Financial Services

The OneStop and Financial Aid staff are available to advise and assist students with obtaining funds to attend Baker College. All students attending Baker College are advised to apply for financial aid. Advisors are available for individual assistance in areas such as grants, scholarships, loans, employer reimbursement, veterans’ benefits and more. Students who believe their resources are inadequate to meet their expenses at Baker College should contact an OneStop advisor.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

All students who wish to apply for financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans or work aid) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students can apply online at studentaid.gov. Students may contact the Baker College OneStop Office for assistance with this application process.

Once received by Baker College, the FAFSA results will be reviewed. Some students’ applications will be selected for verification; these students will be requested to submit additional documentation before their financial aid process can be completed. Once all necessary documentation is received, the student will be sent a financial aid offer. If the financial aid offer includes a loan(s), the student will need to take action via the financial aid portal to accept, decline or reduce the loan amount. The Financial Aid Office will complete the loan certification process for all accepted loans.

Financial aid funds (including student loans) will not be applied to the student’s account until after the financial aid census date or after the start of the student’s classes (whichever is later). All new students who are first-time borrowers must attend classes at a minimum of half-time status for 30 days before receiving any loan proceeds. Students will be notified when their financial aid funds (including loans) are disbursed and (if applicable) when a refund of excess financial aid is available.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, books, travel and estimated living expenses while at the College. Cost of attendance details are available at my.baker.edu/coa.

Expected Family Contribution

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is determined from the income, assets and other information the student and his/her family report on the FAFSA. The federal methodology formula is used to determine the amount the student and his/her family will be expected to pay.

Types of Financial Aid

Once eligibility for financial assistance has been determined, students may be offered one or more types of aid in what is called a financial aid offer. The financial aid offer may include the following:

• Scholarships: Scholarship awards are usually based on academic excellence and not necessarily on financial need.
• Grants: Grants may be awarded from the federal government, the state government, Baker College and/or private organizations. Unlike scholarships, which are merit based, grant awards are typically based on financial need.
• Loans: Loans are offered at low interest rates, which must be repaid after the student leaves college or drops below half-time enrollment.
• Work-Study: Work-study is typically a part-time job from which earnings are used toward college expenses.

Additional information about each of these programs is listed on the following pages.

Scholarships

Scholastic achievement, extracurricular accomplishments, financial need and career objectives are taken into consideration in the scholarship selection process. Baker College offers scholarships to new students and transfer students, as well as current Baker College students. Visit baker.edu/scholarships for a list of the scholarships available through Baker College. In addition, other agencies and clubs (Kiwanis, American Business Women’s Association, etc.) offer scholarships for outstanding achievement.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is available to Students who graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or certificate of completion or achieved a high school equivalency certificate in 2023. Students and their parents must be Michigan residents since July 1 of the prior year, must complete the FAFSA, have an EFC of 25,000 or lower and attend college full time within 15 months of high school graduation. Eligible students may receive a scholarship of $1,000-$4,000 per academic year. Full details are available at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid.

Grants

Several grant programs are available for eligible Baker College students.

Federal Pell Grant 

Pell Grant funds are available to undergraduate students who have not received their first bachelor degree. The amount depends on the student’s financial need, costs to attend school and enrollment status as a full-time or part-time student. 

A federal Pell Grant for the 2023-2024 award year may range from $761 to $7,395.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is available to undergraduate students. The amount depends on the student’s financial need, costs to attend school and enrollment status as a full-time or part-time student.

Baker College will award FSEOG to students who qualify for Pell Grant funds and who demonstrate the greatest financial need. (Award amounts may range from $100 - $4,000.)

Michigan Tuition Grant

The Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG) is available to undergraduate Michigan residents and is based on financial need for use at independent, nonprofit, degree-granting colleges and universities in Michigan. Students attending at least half time may be eligible to receive a grant from the State of Michigan.

Students must complete the FAFSA by May 1 to receive grant consideration. The amount of funds available is announced annually by the State of Michigan.

Tuition Incentive Program

The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) is a high school completion program that offers to pay for college costs for students who graduate from high school or complete their GED. There are two phases to this program (Phase I and Phase II). The program targets students with financial need to encourage them to graduate from high school or complete their GED and continue to post-secondary education. For additional information, visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid.

