Financial aid can make College of Eastern Idaho education a reality for many students. Many CEI students qualify for some type of financial assistance. Financial assistance includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. To begin the financial aid process, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, degree/certificate seeking students, and in good academic standing. In order to assure compliance with federal regulations, financial aid policies and procedures are subject to change without notice.
Disbursement of Financial Aid Awards
Financial aid funds are disbursed in equal installments at the first of each semester. If a student only attends one semester, disbursement of loans will be made in two (2) equal disbursements, one (1) at the beginning of the semester and one-half way (1/2) through the semester. Funds may be credited to a student’s account to pay registration fees with the balance being disbursed in the form of a check or a direct deposit from eRefund. First-time borrowers who are first time students will have to wait thirty (30) days from the beginning of the semester before their loan funds will be disbursed.
Checks and direct deposits are disbursed by the Business Office. Questions concerning check disbursement or eRefund should be referred to the Business Office at 208.535.5352
Self-Service
Students can access Self-Service to view information requested for their financial aid file, view award letters, and accept or reject financial aid awards.
Application Priority Deadlines
Fall - June 1st
Spring - November 1st
Summer - February 1st
Students who have completed the FAFSA by the priority Deadline will have their aid by the first day of class. In order to meet the priority deadlines, all information must be turned in, correct, complete, and ready to award for the semester the student wishes to be awarded. Applications may still be submitted after the priority deadline, but students may have to wait to receive their aid until after the first two weeks of class. Regardless of when the FAFSA is received by the institution, registration fees must be paid by the fee payment deadlines. If the first falls on a weekend, the priority deadline is the following business day.
Financial Aid Application Procedure
In order to begin the financial aid process, each student is required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov. By entering the CEI school code (011133) on the FAFSA application, CEI will receive the information. If other documents are required, an email will be sent from the Financial Aid Office and listed on Student Self-Service. All required forms can be printed off from cei.edu/financial-aid, then submitted to the CEI Financial Aid Office.
Awarding Financial Aid
Awards are based on the information a student reports on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligibility for these awards may change if new information is received, including information CEI may receive with regard to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). CEI reserves the right to adjust a student’s awards as necessary.
All awards are based upon the assumption of full-time enrollment and acceptance in an eligible program at CEI. A student who withdraws from one or all classes at any time during the semester may be required to repay any financial aid received. All sources of non-federal funding are only estimates.
Request for Adjustment
A student has the option of requesting an adjustment to their financial aid award. Requests for any changes must be made to the CEI Financial Aid Office by the student. Changes could include requesting or canceling grants, work-study, and loans.
No adjustment will be made to the award due to change in enrollment status after the first week of each semester. Request for Adjustment forms can be printed off from cei.edu/financial-aid.
Summer Awards
Summer term financial aid is unique in awarding from fall and spring semesters. Summer awards are limited to a student’s remaining eligibility from the current academic year. If a student has used their full annual eligibility for Pell grants and loans in the Fall and Spring semesters, the student may not have any remaining eligibility for Summer term. To request financial aid for the summer, students must fill out a Summer Application found on the Financial Aid webpage (www.cei.edu/financial-aid).
Types of Financial Aid
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants provide direct grants from the government to the undergraduate student for educational expenses. Grants range in size from $400 to a maximum of $6,495 per year and the amounts are subject to change.
There is a limit, equivalent to six years, that a student may receive a Pell grant, known as Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility. For more information on Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility, visit studentaid.ed.gov/pell-limit.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is a program designed to assist students who have exceptionally high financial need. College of Eastern Idaho uses the FAFSA to determine who is eligible and how much each grant will be. Students with Pell Grant eligibility and low Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) will be given priority.
Work-Study
Federal and Atwell Parry State Work-Study are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and want to work while attending college. The work-study program provides on-campus jobs for students and allows them to earn up to a specific dollar award. Students will earn at least federal minimum wage ($7.25 for the State of Idaho) and be paid hourly. Students may work up to nineteen (19) hours per week.
Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP)
Direct Student Loans are low interest loans used to help students pay for educational expenses. Loans are money borrowed and must be paid back with interest. The interest rate is fixed and has been set by the federal government. The U.S. Department of Education is the lender. Direct loan eligibility is determined by the student’s year of study, federal limits, financial need, and other types of aid awarded.
Borrowers must do the following to receive their student loans:
- Complete the FAFSA
- Accept loan(s) on Self-Service
- Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
- Complete the Master Promissory Note(MPN) for a Subsidized/ Unsubsidized Loan
- Complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement
Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement
The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment is an online session that allows students and parents to see how much they have borrowed, preview what a monthly payment might be, and explains concepts such as capitalization and the difference between federal and private loans. Starting in the 2021-2022 school year, borrowers of Federal Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Plus loans will be required to complete the acknowledgment annually. The informed borrowing process is to help students understand how loans affect their financial future. First time borrowers accepting a federal student loan are acknowledging their responsibility to repay student loan(s). Students with existing federal loans are acknowledging how much they owe and how much more can be borrowed.
