Missouri Valley College wants to help make college more affordable for you. Read on to learn more about the process of applying for financial aid as well as important documents you will need to access during the process.
Applying for Aid
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Applying for Financial Aid
Step 1: Apply
- In order to receive financial aid through Missouri Valley College, you must first apply for admission and be accepted. Once your application has been received, the Admissions Office will review your information and determine which institutional scholarships and awards you may qualify for.
- To be considered for federal and state financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at StudentAid.gov.
- The FAFSA becomes available each year for the upcoming academic year. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for available financial aid programs. Missouri residents should complete the FAFSA before February 1 each year to be considered for Missouri state aid programs.
- Missouri Valley College’s FAFSA school code is 002489.
- To complete and sign the FAFSA electronically, students and contributors (such as parents, if required) must create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Your FSA ID serves as your legal electronic signature and allows you to securely access federal financial aid information. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you may create one during the FAFSA application process at StudentAid.gov.
Step 2: Review
- After submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary by email from the U.S. Department of Education. Be sure to use a valid email address on your FAFSA application and check it regularly for updates and requests for additional information.
- Carefully review your FAFSA Submission Summary to confirm that all information provided is complete and accurate.
- If you include Missouri Valley College’s school code on your FAFSA, the College will electronically receive your application information. If additional documentation is required, the Financial Aid Office will contact you through your student email or the email address provided on your application.
Step 3 – Award
- The information submitted on your FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
- Once you have completed the admissions process and all required financial aid documentation has been received, the Financial Aid Office will provide you with an official electronic financial aid offer. Your award offer may include scholarships, grants, student loans, and other forms of aid for which you qualify.
- Students should carefully review their financial aid offer and complete any required acceptance steps through the student portal or as instructed by the Financial Aid Office.
- If you plan to borrow Federal Direct Stafford Loans, you will also be required to complete Entrance Counseling (EC) and a Master Promissory Note (MPN), before loan funds can be applied to your student account.
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Satisfactory Academic Progress
Financial aid is intended to assist students in making successful progress toward completing their degree. Therefore, students who are identified as not making satisfactory progress are no longer eligible for federal and state aid.
Missouri Valley College is required to establish standards for measuring Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order for students to be eligible for Title IV aid in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Congress.
The Financial Aid Office monitors SAP for all students at the end of each payment period in which they are enrolled (fall, spring, and summer). Students who enroll in the summer term will have their SAP evaluated at the end of the summer payment period. In general, SAP is reviewed in December, May, and August.
Overview
Students are expected to make reasonable academic progress toward obtaining a degree or certificate as a condition to be eligible for federal, state, and certain institutional financial aid. A student’s entire academic history, as recorded on their academic record with MVC, is reviewed at the end of each semester as a requirement of timely progression toward graduation – regardless of having received financial aid or not in the past for that course work.Students who enroll in the summer term will have their SAP monitored at the end of that term.
Eligibility to enroll for classes does not mean that SAP requirements have been met.
SAP requires financial aid recipients to meet each of the following three components:
- MVC grade point average as outlined below
- Satisfactorily earn at least 67% of cumulative credit hours attempted
- Complete a degree program within the maximum time frame of credit hours allowed
GPA Requirement
One way in which SAP is measured, is through the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) calculated at the end of each completed term of attendance. Students must maintain the following cumulative GPA to be considered maintaining SAPHours Attempted Cumulative GPA 1-27 1.50 28-57 1.75 58+ 2.00 Transfer credits are not included in GPA calculations except under limited circumstances. If you are taking courses at another institution to assist in regaining SAP, please meet with your advisor, a Student Success Counselor, or the Registrar to confirm the courses you are taking will improve your MVC GPA. For repeated coursework, only the highest grade is counted in the GPA.
Information on calculating GPA can be found online at the Registrar’s Office page.