Loans

Federal direct loans are available to all students, regardless of financial need. Students must attend college at least half time to be eligible for any type of loan. Remember, loans must be repaid. There are two types of federal direct loans available: Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans. Additional information about federal loan programs is available at studentaid.gov.

Students are required to complete entrance loan counseling and a Master Promissory Note before the release of their first student loan. In addition, student loan borrowers are also required to complete exit loan counseling when they withdraw, drop below half-time enrollment status or graduate. Loan counseling is designed to provide information about student loans (i.e., repayment, deferment, forbearance, disbursement and debt management strategies). This counseling can be completed online at studentaid.gov.

Regulations require schools to establish a Student Loan Code of Conduct Policy. You can access our Code of Conduct Policy at Baker.edu.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans

Federal Direct Stafford Loans are available to student borrowers at low, fixed interest rates. There are two types of Federal Direct Stafford Loans:

Subsidized Stafford Loan

Subsidized Stafford Loan eligibility is based on financial need. Subsidized loans are available only to undergraduate students. Under this loan program, the student is not required to make payments while he/she is in college at least half time and no interest will accumulate during this time. 

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan eligibility is not based on financial need and is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Under this loan program, the student is not required to make payments while he/she is in college; however, interest will accumulate if not paid by the borrower.

Students cannot receive federal direct loans that exceed the cost of education. Listed below are the maximum federal direct loan amounts students may borrow annually, based on grade level:

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Federal Direct PLUS Loans are available for parents of eligible dependent undergraduate students and for eligible graduate students at fixed interest rates. Under the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program, applicants are eligible to borrow up to the total cost of attendance minus any financial aid they will receive. Parents or graduate students may apply for the Federal Direct PLUS Loans at studentaid.gov.

Federal Work-Study

Undergraduate students may be offered opportunities to work part time to earn funds for college expenses. This may reduce loan obligation and may be combined with other types of aid such as grants and scholarships. Work-study eligibility is based on financial need; however, all Baker College students are welcome to apply with Baker College for regular, part time employment.

Work-study provides jobs for students with financial need, as demonstrated on the FAFSA. In addition to work-study jobs on campus, Baker College offers some off-campus work-study jobs. Selection of work-study students will be made by financial aid and the department supervisor based on the financial need, class schedule and academic progress of each student. Detailed information on work-study, how to apply and current job postings can be found at Federal Work-Study.

Financial Aid Rights and Responsibilities

• Students have the right to accept or refuse any part of their financial aid offer. If the student rejects any part of his/her financial aid offered, it may affect other aid offered.
• Students may not receive financial aid from more than one college while enrolled at two or more colleges at the same time.
• Classes taken outside of a student’s declared program do not qualify for most forms of financial aid.
• Students must attend college at least half time (six undergraduate credit hours or five graduate credit hours) to be considered for most financial aid.
• Withdrawal from classes or failure to attend all classes may result in a loss or reduction of financial aid and a balance due to the College.
• It is the student’s responsibility to inform Financial Aid of any changes to information provided on the financial aid application. Students should contact the OneStop Office to report these changes.
• Financial aid offered to the student is dependent upon the availability of funds. Any change in the availability of funds or a student’s academic performance may change the financial aid offer.
• If a student’s financial aid application is estimated or incomplete, the student will be responsible for any charges that may occur if the estimated financial aid indicated is incorrect or the application remains incomplete.
• Information regarding a student and/or parent Title IV-HEA loan will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and accessible by authorized agencies, lenders and institutions.

Financial Information

Tuition Charges

The tuition charge per semester hour of credit is based on the following schedule. Tuition is subject to change at the beginning of any semester.

Note: Lower level courses are 1000-2999 courses (i.e., BUS 2910) and upper level courses are 3000-4999 courses (i.e., BUS 3050).

