Corrections to Previously Determined Aid Eligibility: 

If your FAFSA was not originally selected for Verification, then we would have had no reason to delay disbursement of aid to you. However, if you make a change to your FAFSA after aid has been disbursed to you, then it is possible that the US Department of Education could select your FAFSA for verification. If that occurs, then you will be asked to provide various financial and informational documents to verify the accuracy of data provided on your FAFSA. You will be required to provide the necessary verification documents according to the following deadlines:

Federal Pell Grants: If you have already received Pell Grant funds prior to being selected for verification, you must provide requested documents by the deadline published in the Federal Register (usually the last week in September) or 120 days from the date your FAFSA was selected for verification, whichever is earlier. Subsequent disbursements of Pell Grant funds will be withheld until verification is completed.

Direct Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Work-Study: The requested Verification documents must be received by Student Financial Services within 60 days of the first notification that documents are needed. Subsequent disbursements of Direct Loans and SEOG funds will be withheld. You will be asked to suspend Federal Work-Study employment pending the completion of Verification.

If Verification reveals that your aid eligibility has changed, it may be necessary to repay aid already disbursed to you. Failure to repay aid funds for which you have been determined ineligible will make you ineligible for further Federal Student Aid (whether grants, loans or work-study) at any institution until the aid is repaid in full. Your account will also be referred to the Department of Education to record your ineligibility fir further Federal Student Aid.

Completing Verification after the Term Has Ended

If you are selected for verification, you must provide requested documents by the deadline published in the Federal Register (usually the last week in September) or 120 days from the date your FAFSA was selected for verification, whichever is earlier. Students may receive Pell and Muskingum assistance if eligible however, students will not be eligible to receive Federal Student Loans if verification is completed after the term has ended.

The Consequences of Failing to Complete Verification

• Under the Pell Grant Program you forfeit the Pell Grant for the award year.
• Under the Direct Loans, SEOG and Work-Study programs, Student Financial Services will withhold subsequent disbursements of Perkins Loans, Direct Loans and SEOG funds; discontinue your employment under the Work-Study Program and withhold certification of any further Direct Loan applications.

In all cases Muskingum University Student Financial Services will take the necessary steps to secure repayment of aid funds already disbursed to you for which you have been determined to be ineligible.

Summary: The selection of an aid application for verification is a means to ensure that aid awards are based upon the most accurate information possible. Some applications are selected strictly on a random basis, while others may be selected due to inconsistent information. Whatever the reason may be, your cooperation is greatly appreciated and the sooner the requested information is provided the sooner your aid record will be considered complete and Muskingum University Student Financial Services will be able to fully disburse aid to you.

All finalized gift aid listed on the Award Notice will be credited directly to the student's Business Office account by semester. Aid will be disbursed no earlier than 7 days prior to the start of a term or upon verification of enrollment and financial eligibility. Students are responsible for securing payment for any other types of aid. For information on Campus Employment earnings please see Employment. Federal Loans will be disbursed no earlier than 7 days prior to the start of a term or upon verification of enrollment and financial eligibility providing that the appropriate counseling and promissory notes have been completed. Private Loans will be disbursed no earlier than 30 days before the start of a term upon verification of enrollment and financial eligibility.

In addition to Muskingum University resources, we project your eligibility for Pell and state grants, where applicable. If these grants are not listed on the Award Notice, then we have projected that you are not eligible. These awards are initially estimates; the amounts will be finalized in late summer, as official notification will come directly from the government agencies. The accuracy of the estimates is dependent upon funding levels and eligibility criteria set by the specific agency. If actual award amounts differ significantly from estimated figures, appropriate adjustments will be made to the package except in situations where the estimate was based on inaccurate information provided by the applicant or the government programs are not fully funded, in which case it may not be possible for Muskingum to make up entire funding shortages. A Student Aid Report (SAR) is sent to financial aid applicants notifying them of their eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant; Muskingum receives this information electronically from the federal processor. Ohio and Pennsylvania state programs send notification of eligibility to both students and colleges directly.

Students who are enrolled full-time and who meet stated Award of Circumstance criteria are automatically eligible for these awards. Awards of Circumstance include: Out of State Grants, for domestic students who are from a state other than Ohio; Presbyterian Grants to students who are communicant members of the Presbyterian Church, USA; Legacy Grants to children and grandchildren and siblings of Muskingum University alumni and to students who have a sibling currently attending Muskingum.

Muskingum Grants are awarded to students demonstrating financial need. The amount of the grant is based primarily on need, although academic performance and abilities are considered. In cases of extreme financial need an Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) may be included as part of a student’s financial aid package.

Endowed Scholarships are made available through the generosity of alumni and friends of Muskingum to provide financial support for the education of current and future students. Endowed scholarships are need-based awards, and may have certain eligibility requirements. Recipients of Endowed Scholarships may be required to communicate periodically with the donor and/or participate in college functions as conditions of the award.

Students must indicate the state of their legal residency on the admission application, as this is a consideration for state grant assistance. Legal residency generally requires that a student live in the state for a complete 12 month duration, pay taxes to that state, and have a driver's license in that state.

Students must have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) in order to be eligible for financial assistance.

Students must generally be enrolled full-time (12 hours undergraduate) in order to receive all types of financial aid. Federal Direct Loans may be awarded to at least half-time students (6 credit hours undergraduate) and in special circumstances less than full-time students may receive Muskingum aid. Federal and State Grants will be pro-rated for less than full-time students. Students with bachelors degrees may be considered only for Federal Direct Loans or private loans.

All students who have reached their 18th birthday must demonstrate that they have registered (or are not required to register) for the Selective Service in order to be eligible for state grants. You may register at the Selective Service System website.

Student Loans are serious obligations which must be repaid. Repayment of principal begins after a student graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment, and there is a six-month grace period between the time a student’s enrollment stops and repayment begins. Under certain conditions, such as full-time enrollment in college (both undergraduate and graduate), repayment of loans can be deferred. The repayment period for student loans is generally five to ten years, although this may be extended through a process called loan consolidation if total loan amounts exceed $7,500.