The Office of Financial Aid, located on the third floor of the Joseph Henry Apple Academic Resource Center, administers federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Financial aid representatives can be reached by phone at 301-696-3411 or by email at finaid@hood.edu.
Hood College administers the following types of aid: loans, grants, scholarships, and assistantships
In order to be eligible for federal loans, a student must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen, be accepted or enrolled in a graduate degree or certificate program; for a minimum of 3 credits each semester and be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate from Hood as described below. To apply for a federal loan, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
International students, although not eligible for federal loans, may apply for loan assistance from private educational loan programs if they have a credit-worthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid.
Some programs offer teaching and graduate assistant positions to support graduate students through tuition waivers and/or small stipends. Students may inquire about this possibility with the appropriate program director and/or through the Graduate School at gofurther@hood.edu.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Qualitative Standards, Grade based
Graduate programs range from 30 to 60 credits with most master's programs at the 36-credit level, and a 3.00 cumulative average is required to complete the degree. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress toward degree completion for financial aid purposes by adhering to the schedule outlined below.
|
SEMESTER COMPLETED
|
CREDITS EARNED |
CUMULATIVE GPA
|
| First/Second |
12 |
2.75 |
| Third/Fourth |
24 |
3.00 |
| Fifth/Sixth |
36 |
3.00 |
The Office of Financial Aid determines the year of standing according to the number of credits earned. (Note: this is separate from the time-to-completion Graduate School policy which allows up to seven years to complete a degree program.) The Office of Financial Aid uses the above schedule for its financial aid purposes.
Quantitative Standards, Time Based (Also referred to as pace)
In order to maintain financial aid eligibility, the U.S. Department of Education requires a student to successfully complete 67 percent of the credits for which he/she attempted as shown in the example below:
Hood College Office of Financial Aid calculates the pace at which a student is progressing by dividing the cumulative number of credits successfully completed by the cumulative number of credits attempted. All periods of enrollment count when assessing quantitative standards, even periods in which the student did not receive aid.
Pace=Cumulative number of credits successfully completed/Cumulative number of credits attempted
The maximum time frame in which a graduate student is expected to complete their degree is 150 percent of the published length of the program measured in academic credits. Students will become ineligible for any type of financial aid if the maximum timeframe for completion is not met. For example, if a published length of a graduate academic program is 36 credit hours; the maximum period must not exceed 54 (36 × 150%) attempted credit hours. The maximum timeframe in which a student is expected to complete their additional or dual degree is 150 percent of the published length of the program measured in academic credits.
Treatment of W, INC, AU, F, S and U Grades and Repeated Coursework
- Course withdrawals (W or WX) after the drop/add period are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework.
- Incomplete (INC) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered a non-completion of attempted coursework until the incomplete grade is replaced with a permanent grade and academic progress can be reevaluated.
- An audit (AU) grade is not considered attempted coursework. It is not included in the GPA calculation or completion rate determination.
- A satisfactory (S) grade is treated as attempted credits earned, but it is not included in the GPA calculation.
- An unsatisfactory (U) grade is treated as attempted credits that are not earned, but it is not included in the GPA calculation.
- A failing grade (F) is treated as attempted credits not earned; it will be included in the calculation of the GPA and the minimum completion rate.
- All grades earned for a repeated course will be recorded on the transcript and the highest grade received will be included in the GPA calculation; however, every repeated attempt will be included in the completion rate determination.
- Transfer credits and/or credits for prior learning given at the time of enrollment will be counted in the total number of credits attempted and the maximum timeframe standard.
Students can only receive financial aid for a repeated, previously passed course one additional time. If the student registers for a previously passed course the third time, the course is ineligible for financial aid.
Due to flexibility provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), attempted courses will be excluded from the qualitative component if the credits not completed was a result of the COVID-19 national emergency.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students are placed on financial aid suspension if they do not meet one or both of the SAP standards. Students that are failing to make satisfactory academic progress and who successfully appeal will be placed on financial aid probation. Students placed in this status may continue to receive financial aid for one semester and are expected to meet SAP standards by the end of the semester.