Fees

Charges for Nontraditional Credits

Financial Responsibility

Registering for courses each semester a student attends Baker College constitutes the student’s acceptance of all responsibility for tuition and fees resulting from the registered course/s as well as an understanding that they are subject to the course withdrawal and refund policies at Baker College. Additionally, by registering for courses each semester a student acknowledges their understanding of the payment options and tuition deadlines set forth at Baker College and an understanding that failure to satisfy these financial obligations by the payment deadlines may result in collection activity, which could include additional fees. Furthermore, by registering for courses each semester a student is acknowledging that they have read and understand Baker College’s policy on Student Billing Electronic Communications and that they consent to the terms of the policy. Additional information regarding available payment options, tuition rates, payment deadlines and policies is located in this Handbook and within the Baker College knowledge-base at services.baker.edu.

Payment Options

Tuition Payments

Tuition may be paid at registration, prior to the start of the semester or through an approved payment plan. There is a $35 fee for payment plans. Invoices are generated throughout the semester and are available for viewing and payment on the student portal. 

Tuition payment can be made as follows:

• Online through the student portal (my.baker.edu), using ACH or by credit*/debit card. NOTE: There is a 2.85 percent fee for use of a credit/debit card for payment. (4.25 percent for international debit/credit cards). The minimum service fee for card transactions over $20.00 and less than $160.00 is $3.00. 
• Foreign Currency - payments vary based on the exchange rate for the selected currency.
• ACH payments. No fee is associated with ACH payments.
• By personal check or money order mailed to Baker College or delivered to the OneStop Office.
• Cash Payments at a OneStop Office.

Absenteeism and withdrawals may not reduce a student’s financial obligation. (See the Class Withdrawal and Refund Policies section in this Handbook.)

*Baker College accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement Program

The employer tuition reimbursement program is a tuition deferment program available to students whose employers pay tuition costs. Enrollment in this program allows students to make monthly installment payments of 2% of the enrolled balance until the final payment due date. The final due date for this plan is after the end of the semester, allowing students to submit their grades to their employer for reimbursement. Students must enroll in the payment plan each semester they wish to defer tuition payments.

To be eligible for the program, the student must complete the following:

• Complete the Request for Tuition Reimbursement Payment Plan contract.
• Submit a letter on company letterhead or a copy of the company policy stating the guidelines for tuition payments made by the employer.

It is the student’s responsibility to submit the invoice and grades to the employer. Baker College will not bill the employer directly. Any portion of tuition not paid by the employer must be paid by the student by the deadline stated on the contract. A nonrefundable $35 fee is assessed each semester for this program. Please contact the OneStop Office for details.

Employer Tuition Assistance Program

Employers that provide tuition assistance issue a voucher, letter of credit or tuition assistance form for tuition. The student must turn in this documentation to the One Stop Office upon receipt. Please verify that all information is correct, including start date(s), course name(s) and course number(s). The College will invoice the student’s employer using this document and employers will send payment directly to the College. Any unpaid balance is the responsibility of the student. It is also the student’s responsibility to obtain the voucher. The College will not invoice the student’s employer unless he or she has turned in the voucher/form.

GI Bill® Payments

If the student will be using veteran assistance (VA) benefits through the GI Bill® to pay for tuition and fees, any portion of these charges not covered by the GI Bill® is due by the published due date of each semester. Baker College allows the cost of books/supplies to be charged to the student’s account, which provides the VA time to release the book stipend to the student. Please note that the books/supplies balances are not considered covered by the GI Bill®, as these funds are paid directly to the student. If the student has not received his or her VA book stipend, by the published due date for the semester, the student is still responsible for payment of the balance (see the “Important Dates and Information” knowledge-base article on services.baker.edu for semester deadlines). A $50 late fee is applied, in accordance with these dates, for any balance still outstanding that is not covered by the GI Bill®. 

If a student needs assistance paying a balance he or she may be eligible to apply for financial aid or for enrollment in a payment plan. For more information on these options contact the OneStop Office.

Baker College does not impose a penalty on students in the event payment is delayed for any portion of their balance covered by the GI Bill®. Delays in payment of these benefits does not result in a late fee or prevent students from registering, continuing in their current courses or maintaining access to other Baker College services. If any portion of a balance originally covered by the GI Bill® is later denied payment by VA, the student is responsible for payment of that portion of the balance. Some common reasons for a partial payment under the GI Bill® are withdrawals from courses, a change in student eligibility or loss of eligibility/exhaustion of benefits.

