Financial Aid & Scholarships

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Federal and State of Michigan programs a student must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid social security number.
2. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent of
   1. GED; or
   2. Completed home schooling
3. Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal student grant.
4. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible program of study, pursuing a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential.
5. Make satisfactory academic progress toward completing degree or certificate requirements.
6. Not have been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs while receiving federal student aid.
7. If male and over the age of 18, be registered with the Selective Service.
8. Have been a continuous resident of Michigan for 12 months to be considered for State of Michigan programs.

Applying for Aid

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov. The student, and at least one parent if required to provide parental information, should sign the form electronically using an FSA ID. Apply for an FSA ID at https://fsaid.ed.gov. When filling out the FAFSA, select Bay College as a college eligible to receive FAFSA information. (Bay College Federal code: 002240.)
2. Respond promptly to any requests from the Financial Aid Office for additional information. Approximately 30 percent of all FAFSA filers are selected by the Department of Education for a process known as verification. The Financial Aid Office will request additional documentation from the student (and the parent(s) if a dependent student) to complete this process. A prompt response to requests can avoid lengthy delays in processing aid.
3. Enroll in classes. Only credit hours required for the student’s major will be used in calculating the amount of federal grants and loans. If a student is enrolled in classes at both Bay and another college (concurrent enrollment), the student must contact the Financial Aid Office for information regarding the processing of financial aid.
4. Complete the FAFSA each academic year.

Enrollment Status

Enrollment status directly affects the amount of most federal and state financial aid a student may be eligible to receive. Initial awards are offered based on the assumption that the student will enroll full-time. 

If enrolled less than full-time, a student may see a reduction to award(s). Student must be enrolled in a minimum of six credits required for a student’s major to be eligible to receive either Federal Work-study or a Federal Direct loan. Minimum of six contact hours are required to receive scholarship funds. (See “Institutional Scholarships” for information regarding student eligibility.)

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance is an estimate of educational expenses for a period of enrollment. The standard cost of attendance at Bay College includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, an allowance for miscellaneous personal expenses, an allowance for transportation, an allowance for room and board, and the average fees for students who borrow a Federal Direct Loan. Current cost of attendance figures can be found on the Tuition Cost web page within the Bay College website.

Types of Financial Aid

1. Grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid.
2. Low interest loans that do need to be repaid.
3. Student employment called “work-study” where money is earned through part-time employment opportunities.
4. Veteran’s Educational Benefits

For more information on some of the programs, visit the Bay College’s Financial Aid website at www.baycollege.edu/financialaid

Institutional Scholarships

The scholarship program at Bay College is supported by contributions from organizations and individuals in the community. Applications are reviewed and ranked to determine scholarship eligibility. Awards are made on the basis of the criteria of the donor and on the qualifications of the student. Both new and returning students wishing to be considered for a scholarship must complete a Scholarship Application and be admitted to Bay College by the scholarship deadline. March 15 is the application deadline for full-year consideration. October 15 is the application deadline for winter semester consideration. For more information visit Bay College’s scholarship web page at www.baycollege.edu/scholarships.

Processing of Financial Aid

1. Financial aid is awarded to students on a first-come, first served basis. Some programs have a limited amount of funding available. As such, it is important that a student complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 each year for the following academic year. Eligibility criteria for aid programs vary so not all students are eligible for all programs.
2. When financial aid eligibility is determined the student will receive a financial aid offer by mail indicating the types and amounts of estimated aid.
3. Students will be able to view their estimated financial aid in the Financial Aid section of their myBay. Pell Grants will be adjusted as needed to reflect the actual enrollment status until student enrollment for the term is locked at the end of the add/drop period (census date).
4. The My Student Account Info in the Student Billing section of myBay will show the total cost of tuition, fees, housing, and bookstore charges less the amount of financial aid available. If expenses are greater than estimated financial aid, a balance will be due to Bay College. If a balance is due payment arrangements must be made with the Student Accounts Office. Tuition due dates can also be found in the Student Billing section.
5. If estimated financial aid is greater than expenses, a credit balance is available and can be used for charging on-campus housing expenses and/or books and supplies, up to the credit balance.
6. Federal financial aid (Pell Grants, FSEOG, and Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans) will be disbursed in four portions throughout the semester. Disbursements of these funds are scheduled for the 4th, 6th, 10th, and 12th weeks of the semester. Other financial aid such as scholarships, veteran’s benefits, and state programs are generally disbursed during the 4th week of the semester in one lump sum.
7. Financial aid is awarded for the fall and winter semesters. Students planning to attend during Summer 1 or Summer 2 sessions should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss any remaining eligibility for aid.

