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2023-2024 University Catalog
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Student Financial Aid

Application Procedures

The Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of North Florida is committed to serving all students. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance for students who would be unable to further their education without such support. Although the University expects students and/or their families to make a maximum effort to help with University expenses, educational opportunities should not be limited by the financial resources of students and their families.

UNF provides a comprehensive student financial aid program. Aid eligibility is based on individual need, educational costs and availability of funds. Awards may consist of scholarships, loans, grants, waivers/exemptions and/or work study. Funds are limited; therefore, students are encouraged to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after it becomes available online on December 1 using UNF's FAFSA school code, 009841. The priority consideration date for financial aid is January 15.

Students from the State of Florida also need to complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation. State of Florida programs, such as the Florida Student Assistance Grant and Bright Futures, require the FFAA. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship does not require the FAFSA.

Inquiries concerning financial aid should be directed to One-Stop Student Services. Please be advised that:

  1. If selected for verification, students may be required to provide signed copies of relevant income tax information. Dependent students may also be asked to provide signed copies of parent tax information. Independent, married students may be asked to provide signed copies of spouse tax information. Other information may also be requested to meet federal verification regulation requirements. Student-specific information about financial aid requirements can be found in myWings.
  2. To be awarded financial aid, a student must be accepted as degree-seeking and be enrolled in a sufficient number of degree-applicable credit hours. Courses taken in an audit status are not eligible for financial aid, nor can they be considered when determining enrollment for financial aid.
  3. For federal financial aid purposes, full-time enrollment is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours per term for undergraduate and post baccalaureate students and a minimum of nine credit hours per term for graduate students. Students who enroll less than full-time may have their awards reduced or, in some cases, canceled. Please be advised that certain scholarships require 30 credit hours for renewal.

Tuition deferment

If a student has accepted financial aid award(s), the University will typically defer the payment of tuition. This deferment of tuition and fees based on anticipated financial aid will expire several weeks into the term. If a student's anticipated aid has not disbursed by the time the deferment expires, the student may be assessed a late fee. In these situations, the financial aid is not necessarily lost or canceled; it simply indicates the tuition deferment has expired. Students should proactively monitor their myWings and UNF e-mail accounts for financial aid requirements and/or messages. Federal Work Study awards cannot be used for tuition deferment.

Students who are not eligible for tuition deferment must make their payment online via myWings or in person at the Office of Student Financial Services by the payment deadline posted on the Academic Calendar.

Financial aid and scholarship disbursement

The first disbursement of financial aid usually occurs during the third week of classes. Financial aid refunds are issued to eligible students on a weekly basis throughout the term. Under the Federal Direct Loan Program, first-time borrowers at UNF must complete Loan Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note before funds may be released. Please note that all tuition/fees, housing charges and other authorized University debts will be deducted from the student's financial aid before any other action is taken. Once all institutional fees have been paid, any remaining funds will be electronically deposited into the student's bank account if the student has elected to enroll in Direct Deposit.

NOTE: Students may submit the online Financial Aid Authorization Form via myWings to authorize payment of miscellaneous charges from financial aid awards.

For more information, please contact One-Stop Student Services.

Financial Aid Bookstore Authorizations

Students who have financial aid in excess of their cost of tuition and other allowable charges will receive a refund for the surplus amount. As a courtesy to students, the University of North Florida may authorize students who anticipate a financial aid refund to use all or part of that refund at the UNF Bookstore prior to disbursement. The amount of the bookstore authorization is based on an anticipated financial aid refund and may not exceed $600 per term. Eligible students will receive notification of their bookstore authorization via their UNF e-mail account.

A bookstore authorization is part of a student's total financial aid package - it is not additional funding. Changes to enrollment, especially changes that increase a student's fee assessment, may result in changes to the actual value of the bookstore authorization. Students will be notified via their UNF e-mail account of increases and decreases to their bookstore authorization.

Bookstore authorizations may only be used during a specific time frame, generally through the end of the add/drop period. Students are encouraged to monitor their e-mail account in myWings for notifications related to bookstore authorization dates and amounts.

Documentation of Academic Engagement

The US Department of Education (ED) requires institutions to document whether or not a student established eligibility for any period of enrollment in which the student receives federal Title IV aid. Students who are not marked by their instructor(s) as having engaged in an HEA recognized academic engagement may not receive Federal Title IV aid for that course, regardless of enrollment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires institutions of higher education to establish and apply standards of academic progress that all students must meet to qualify and remain eligible for assistance from the Title IV student financial aid programs. Therefore, to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and retain financial aid eligibility, students must meet a specified grade point average and proceed through the program at a pace leading to completion within a specified time frame. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be measured at the end of each term and is based on the following standards:

  • Pass Rate (Pace):

    Students are required to earn a minimum of 67% of the hours they attempt overall cumulatively. Pace is measured by dividing the overall cumulative number of credit hours earned by the overall cumulative number of hours attempted. Pass Rates/Pace will follow standard rounding rules (e.g. 66.66% will be rounded to 67%).

  • Grade Point Average:

    All undergraduate and post baccalaureate students must achieve a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.00 at the end of each term. Certain programs of study may be held to a stricter standard (e.g. most Education majors must earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 and American Sign Language majors must earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the end of each term). Graduate students must achieve a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at the end of each term.

    UNF grade point averages are calculated unrounded.

  • Maximum Time Frame:

    Students are required to complete their degree within 150% of the published length of their program. In accordance with federal regulation, students will be suspended for exceeding the maximum time frame when it has been determined that they cannot mathematically complete their degree program within the allowable time frame. For most undergraduate students (including post-baccalaureates and students pursuing dual degree, double majors and/or minors), this is calculated as 180 attempted credit hours.

View the University's official SAP policy.

Return of Title IV Aid

Withdrawing from classes may impact a student's financial aid. Students who withdraw from classes and have received Title IV Aid may be required to repay the amount of unearned aid. The amount of unearned Title IV funds is calculated based on the percentage of the term completed prior to the date of withdrawal. The repayment amount is determined in accordance with Section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Unearned Title IV aid must be returned to the applicable federal programs in the following order:

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
  • Federal Direct PLUS Loans (for parents)
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Students who did not attend any classes will be required to return funds disbursed.

Consumer Information

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, requires institutions that receive Title IV funding to provide specific consumer information. Consumer information provides details about the school to prospective and enrolled students and their families, and in some cases, prospective and current employees.