Any questions regarding VA certifications should be directed to vet2vet@baker.edu.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Services (Chapter 31)

If a student is using veteran assistance (VA) benefits through the Veteran Readiness and Employment Services (Chapter 31) to pay for tuition, fees and books/supplies any portion of these charges, not covered by this benefit, are due by the published due date of each semester (see the “Important Dates and Information” knowledge-base article on services.baker.edu for semester deadlines). A $50 late fee is applied, in accordance with these dates, for any balance still outstanding that is not covered by Chapter 31 benefits.

Invoices for approved tuition, fees and books/supplies are issued directly to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Payment for these charges are issued directly to Baker College and applied to the student billing account balance. Baker College does not impose a penalty on students in the event payment is delayed for any portion of their balance covered by Chapter 31 benefits. Delays in payment of these benefits does not result in a late fee or prevent students from registering, continuing in their current courses or maintaining access to other Baker College services. If any portion of a balance originally covered by Chapter 31 benefits is later denied payment by VA, the student is responsible for the payment of that portion of the balance.

Questions regarding VA certifications should be directed to vet2vet@baker.edu.

Payment Plans

Baker College provides payment plan options for students who are unable to pay their full charges prior to the start of the semester. A $35 non-refundable fee will be charged to enroll in the payment plan. Enrollment in the payment plan, prior to tuition due dates, will prevent students from being charged the $50 late fee, assessed by Baker College. However, a late fee will be assessed by Baker College if the terms of the payment plan are not met.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they fully understand the terms of a payment plan prior to enrollment. If the terms of the payment plan are not met, it may result in additional fees assessed by Transact Payments and/or a withdrawal from the payment plan. 

Students may sign up for payment plans through the student portal at my.baker.edu. For more information on available payment plans visit the Payment Plan Options knowledge-base article on services.baker.edu.

Past Due Balances

Students with outstanding balances may not be allowed to re-enroll for another semester (previously registered courses will be dropped); to receive official transcripts of credit, letters of recommendation or diplomas; to participate in commencement ceremonies; or to use any Baker College service until their Baker College account is settled.

NOTE: Federal regulations prohibit the use of Title IV funds toward a past due balance greater than $200.

Unpaid balances will be sent to an outside collection agency and will be reported to the credit bureau(s). Baker College reserves the right to charge students for collection costs.

Email

Baker College email accounts will be used to contact students regarding changes to financial aid and account balances. It is very important to read these notices to ensure knowledge of financial aid requirements and account status. The emails will alert students to balance due amounts, refund status, adjustment to tuition charges resulting from withdrawal calculations, financial aid documents needed, financial aid awards, loan eligibility and loan postings to student accounts.

Refunds

All Baker College refunds to students are processed with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, inc. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/.

Student Billing Electronic Communications

Baker College utilizes electronic communication, rather than paper, whenever possible for the conduct of official business processes and notifications. Electronic communication between Baker College and the student or authorized payer may be provided (1) by e-mail to the Baker College email assigned to the student or the last e-mail address provided by the authorized payer, (2) by access to information presented electronically on the my.baker.edu web site or (3) by access to a web site that Baker College will generally designate in advance for such purposes. Communications to be provided electronically may include, but are not limited to:

• Student Billing Account Balances
• Course and Fees Statements
• Baker College Fee Catalog and Payment of Miscellaneous Fees
• Payment of Tuition Invoices
• Payment of Admissions Applications Fees
• Submitting a Title IV Authorization Form
• Selecting a BankMobile Disbursement Refund Preference
• Notifications of Changes in Student Billing Account Activity
• Payment Plan Enrollment, Payments and Reminders
• Announcements of New or Upcoming Electronic Features

This also includes electronic delivery of form 1098-T. Students wishing to receive a paper copy of the 1098-T form can opt out of electronic delivery by visiting the 1098-T Delivery Method option on my.baker.edu.

Consent for Electronic Communications

The electronic communications policy at Baker College is part of a global “Consent to do Business Electronically” agreement and is presented to students prior to registering each semester at Baker College. Students provide their consent for electronic communications as part of the registration agreement. Once consent is given it is in effect for the duration of the registered enrollment period or until a request for withdrawal of consent is received from the student.

Although Baker College reserves the right to provide records in paper format at any time, a student’s consent to conduct business electronically with Baker College is also an agreement that Baker College is not required to provide those same communications in a paper format. Students wishing to retain a paper copy of any records provided electronically can do so by printing or saving a copy of the communication. 