Withdrawals

If a student withdraws from school during the semester, federal law requires the Financial Aid Office to determine the amount of earned federal financial aid (grants or Federal Direct loans). If more aid has been disbursed than has been earned, the excess funds must be returned. The amount of aid earned is based on the amount of time the student spent in academic attendance; it has no relationship to the institutional charges incurred. For example, if a student completed 30 percent of the semester, only 30 percent of the aid offered is earned. Students completing 60 percent of the semester, are considered as having earned all financial aid. If no date is recorded for the student’s last date of attendance, the Financial Aid Office will assume a student attended 50 percent of the term, and eligibility for aid will be calculated using the 50 percent figure.

The Financial Aid Office will calculate the return of funds and notify the student of the amount of aid due Bay College. Students must make arrangements to repay any funds with the Student Accounts Office.

Student loan funds, must be repaid in accordance with the terms of the master promissory note. That is, the student will make scheduled payments over a period of time to the holder of the loan.

Bay College will return Title IV funds to the aid programs in the following order, up to the net amount disbursed from each source:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized loan
3. Federal Direct PLUS loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Repeated Coursework

Federal regulations allow a student to receive financial aid to:

• repeat previously passed courses once and
• repeat courses from which a student withdrew or failed until a passing grade is received.

At Bay College, a passing grade is a D- or better.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible for financial aid, students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of their Certificate or Associate Degree program. The following standards apply to all students.

The Financial Aid Office will monitor academic progress at the end of each semester and at the end of the Summer 1 and Summer 2 sessions. This includes all attempted course work whether or not financial aid was received during the semester/session. To maintain financial aid eligibility, three distinct criteria are monitored and must be met:

1. Quantitative Standard: Students must pass a minimum 2/3 of all attempted credits at Bay College. (Pace Progression) Example: For a student to stay within the requirement is to pass at least 8 credits of 12 credits attempted; 16 credits of 24 credits attempted; 24 credits of 36 attempted, etc.
2. Qualitative Standard: Students must maintain a financial aid cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in all attempted coursework. This GPA may be different than your academic GPA as calculated by the Records Office.
3. Maximum Timeframe Standard: The number of attempted credits in which a student is expected to complete their degree or certificate cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the program. Withdrawals, repeats, and failed credits are all counted toward the Maximum Timeframe. This Maximum Timeframe standard is intended to be long enough to allow for changes in a major, transfer credits, withdrawn courses, etc.

Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements and Information

• Attempted credit hours include all courses for which a student is registered at the end of the posted term add/drop period (census date).
• At Bay College, a grade of D- or above is considered passing.
• Grades of “I,” “WP,” “WF,” “NP,” and “F” do not count as successful completion, but are counted as attempted credit hours in the Pace Progression and Maximum Timeframe calculations.
• A student may repeat a previously passed course once and receive financial aid for it. A student may repeat a failed or withdrawn course until it is passed. Repeated courses count toward Pace Progression and Maximum Timeframe calculations.
• Changing an academic program more than once may not be considered as the basis for an appeal.
• Students that attend Bay after completing a Bachelor’s Degree must appeal their financial aid eligibility in order to receive financial aid for an Associate Degree or Certificate.
• A student will be notified in writing. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the Records Office informed of their current address.

Financial Aid Eligibility Statuses

1. Good - Students who maintain all Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
2. Warning - Students are placed on one semester financial aid Warning Status if they fail to maintain any or all of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards. Performance during the warning semester determines subsequent action. If the aid recipient completes the required 2/3 of credit hours attempted and has maintained a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, the recipient will be returned to Good Status. If the recipient fails to satisfy the standards of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, the recipient will be placed on financial aid Suspension status.
3. Suspension - A financial aid recipient is suspended from financial aid when the student on Financial Aid Warning fails to complete the minimum 2/3 of all attempted credit hours and/or does not establish a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
4. Probation-A student may be placed on probation if the student has successfully appealed their suspension status and demonstrates the ability to earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA and 2/3 completion rate by the end of their next semester. If after one semester on probation the student is not back to Good Status, student will be suspended from financial aid.
5. Academic Plan–A student on suspension that has successfully appealed their suspension but cannot return to a Good Status within one additional semester must meet with an advisor and develop a Financial Aid Academic Plan. The Academic Plan must be strictly followed and the conditions set forth must be met. The student will remain on the Academic Plan until returning to a Good Status. If conditions are not met, the student will be placed on Suspension Status and will be responsible for paying for any additional classes needed to bring them back to the Good Status.