Pace of Completion Requirement
Students must earn at least 67% of all credit hours attempted. In addition to a student’s GPA, SAP also measures the pace at which a student is progressing toward degree completion. Pace of completion is determined by taking the total number of credit hours successfully earned divided by the total number of credit hours attempted. Students must satisfactorily complete at least 67% of all cumulative credit hours attempted.Hours Earned: Only credit hours where a student earned a passing grade (A, B, C, or D) are included in the hours earned portion of the equation.
Hours Attempted: All hours in which the student was registered are included in the hours attempted portion of the equation. This includes all classes in which the student received an incomplete or withdrew (regardless of if the student received a W, WP, or WF).
Federal financial aid regulations require that a student’s entire academic credit history be considered in reviewing degree progression. All transfer credits from other colleges and universities that are counted toward the student’s degree program will be considered in the number of attempted and earned hours.
Maximum Time Frame
Total credit hours attempted cannot exceed 150% the published program length.- Students must complete their degree within 150% of their program’s published length.
- Students who exceed the maximum time frame are not eligible for a warning period.
- Students who exceed the maximum time frame may appeal and be placed on probation.
- Students completing a second major or students obtaining additional degrees may reach the maximum time frame limit prior to completing their program. These students may appeal and receive aid under a probationary status.
- Students for whom it is mathematically impossible to complete their program within the 150% published length of the program are ineligible for Title IV aid.
DEGREE PROGRAM MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME Associates 96 Bachelors (admitted prior to 2014-2015) 192 Bachelors (admitted 2014-2015 and after) 180 Masters 72 Academic Circumstances that Affect Your Status
It is important to know how the decisions you make during your academic career will affect your financial aid eligibility. The following is a list of common circumstances that can affect your financial aid status:
- Changes in major, double majors or minors – may cause you to reach your maximum attempted hours, and lose your eligibility before earning a degree.
- Incomplete grades, missing grades, failing grades, course withdrawals – all reduce your completion ratio, because they are counted as attempted, but not earned credits. They also count against your maximum attempted hours.
- Repeated courses – count as attempted credit hours each time you register for them and count against the allowed maximum. This can also reduce your completion ratio because repeated credits count as earned credits only once.
- Transfer credits count toward your maximum attempted credits, and your completion ratio.
- Courses taken for pass/fail grades– count against both your maximum attempted credits and your completion ratio.
- Late posted grades or grade changes – require that you submit a written request to have your SAP recalculated after you have confirmed with the registrar that the grade change has been posted to your academic record.
Review & Evaluation
The Financial Aid Office reviews SAP at the end of each payment period. Once it has been initially determined that a student is no longer meeting qualitative and/or quantitative SAP, the student is placed on Financial Aid Warning for one semester. If the student fails to meet SAP in the subsequent payment period for which they are enrolled, they are placed on Financial Aid Suspension and ineligible for aid.Additionally, students are placed on suspension immediately upon receiving notification that they will not be able to complete their degree within the maximum time frame.
Students who are on financial aid warning and enrolled in the summer term will have their SAP reviewed following the summer term. If SAP standards are not met, the student will end up on financial aid suspension and be ineligible for aid during the fall semester.
Students in an ineligible status may regain eligibility as follows:
- Enroll without the benefit of financial aid assistance and bring their academic record to the acceptable SAP requirements
- Submit a written appeal – eligibility reinstatement is contingent on the appeal being approved
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Guidelines
Students who fail to meet SAP standards and lose eligibility for financial aid can appeal the decision as long as their appeal meets the requirements for an acceptable appeal. The appeal must be prepared in writing and must be accompanied by the appropriate supporting documents. Appeals must be submitted prior to the start of the payment period for which the student wishes to receive aid.
The Appeal Committee will meet on dates to be arranged. In order for your appeal to be reviewed by the committee, it must be submitted by 4:00 pm the day before the committee meeting.
