Financial Aid Policies

Please click on the link below to read the policy.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

While each aid program has special requirements, the following are basic requirements that apply to federal financial aid. In order to be eligible to receive federal financial aid, the student must:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Have earned a High School Diploma (High School Certificate of Completion is not the same as a High School Diploma) or GED/State Certification, or have completed Homeschool graduation requirements.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program and only be taking courses that lead to that degree or certificate.
• Be a U.S. citizen or national, permanent resident, or other eligible noncitizen.
• Have a valid Social Security Number, except for residents of the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress.
• Not owe an overpayment on a Title IV grant or be in default on a Title IV loan.
• Have returned fraudulently obtained Title IV funds, if convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to charges.
• Not have fraudulently received Title IV loans in excess of annual or aggregate limits.
• Have repaid Title IV loan amounts in excess of annual or aggregate limits, if obtained inadvertently.

Determining Financial Aid Eligibility

After completing the FAFSA, the student will receive a Student Aid Report. The Financial Aid Office will use the information from this report to determine the types and amounts of financial aid the student may qualify for by using the following formula:

Cost of Attendance - Student Aid Index = Financial Need 

Cost of Attendance

Cost of attendance (COA) is based on the average educational and living expenses for a student attending LCC. It does not represent an individual student's actual costs. The COA includes:

• Tuition and fees
• Books and Supplies
• Housing and Food
• Transportation
• Personal and Miscellaneous
• Loan Fees
• Professional Licensure (if required for program)

Students may determine or estimate their COA using the following methods:

1. Current financial aid students: login to Banner, select Financial Aid and Financial Aid Record to access the Award Overview tab
2. Prospective students: access the Net Price Calculator or view the below chart for fall and spring semester costs for a full-time student

*Housing: For students enrolled in more than six credits in fall or spring or three credits in summer and who receive Veteran Benefits that include a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Room cost will be 0.

Student Aid Index

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an eligibility index number that your college's or career school's financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended the school. This number results from the financial information you and your contributor(s) provide on your FAFSA^® form. The SAI is used to calculate aid starting with the 2024-2025 school year.

Professional Judgment

Professional Judgment refers to the discretion that federal regulations give to financial aid administrators to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to certain elements of a student's FAFSA information or adjust a student’s dependency status. These adjustments are intended to provide a more accurate assessment of the amount of federal aid a student is eligible to receive. There are two types of Professional Judgment:

Special Circumstances:

Refers to financial situations that justify an aid administrator adjusting the student’s data elements in the Cost of Attendance and/or Expected Family Contribution/ Student Aid Index calculation(s) such as:

• Loss of Income: Loss of employment; household size changes due to separation, divorce, birth or additional dependents, etc.; high medical expenses; Rollovers of IRA’s; etc.
• Cost of Attendance: Study abroad expenses; cooperative education costs; dependent care; disability-related expenses; etc.

Unusual Circumstances

Refers to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to dependency status (more commonly referred to as a dependency override), based on a student’s unique situation such as:

• Human trafficking; refugee or asylee status; parental abandonment; homelessness; incarceration; etc.

Students, with an approved dependency override in a prior academic year, will remain independent for each subsequent award year unless LCC has conflicting information about the student’s independence status or the student’s circumstances have changed. If the student’s circumstances have changed, the Financial Aid Office must be notified.

Students will need to complete the Professional Judgment Request form and will be required to provide supporting documentation.  If additional clarification is needed after reviewing the supporting documentation, the student will be notified via their LCC email to access their Banner Self Service account to determine the clarifying documentation that is needed.  In some cases, an advising appointment and/or phone conversation may be needed. 

Types of Financial Aid

Need-Based v. Non-Need-Based Financial Aid

Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if the student has financial need and meets other eligibility criteria. Financial need is determined by subtracting the SAI derived from the FAFSA from the student’s Cost of Attendance. Students cannot receive more need-based aid than the amount of financial need.

The following are need-based financial aid programs:

• Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
• Federal Work-Study
• Fostering Futures Scholarship
• Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant
• LCC Grant
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship
• Michigan Competitive Scholarship

Non-need-based aid is financial aid that is not based on SAI. COA and the amount of other financial aid awarded determines the student’s eligibility.

The following are non-need-based student aid programs:

• Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan
• Futures for Frontliners
• GEAR-UP Michigan
• Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (MITW)
• Michigan Reconnect
• Police Officer's and Firefighter's Survivor
• Private (Alternative) Loans
• Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

Consortium Agreements / Attending Multiple Colleges

In some cases, students choose to attend two colleges simultaneously. In most cases, a student cannot receive Federal or State financial aid at both institutions simultaneously and consequently, financial aid would be processed by only one of the colleges where the student is enrolled.

