Degree Plans and Your Financial Aid

Undergraduate students receiving financial aid need to take a minimum of 12 hours from their degree plan in order to be considered full-time for financial aid.

The university recommends that students take at least 15 hours each semester in order to graduate in a timely manner.

Undergraduate Enrollment Classifications

• 12 or more hours: full-time
• 9-11 hours: three-quarter time
• 6-8 hours: half-time
• 0-5 hours: less than half-time

More information on enrollment classifications as defined by the university is available on the Enrollment Status page.

Graduate students receiving financial aid need to take a minimum of nine hours from their degree plan in order to be considered full-time.

Graduate Enrollment Classifications

• 9 or more hours: full-time
• 6-8 hours: half-time
• 0-5 hours: less than half-time

More information on enrollment classifications as defined by the university is available on the Enrollment Status page.

A student taking six hours who is enrolled as a half-time student, as defined by the university, would be eligible to receive a direct loan.

• If a three-hour class is not listed as counting towards their degree, then the student would only be enrolled in three hours (less than half-time for financial aid purposes) and would no longer be eligible to receive direct loans.
• The student would still pay the tuition and fees associated with these courses but would be ineligible for a direct loan to cover the costs for both courses.

A student taking six hours who is enrolled as a half-time student, as defined by the university, and would be eligible to receive Pell Grant funding.

• If a three-hour class is not listed as counting towards a degree, then the student would be enrolled in three hours for financial aid purposes and would receive less Pell funding.
• The student would still pay the tuition and fees associated with this course but would be ineligible for a portion of the federal aid to cover the costs for this course.

According to Title IV regulations, students who are undecided can still receive aid; however, you will need to contact your academic advisor for more information.

Electives are built into most degree plans. Students just need to be mindful of not exceeding the allowed number of hours specified in their degree plan. If you have questions about the allowed number of electives in your degree plan, you should contact your academic advisor.

First Step:

• If you are registered: Run your degree plan evaluation through mySFA to find out if your registered classes are in your degree plan. Registered courses in the "Courses Not Used" area are the ones that don't count in your degree plan.
• If you are not registered: Run your degree evaluation and compare to your advising slip to confirm the degree plan courses.

Issue not resolved?

Make an appointment with your advisor to find out if a class is in your degree plan.

First Step:

If you are in 12 hours of degree plan courses plus the nondegree plan course (15 hours total) no action is needed. Check this by running your degree plan evaluation.

Issue not resolved?

• Add a degree plan course to reach 12 hours of degree plan courses.
• Take a course in your degree plan instead.
  • Drop non-degree plan course and take new degree plan course.
• See advisor for assistance.

If one of your registered courses falls into the "Courses Not Used" area of your degree plan evaluation but your advisor has approved it as a substitution for a required course:

First Step:

Contact your advisor and request the substitution be entered onto your record and check your degree plan for the course update.

Issue not resolved?

If you and your advisor think the course is showing in error, ask your advisor to email the Office of the Registrar at graduation@sfasu.edu, or call 936.468.2103.

Updating your major/minor/concentration is based on the courses in which you are currently registered:

Registered for courses in your new major: If you are registered for courses that are in the major to which you want to change, contact your new advisor and request that your major/minor/concentration be updated. If your major is not updated, then your registered courses may continue to fall under “Courses Not Used” and be ineligible for financial aid.

Registered for courses in your previous major: If you are registered for courses that are in your previous major and you want to change to a new major/minor/concentration that your registered courses do not apply/count in, you will want to change majors/minor/concentration at the end of the current semester.