Dropping classes as a financial aid recipient
Definition of your census date
Your census date is the point in time that Financial Aid and Scholarship Services evaluates your official enrollment status for financial aid purposes. The actual time that your census date occurs depends upon your class schedule.
- Students enrolled in session A, session B or dynamically dated courses — your census date will occur at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) on the drop deadline for the class that begins last within the semester.
- Students enrolled in session C, when session C is the last session that you are enrolled— your census date will occur at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) on the University 21st Day of the semester
See the Financial Aid Calendar for census dates for sessions A, B and C and other important dates.
Your awards were originally offered based on full-time enrollment in both the fall and spring semesters. If you register less than full-time in either the fall or spring terms, your aid will be prorated based on your lower enrollment status.
Up to your census date for the fall or spring semester, your disbursement amounts will fluctuate according to the award proration rules below.
Dropping credits after your awards have been disbursed (including direct deposit) may result in a bill. Census enrollment figures will determine your final semester disbursement amount. Adding classes after your census date for the semester, even if they begin before your census date, will not change your prorated award amounts.
If you withdraw from all of your courses in a session or all of your courses in the entire semester, our Withdrawing as a Financial Aid Recipient policy will apply.
If you consider dropping from a class or withdrawing, we recommend you consult with a financial aid representative to discuss your options. The financial aid funds you received for the semester were based on the amount of credits you were enrolled in at the time of disbursement. Should your credits decrease, you may have to repay some of your financial aid funds.
Audited courses do not count toward your enrollment status.
Mary enrolls in session A only. Her census date would be the drop date for session A. If Mary adds another session A class to her schedule after the session A census date, her prorated award amounts will not change.
If Mary adds any courses to her schedule that are in session C (before the University 21st Day of the semester), her census date would then change to the University 21st Day of the semester. If Mary adds another session A or C class to her schedule after the session C's census date, her prorated award amounts will not change.
Mary enrolls in session B only. Her census date would be the drop date for session B. If Mary adds another B session class to her schedule after the session B census date, her prorated award amounts will not change.
Mary enrolls in sessions A, B and C. Her census date would be the drop date for session B. If Mary adds another B or C session class to her schedule after the session B census date, her prorated award amounts will not change.
Subject to change at any time for correction of errors or change of policies. Use the tables below to determine the number of enrolled credits required for disbursement, by award program.
| UNDERGRADUATE | Percentage of award disbursed based on credit hours | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award | 12+ | 9-11 | 6-8 | 1-5 |
| New American University Scholarships* | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Obama Scholars Funds* | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| ASU College Attainment Grant* | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| AZ Promise Program* | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant | 100% | 75% | 50% | 25% |
| Federal TEACH Grant | 100% | 75% | 50% | 25% |
| FSEOG* | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Financial Aid Trust Grant* ** | 100% | 75% | 50% | 0% |
| University Grant* ** | 100% | 75% | 50% | 0% |
| LEAP Grant* | 100% | 75% | 50% | 0% |
| Federal Direct Student Loans | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal PLUS Loan | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal Work-Study | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Private Donor Scholarships | See individual donor criteria. | |||
*Only ASU hours are considered in determining the amount for this award (i.e., consortium hours do not count).
**Grant proration does not apply for online students.
Federal Pell Grant
| Credit Hours | Enrollment Intensity | Enrollment Status Equivalent |
| 12 (or more) | 100% | Full-Time |
| 11 | 92% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 10 | 83% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 9 | 75% | Three-Quarter Time |
| 8 | 67% | Half-Time |
| 7 | 58% | Half-Time |
| 6 | 50% | Half-Time |
| 5 | 42% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 4 | 33% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 3 | 25% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 2 | 17% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| 1 | 8% | Less-than-Half-Time |
| POST BACCALAUREATE | Percentage of award disbursed based on credit hours | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award | 12+ | 9-11 | 6-8 | 1-5 |
| Federal Direct Student Loans | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal PLUS Loan | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal Work-Study | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Private Donor Scholarships | See individual donor criteria. | |||
| GRADUATE | Percentage of award disbursed based on credit hours | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award | 9+ | 7-8 | 5-6 | 1-4 |
| Federal TEACH Grant | 100% | 75% | 50% | 25% |
| University Grant – Program Fee Grant* | 100% | 75% | 50% | 0% |
| Federal Direct Student Loans | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal PLUS Loan | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Federal Work-Study | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| Private Donor Scholarships | See individual donor criteria. | |||