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Federal regulations from the U.S. Department of Education require students to be enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking program in order to receive federal financial aid (including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal PLUS Loans). Financial aid can only be applied to courses that are required to complete a student's officially declared program of study. Enrolling in classes that do not count toward your major or program requirements may result in your financial aid being reduced (prorated) or canceled.

ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï uses a process called Course Program of Study (CPOS), which compares the student’s registered courses for the term to the courses required for the major as outlined in the GPS audit system. This means that if you register for classes that do not fulfill degree requirements listed in your GPS audit, those courses may not be included in your financial aid enrollment status—even if you are full-time based on total hours. As a result, taking non-CPOS courses may reduce your grant eligibility, loan amounts, or even your ability to receive certain types of aid.

Because of this, it is extremely important to understand which courses count toward your program and work closely with an academic advisor each term. Staying within your degree audit helps you maximize financial aid, avoid unexpected charges, and stay on track toward graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does CPOS matter for financial aid?

• Federal regulations require financial aid to be awarded based on coursework that applies to your degree. If a course is not part of your GPS degree audit it cannot be counted toward the credit hours used to determine your financial aid package.

What happens if I take a class that’s not in my GPS degree audit?

• You may still take the course, but it:
• Will not count toward your financial aid enrollment status
• May reduce the amount of aid you can receive
• Might increase out-of-pocket costs
• Example:
  If you enroll in 12 credit hours but only 9 apply to your CPOS, you may be considered three-quarter time for financial aid purposes.

How do I know which courses count toward my financial aid enrollment?

• Check your degree audit or speak with your academic advisor. These tools show how each course you plan to take fits into your major, minor, or certificate requirements.

Are electives included in CPOS?

• ³Û±ð²õ—but only approved electives. Electives that are specifically listed in your degree plan or catalog as allowable options count toward CPOS. Random or exploratory electives usually do not.

Does CPOS affect grants, loans, and scholarships?

• Yes. CPOS can impact:
• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Direct Loans
• State grants or scholarships (varies by state)
• Some institutional funds
• Private scholarships may or may not be affected depending on donor rules.

What if I change my major or add a minor?

• Once your program change is officially approved and processed, your CPOS will update. Courses you previously took may or may not count toward the new degree plan, which may impact aid eligibility.

What if I believe a course should count but it doesn’t?

• Contact your academic advisor. Sometimes:
• A course substitution can be approved
• A degree audit needs to be updated
• The course may satisfy a requirement in a way that the system has not recognized yet
• Do not assume—always check early.

What about prerequisite courses?

• Prerequisite courses count if they are required to complete a course in your CPOS. If a prerequisite is not part of your degree plan, it may not count for financial aid unless your advisor verifies its necessity.

How often is CPOS reviewed?

• CPOS is evaluated each semester when you register for classes and again during financial aid processing. If you add or drop courses, your CPOS eligibility may change.

How can I avoid financial aid problems related to CPOS?

• Review your degree audit before registering
• Meet with an academic advisor every term
• Register early and verify course eligibility
• Avoid taking unnecessary or unrelated courses
• Confirm any course substitutions or exceptions in writing

How are courses determined to be eligible for financial aid?

• When you register for classes, the CPOS process evaluates which courses are applicable to your degree based on your GPS audit.  Before registering for classes, make sure to meet with your academic advisor to confirm your planned courses are needed for your degree program.

What programs of study are eligible and ineligible for financial aid?

• Any degree-granting program (associates, bachelors, masters, doctoral) or certificate program is eligible.  Exploratory majors, College Credit Plus (CCP), guest students, non-degree seeking students, and students in non-degree licensure programs are not eligible.  If you need to declare or change your program of study, please contact your academic advisor (link to advising page) or submit a change of program request using Manage My Program (link to MMP).

If I need general electives to meet minimum graduation requirements, will these courses be eligible for financial aid?

• Yes.  Many programs require students to complete general elective coursework to meet minimum graduation requirements.  These general electives are required for your degree program and will be eligible for financial aid.  The number of general electives required for graduation varies based on your declared program of study and credit hours of classes you completed.  Once the minimum number of general electives needed for your program have been met, any additional general electives taken may not be eligible for financial aid.