In the case where a pre-articulated Consortium Agreement exists between two institutions, the student's combined enrollment will be used to determine aid eligibility. Only the following Consortium Agreements have been established with Lansing Community College (LCC), to learn more please contact the Financial Aid Office at LCC for program specific information:

• Davenport University
• Ferris State University
• Michigan Colleges Online
• Northwood University

Courses in Program of Study

The U.S. Department of Education requires students to be enrolled in an eligible program of study to receive financial aid and only courses that apply toward that program of study will be used to determine the amount of financial aid the student will receive.  The purpose of this federal requirement is to ensure students are able to obtain their degree or certificate in a timely manner with minimal debt for student loan borrowers and to ensure that federal funds are used only to obtain a degree or certificate. Therefore, if a student registers for a course that does not count toward the declared degree or certificate, the course will not be used to determine the student's financial aid eligibility. To learn more, please refer to the following Q&A.

What programs of study are eligible for financial aid?

Any program that grants an associate degree and any certificate program of at least 16 credits in length.

How do I know if a course counts toward my program of study?

To determine if a course counts toward your declared program of study, you must access Degree Works in Banner Self Service using the following steps:

1. Sign into Banner
2. Select Student
3. Select Degree Works
4. View Worksheets Tab

Academic Advisors are also available to meet with you one-on-one to map out your program plan. Contact Academic Advising at 517-483-1200 option 4.

Note: You can input courses in the "Look Ahead" to determine if they will count toward your current declared program of study. You can also use the “What If” feature to check other degrees or certificates. If you are considering changing your program of study, we encourage you to contact the Financial Aid Office to determine the impact on your future financial aid eligibility.

What if I want to change my program of study or my program of study is incorrect?

To ensure that financial aid is able to pay for courses that are in your degree or certificate, it is important that your program of study be accurate in Banner Self Service. To determine your current program of study, sign into myLCC and select the Profile tab. Your program of study is listed in the Academic Profile section under Degree.

If your program of study is inaccurate, complete the Program and Catalog Year Update Request Form located in the Profile tab.

If you need assistance in choosing a program of study, Academic Advisors are available to assist you. Contact Academic Advising at 517-483-1200 option 4.

Can I still take courses that do not count toward my degree or certificate?

Yes, you can still take courses that are not required for your degree or certificate. However, these courses will not count toward your enrollment level or enrollment intensity for determining financial aid eligibility.

If your aid, at the reduced enrollment level or enrollment intensity, does not cover all of your tuition and fee charges, you will need to pay the balance due in full or via the payment plan.

What types of financial aid are affected by this requirement?

The Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) and the following federal aid programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Work-Study

Can I repeat a course and still receive financial aid?

The course must count toward your program of study and meet the federal requirements for repeating a course.

Will financial aid cover remedial/developmental courses because they are not listed as part of my program of study?

According to federal regulations, financial aid can cover a maximum of 30 remedial/development credits; therefore, if you have not exceeded the 30 credit limit, financial aid will count remedial/developmental credits in your enrollment level and/or enrollment intensity.

What if my courses do not count toward my program of study?

If you register for courses that do not apply to your degree or certificate, your financial aid eligibility will be based on the reduced enrollment level or enrollment intensity for the courses that do apply to your degree or certificate.

If you want to ensure that you are only taking courses that apply to your degree or certificate, access Degree Works or meet with an academic advisor prior to the start of the semester.

Please be advised that if your aid, at the reduced enrollment level or enrollment intensity, does not cover all your tuition and fee charges, you will need to pay the balance due in full or via the payment plan.

What if I make a change to my schedule after I receive my financial aid?

The Financial Aid Office may need to re-evaluate your financial aid eligibility based on your change in schedule. This could result in you having to repay a portion or all of the financial aid you have received. You should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to making any schedule changes after the semester begins.

Examples:

Scenario 1: Student is enrolled for 12 credits, but 4 of those credits do not apply to the student's degree or certificate.

Federal and state financial aid will based on 8 credits; therefore, the student's eligibility will be:

• Federal Pell Grant is awarded at 8 credits instead of 12 credits.
• Federal Direct Loans are not impacted.
• Federal Work-Study is not impacted.
• State of Michigan program eligibility varies, please contact the Financial Aid Office for information about specific State of Michigan Grants/Scholarships.

Scenario 2: Student is enrolled for 9 credits, but 5 of them do not apply to the student’s degree or certificate.

