Financial Aid
Important Facts to Know
Federal regulations require universities to make student consumer information available to prospective and current students concerning graduation rates, default rates, campus safety, average indebtedness and certain information pertaining to NCAA athletic participation. This information may be obtained from Student Financial Services. A paper copy will be provided upon request.
Financial aid records are protected in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. If you would like the university to share your information with a family member, complete the FERPA form in the Student Hub.
NASFAA Federal Code of Conduct
Student Financial Services at The University of Tulsa abides by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s federal code of conduct. For more information, please visit www.nasfaa.org.
Forms
2023-24 Academic Year
2024-2025 Academic Year
Policies
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Title IV Return of Funds Distribution Policy
For all students receiving federal Title IV funds, returns are distributed back to the programs in the following order up to the full amount received from each program for the term.
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
Federal Grad PLUS Loan
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
TEACHSample return of funds calculations are available for review in the Office of Student Financial Services, Collins Hall.
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Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal regulations require that all recipients of federal student financial assistance make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or eligible certificate. Students applying for assistance through the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, Teach Grant, Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG), Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG), Oklahoma’s Promise, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Direct Parent PLUS Loan and Direct Graduate PLUS loan programs must meet THREE requirements to maintain their financial aid eligibility at TU:
- Qualitative: Students must meet a required minimum cumulative grade point average.
- Quantitative: Students are required to complete (pass) a minimum 67% of hours they attempt.
- Maximum Time Frame: Students must complete their degree within a timely manner.
These three requirements are summarized in the following charts. Failure to meet ALL of these minimum academic standards will result in the loss of federal financial aid eligibility. Students are expected to know, based on this Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy what their status is, TU breaks it down as follows: Satisfactory, Probationary, and Unsatisfactory. Satisfactory academic progress is reviewed at the end of each semester once grades have been posted to the academic transcript.
- Qualitative: Grade Point Average Requirement – Each student must meet a required minimum cumulative grade point average to remain eligible for federal student aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy Requirements Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Law Students Total Hours Attempted from all Institutions All Hours All Hours All Hours Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirements 2.00 GPA 3.00 GPA 2.00 GPA - Quantitative: Satisfactory Completion of Semester Hours Requirement. Students must also successfully complete and pass 67% of all courses they attempt. Grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, I, W and MG are all considered attempted hours. All transfer and repeat hours are included in this calculation. Courses dropped within the first three weeks of the semester will not be included in the calculation. Please refer to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard Charts for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, PhD Students and Law Students.
Percentage of cumulative attempted hours a student must complete to remain eligible for federal student aid. Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Law Students Students must successfully complete: 67% of attempted hours 67% of attempted hours 67% of attempted hours - Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion: Students must complete their degree program within an allotted timeframe to remain eligible for federal financial aid. The chart below indicates the timeframe in which a degree must be acquired. Be aware that hour limits are cumulative; therefore, all accepted hours from all institutions attended will be included, even if a student did not receive federal student aid. Student Financial Services recommends that students contact their academic advisor to ensure they are taking the courses necessary to complete their degree. For federal financial aid purposes grades of A, B, C, D, F, P, I, W and MG are all considered in the attempted hours. Courses dropped within the first three weeks of the semester will not be included in the attempted hours. All transfer and repeat hours are included in this calculation. Once students reach their maximum timeframe (150% of the published length of the program) for their specified degree, they are no longer eligible for federal student aid. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevented acceptable progress, students may request an extension of eligibility by submitting a petition to Student Financial Services. All petitions for federal financial aid reinstatement should be received no later than the first day of class in the semester the suspension takes effect.
Attempted Hours Allowed For Earning a Degree: Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Ph.D. Students Law Students 150% of the published length of the degree program 186 hours – 1st Bachelor’s 54 hours – 1st Master’s 135 hours – Ph.D. 132 hours – Law Repeated Coursework
Students may receive federal financial aid consideration to repeat a previously passed course once. Student may repeat failed courses until they have attained a passing grade. An “Incomplete” grade (I) that remains on the academic record at the time satisfactory academic progress is reviewed will be treated as not completed, but the attempted hours will be counted. Upon completion of the Incomplete (I) course, the grade and course will be given due credit in future consideration.