Hardware and Software Requirements

For the hardware and software requirements for electronic communications please visit the knowledge-based article, “Minimum Technical Requirements” at services.baker.edu.

Updating Student Records

It is the student’s responsibility to provide Baker College with accurate and complete e-mail addresses, mailing addresses and phone contact information and to maintain and update promptly any changes in this information.

Students can update their address and other contact information with Baker College at my.baker.edu.

Withdrawing Consent for Student Billing Electronic Communications

You may withdraw your consent to electronically conduct business with Baker College at any time. However, a withdrawal of this consent may result in the loss of access to the Student Portal, which includes an inability to view student billing account balances, enroll in payment plans or make payments online. To withdraw consent, submit a request in writing to the Accounts Receivable Processing Center, 1020 S. Washington St., Owosso, MI 48867 or by e-mail to billing@baker.edu. Any withdrawal of your consent to conduct business electronically will become effective only after Baker College has had a reasonable period of time to process your request.

Student Housing Costs

Student housing is available at our Cadillac, Muskegon, Owosso and Port Huron campuses. The rate for all housing options is $2,300 per semester; however, the rate may vary based on occupancy. Contact the OneStop or Housing Departments for details. A non-refundable Residence Hall Application Fee of $50 is required of all new students and due when the Residence Hall Application is submitted. A non-refundable $100 pre-payment is required for each semester a student returns to housing and is due when the Intent to Return Housing Application, found at www.baker.edu/housing, is submitted. The $100.00 returning student pre-payment is applied toward housing costs each semester it is paid.

Estimated food costs are an additional $1,000 per semester. If for any reason a student leaves during a semester, there will be no refund of room fees for that semester.

• Students who live in the residence halls must add the cost of student housing.
• Estimates do not include premium tuition rates for the following courses:

Upper Level courses (3000-4999), Automotive Services Technology, Culinary Arts, Diesel Service Technology, College of Health Science Courses, CIM Course Fees and Nursing Course Fees.

Tuition Deposit - International Students

International students must deposit, in advance, an amount equal to the normal tuition, fees and books for one academic year. The deposit must be renewed prior to registering for the fall semester of each succeeding year. Any unused funds on deposit at the time the student graduates or withdraws will be refunded to the original depositor.

International students must also fulfill requirements for student visas. Information about the student visa process is available at any Baker College Enrollment Center. Graduate students should contact the Baker Center for Graduate Studies directly for assistance.

These regulations do not apply to commuting Canadian students.

Class Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Tuition Refunds

The Class Withdrawal and Refund Policies are based on the official notice date and enrollment period. A refund is available after withdrawal from a course if the student is within the College’s guidelines. The tuition refund policy is subject to change at the beginning of any semester. Changes made to the tuition refund policy during an academic year will be published within the knowledge base on services.baker.edu.

NOTE: ABSENTEEISM OR FAILURE TO BEGIN A CLASS DOES NOT REDUCE A STUDENT’S FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.

Student-Initiated Withdrawal from a Course

A student may withdraw from a course up to the end of the week that precedes the final week of the course. The student is required to submit a withdrawal request by using the “Submit a Withdrawal Request” option located at https://my.baker.edu/ICS/Students/AcademicServices/. Tuition refunds are based on the official withdrawal date, which is the date the student submits his/her withdrawal request via this option. Students may contact the OneStop Office for assistance with completing the withdrawal process.

College-Initiated Withdrawal from a Course

A student may be administratively withdrawn from a course for any of the following reasons:

1. Students who do not initiate academic engagement during the first week of the course may be dropped or withdrawn. Note: Students are responsible for withdrawing from courses they do not plan to attend and will be held financially responsible for tuition charges for classes not dropped/withdrawn from during the drop/add period.
2. The student is not progressing academically in the course. Faculty will submit an Early Alert (EA) and communicate the student’s status in the course. All administrative withdrawals will be at the discretion of the Director of Student Affairs (or designated official).
3. Violation of the Basic Principles of Student Responsibility Policy or other reasons based on a case-by-case basis.

The official withdrawal date for a college-initiated withdrawal is the date the withdrawal is requested by the faculty member or college official.