Federal and state financial aid will based on 4 credits; therefore, the student’s eligibility will be:

• Federal Pell Grant is awarded at 4 credits instead of 9 credits.
• Student is not eligible for Federal Direct Loans.
• Federal Work-Study is not impacted.
• State of Michigan program eligibility varies, please contact the Financial Aid Office for information about specific State of Michigan Grants/Scholarships.

Scenario 3: Student is enrolled for 17 credits but 5 of them do not apply to the student’s degree or certificate.

Federal and state financial aid will based on 12 credits; therefore, the student’s eligibility will be:

• Federal Pell Grant is not impacted.
• Federal Direct Loans are not impacted.
• Federal Work-Study is not impacted.
• State of Michigan program eligibility varies, please contact the Financial Aid Office for information about specific State of Michigan Grants/Scholarships.

Enrollment Level and Enrollment Intensity 

Financial aid is offered to students based on enrollment as a full-time student. If a student enrolls less than full-time, certain awards may be prorated. Most financial aid is based on enrollment level definitions. Starting with the 2024-2025 Award Year, Federal Pell Grant is based on enrollment intensity definitions.

Enrollment level and enrollment intensity changes could impact the amount of financial aid a student will receive. Adding, dropping, withdrawing, or changing a course to audit status, after the semester begins, are types of enrollment level and enrollment intensity changes that could impact the amount of aid a student receives. Before making an enrollment level or enrollment intensity change, students should contact their instructor, Success Coach, and the Financial Aid Office to understand all possible consequences of the change.

The chart below defines enrollment level based on the number of credits a student is enrolled. These definitions apply to all types of financial aid except Federal Pell Grant:

Enrollment Intensity is the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled, rounded to the nearest whole percent. For example, full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours. If a student is enrolled in 7 credit hours, the enrollment intensity would be 7 ÷ 12 x 100% = 58%. Enrollment intensity only applies to Federal Pell Grant:

Credit Hours	Enrollment Intensity
12 or more	100%
11	92%
10	83%
9	75%
8	67%
7	58%
6	50%
5	42%
4	33%
3	25%
2	17%
1	8%

Audited courses are taken for no grade. Therefore, courses being audited cannot be considered part of a student's enrollment level or enrollment intensity for financial aid purposes.

Non-credit courses are courses that are not given credit or a grade for the hours earned. Therefore, non-credit courses cannot be considered part of a student enrollment level or enrollment intensity for financial aid purposes.

Enrollment Level and Enrollment Intensity Requirements By Aid Type

The U.S. Department of Education requires the student's enrollment to be locked on a specified date (Census Date) for students who receive Federal Pell Grants. If a student is not registered before the Census Date, the enrollment will be locked on the date that the student is paid Federal Pell Grant. Beginning with the 2024-2025 Award Year, enrollment will be locked based on enrollment intensity. For all prior aid years, enrollment will be locked based on the enrollment level. The upcoming semester Census Dates are as follows:

All other aid programs, including Federal Direct Loans, do not have enrollment level or intensity locked on the Census Dates.

Please see the chart below to determine the enrollment requirements for most aid programs.

Enrollment Level and Enrollment intensity Updates

Adding, dropping, withdrawing, or changing a course to audit status may cause an enrollment level or enrollment intensity change. Enrollment level and enrollment intensity changes may affect eligibility for funds.

Add - adding a course to the student schedule.

Drop - removing a course from the student schedule where instructor approval is not required. A drop also removes the course from the student’s academic record. Generally, this means that the student will no longer be charged for all or part of the course. A course cancelled by LCC is also considered a dropped course.

Withdrawal - removing a course from the student schedule by issuing a grade of W (withdrawal) for the course. The course will be part of the student’s academic record.

Falsification Of Information

Falsification of information submitted by the student or parents for the purpose of receiving financial assistance may result in cancellation of assistance, require the student to pay back assistance received, and referral to the appropriate federal authorities. If students purposely give false or misleading information, they may be fined $10,000, sent to prison, or both by the federal government.

The Financial Aid Office may be required to verify information provided on the FAFSA by requesting documentation of income or other types of financial assistance. In addition, if the Financial Aid Office has conflicting information or has reason to believe that student information may not be valid, further investigation will occur prior to financial aid being awarded and/or refunded.

Remedial/Developmental Courses

Remedial/Developmental Courses are defined as courses that are below college level but at least at the secondary (high school) education level. Once students attempt more than 30 remedial/developmental credits, the Financial Aid Office must begin limiting federal financial aid eligibility. Even if financial aid funds were not used for the prior coursework, the Financial Aid Office must limit federal financial aid eligibility. For example, if a student attempted 30 remedial/developmental credits and the following semester register for a total of 12 credits with 4 out of the 12 credits are considered remedial/developmental, student's financial aid eligibility will be based on 8 credits (half-time).

