Eligibility

Determining Financial Need
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Repeated Coursework
Course Program of Study
Aid Adjustments
Return of Funds and Repayment
Verification
Unusual Enrollment History
Net Price Calculator

Determining Financial Need

When applying for federal student aid, the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used in a formula, established by the U.S. Congress, that calculates a Student Aid Index (SAI). The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from -1,500 to 999,999 calculated by the U.S. Department of Education. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps the University of Memphis and other schools determine how much financial support you may need. Your SAI is not a dollar amount of aid you will receive, what your family is expected to contribute/pay, or a financial aid offer. 

 * Other financial assistance includes: any scholarships, fee waivers, vocational rehabilitation benefits, veterans benefits, etc.

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is a reasonable estimate of expenses a student can expect to incur to attend an institution during a period of time--generally a semester or academic year. The COA includes estimates for tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous expenses.  Tuition, fees, housing (if living on campus), food (if you have a UofM meal plan), and books/supplies (if participating in the Tiger Smart Start program or charge your books to your student account) will post directly to your student account. All other cost estimates are considered indirect and will not be billed by the University of Memphis. Your actual costs may be significantly less or more depending on your specific circumstances.  Please note that the figures listed on this website are estimates for the 2024-2025 aid year and subject to change.

2024-2025 Cost of Attendance – UNDERGRADUATE

*Based on 12 undergraduate hours.  Students who are takings less than 12 credit hours may have their tuition/fees component adjusted.

Some courses/programs have additional fees. A complete listing of all course and program fees is maintained by University and Student Business Services (USBS). An average loan origination fee will be added to the COA for students accepting Federal Direct Student Loans based on their level (UG, GR, or LW).

2024-2025 Cost of Attendance – GRADUATE

*Based on 9 graduate hours.  Students who are takings less than 9 graduate credit hours may have their tuition/fees component adjusted.

Some courses/programs have additional fees. A complete listing of all course and program fees is maintained by University and Student Business Services (USBS). An average loan origination fee will be added to the COA for students accepting Federal Direct Student Loans based on their level (UG, GR, or LW).

2024-2025 Cost of Attendance – LAW

*Based on full-time law hours. Students who are takings less than full-time law credit hours may have their tuition/fees component adjusted.

Some courses/programs have additional fees. A complete listing of all course and program fees is maintained by University and Student Business Services (USBS). An average loan origination fee will be added to the COA for students accepting Federal Direct Student Loans based on their level (UG, GR, or LW).

Please visit the UofM Global Tuition and Fees website for additional information on tuition and fees.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

All students who receive federal or state financial aid must be enrolled in a program leading to a degree, an eligible non-degree program, or an eligible certificate program. Students must meet federal and institutional standards for academic progress in order to establish and retain aid eligibility. Students receiving athletic or other university administered awards must also meet the satisfactory academic progress standards that have been established by the awarding entity.

Academic progress for federal and state financial aid programs is based on three measures: Cumulative Grade Point Average, Pace of Progression based on credit hours completed compared to attempted, and a Maximum Timeframe for degree completion. While the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is a minimum requirement to maintain financial aid eligibility, students are encouraged to work closely with academic advisors and college personnel to achieve their educational goals. Good financial planning includes selecting meaningful coursework, completing all registered classes with satisfactory grades, and seeking your degree in a timely manner.

The following describes the university's standards for each of these three measures, and how these standards are reviewed:

1. Cumulative Grade-Point Average

   The following standards apply to the transfer/university cumulative GPA as determined by our current transfer GPA policy. Students must meet the following minimums which are consistent with the University's standard as published in the respective bulletin. Quality hours are those credits used to compute the grade-point average including grades of A, B, C, D, or F and transfer credits with a grade of incomplete. The first attempt of a course that is repeated is excluded from the quality hour computation.

   1. Undergraduate Students - must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA to receive federal and/or state student aid.
   2. Graduate Students - must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to receive loans or work-study.

   3. Law Students - must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA to receive loans or work-study.

2. Pace of Progression

   All students are required to complete a minimum of 67% of all credit hours attempted. Courses with a grade of "D" or better count as completed. Credit hours attempted include audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes.

3. Maximum Timeframe

   1. Undergraduates - The maximum timeframe for the completion of an undergraduate degree is limited by federal regulations to 150% of the published length of the degree program. Most undergraduate programs at The University of Memphis are 120 hours. The maximum number of hours during which a student is eligible to receive financial aid is 180. The 180 hours includes transfer hours and all attempted hours. A student is failing the maximum timeframe standard when they reach the point that it is mathematically impossible for them to graduate before attempting 180 credit hours. Credit hours attempted include audits, incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated or failed classes. Up to 30 hours of required remedial/ developmental courses are excluded from the maximum timeframe. 
   2. Graduate Students - The maximum timeframe is determined by the degree completion requirements listed for the student's academic program in the Graduate Bulletin.