All students on suspension must pay for school-related costs, including tuition, fees, and books from personal resources until SAP standards are again met. A student who does not meet the eligibility requirements due to special or extenuating circumstances may appeal.

There are two ways to re-establish eligibility for financial aid:

1. Meet standards: Complete, at a student’s own expense, enough credits to reestablish the required 2/3 pace standard and bring or maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.
2. Appeal: If a student has extenuating circumstances, student may contact the Financial Aid Office via email at financialaid@baycollege.edu or calling 906-217-4020 to request a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. The appeal must include why the student failed to meet these standards, what has changed that will allow the student to meet these standards, and appropriate supporting documentation as outlined in the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form. An appeal will not be considered unless documentation supporting your request is provided. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement. If this appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation Status or Academic Plan Status.

Examples of acceptable extenuating circumstances may include:

• Illness that prevented the completion of coursework (provide documentation from your doctor indicating the onset, duration, severity of your illness and whether you are healthy enough to return to school).
• Major illness in the IMMEDIATE (spouse, child/stepchild, parent) family (provide documentation from the doctor indicating the onset, duration, and severity of the illness).
• Death of an IMMEDIATE family member (spouse, child/stepchild, parent). Provide copies of a death certificate or obituary notice.
• Other family emergencies that prevent completion of coursework.

Maximum Timeframe Standard

A student’s financial aid will be terminated upon reaching the maximum credit hours allowed. Please note: withdrawals, repeats, and failed coursework are counted toward the maximum timeframe.

A student has the right to request an extension of aid eligibility should they exceed or expect to exceed the 150 percent maximum attempted credits. The student will need to complete the Financial Aid Maximum Timeframe Appeal Form and follow a plan for completion based on a degree audit. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval.

If the student’s Maximum Timeframe Appeal is approved, the student will be limited to courses REQUIRED for the completion of the degree or certificate, must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.0, and successfully complete every course listed on their degree audit in the first attempt (100 percent completion of attempted credits instead of 2/3). No repeats, withdrawals, failures, or incompletes will be allowed. Failure to meet these requirements will result in suspension of financial aid eligibility.

Submitting the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal or Maximum Timeframe Appeal Form

A student with extenuating circumstances who wishes to appeal their financial aid denial status must complete the Student Appeals Form. Incomplete appeal forms or appeals submitted without required documentation will be denied. Appeals for students owing a repayment of financial aid due to withdrawal, whether official or unofficial, will not be reviewed until the outstanding balance is resolved.

You will be notified in writing of your appeal decision. You may appeal your Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards twice during your academic career at Bay College. You may submit a request for additional time only once during your academic career at Bay College.

An appeal based on a specific special circumstance will only be considered once for that circumstance. For example, your appeal for failure to meet the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards is based on a specific chronic medical condition. You may not base any other appeal on that specific medical condition again.

Review of Financial Aid Appeals

Financial Aid appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This review could take up to 15 working days. Appeals not received before the start of a semester will not be considered for that semester but will be considered for the following semester.

Denial of an appeal does not stop a student from taking courses at Bay College. However, the student must pay school-related costs, including tuition, fees, and books, from personal resources.

Students’ Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to ask:

1. What the deadlines are for submitting applications?
2. How the cost of attendance is determined? The process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc. are considered in a budget.
3. What criteria are used to select financial aid recipients? This includes what resources (such as family contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) are considered when calculating financial need.
4. What financial assistance is available, including information on federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs?
5. For an explanation of the various funds in their financial aid package. What portion of the aid received must be repaid and what portion is grant aid?
6. What the policies are for students who withdraw?
7. How academic progress is determined and what happens if they are not making progress?

It is the student’s responsibility to:

1. Review and consider all information about Bay College’s programs before enrolling.
2. Complete a financial aid application accurately and on time. Intentional misreporting on the application form for federal financial aid is a violation of the law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under U.S. Criminal code.
3. Submit all additional documentation requested, and/or any corrections or new information.
4. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms that the student is asked to sign. Accept responsibility for all agreements signed.
5. Perform any Work-Study job in a satisfactory manner.
6. Know and comply with withdrawal procedures.
7. Know and comply with refund procedures.
8. Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes in status. Failure to do so could jeopardize future aid eligibility.
9. Notify the Financial Aid Office if an agency is paying tuition and/or fees; or if the student is receiving a scholarship, fellowship, assistantship or traineeship.