*Please note: Satisfactory Academic Progress with a Probationary status and Unsatisfactory status is separate from Academic Probation and Academic Suspension.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Evaluation
Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the conclusion of each academic semester after grades have been posted. All attempted and transfer hours are counted during this evaluation. Courses dropped within the first three weeks of the semester will not be included in the SAP evaluation.
- Satisfactory – students that are enrolled in an eligible program, in compliance with satisfactory academic progress and receiving federal aid.
- Probationary – students are placed on Financial Aid Probation if they are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP). During this probationary status, financial aid eligibility and payment of funds will be continued throughout the Financial Aid Probationary period. Note: A Probationary Status is not given to students regarding maximum time frame, it is the student’s responsibility to know how many hours they have attempted and where they stand. Students that have been placed on Financial Aid Probation may be removed from that status and return to Satisfactory by meeting the completion rate and/or cumulative grade point average requirements as set forth in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy by the end of the Financial Aid Probationary term. A student who returns to good standing after the Financial Aid Probationary period and then does not meet SAP at the end of the next term, can be placed on Financial Aid Probation again. However, a student cannot be placed on a Financial Aid Probationary status for consecutive terms.
- Unsatisfactory – will be required for students who fail to meet either requirements 1 and 2 at the conclusion of their Financial Aid Probationary Period. Students placed on Financial Aid Unsatisfactory status have had consecutive terms of SAP non-compliance. Students cannot receive funds from the federal aid programs listed above while on Unsatisfactory status. The Financial Aid Officer will determine if the Financial Aid Unsatisfactory status can be appealed. Students will be allowed to appeal their first status of unsatisfactory and if approved, will be put on Financial Aid Probation.
- Financial Aid Probation – is assigned to students whose status was Unsatisfactory, appealed and have received an appeal approval. The status of Probationary is given for the next period of enrollment to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. The student will receive an approval letter along with a list of conditions that must be performed for reinstatement of federal financial aid for the upcoming semester. Students can be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one payment period per appeal at The University of Tulsa. The student must comply with the completion and grade point average requirements by the end of the semester. After grades for the semester are posted to the student academic transcript, Student Financial Services will review the academic performance of the student to determine if the satisfactory academic progress requirements are met. If the student meets the SAP requirements at the completion of the semester, federal financial aid is continued for future semesters. If the student cannot mathematically achieve SAP standards in one payment period, an academic plan will be required.
- Financial Aid Academic Plan – Probationary is the status assigned to students if they were originally Unsatisfactory, appealed and have received an appeal approval but cannot achieve SAP standards within one payment period. Students in this category must follow an individually designed Academic Plan developed by the Academic Advisor to ensure achievement of satisfactory academic progress standards over an assigned period of time. Students remain eligible for federal aid as long as the conditions of the Academic Plan are met.
Rules are applied uniformly to all students whether or not aid has been received previously.
Financial Aid Appeal Process
A student with extenuating circumstances may appeal an Unsatisfactory status by submitting a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to Student Financial Services within two weeks of the date of the letter of suspension. Appeals must explain in detail why the student failed to meet the minimum academic standards, what extenuating circumstances caused the failure and how the situation has since improved. Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, illness, medical issues with immediate family members or a death in the family. Personal or financial issues with family, friends, or roommates are not considered extenuating circumstances. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will evaluate all documentation submitted and the student’s appeal will be approved or denied. The results of the appeal will be emailed to the student’s TU email account within approximately ten working days from the submission date. If the appeal is denied, the student is responsible for paying for their own educational costs until the student improves his/her scholastic record to meet the minimum standards of academic progress. Students who were denied due to maximum time frame are responsible for paying for their own educational costs for the remainder of their degree program.