All appeals should follow the guidelines outlined in the SAP Appeal Form . In addition to the mandatory written statements, requirements for an acceptable appeal are:
Acceptable Circumstances
- Medical
Significant medical problems contributed to not making satisfactory academic progress. Supporting documentation should include birth certificates, medical records, physician statements, etc. - Death/Illness
Death/Illness contributed to the lack of satisfactory academic progress. Supporting documentation should include medical records, death certificate, obituary, funeral program, physician statement, counselor statement, court documents, etc. - Other Circumstances
May include any other extreme or unusual circumstance(s) OUT OF THE STUDENT’S CONTROL. Documentation supporting circumstance(s) must be included. These circumstances MAY NOT include lack of motivation, lack of responsibility, work conflicts, etc.
Academic Plan
You must meet with your academic advisor or a Student Success Counselor to develop a plan that will allow you to reestablish SAP. This is required of all appeals and must be reasonable. If you will need more than one term to reestablish SAP, include a plan for all subsequent terms.Documentation
Appeals without proper documentation will be denied. You must submit documentation.Accepted appeals are reviewed by the Appeal Committee. The decision of the Appeal Committee is considered final. A student with a denied appeal may submit another appeal after attending at least one semester at any institution and showing academic progress.
Students who submit a successful appeal are placed on Financial Aid Probation. Students on probation are required to adhere to the terms of their probation and will have their SAP evaluated at the end of each payment period. As long as the student adheres to the terms of their academic plan, their probation will continue until the student reestablishes SAP.
If a student is placed on probation and subsequently fails to meet the terms of their probation, they will be placed on suspension and are not eligible to file another appeal.
Appeal Checklist
Before submitting your appeal, verify that you have included the following:- SAP Appeal Form
This form must be completed and signed. - Student Statement
This statement must be typed and signed. This statement should include the reason why you failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress and indicate what has changed that will allow you to meet the standards in the future. - Student Plan of Action
This plan should be typed and signed. The plan should outline the specific steps you intend to take in the future to improve your academic performance. - Documentation
You must provide documentation supporting the circumstances that you discussed in the Student Statement. - Letter of Support
Provide a letter of support from an individual who is familiar with your circumstances. This letter may come from a faculty member, advisor, clergy member, counselor, or otherwise informed individual who is knowledgeable of your situation. It is highly advised that this letter come from someone outside your immediate family.
FAQs
How do I know my SAP status?
A letter will be mailed to you if you are not meeting SAP standards. SAP warning letters are mailed to the home address we have on file. Additionally, financial aid suspension letters are mailed to your home address via certified mail so that we can guarantee you’ve receive your notification. You can always confirm your status by contacting the Financial Aid Office.How often will I be evaluated for SAP?
You will be evaluated after each payment period (semester) in which you are enrolled.What do I need to do if I receive a SAP warning letter?
The first term in which you fail to meet SAP you will receive a warning. You are still eligible for aid. You are not required to do anything; however we strongly advise that all students on SAP warning reevaluate their academic performance and seek assistance through your advisor and other campus resources. Carefully review the SAP standards and identify what criteria you are failing to meet. Don’t wait until you’ve lost eligibility to address the issue. There are many campus resources that you can utilize now, such as the Learning Center and the Office of Student Success.What do I do if I receive a SAP suspension letter?
You are not required to do anything. However, because you are on suspension, you are ineligible for financial aid. Therefore, you need to begin discussing how you are going to pay for the upcoming semester. Our office advises students to investigate alternative funding if they plan to attend MVC on financial aid suspension.Additionally, if you have an acceptable reason to appeal your suspension letter, you can submit an appeal.
How will I know the result of my appeal?
Once the Appeal Committee has met, an email will be sent to your MVC email account regarding the status of your appeal. The Appeal Committee’s decision is final and appeals cannot be reevaluated until at least one payment period has been completed.What do I need to do after my appeal is approved?