New borrowers on or after July 1, 2013 will only receive subsidized loans for one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the published time of the academic program they are enrolled in. Transfer students’ loan eligibility may be affected.
Types of Loans
Subsidized (FDSL), Unsubsidized (FDUL), and Parent PLUS Loan are available. Additional unsubsidized loans may be available to students whose parent cannot qualify for Parent PLUS Loans or for independent students requesting additional loans.
Subsidized Loan (FDSL)
The government pays the interest while a student is in school. To be awarded this loan a student must:
- Complete the FAFSA
- Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits)
- Demonstrate financial need
- Accept loan on Student Self-Service
Unsubsidized Loan (FDUL)
Interest will accrue while the student is in school.
To be awarded this loan a student must:
- Complete the FAFSA
- Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits)
- Accept loan on Self-Service
Parent PLUS Loan
Interest will accrue while the student is in school.
To be awarded this loan a student must:
- Complete the FAFSA
- Be a dependent student
- Parent must pass credit check
Most students begin repayment of any of these loans six (6) months after leaving college or when they drop below half-time status or six (6) credits. Under some conditions repayment may be deferred.
How Much Can a Student Borrow?
Depending on the student’s year of study, the federal government limits the amount a student can borrow. These amounts are the maximum; the student’s amount may vary depending on financial need, other types of aid awarded, and the cost of attendance.
Aggregate Maximum
(Effective July 1, 2008)
Undergraduate Dependent Student: $31,000 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized).
Undergraduate Independent Student: $57,500 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized).
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans for Independent Students
- Freshman year up to $9,500
- Sophomore year up to $10,500
Freshman Year
$9,500 if the student is a first-year student enrolled in a program of study that is at least a full academic year. No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Sophomore Year
$10,500 if the student has completed their first year of study and the remainder of their program is at least a full academic year. No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans for Dependent Students
- Freshman year up to $5,500
- Sophomore year up to $6,500
Freshman Year
$5,500 if the student is a first-year student enrolled in a program of study that is at least a full academic year. No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Sophomore Year
$6,500 if the student has completed their first year of study and the remainder of their program is at least a full academic year. No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
For dependent students, Direct Loan limits include unsubsidized and subsidized amounts borrowed in the same year. (See Aggregate Maximum).
Independent students may also qualify for additional amounts through the Unsubsidized Direct Loan Program. Dependent students may also qualify if their parents cannot obtain a PLUS Loan.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Financial Aid Eligibility
Federal law requires that students must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward a degree for you to be eligible to receive federal financial aid funds. These standards apply to all periods of attendance, even periods when students did not receive financial aid. Students must meet all requirements listed to be in good standing for financial aid.
Maximum Time Frame / Pace of Completion
Students must progress through their program to ensure that they will graduate within the maximum time frame or 150% of program credits. For example, an Associate degree that requires 60 credits, the Maximum time frame would be 90 credits.
The financial aid office will evaluate student records at the end of each semester to make sure they have not and will not exceeded the 150% maximum time frame allowed for each program. Students who change from one program to another without graduating will have their attempted credits and completed credits calculated to determine where they stand within the 150% maximum time frame.
Students graduating from one (1) program and beginning a new program will have their 150% maximum time frame restart for the new program.
Academic
Students must be accepted into an eligible CEI program. Students must maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 2.00 and meet the academic standards of the institution. Workforce Training and Continuing Education courses are not eligible for financial aid.
Progress Eligibility
In addition to maintaining academic standards, all students will be required to satisfactorily complete (receive grades other than D+, D, D-, F, AU, CH, IC, S, I, or W), sixty-seven percent(67%) of all credits listed on the transcript, including transfer credits from other institutions.
Credits completed are defined as all classes for which a student received a passing grade or better. Repeated courses count as credits attempted during each term the student is enrolled in the course. They will be counted as completed each time a passing grade is received for the course.
Incompletes and withdrawals do not count as passing, but are included in the credit completion rate calculation. Audit credits do not count as credits attempted or completed and will not be counted in the credit completion rate calculation.
Financial Aid and Repeat Course Work
Financial Aid can pay for unlimited repeats of a failed course as long as the student is meeting all other Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Financial aid will assist the student when repeating a course (or its equivalent) if all previous attempts were failures, as long as those failures are graded courses.
A student can receive Title IV aid for a previously passed course only once as long as the student is again receiving credit for the course. A student who previously passed a course and then subsequently failed the same course, any additional attempt of that course cannot again be included in the student’s enrollment status for Title IV purposes.
Monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress
A student’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine if they are in compliance with the SAP policies. This review encompasses a student’s entire academic record, regardless of whether the student applied for or received financial aid.
Students not meeting these SAP standards will receive communication via email to their CEI email. Students should check Self-Service to view their progress by clicking on the “Satisfactory Academic Progress” link under the “Financial Aid Counseling” link.
Financial Aid Suspension
Students who receive federal financial aid but do not earn any credits for the term will be immediately suspended from receiving future financial aid. Students who completely withdraw from CEI during the course of a semester may be required to return a percentage of that semester’s federal financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Warning
The first time a student is not meeting the Academic or Progress requirements the student will be placed on Financial Aid Warning. Students in Financial Aid Warning will still be eligible for financial aid for the following semester. Financial aid funds may be delayed the following term in order for prior term grades to be posted before federal aid can be released.
Any subsequent incidents of SAP violations will result in the suspension of financial aid eligibility. Students violating the Maximum Time Frame policy or zero credits earned, will be suspended financial aid with no warning period.
Withdrawal Policy
Students at CEI who receive federal financial aid and withdraw will have refunds calculated according to federal guidelines. This will help determine the largest refund to the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs or to the student.
All other federal financial aid recipients will have refunds calculated according to the State of Idaho’s or the U.S. Department of Education’s approved accrediting agency refund policies (if they exist). If no State or U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency refund policy exists, refunds will be calculated according to federal or institutional refund guidelines in order to determine the largest refund to the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs or to the student.
If a student contacts the CEI Financial Aid Office to withdraw, they will also be referred to the Registrar’s Office to complete the withdrawal process. Students who withdraw from one or more courses within the first week of school, but are still enrolled in a course(or courses), must notify the Financial Aid Office and return over-awarded funds to the Cashier’s Office at the time of withdrawal. No adjustments to financial aid will be made after the first week of each semester. Students who do a total withdrawal from all of their courses after the first week of the semester are subject to the return policy of the federal government and may be required to return a portion of their awards. Students who receive financial award disbursements and do not attend classes are not eligible for funds and must return any award money received to the institution.
Withdrawal Policy for Module Courses
A module course is a course that does not span the entire sixteen (16) week semester. Students must be aware that there are financial consequences for early withdrawal or failure of a module course that may include payback of financial aid funds received. If a student enrolls in a module course and needs to withdraw from that course for ANY reason, they must do so through the Registrar’s Office.
In addition, if a module course is a Prerequisite for another module course in the same term, the student must withdraw from the next module course(s) as well. If the student is receiving financial aid and is withdrawn from a module course prior to the start date the refund for that course will first be applied back to their financial aid balance. The financial aid monies received at the beginning of the semester are still the student’s responsibility to payback.
If the student is enrolled in another module course that does not have a Prerequisite they may remain in that module course as long as they fill out the Module Course Attend/Drop form in the Registrar’s Office.
Return of Title IV Funds
CEI applies the Return of Title IV Funds Policy outlined in the Federal Student Aid Handbook, to students who withdraw from all classes. Affected students may be required to return the unearned portion of the federal aid they received. Students who want to withdraw from all courses need to complete the “Total Withdrawal” form found on the Registrar webpage under Form/Links.
A financial aid recipient who has completed more than 60% of the term is considered to have ‘earned all of his/her aid’. Students who receive federal aid and do not complete more than 60% of the semester must repay a portion of the ‘unearned’ aid immediately. The earlier a student withdraws, the less aid the student earns.
The following procedures apply to Federal Title IV financial aid recipients. Title IV aid is awarded and disbursed to students in anticipation of students’ successful completion of their courses and progression toward graduation. The U.S. Department of Education regulates the management of these funds and in some cases, a student who receives Title IV financial aid but does not complete their coursework is not considered to have “earned” the Title IV aid they received. Student recipients of Federal financial aid who do not complete the semester are impacted by applicable federal laws. Federal regulations do not override the institutional refund policy for students who have received federal financial aid. Federal regulations specify the following:
Withdrawal Date
For official withdrawals, the date a student withdraws from all classes is the date for the Return of Title IV Funds calculations, unless the student’s intent to withdraw on an alternate date is documented. If the student is not going to continue to attend school, they need to complete an official withdrawal as soon as the student decides to leave or stop attending classes. In the case of an unofficial withdrawal where the student did not complete the semester but took no action to officially withdraw, the institution determines the withdrawal date.
Refund Amounts
Federal regulations mandate the calculation of the amount CEI must return to Title IV programs when an aid recipient withdraws. The student may be required to repay CEI for funds the institution is required to return to the Federal Financial Aid Program in excess of the CEI refund amounts. The portion of the CEI refund that is greater than what must be returned to financial aid/scholarships/agencies will be returned to the student.
