Guidelines

Full-time Enrollment Definition

Miami University has adopted a new definition of a full-time graduate student to those who are enrolled 9 credit hours per semester. Please note that this change is effective fall semester, 2011. Your enrollment status is a factor when determining your eligibility for financial aid.

Receiving a GRE Fee Waiver

Some graduate programs require their applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). To be eligible for the GRE fee waiver, you must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien and one of the following:

• Dependent senior with a parent contribution of no more than $1,400
• Self-supporting senior with a contribution of no more than $1,800
• Self-supporting unenrolled college graduate with a contribution of no more than $1,800

Determining Your Award

If you filed a FAFSA, your financial aid award notification will be sent on or before July 1. You must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any additional awards you are receiving (e.g., graduate assistantships, outside scholarships, dissertation scholarships, fee waivers, tuition assistance). These additional awards may impact your Federal Direct Stafford Loan eligibility. Assistantship notifications are sent by the Graduate School.

Deferring Your Undergraduate Loan Payments

If your undergraduate federal student loan is in its six-month grace period and you are still enrolled as at least a half-time student, your enrollment records with the U.S. Department of Education should be updated to reflect your continued enrollment. If your grace period has expired and you have entered repayment on your loan, you may still be eligible to postpone your payments with an in-school deferment if you begin re-attending an eligible school on at least a half-time basis. You must continue making payments until you are notified that the deferment has been granted.

Miami electronically notifies the National Student Clearinghouse monthly with student enrollment information. This information is disseminated for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and some private loans. When this information is received, your records will be updated to show your in-school status. If you prefer, you may submit an in-school deferment form (PDF)to the U.S. Department of Education. (Note that not all private loan lenders receive this information electronically; you should contact your private loan and/or your FFELP lender to find out what is required to update your enrollment status.)

Remaining Eligible for Federal Aid

To remain eligible for federal aid, you must complete your degree program within a maximum time frame provided below:

• Master's Degree: 10 semesters (120 credit hours)
• Doctorate Degree: 14 semesters (168 credit hours)

This is measured by calculating the number of full-time equivalent semesters you attend. The maximum time frame includes all prior terms of attendance of Miami and any other college or university, whether or not you received financial aid. If you repeat courses, those hours will be included as additional attempted hours. The calculation of the maximum time frame is based on full-time attendance each semester (9 credit hours). Enrollment levels for students attending less than full-time will be prorated according to the following ratios:

Attending Summer Session

If you are interested in attending the summer session, note that the summer session counts as part of the previous academic year and your federal loan eligibility is determined by the amount you did not receive in the fall and/or spring semester(s). Private loans may also be an option for summer session. If you are receiving a graduate fee waiver for the summer, you need to notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Contact the Graduate School regarding graduate summer scholarships.

You must complete the following before summer aid will be processed:

• FAFSA
• Registration for summer hours
• All outstanding requirements for federal aid

Submitting a Conditional Graduate Form

If you are a conditional graduate student, you are eligible only for federal and/or private loans (not federal or state grants). Submit the Conditional Graduate Form with the required information to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Pursuing Teacher Certification/Licensure

If you are pursuing a teacher certification/licensure, you are eligible for federal and/or private loans (not federal or state grants). Submit the Teacher Certification/Licensure Form with the required information to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. You can also apply for the Ohio TEAM Scholarship, a 50% reduction in tuition and fees offered to Ohio's professional educators for graduate coursework at Miami.