Financial Aid

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Types of Financial Aid

It is the mission of the UNC Asheville Office of Financial Aid to provide financial assistance to help students remove the financial barriers to obtaining a college education.  Our goal is to help each student attend UNC Asheville regardless of financial difficulties.

The University of North Carolina at Asheville has a broad program of financial aid for students who qualify on the basis of need and academic potential. Financial aid may consist of a scholarship, a grant, a North Carolina grant, a loan, campus employment or a combination of these.

Applicants for financial aid must file the electronic Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov, indicating UNC Asheville as the college choice with federal school code 002907.

Financial aid applications for the academic year beginning in August should be submitted between January 1 and March 1. Students applying for financial aid after March 1 will be given consideration for all types of financial aid on a fund-available basis. Awards are made only after students have met all admission requirements.

The types of financial aid offered by the university are outlined below. Further information is available from the Office of Financial Aid’s website at www.unca.edu/financialaid.

How Need Is Assessed

Need is assessed once the institution receives the outcome from the FAFSA. This information provides the institution with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and that  figure is subtracted from the cost of attendance (COA). If the EFC is less than the COA, the student is said to have a financial need and could receive grants, work study and loans. If the EFC is greater than the COA, the student is said to have no financial need and could receive unsubsidized loans.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

The following students are eligible for financial aid: degree seeking undergraduates seeking their first baccalaureate degree whose total attempted credit hours (including transfer hours) or time enrolled are under 180 hours; students seeking a second undergraduate degree whose attempted credit hours are under 230 hours; and students seeking teacher licensure, or those who are enrolled in courses required to complete the licensure program, whose total attempted credit hours are less than 192. 

The following students are not eligible for financial aid: visiting students; certificate of major students; students who are auditing classes; and non-degree seeking students.

Academic Scholarships

Through the generosity of past and present donors, the university offers a variety of scholarships to incoming freshmen who demonstrate high academic achievements. The scholarship amounts range from approximately $500 to the total cost of tuition and fees per year. Though some scholarships carry donor-specific restrictions, many of these scholarships are unrestricted and are available to students who meet academic or academic/need criteria. Most scholarships are renewable as long as the recipient maintains the specified minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 and satisfactory academic progress towards his/her degree. To simplify the application process for students, UNC Asheville has placed all of these scholarships under the University Laurels Scholarship Program. Students should follow the application procedures listed for consideration for the various awards.

The University Laurels Program

The University Laurels Scholarship Committee will make merit awards to students with outstanding academic achievements and promise. Entering freshmen should be in the top 10 percent of their high school class and have SAT Reasoning Test scores of 1250 combined or higher on the Critical Reading and Math sections. The most competitive students will have a profile similar to the example below:

Entering freshmen who want to be considered for Laurels Scholarships must apply for admission by the early action deadline of November 15. The Admissions Committee will nominate competitive applicants at the time of application. An essay, list of co-curricular activities, and participation in the Laurels Interview Day are required for consideration.

Scholarships Requiring a Separate Application Process

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholars Program

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholars Program is for junior and senior mathematics and science majors seeking teacher licensure. The scholarship provides $6500 of support per year for up to two years. Scholars commit to teaching mathematics or science for at least one year in a North Carolina public school. In addition, they will receive a $5,000 annual salary supplement for each year of teaching, up to five years. More information may be obtained from the Department of Education at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Application deadlines are posted on the departmental web site.

North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program

The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program is for outstanding North Carolina high school students who have the desire and talent to become teachers. Each $26,000 fellowship covers the majority of the costs of tuition, fees, room, board, books and off-campus study opportunities. In exchange, they must teach for four years in North Carolina after graduation. UNC Asheville is one of 14 colleges and universities in the state offering the program. More information may be obtained from the NC Teaching Fellows website http://www.teachingfellows.org.

Federal, State and Institutional Aid

Awarded to students who are Pell Grant eligible and have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study on or after January 1, 2006, the ACG is available for the student’s first two academic years. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and must file a FAFSA to be eligible for the ACG.

Federal Pell Grant Program

As the largest federal grant program, the Pell Grant provides education grants up to $5,550 per year which do not have to be repaid.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART)

This grant can be awarded to Pell Grant eligible students who are pursuing majors in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering, or foreign languages critical to the national security of the United States. The student must be enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in an undergraduate degree program and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant

Funded by the federal government, this grant provides assistance for students with exceptional financial need. It does not have to be repaid.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

This long-term, low-interest loan (5 %) was once funded by the federal government for qualified students who demonstrated financial need. At this juncture, the only funds available are based on amounts that are repaid to the school. Therefore, funds are limited.