Below are courses that LCC considers remedial/developmental:

Repeated Courses

Repeat courses are defined as courses that the student attempts more than once. Federal regulations limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive financial aid for that course. This limit applies whether or not the student received financial aid for the earlier enrollments in the course. If a student retakes a course that is not eligible for financial aid, the credits for that course will not be used to determine the student's federal financial aid eligibility. Below are repeat rules. Note: Students must also adhere to the College's Repeating a Course Procedure.

• A student may receive financial aid to repeat a previously passed course (1.0 or higher) one additional time.
• A student may receive financial aid when repeating a previously failed course (0.0F, 0.0U, ZF or ZU) for as long as it takes the student to pass (1.0 or higher) the course.
• A student who is taking a course that requires the student to enroll in the course multiple times to meet degree requirements may receive financial aid for these courses. Visit the List of Repeatable Courses to learn more.

Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)

LCC is a non-attendance taking institution with the exception of programs that have licensure/accreditation requirements for attendance.  Federal regulations require schools to perform a Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation for Title IV grant and/or loan recipients if one of the events in the table below occurs within the student’s payment period. Note: The R2T4 calculation is independent of the institution’s Refund Policy.

Within 30 days of the determination of withdrawal, the R2T4 calculation must be completed to determine the amount of earned and unearned aid based on the student’s withdrawal date*. The institution and/or the student owes the unearned aid to the federal government. LCC will return the institution’s and the student’s unearned aid to the federal government within 45 days of the date of determination of withdrawal, LCC will bill the student for the unearned aid, and the student is responsible for repaying LCC. If the student was disbursed less than the revised award, the student may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. LCC must notify the student in writing of eligibility for a post-withdrawal loan disbursement within thirty days of the determination of withdrawal. LCC must obtain the student’s permission to disburse additional loan funds. The student may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds to avoid incurring additional debt. For grant funds, LCC will use post-withdrawal funds to pay any allowable institutional charges prior to refunding the remaining funds to the student.

Unearned aid will be returned within 45 days of the date of determination of withdrawal in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
• Federal Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
• Federal SEOG

*Withdrawal Date

• Official Withdrawal

  • When a student withdraws from all courses or withdraws/drops from a course and the student’s remaining courses have not yet begun.

  • When an instructor in a program with licensure/accreditation requirements for taking attendance withdraws/drops a student from a course. This action must occur within 14 days of the student’s last date of participation in an Academic Engagement*.

  • The official withdrawal date used in the R2T4 calculation is the student’s last date of participation in an Academic Engagement*.

• Unofficial Withdrawal

  • When a student does not earn credit in at least one course and all failed courses were graded as unfinished. The instructor reports the last date of participation in an Academic Engagement* with the grade, which is the unofficial withdrawal date.

  • The unofficial withdrawal date used in the R2T4 calculation is the student’s last date of participation in an Academic Engagement*.

Calculating Earned Title IV Aid

To determine the total aid earned, LCC must divide the number of days the student attended during the semester by the total number of days the student was scheduled to attend for courses that were used to determine the student's financial aid. This percentage is multiplied by the total Title IV financial aid the student is awarded for the semester (disbursed and to be disbursed).

For example:

Student attended 64 days.
Student’s schedule is 118 days in length.
Student was awarded (disbursed and to be disbursed) Title IV aid of $5000 for the semester.

The percentage of total aid earned = 54.2% (64 days attended / 118 days in the semester)
The earned Title IV financial aid = $2710 (54.2% of total aid earned x $5000 awarded)

*Definition of Academic Engagement

Academic engagement is defined as active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study that includes, but is not limited to:

• Attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the faculty and students;

• Submitting an academic assignment;

• Taking an assessment or an exam;

• Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction;

• Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the school; or

• Interacting with faculty about academic matters.

Academic engagement does not include:

• Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation; or

• Participating in academic counseling or advisement.

Rights And Responsibilities Of The Financial Aid Recipient

As a student financial aid consumer, you have the right to:

• Information about financial aid application procedures, cost of attendance, aid available, and renewal requirements as well as information about LCC’s academic programs and policies.
• Confidential protection of your financial aid records. The contents of your financial aid record are maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
• Request a review of decisions made by LCC’s Financial Aid Office. A letter discussing your situation in detail and the decision you wish to have reviewed should be submitted in writing to the Financial Aid Office via email at financialaid@lcc.edu.