If the appeal is approved, the student will either be:
- Placed on Financial Aid Probation for one semester only, or
- Placed on an Academic Plan designed for completion rate and/or cumulative grade point average improvements until the standards of the SAP policy are met, not to exceed one year from the date of the Academic Plan.
The student’s approval letter will explain all requirements that must be met during his/her probationary period to continue to receive financial aid.
Removal from the Status of Unsatisfactory Without Appealing
To re-establish federal financial aid eligibility without completing the appeal process noted above, students must meet all the criteria listed in the Student Financial Services Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. A student classified as Unsatisfactory can re-establish eligibility by meeting the standards of the SAP Policy by achieving a completion rate of 67% and a required minimum cumulative grade point average without federal and/or state financial aid assistance.
Changing Majors
Students who change majors should contact Student Financial Services regarding how this will impact the satisfactory academic progress for federal financial aid.
Study Abroad or Consortium Classes
Any student who has completed a semester with study abroad or has a consortium agreement as a visiting student with another college or university must wait until the study abroad/visiting student grades have been submitted to TU to determine satisfactory academic progress. The student cannot receive federal financial aid for the semester following the study abroad/visiting student semester until the grades are received from the college or university in which the student was enrolled as a study abroad/visiting student and posted to the student’s TU academic transcript.
If you are a Presidential Scholar with no federal financial aid, your next semester’s funds will not disburse until academic transcripts have been received from the study abroad/visiting student program. All Presidential Scholars must complete at least twelve (12) credit hours per semester with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA. After study abroad/visiting student grades are posted to the student’s TU academic transcript, eligibility for Presidential Scholar funding will be determined.
Changing from Undergraduate to Master’s or from Master’s to Doctoral Programs
If the student is beginning a new degree level, satisfactory academic progress begins in a clear status for the new program.
Students Who Have Been Out of Attendance for Over a Year
The University of Tulsa reviews satisfactory academic progress each payment period. If the student was not making satisfactory academic progress when last enrolled, provided it was more than a year ago, the student can be placed on Financial Aid Probation for the first payment period.
Part-Time Students
If the student receives part-time federal financial aid, the required hours completed for satisfactory academic progress will be reduced proportionately.
Transfer Hours
Transfer hours that are accepted by TU and are applied toward the student’s current program, will be included as both attempted and completed hours.
Audit Courses
Grades of audit (AU) are not counted in the total hours attempted for any semester or as successful completion of the course. Students cannot receive federal financial aid for audit courses.
Independent Courses
Independent courses may count toward successful completion of hours attempted if they are completed by the last day of the semester. For information about eligibility and payment of federal financial aid for this type of course, please contact Student Financial Services.
Leave of Absence
If an academic Leave of Absence (LOA) is granted, the student’s Title IV funding will be evaluated the same as any student who completely withdraws from the University of Tulsa and the Return to Title IV Funds rules will be followed, as applicable.
Student Responsibility
Students are held responsible for reading and understanding the Satisfactory Academic Progress eligibility requirements and knowing their status at the end of each semester. For questions, contact Student Financial Services at (918) 631-2670.
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Withdrawal
When you provide your withdrawal notice to your academic advisor, you are instructed to contact the offices of Housing, Bursar, and Student Financial Services regarding any expenses you may have incurred. If you withdraw after the 60% point of the semester and all your federal financial aid has credited toward your student account, typically no changes to your aid will occur. However, if you withdraw before the 60% point of the semester or if all your federal financial aid is not processed by the time you withdraw, your aid may be adjusted.
Nonattendance does not constitute withdrawal. If enrolled in classes and the student chooses not to attend, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from those enrolled classes to avoid tuition and fee charges.
The Return of Funds sections below provide more specific information concerning TU’s tuition refund policy and the Return of Title IV Funds requirements. If you are thinking about withdrawing during a semester, it is important to meet with your Financial Aid Counselor so they can review your aid status with you.