   3. Law Students - The maximum timeframe is determined by the degree completion requirements listed in the Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law Bulletin.

4. Review of Progress Standards

   1. GPA, Pace of Progression and Maximum Timeframe are assessed for transfer students based upon information available from the Admissions office at the time the student is packaged.
   2. GPA, Pace of Progression and Maximum Timeframe are assessed for continuing students annually at the end of each Spring semester.

   NOTE: If a student is on financial aid probation after having an appeal approved, the student's record will be reviewed at the end of each term to determine whether they met the terms of the academic plan or whether they have come into compliance with the overall SAP policy. 

5. Notification/Appeals

   After the end of each spring semester, the academic records of all students who are receiving or applying for federal financial aid will be reviewed. Students whose financial aid eligibility is suspended as a result of failure to meet one or more of the standards of satisfactory academic progress will be notified by the Student Financial Aid Office via email at their University of Memphis email as well as notifications posted in their myMemphis portal.

   Each student must complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal on the basis of: student injury or illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances. Each student's appeal must:

• • Explain the extenuating circumstances that caused the student to not meet the satisfactory academic progress standards (NOTE: Because these circumstances are expected to be resolved prior to receiving further federal student aid, each specific circumstance can only be used once);

  • Include documentation that supports/confirms the reason why satisfactory academic progress has been failed; and

  • Indicate what has changed in the student's situation that will allow the student to make satisfactory academic progress at the student's next evaluation. In addition, if a student is appealing due to maximum timeframe, the student must also submit a Graduation Plan signed by the student's graduation analyst.

According to federal regulations, financial aid appeals can only be approved for one semester at a time. If the appeal is approved, the student will be asked to accept and follow an academic plan designed by the Financial Aid Office. After the plan is accepted, the student will be placed on academic probation, and granted an approved academic progress standing for one semester. The academic plan is designed to help students maintain financial aid eligibility while they bring their grades and/or completion rate back up to good standing. The student's grades and completion rate will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Once they have returned to good standing (see parts 1-3 above), they will no longer be on financial aid probation. If they have not regained good standing, but met their academic plan for the semester, financial aid probation will be extended for one more semester with no need for a new appeal. However, students who are also failing the maximum timeframe standard will also be required to meet the graduation date listed on their graduation plan or submit a new appeal explaining why they were unable to do so, and include an updated graduation plan that has been approved by their graduation analyst. Students who do not meet their academic plan, and do not return to good standing are no longer eligible to receive financial aid. Students are then responsible for paying their own fees and are not eligible for aid until the standards of satisfactory progress are met.

Students have the following options to maintain or restore financial aid eligibility:

• • Improve academic performance enough to meet the standards,
  • Successfully follow the academic plan as instructed and developed by the Student Financial Aid Office, or
  • Submit additional satisfactory academic progress appeals for different extenuating circumstances.

Additional Details

1. Deadline for submitting an appeal: The deadline to submit an appeal to receive aid for a semester is the same as the posted last day to withdraw from full-semester classes for that semester, which can be found at Registrar Calendars.

2. A student may have a maximum of three (3) satisfactory academic progress appeals per degree level (i.e. UG, GR and LW) during their academic career at the University of Memphis.

3. Financial Aid Fresh Start

   An Academic Fresh Start cannot be treated as a Financial Aid fresh start. Students accepted under the Academic Fresh Start program may still be required to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal to regain their financial aid eligibility. A student's cumulative GPA and completion rate - including classes that have been excluded by the Academic Fresh Start - will be taken into account when determining financial aid eligibility based on the standards explained above.

4. If a student graduates and returns for another degree, their SAP standing will be calculated based on the courses attempted since graduating.

5. Changes in majors and minors may impact your SAP standing as previous majors and minors are not excluded from any SAP calculations. 

Aid Affected by SAP

The following is a list of financial aid programs affected when a student is not meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy:

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal TEACH Grant
Federal Work Study
Federal Direct Loans (subsidized & unsubsidized)
Federal Direct PLUS Loan
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
Other aid as may be determined by the Financial Aid Office

Repeated Coursework

If you have taken and passed a course (with a grade of D or higher), federal financial aid will now only pay for you to repeat this course one time. Should you decide to repeat a course for a second (or more) time, federal financial aid will not cover the cost of that course.