You are required to visit the Financial Aid Office to meet with a Counselor. The Counselor will review the terms of your probation and further explain the importance of reestablishing SAP. You will then sign the SAP contract and your aid will be reinstated. You will also need to determine if the Financial Aid Office has any outstanding documents that are required. If so, you will need to submit the requested paperwork within one week of signing the contract.What do I need to do after my appeal is denied?
If your appeal is denied, you are considered ineligible for federal and state aid until you have reestablished SAP. You are allowed to attend MVC, however you will be paying out-of-pocket for your courses. If you plan to continue attending MVC, you must meet with the Business Office to arrange a payment plan or find alternative funding.What happens if I do not appeal?
If you do not appeal, or do not have an acceptable reason to appeal, you are ineligible for federal and state aid. Financial aid suspension does not mean you cannot enroll or attended classes at MVC. What it does mean, is that you will not be able to use federal and state financial aid to assist in meeting your out-of-pocket expenses. Therefore, you will need to find alternative funding to fill the gap. Once you have reestablished SAP, your aid will be reinstated. -
Conditions of Financial Aid Awards
The primary purpose of the Financial Aid Office is to assist students in financing their education through available federal, state, institutional, and outside financial aid resources. Financial assistance is awarded to eligible students in accordance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive financial aid, students must:
- Be officially admitted to Missouri Valley College
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
- Submit all required financial aid documentation
- Meet all federal and state eligibility requirements
- Financial aid funds cannot be disbursed until all required documents have been received and reviewed by the Financial Aid Office.
- Students who are in default on any federal or state student loan or who owe a repayment on any federal or state grant program are not eligible to receive financial aid.
- Award Information
Financial aid awards are considered tentative until all eligibility requirements have been verified.
Awards are based on:
- FAFSA information and eligibility results
- Enrollment status
- Housing status
- Academic classification
- Cost of attendance
- Availability of federal, state, and institutional funding
- The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to revise or adjust awards at any time due to changes in enrollment, housing, eligibility, verification results, funding levels, or receipt of additional resources.
Students are responsible for notifying the Financial Aid Office of any additional educational assistance received, including:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee educational benefits
- Outside assistance programs
If additional aid causes a student to exceed federal cost of attendance or financial need limits, financial aid awards may be reduced in accordance with federal regulations.
Enrollment Requirements
Students must maintain the following minimum enrollment levels to remain eligible for certain financial aid programs:
- Undergraduate Federal Direct Loan recipients: minimum of 6 credit hours per semester
- Graduate Federal Direct Loan recipients: minimum of 3 credit hours per semester
- Certain state grant programs may require full-time enrollment
Institutional Aid Adjustments
Institutional financial aid may be adjusted if:
- A student changes housing status from on-campus to off-campus
- A student withdraws from the College
- Enrollment status changes during the semester
- Students are responsible for any outstanding balance remaining after financial aid adjustments.
Student Employment / Work-Study
- Federal Work-Study and student employment awards are earned through hours worked and are not applied directly to the student account in advance. Students are paid based on actual hours worked according to payroll schedules established by Missouri Valley College.
- Work schedules are coordinated around the student’s class schedule.
Loan Requirements
Students receiving federal loans may be required to complete:
- Master Promissory Notes (MPN)
- Entrance Counseling
- Any additional federal loan requirements
- Failure to complete required loan documentation will delay or prevent loan disbursement.
Financial Responsibility
- Any balance remaining on the student account after financial aid is applied is the responsibility of the student. Payment arrangements should be made with the Business Office before the start of the semester if a balance remains.
Federal Compliance
Federal regulations require colleges to monitor student eligibility and financial aid compliance. The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to adjust, reduce, or cancel aid to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and institutional policies.
Examples of federal debt that may impact eligibility include:
- Federal student loan defaults
- Grant overpayments
- Tax liabilities
- Audit disallowances
- Other unresolved federal debts
- Students with unresolved federal debt obligations may lose eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
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Financial Aid Documents
To apply for federal and state financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov. During the financial aid process, the Financial Aid Office may request additional forms or documentation from the student and/or parent. These documents are typically used to collect additional information needed to complete the FAFSA process or to resolve conflicting information.