Financial Aid Probation
If at the end of the probationary period the student still does not meet the standards set forth in this policy, eligibility to receive financial aid of any type will be suspended. Students who fail to meet the maximum timeframe towards completion of their degree within 150 percent of their attempted credits will have their financial aid canceled. Students may appeal.
Reinstatement of Aid after Probation Appeal is Approved
Reinstatement of financial aid after a student is placed on probation is achieved as follows:
- The student submits a written letter of appeal in accordance with the appeals process the Office of Financial Aid approves the appeal. The student is placed on financial aid probation for one semester and is allowed to maintain their aid eligibility. SAP will be reviewed at the end of that semester; or
- The student attends Hood College during the suspension semester, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student aid and does well enough in the coursework to satisfy all the satisfactory academic progress standards. The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they are planning to attend Hood College without the assistance of financial aid; or
- The student may enroll in summer courses to eliminate the deficiency in credits or GPA. The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid if they are planning to take classes during the summer to eliminate the deficiency. Students can only take classes at Hood College and cannot take classes at another institution to resolve a GPA deficiency.
A student whose eligibility has been suspended may regain eligibility at the end of any term after which they meet the above criteria.
Students who have been placed on suspension cannot skip a semester to regain eligibility. No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent semesters for students on suspension.
Appeals Process
Students on financial aid suspension may appeal in writing to the Office of Financial Aid. Appeals must be submitted by August 1 in order to be reviewed for the upcoming fall semester. Students must provide in writing the extenuating circumstance(s) why SAP was not made and submit any supporting documentation. The student must state how the situation has changed and what action will be taken in order to meet SAP standards at the next evaluation period (end of spring semester). If the appeal is for the maximum timeframe, the Office of financial Aid may request the student to submit an academic plan signed by the student's academic advisor. The Office of Financial Aid will notify the student if such documentation is needed for the appeal.
The office of Financial Aid will review the appeal and notify the student in writing within ten business days of the decision. All decisions made by the Office of Financial Aid are final.
If the appeal is granted, students will be placed on financial aid probation for one semester and are expected to meet SAP standards by the end of the semester. If, at that time, the student does not meet SAP standards, the student will be suspended from financial aid and may appeal based on extenuating circumstances. If the student is successful, the student will be removed from probation and placed in good standing for financial aid eligibility. If the student is placed on an academic plan as a condition of the appeal and is following the plan, the student shall remain on probation until program completion and will be eligible for financial aid.
Maryland State Scholarship Program
The Maryland Higher Education Commission offers several need-based grants, scholarships, and loan repayment programs for Maryland residents. The scholarships and grants most frequently awarded to Hood students include, but are not limited to the Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program, Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program, Senatorial Scholarship, and Delegate Scholarships. I order to be considered for Maryland State aid, students must file the FAFSA by March 1. In addition, some state scholarships may require a separate application. For more information regarding the State aid programs, please contact the Maryland Higher Education Commission-Office of Student Financial Assistance at 800-974-0203 or https://mhec.state.md.us.
Veterans’ Educational Benefits
Hood College serves as a liaison/informational resource to veterans by providing Veterans Administration forms and certifying military students for benefits. Hood College Office of Financial Aid provides services to veterans and dependents of veterans eligible for education benefits. To initiate or continue benefits, veterans must contact the Office of Financial Aid, 301-696-3411, at the beginning of each semester to complete the required paperwork, in compliance with the policies and procedures established by the Office of Financial Aid and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Information and application forms may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid or via the Hood College Financial Aid web page, under forms. Educational benefit programs include:
- Chapter 30, Montgomery GI Bill
- Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation
- Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill [Forever GI Bill]
- Chapter 35, Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
- Chapter 1606, Selected Reserve
Hood College participates in the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon GI Educational Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Participating students remain in the Yellow Ribbon program throughout their enrollment at Hood College and remain eligible or Yellow Ribbon program scholarship as long as each of the following applies: Hood College continues to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the students remain in good academic standing, and the students have remaining VA Educational Benefits entitlement.
For information on each of these programs, current payment rates, availability of benefits or approvals call the local Regional VA Office at 1-888-442-4551.
VETERAN ENROLLMENT
Per Public Law 115-407 (Section 103), veterans who have submitted and been approved for education benefits may enroll in, attend, and participate in courses while payment for those courses is still pending.