Federal TEACH Grant

TEACH provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. For more information and application information, please see a financial aid counselor.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Loan is a long-term, low-interest loan designed to provide students with additional funds for college. Funds must be repaid. This program includes both Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to be eligible for Stafford Loans. For more eligibility information visit the Office of Financial Aid website: www.unca.edu/financialaid.

Loan maximums for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Stafford Loans:

William D. Ford Federal Direct Parent Loan Program

Parents of full-time or part-time dependent undergraduate or graduate students may borrow amounts that equal cost minus financial aid.

Federal Work-Study Program

The program provides on- and off-campus jobs (10 hours/week) for students who demonstrate financial need and meet the qualifications set forth by the federal government.

North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship (ELS)

This scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The student must be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes, be enrolled in at least six credit hours, and an undergraduate student seeking their first bachelor’s degree. The student’s initial award is based on the assumption that they will be full-time. If the student is enrolled between 6 and 11 hours, the student is only eligible to receive half of the original funded amount.

Incentive Scholarship and Grant Program for Native Americans

The North Carolina General Assembly has provided funds for a number of need-based grants to resident North Carolina Native American students in constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina. Eligibility for a grant under the Incentive Scholarship and Grant Program for Native Americans (ISGPNA) is limited to a person qualifying as follows:

1. admitted or enrolled as a student in good standing in a degree program at this institution.
2. classified by this institution as a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes as defined in the residence status regulations (Residence Manual, current edition) of the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina.
3. found to have financial need by this institution.
4. coming within this definition of Native American: an individual who maintains cultural identification as a Native American through membership in a tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina or by the federal government or through other tribal affiliation or community recognition.

The North Carolina Need-Based Grant and the UNC Escheats Grants

These grants enable students who qualify for financial assistance to begin or continue their education at the university. Eligible candidates must be residents of North Carolina and must be full-time students in the academic year for which they request aid. These grants are limited in funding and are only awarded to those students with the greatest documented need as determined by the FAFSA. Recipients must have a satisfactory academic record.

North Carolina Student Incentive Grant

North Carolina Tuition Offset Grant

This grant is provided by the state of North Carolina to help students offset the yearly increases of tuition. The student must have demonstrated financial need.

University of North Carolina Need-Based Grant

This provides grants to North Carolina residents who are enrolled at the university at least half time. The program is administered by the College Foundation of North Carolina.

Emergency Student Loan Funds

These are made available by individuals or groups interested in providing interest-free loans to needy students. The Leonard S. Levitch Student Loan Fund is available for emergency situations and is repayable prior to the beginning of the next semester. Maximum loan amount is $250.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients

Federal regulations require all schools participating in Title IV Federal Financial Aid Programs to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. The requirements of this policy apply to all students as one determinant of eligibility for financial aid.

Federal regulations require the University to measure a student’s progress in three areas: qualitative (cumulative grade-point average (GPA)); quantitative (completion ratio); and time to degree (maximum time limit). Financial aid recipients must maintain satisfactory progress in all three areas whether or not aid was received in the past. This requirement applies to applicants and recipients of federal or state scholarships, grants, federal work-study, parent federal loans (PLUS) and student federal loans (Stafford, Direct and Perkins).

Students are responsible for knowing the University’s SAP standards and for monitoring their own progress. For SAP purposes, student academic records are evaluated by the Office of Student Financial Aid at the end of each semester. The Office of Student Financial Aid will send notification of ineligibility to students through their official UNC Asheville e-mail account.

In rare cases, exceptions for eligibility are granted through a formal appeal process (see Appeal Process section). Students who have withdrawn from courses in more than two semesters while receiving financial aid will not be eligible for reinstatement based on appeal. In such cases, the student will be expected to successfully complete a full-time semester of coursework (i.e., with all passing grades) before appealing for reinstatement.

Some institutional scholarships or grants may require a higher academic achievement than those defined by the Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria below. Private aid offered by agencies outside the University is not subject to the conditions of this policy, but will be administered according to donor specifications.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (Qualitative Measure)

Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to be eligible for financial aid. If a student’s GPA falls below the minimum 2.0, the status moves from GOOD to WARNING. If the student meets the 2.0 minimum GPA requirement during the next review, the status will be upgraded from WARNING to GOOD. However, if the student does not reach the 2.0 minimum, the status will move from WARNING to CANCELLED. When in CANCELLED status, the student is not eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid.

Students can regain financial aid eligibility and move the status back to GOOD if their cumulative GPA improves to at least a 2.0. Students who were previously CANCELLED, and whose GPA is now above the 2.0 minimum must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form available from the Office of Student Financial Aid in order for their eligibility to be re-evaluated and to regain financial aid (see Appeal Process section).