If you are currently enrolled in a repeated course for the second time, and you passed the course the first time you enrolled in it, your financial aid may be revised. You should consider dropping the course and adding another course you have not taken before.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the financial aid office at 901-678-4825, or contact us online.

Course Program of Study

Course Program of Study (CPOS) consists of the courses used to complete an approved and declared degree program (including declared minors). To be counted toward a student’s Federal Financial Aid eligibility, a course must count toward the completion of the declared program of study. Additional information is available on our Course Program of Study FAQ page.

Aid Adjustments

Your financial aid award will be adjusted for the following reasons:

• Enrollment status is verified on the number of credit hours enrolled on the census date--the 14th calendar day after the beginning of the term. If you drop or add classes on or before this date, your federal grants and/or TSAC awards will be adjusted accordingly.
• Professors report non-attendance for any classes. Your aid, including student loans, will be adjusted if you do not attend any one of your classes (assuming the credit hours adjustment actually changes your aid eligibility).
• Receiving Pell Grant or Loans at two different colleges during the same academic year, which exceeds the total maximum limit for that year.
• Any aid may be adjusted, if you totally withdraw before the federal deadline to withdraw and you may have to repay the aid you did not earn. See more detailed information under "Return of Funds and Repayment".
• Lottery awards are adjusted based on hours enrolled on the census date for each semester.
• Direct Student loans and/or other student financial aid awards may be adjusted to prevent over award situations due to the receipt of either a fee discount, tuition aid, outside scholarship, change in residency classification, or similar assistance.
• Direct Student Loans will also be be adjusted or cancelled based on a check of half-time status at the beginning of the loan period.

Return of Funds and Repayment

RETURN OF FUNDS:

1. Return of Title IV Aid - The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 established the concept that financial aid must be earned through class attendance. When you totally withdraw from all classes, The Student Financial Aid Office must calculate the amount of financial aid you have earned prior to withdrawing. Any Title IV aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. Unearned aid must be returned to the respective Federal Aid program(s). Students who have a Return of Title IV Aid calculation will be notified via U.S. Postal Mail at the most recent address of record no later than 45 days from the date a withdrawal has been determined. 

2. Return of Aid Programs - Unearned aid amounts are to be returned to Title IV financial aid programs: Federal Direct Student Loan Programs (unsubsidized then subsidized); Federal Direct PLUS loans; Federal Pell Grant Program; Federal SEOG Program; and any other programs funded by Title IV. The Tennessee Student Assistance Program; other federal, state, private or institutional aid programs may also required return of funds based on the date of withdrawal. Any amount remaining after the applicable programs have been fully repaid is returned to the student. A 100% credit for the term affected will be given in the event of student death. The Return of Title IV Aid calculation will be based on the official notification of the date of death.

3. Earned Aid - A student has not earned 100% of their financial aid until s/he has attended more than 60% of the term. If a financial aid recipient totally withdraws on or before the 60% point of the term, there is a portion of the aid that has not been earned. The percentage of earned aid is determined by taking the number of days attended divided by the total number of days in the term. For example:

   
   

   	Days Student Attended Prior to Withdrawing	9
   divided by	Total Days in the Semester	100
   	Percentage of Earned Aid	9%

   
   *Exceptions: A student is not subject to the return of funds if:
   • • • You complete all of the requirements for graduation;
       • You successfully complete a class or multiple classes that comprise at least 49 percent of the days in the term; or
       • You successfully complete a class or multiple classes that comprise at least half-time enrollment.

1. Unearned Aid - The percentage of unearned aid is calculated by subtracting the earned percentage from 100%. Using the previous example:
   
   

   	100% Aid Percentage	100%
   subtract	Percentage of Earned Aid	9%
   	Percentage of Unearned Aid	91%

   
   
   
2. Return of Unearned Aid Amount - Once the earned and unearned aid percentages are determined, the next step is to calculate the dollar amount of total unearned aid that must be returned. The Return of Unearned Aid Amount is determined by multiplying the unearned aid percentage by the total of all Title IV aid disbursed or eligible to be disbursed. Continuing with the previous example, the unearned aid percentage of 91% would be multiplied by the student's total aid disbursed:
   
   

   	Percentage of Unearned Aid	91%
   multiplied by	Total Aid Received	$2345.00
   	Unearned Aid Amount	$2134

   
   
   