Repayment Obligations
If a student does not attend classes, the student needs to repay all financial aid. If the student has not attended classes they have not established eligibility for financial aid received and all financial aid must be repaid within 30 days. If the student attended classes, the institution will calculate the repayment based on federal regulations and requirements. The repayment calculation is based on the time the student attended the program, the withdrawal date, and the type of financial aid received. The calculations identify the financial aid you earn for the semester and the amount the institution and the student must return to the Title IV programs within 30 days.
Order of Return of Title IV Funds
When returning Title IV funds to the U.S. Department of Education, CEI returns them in a specific order per federal regulations:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Subsidized Direct Loan
- Parent PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Other Student Title IV Aid Programs
Reinstatement
Students suspended from financial aid may regain eligibility by:
- Repaying any funds owed to CEI (see Cashier’s Office), or overpayments to the Department of Education
- Attending additional semester(s) without the assistance of financial aid and;
- Students must enroll in and successfully complete enough credits to meet academic standards as well as progress eligibility standards to be in compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and be reinstated financial aid. The courses taken must be from the approved list of required courses for the student’s program of study.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Financial Aid Appeals Process
In the case of extenuating circumstances (such as injury, illness, or death of an immediate family member); students may appeal their financial aid suspension in writing by completing the General Appeal form or the Maximum Credit Appeal form and return it to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal should address and document extenuating circumstances and describe how circumstances have changed so the student is able to be academically successful. Students must be registered for courses at the time the appeal is submitted and have a current FAFSA application submitted to CEI.
A Financial Aid Professional Staff Committee will review submitted appeals. If the appeal is denied, students may meet in person with the SAP Appeals Committee. This committee’s decision will be the final decision. Incomplete appeals or those missing adequate documentation will be denied for missing information.
If an appeal is approved, the student will be required to complete the courses as outlined. If the student cannot be in compliance after the approved term and they have passed the courses, but may not be meeting all SAP requirements, they may be denied financial aid for the following term. The student may submit a General Appeal with an Academic Plan approved by an Academic Advisor and the Financial Aid Office until they are in compliance with Satisfactory Academic Progress.
General Appeal
A General Appeal may be used in situations of medical hardship, death in the family, emergencies, and other extreme circumstances that affect their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The General Appeal form may also be used by students after they have attended a semester without financial aid and are requesting reinstatement of their aid although they may not be back within Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
Maximum Credit Appeal
A Maximum Credit Appeal is to be used when a student reaches the maximum time frame allowed by Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The maximum number of credits allowed for a degree or certificate will be up to 150% of the credits needed to complete the degree. If the student does not successfully complete the conditions of the appeal the student may be denied further financial assistance.
Other Financial Aid Appeals
Special Circumstances Appeals
A Special Circumstances Appeal form is to be used by students or parents of dependent students who have had loss of income. These situations could include loss of employment, death of a parent, divorce of a parent, divorce of a student, or medical expenses that affect income.
Dependency Appeal
Federal financial aid regulations require the family to take primary responsibility for meeting the educational costs of students. Financial aid eligibility is determined by using both the student and parent financial information for students who are considered dependent according to the federal government criteria. To be considered and receive federal financial aid, dependent students are required to provide parental information and signature(s).
In certain unusual circumstances, the Financial Aid Office can consider students that cannot obtain the parental information required. To be considered, a student must complete and submit a Dependency Status Appeal Form and the appropriate documentation to the Financial Aid office.
Marital Status Appeal
The Department of Education determines a student’s status as dependent or independent based on the information received from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, there are situations such as a student marrying before or during a given FAFSA year that can change the student’s dependency status. The Marital Status Appeal can be used to determine the student’s eligibility for an award year. The Financial Aid Office will review the student’s appeal by examining the supporting documentation provided by the student and will approve or deny the student’s request. The Financial Aid Advisor’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
Veteran’s Services
The Veteran’s Services webpage (cei.edu/financial-aid/veterans-services) contains information on how to apply for benefits, what is required, what to do each semester, and provides links to helpful websites and information.
Applications for benefits should be completed online at www.va.gov. GI Bill® Veterans are required to provide their “Certificate of Eligibility (COE)” to the Certifying Official at CEI. CEI does not participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
CEI accepts transfer credits from military transcripts of education and training courses students have taken while in the military. CEI follows the credit recommendations of ACE (American Council on Education); these recommendations can be found in the Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Credit for these courses will be applied to the student’s account 5-10 business days after receiving the official military transcript. Most courses will be used to fulfill general elective requirements; those that are more specific to a degree requirement will need approval from the appropriate dean. Military transcripts can be ordered from https://jst.doded.mil, using Internet Explorer.
Please refer all benefit questions to the Financial Aid Office. Students may also receive additional Veteran’s Services at the Armed Forces Center.
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