In many cases, these requests are related to a process called verification. If selected for verification, students must complete the process before any federal Title IV or state financial aid can be disbursed. The forms listed by the Financial Aid Office are only required if specifically requested. All submitted documentation must be fully completed, accurate, and signed. Please note that not all required documents may be listed in general form collections. If you are unsure which forms are required, please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.
All forms are provided in Adobe PDF format. Free Adobe Acrobat Reader software can be downloaded at https://www.adobe.com.
If you have questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Forms are also available in the Financial Aid Office located on the second floor of the Ferguson Building.
Loan Documents
- Master Promissory Note
- Entrance Counseling
- Exit Counseling
- In-School Deferment Request
- Statement of Educational Purpose
- Dependency Status Appeal
- Dependency Status Appeal Renewal
- Special Circumstances Form
- Citizenship Affidavit
- Verification Worksheet
Satisfactory Academic Progress Form
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’m eligible for financial aid?
You must meet all the following general eligibility requirements: - Be seeking a degree at Missouri Valley College
- Enroll in and attend courses that are required for the declared degree or certificate
- Have an official high school or GED transcript on file
- Have all prior college transcripts on file
- Be making academic progress according to MVC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online with MVC’s federal school code 002489
- Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Have your personal information verified by the SSA (Social Security Administration)
- You cannot be in default on an educational loan
- Supply any additional information that is requested by MVC’s Financial Aid Office
Financial aid will not be processed if one or more of the above are not in compliance.
How is Need-Based Aid Awarded?
Need-based aid is determined using the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is calculated from the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your SAI can be reviewed on your FAFSA Submission Summary after your FAFSA has been processed. The SAI is based on several factors, including household size, income, assets, and other financial information provided on the FAFSA. The SAI is not the amount a student or family is expected to pay to the college. Instead, it is used by the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid programs.
Financial need is calculated using the following federal formula:
Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need
Some financial aid programs are awarded based on academic achievement, talents, abilities, or academic major. Eligibility for these programs is typically determined by the college, a state agency, or a private organization.
What is my dependency status based on?
A student is generally considered dependent for federal financial aid purposes unless they meet one or more of the federal criteria for independent student status. Independent students include those who are at least 24 years old, married, have legal dependents who receive more than half of their support from the student, are working on a master’s or doctorate degree, or meet other federal criteria such as being an orphan, ward of the court, emancipated minor, in legal guardianship, or experiencing homelessness or being at risk of homelessness. Dependent students are required to provide parent information on the FAFSA in order to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Additional documentation may be requested by the Financial Aid Office as part of the verification process.
Students with unusual or extenuating circumstances that prevent them from providing parent information should contact the Financial Aid Office. Students requesting a dependency override may be required to submit supporting documentation describing their circumstances and explaining why parent information is unavailable.
Method and Frequency of Disbursements
Financial aid is disbursed to students throughout the semester. Financial aid funds are applied directly to a student’s account to pay tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, and other institutional charges. All financial aid received will first be applied toward any outstanding balance on the student account. Federal Pell Grant funds are disbursed at the beginning of each semester, provided all eligibility requirements have been met. Federal Direct Loan funds are disbursed in multiple installments throughout the academic year. Loan disbursements generally begin after the start of the semester, and rosters are processed on a regular basis as needed.
First-time, first-year borrowers are subject to a federal 30-day delay before receiving their first Federal Direct Loan disbursement. Transfer students who have previously received federal student loans at another institution may not be subject to this delay.
Students receiving a loan for only one semester will generally receive the loan in two equal disbursements. The first disbursement will occur no earlier than the 30th day of the semester, and the second disbursement will occur at or after the midpoint of the semester. Students will be notified by email regarding loan disbursements.