3. Return of Fees - The unearned aid portion is repaid by both the student and the school. The school can use any fee adjustment refund generated by the withdrawal to pay the portion it owes back. However, depending on the time of withdrawal, the student may also be responsible for repaying a portion of his/her refund that had been previously paid by the financial aid. In almost every instance, the fee refund will be less than the total Return of Unearned Aid Amount. As a result, when a student withdraws, a balance will be created for the difference between the fee refund and the Return of Unearned Aid Amount. The student is responsible for paying this balance. Keeping with the above example, after a student completes 9 days of the term, s/he is eligible for a 50% fee refund per the University & Student Business Services Office published calendar. This means 50% of the student's fees are credited to the student's account, which can affect the student's portion of aid owed back to the University:
   
   

   	Unearned Aid Amount	$2134
   subtract	50% Fee Refund (*example)	*$1172.60
   	Difference on Account	$961.40

    

4. Post-Withdrawal Disbursements - If a student totally withdraws from a semester and receives less federal aid than the amount earned, then the student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. The student must have met all of the conditions for a late disbursement prior to withdrawing. Grant funds will automatically be applied towards outstanding charges created by the withdrawal. Loan funds will not be applied until written confirmation is received from the borrower. If no confirmation is received, the loan is cancelled.

5. Non-Title IV Aid - Refunds applicable to non-Title IV funds will be distributed to the respective aid accounts in the same proportion as the aid awarded.

6. Dropping All Classes BEFORE the Term Has Begun (Official Withdrawal) - To avoid financial penalties and aid adjustments, make sure you drop all classes prior to the beginning of the semester. If you drop all classes prior to the start of the semester, you will not be considered a student for that semester and, thus, not entitled to received any form of financial aid. Your aid will be cancelled and returned to the appropriate program(s). If you drop all your classes close to the beginning of the semester, and you have already received financial aid, you will be required to repay the entire amount of aid disbursed to you. Once the semester starts on the first day, you have begun to earn aid and a Return of Title IV Aid calculation must be completed.

7. Dropping All Classes AFTER the Term Has Begun (Official Withdrawal) - Students who drop/withdraw from all Title IV aid eligible classes AFTER the term has begun are considered to have officially withdrawn from the University and a Return of Title IV Aid calculation must be completed. The Official date of withdrawal will be the date that the student began the official withdrawal process. 

8. Failing ALL Classes (Unofficial Withdrawal) - If you fail all of your classes in a semester, you may be subject to a Return of Title IV Aid calculation. If you have "earned" at least one of your "F"s (i.e., attended class at least one course until the end of the term and received an F for poor performance), then no calculation is required. However, if you received all Fs because you stopped attending or never attended courses prior to the 60% point in the semester, then a R2T4 calculation is required. This is considered an unofficial withdrawal and the 50% point of the semester will be used as the withdrawal date unless class attendance at a later date is confirmed.  An account balance will be created if the calculation results in the return of financial aid.

9. Notification of Return of Title IV Aid - Students who have a Return of Title IV Aid calculation will be notified via U.S. Postal Mail at the most recent address of record no later than 45 days from the date a withdrawal has been determined. 

10. Future Aid Eligibility - Withdrawing may affect your eligibility to receive financial aid in subsequent terms. Upon withdrawal, you should notify the Student Financial Aid Office when you plan to return so we can make necessary adjustments to you financial aid award. Students should also review the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

REPAYMENT

1. When a student receives financial aid, they must repay the total amount of aid received or overpaid when any one of the following situations occur

• • the student is issued a contingency fee assessment that is not honored by the fund agency involved;
  • the student receives an overpayment due to non-eligibility or administrative error; or
  • the student withdraws before the start of classes or fails to pay tuition/maintenance fees, the student must repay the total amount of aid received or overpaid.

Verification

Verification is a federally mandated review process. The Student Financial Aid Office is required to obtain and compare information submitted on tax documents, the verification form and the FAFSA.

Students selected for verification must complete the University of Memphis verification form and submit all required documents. Verification can be a lengthy process, therefore we strongly recommend that students and their families submit the form and all requested documents as soon as they are requested. Students should check their myMemphis portal OFTEN for missing requirements.

Any differences between information entered on the verification form or other requested documents and the FAFSA will result in a new determination of financial need. This new determination of financial need may alter the student's financial aid eligibility.

Due to current federal regulations the Student Financial Aid Office cannot accept copies of tax returns for verification. It is now required to submit copies of official IRS Tax Return Transcripts (and an IRS Tax Account Transcript if you filed an amended tax return). These can be ordered online at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946.

Unusual Enrollment History

An unusual enrollment history is defined as having attended multiple institutions in the past four aid/award years. If, upon review of academic records, it is determined that a student did not earn academic credit at one or more previously attended institutions, the student will need to complete an Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form on our forms page for the appropriate aid year. In this circumstance, the financial aid office is unable to award federal Title IV funding until the appeal is received documenting the reason for failure to earn academic credit.