Students who receive all Fs in one semester will have their status moved directly to CANCELLED without a semester of WARNING. The student is then required to earn at least 70% of the total hours from the failed semester before regaining eligibility for financial aid. Until the required hours are earned, the student is responsible for all charges due to the University.

Completion Ratio (Quantitative Measure)

UNC Asheville recommends students earn at least 30 semester hours per academic year in order to graduate in four years. To remain eligible for financial aid, students must earn at least 70% of the total hours attempted. Students must receive grades of A, B, C, D (including “+/-”), or S to earn hours.

Student academic records are evaluated at the end of each semester. If the student’s earned hours fall below the 70% completion ratio, the status moves from GOOD to WARNING. If the student meets the 70% completion requirement at the end of the next semester review, the status will be upgraded from WARNING to GOOD. However, if the student does not earn at least 70% of the total UNC Asheville hours attempted, the status will move from WARNING to CANCELLED. When in CANCELLED status, the student is not eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid.

Students can regain financial aid eligibility and move the status back to GOOD if their completion ratio improves to 70%. Students who were previously CANCELLED, and whose completion ration is now above the 70% minimum must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form available from the Office of Student Financial Aid in order for their eligibility to be re-evaluated and to regain financial aid (see Appeal Process section).

For financial aid purposes, the following are not included as part of the earned hours at UNC Asheville. However, they are included in the attempted hours.

• All grades of F, I, W, X/Y (audit), IP or U do not earn hours.
• Audited courses (X/Y) count toward attempted hours but not toward earned hours. Therefore, auditing classes may negatively affect the student’s ability to earn the required number of hours.
• If a student repeats a course, the total attempted hours will increase with each repeat, but the student may only earn hours for a successfully completed course once. Repeating courses may negatively affect the student’s ability to satisfy the completion ratio standard.
• Incomplete grades (I) count toward attempted hours but will not count toward earned hours until the I grade is replaced by a grade that contributes to earned hours.
• In-Progress grades (IP) count toward attempted hours but will not count toward earned hours until the IP grade is replaced by a grade that contributes to earned hours.

Students who receive all Fs in one semester will have their status moved directly to CANCELLED without a semester of WARNING. The student is then required to earn at least 70% of the total hours from the failed semester before regaining eligibility for financial aid. Until the required hours are earned, the student is responsible for all charges due to the University.

Maximum Time Limit Measure

To remain eligible for financial aid, undergraduate students must complete their degree requirements within 150 % of the published length of their academic program. This includes students who are seeking more than one major. Most UNC Asheville programs require 120 hours for graduation. Students seeking a first baccalaureate degree must complete their requirements within 180 attempted hours to remain eligible. Students seeking a second undergraduate degree must complete their requirements within 230 hours. Students will not be eligible for federal or state aid once they exceed the Maximum Time Limit, even if they have not graduated.

Appeal Process

All students whose eligibility was canceled due to GPA and/or completion ratio standards must complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form once the minimum standards have again been met in order for their eligibility status to be re-evaluated.

Federal regulations also allow the school to waive the standards for awarding financial aid in certain cases. Appeals for this waiver may be considered if a student’s failure to comply with one or more areas of Satisfactory Academic Progress is due to events beyond the student’s control, such as a student’s extended illness, or serious illness or death in the immediate family. The student must be able to provide appropriate documentation for the circumstances that are specific to the term(s) in which the deficiency occurred.

All students should submit a UNC Asheville Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form available from the UNC Asheville Office of Student Financial Aid web page, or from the Office of Student Financial Aid. If a waiver of the standards for awarding financial aid is being requested, the student should also provide the following documentation, as appropriate:

1. For Illness: Statement from physician explaining the type of illness and the date and length of the illness.
2. For Death of Immediate Family Member: A copy of the Death Certificate or newspaper clipping that states your relationship to the deceased.
3. An outlined plan for ensuring satisfactory academic performance in the coming academic term(s).
4. Other personal circumstances beyond the student’s control may be considered with proper documentation.

Students with chronic conditions are responsible for properly balancing work with known chronic conditions, and appeals for more than one waiver may not be considered.

Students seeking to re-establish financial aid eligibility remain ineligible to receive financial aid assistance or deferment of payment until the appeal process is complete and a decision has been made by the Office of Financial Aid. Students should be prepared to pay until approval has been granted.

Undergraduate Second Degree Students

A student working toward a second and subsequent baccalaureate degree is subject to the same satisfactory academic progress requirements as listed above for full-time undergraduates.

If the student’s first baccalaureate degree was from UNC Asheville, the maximum number of Cumulative Attempted Hours for the completion of the second baccalaureate degree may not exceed 230 hours.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Graduate (MLA) Students

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better to remain eligible for financial aid.