The student has the responsibility to:

• Complete applications and requested information accurately and timely.
• Read and understand all materials sent to the student from the Financial Aid Office and other financial aid agencies. Keep copies of all forms and materials submitted.
• Know and comply with the rules governing aid programs.
• Comply with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements the student signs.
• Register for the number of credits required and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Go to the StarZone on the second floor of the Gannon Building for personal assistance if the student has questions or does not understand the information provided.
• Budget and manage your financial aid funds.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Office at Lansing Community College (LCC) to monitor the progress (both qualitatively and quantitatively) of all students toward the completion of a degree through Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP is separate from LCC's Academic Standing Procedure. In order to receive federal funds, a student must meet SAP. If required, SAP also applies to state, institutional, and private funding.

To determine eligibility each semester, the Financial Aid Office will monitor and evaluate students' academic progress, regardless if aid was received. SAP is evaluated at the end of fall, spring, and summer semesters for all students who had academic history updates during the semester being evaluated. The evaluation will include all attempted credits, including: earned credits (4.0-1.0 and Pass), failed credits (0.0F, 0.0U, ZF, and ZU), transfer credits, withdrawals, incompletes, audits, remedial, and repeated courses. Remedial coursework will be included in the determination of the GPA, completion ratio, and maximum timeframe. Repeated coursework will only include the highest grade earned in the GPA and all attempts will be counted in the completion ratio with only one successful attempt counted as earned. All attempts will be used in the determination of maximum timeframe. Incomplete coursework will have no effect on the GPA; however, incompletes are counted as unearned in the determination of the completion ratio and maximum timeframe. Students who change majors or are pursuing a second degree will have SAP evaluated on all attempted credits, not just those applicable to their new major or second degree. Students will be notified of their SAP status via email and Banner Self Service after each evaluation period.

Note: SAP may be re-evaluated for students who have a Reinstated SAP status at any point of the semester if one of the following has occurred:

• Grade Change, expect for Incompletes
• Change of Program occurs

SAP Standards

Student must meet all of the following SAP standards to remain eligible for financial aid:

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 in all credits attempted at LCC.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative completion ratio of 70% of all credits attempted.
• The total number of credits a student attempts cannot exceed 150% of the maximum credits required for the student's program of study.
  Note: The table below represents a student pursuing a general associate degree requiring 63 credits. In order for the student to successfully complete their program within 150% of the credit hours required and maintain a cumulative completion ratio of 70%, the student must earn the following minimum credits.

SAP Statuses

Good:

• Students who meet SAP are in Good status.

Warning:

• New Students: Students who have completed at least one course with a minimum 1.0 grade and do not meet SAP after the first semester of attendance.
• Continuing Students: Students in Good status who fail to meet SAP but completed at least one course with a minimum of 1.0 grade in the most recent semester of attendance and have not attempted more than 150% of the credit hours required for the program.

To receive financial aid, students in Financial Aid Warning status must electronically submit a Warning Contract. Warning status will only be effective for one semester. If the student does not meet SAP by the end of the warning semester, the student will be Suspended and ineligible for financial aid.

Suspended:

• Students in Good status who fail to meet SAP and did not earn a minimum 1.0 grade in the most recent semester of attendance or have attempted more than 150% of the credit hours required for the program.
• Students who do not meet SAP by the end of the warning period.
• Students who did not meet the terms of an approved appeal.

Students in Financial Aid Suspended status are denied financial aid until SAP is met or the Financial Aid Office approves an appeal.

Reinstated:

• Students who calculate to Suspended but have an approved appeal and taking courses that count towards their program of study.

Students in Financial Aid Reinstated status are approved for financial aid as long as the student completes each semester with a minimum semester GPA of 2.0, completes 100% of all credits attempted and is taking courses that count toward the program of study on record.

Regaining Eligibility

• Students may regain financial aid eligibility by taking courses at their own expense or by using other funding sources until they meet the minimum GPA and Completion Ratio requirements; however, students who exceed 150% of the credit hours required for the program may only regain eligibility through a SAP Appeal.
• Students who are Suspended and have extenuating circumstances may submit a SAP Appeal. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. Examples of extenuating circumstances are:
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Documented hospitalization or illness
  • Major accident or illness of student or family member
  • Being victim of a crime or unexpected disaster
  • Change of major
  • Pursuit of second degree
• The SAP Appeal is available online at https://www.lcc.edu/financial-aid/forms. Students may submit an appeal throughout the semester using their secure sign-in. Students will be notified of the appeal decision within three weeks of submission. Students may request a paper version of this form by contacting the Financial Aid Office
• Students with a denied appeal may continue to attend but must pay all tuition and fees.