If financial aid exceeds institutional charges, the remaining credit balance will be refunded to the student after the credit balance is created. Refunds are processed regularly by the Business Office.
Students will be notified by email when a refund is available or when direct deposit funds have been issued, if applicable.
If a credit balance is created as a result of an approved Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan and the parent borrower did not authorize the refund to be released to the student, the refund will be issued to the parent borrower at the address listed on the loan application. Parents who wish to authorize the refund to be released to the student should contact the Business Office.
What happens if I withdraw before the semester is complete?
Students are encouraged to meet with the Director of Student Success before making the decision to withdraw from the College prior to the end of a semester. In many cases, completing the semester may be in the student’s best interest; however, students who choose to withdraw should follow the official withdrawal process. Federal financial aid is subject to a federal calculation known as Return of Title IV (R2T4). This calculation is required by the U.S. Department of Education and determines the amount of federal financial aid a student has earned based on the percentage of the semester completed prior to withdrawal.
The Financial Aid Office will use the student’s last date of attendance, as reported through the College’s official attendance records and the Registrar’s Office, to calculate the percentage of the term completed. Based on this calculation, a portion of the student’s federal financial aid may be required to be returned, which could result in a balance owed to the College.
The Business Office will also use the student’s withdrawal date to determine any applicable institutional charges and refunds. Information regarding the College’s tuition and fee refund policy can be found in the Missouri Valley College Academic Catalog.
Students considering withdrawal are strongly encouraged to complete the official withdrawal process in person whenever possible. This allows the Financial Aid Office and other campus departments to review any potential academic and financial implications associated with withdrawing before the end of the semester.
Additional information regarding withdrawals, refunds, and Return of Title IV calculations can be found in the Missouri Valley College Academic Catalog.
What is SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress)?
Federal and state financial aid regulations require students receiving financial aid to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of their degree program. SAP is evaluated at the end of each payment period and includes three standards: qualitative progress (grade point average), quantitative progress (completion rate), and maximum time frame. To remain eligible for financial aid, students must:
- Maintain the minimum cumulative GPA required by the College;
- Successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted coursework; and
- Complete their degree program within 150% of the published program length. For most undergraduate programs, this means students may attempt up to 192 credit hours before becoming ineligible for financial aid.
- Attempted coursework includes all courses in which a student enrolls, including failed, withdrawn, repeated, and incomplete courses.
Students who fail to meet SAP standards may be placed on financial aid warning or suspension, depending on their academic history and previous SAP status. Students on financial aid suspension are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid unless an appeal is approved.
Students may appeal a suspension if they experienced extenuating circumstances that affected their academic performance, such as illness, injury, death of a family member, or other special circumstances. Appeals must include a written explanation and any required supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Office will review appeals in accordance with institutional policy and established deadlines.
If an appeal is approved, the student may be placed on financial aid probation and may be required to follow an academic plan designed to help the student return to satisfactory academic standing.
Students whose appeals are denied may continue attending Missouri Valley College at their own expense and may regain financial aid eligibility once all SAP standards have been met.
Additional information regarding SAP policies and appeal procedures can be found on the Missouri Valley College Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage.
What is verification?
Verification is a federal process used to confirm the accuracy of information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may be selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, and the Financial Aid Office may also select applications for review if conflicting or inconsistent information is identified. Selection for verification does not mean a student has made an error. Some students are selected randomly, while others may be selected because information reported on the FAFSA appears incomplete, inconsistent, or requires additional clarification.
If a student is selected for verification, the Financial Aid Office will notify the student regarding any required documentation or forms needed to complete the process. Requested documents may include verification worksheets, tax information, proof of identity, or other supporting documentation required by federal regulations.
Financial aid eligibility cannot be finalized until all requested verification documents have been submitted, reviewed, and processed. Students should complete and return all requested forms and documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays in the processing and disbursement of financial aid.
Verification forms and additional information can be found in the Documents and Forms section of the Missouri Valley College website.