Enrollment Period

The enrollment period begins on the Monday of the week that the course begins.

Percentage of Refund

Fall/Spring Tuition Refund Schedule
(Based on a 16-week semester or 112 days)

Summer Refund Schedule
(Based on a 12-week semester or 84 days)

• Weeks are defined as Monday through Sunday.
• For other course length refund periods contact onestop@baker.edu
• The Technology Fee is only refundable for students who drop all classes during the first week of the semester.
• The CIM and Nursing Course Fees are only refundable when the associated course has been dropped.
• Students are encouraged to contact the OneStop office before withdrawing from classes to understand the complete financial impact of a withdrawal. Many times, a withdrawal can result in a student owing the College and/or federal government financial aid that had already been refunded to the student.

Refunds on Residence Hall Charges

There is no refund of room charges for students who are expelled, dismissed or move out voluntarily during the semester. (See the Residence Life Policy Book addendum of this Handbook.) An improper checkout from the residence hall may result in additional charges.

Credit Balance Refunds

All Baker College refunds to students are processed with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, inc. Visit this link for more information: https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/

Return of Title IV Federal Financial Aid for Withdrawals

Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from classes to understand the complete financial impact of a withdrawal. Many times, a withdrawal can result in a student owing the College and/or federal government financial aid that had already been refunded to the student. Federal laws set forth regulations that govern the treatment and calculation of refunds for recipients of federal financial aid (Title IV aid) when students withdraw from classes.

The Title IV federal financial aid includes the following programs:

• Unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans
• Subsidized federal Stafford Loans
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Other grants

For students who begin attendance in classes and then withdraw before they have completed over 60 percent of the payment period, Baker College is required, by regulation, to calculate the amount of earned and unearned Title IV aid. The regulations state that a student is entitled to keep only the portion of the aid earned and the College/student must return the funds that were not earned to the appropriate program. Note: Students who successfully complete (with a passing grade) a course that is at least 49% of the enrollment period are not considered withdrawn even if they withdraw from future classes within the term.

The calculation steps are as follows:

1. Determine the Withdrawal Date

The withdrawal date is used to calculate the amount of earned and unearned federal aid for the semester. There are two types of withdrawals:

• Official withdrawals:
  • Student-initiated withdrawals; Date the withdrawal was submitted.
• Unofficial withdrawals:
  • College-initiated withdrawals due to faculty request, suspension, expulsion, etc.; Date the withdrawal was requested by the faculty member or other College official.

Note: Baker College officials may use the last date of academic engagement in place of the withdrawal dates listed above, on a case-by-case basis.

2. Calculate the Percentage of Enrollment Period Completed

Divide the number of calendar days completed by the number of calendar days in the enrollment period. (Any scheduled breaks of five days or more are subtracted.) If the percentage is greater than 60, the student has earned 100 percent of Title IV aid.

Note: The last date of academic engagement (provided by faculty) will be used for students who quit attending classes and receive a failing grade in their latest class session. If the last date of academic engagement is not provided, the midpoint (50%) will be used.

3. Calculate the Amount of Earned Title IV Aid

Multiply the percentage of the enrollment period completed (if less than 60%) by the total Title IV aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed according to late disbursement rules.

4. Calculate the Amount of Unearned Title IV Aid

Subtract the amount of earned Title IV aid from the total amount of federal aid disbursed. The difference must be returned to the appropriate Title IV program by the College or by the student.

5. Return of Title IV Funds

1. The College is required to return funds based on the total institutional charges for the payment period multiplied by the percentage of unearned Title IV aid. This could result in the student owing money back to the College that had previously been disbursed as an excess credit to the student during the semester. These funds must be returned within 45 days of determination that the student has withdrawn (officially or unofficially for nonattendance).
2. The student will be responsible for any balance of unearned Title IV funds that were not required to be returned by the College.
   • If the student’s portion of the aid to be returned is a loan, the student is not immediately required to repay the loan. The terms of the original loan repayment agreement will apply.
   • If the student’s portion of aid to be returned is an over payment of a grant, the student is required to repay only the amount exceeding 50 percent of the total grant for original amounts over $50. The College will notify the student of the amount and the procedures for repayment, if this is required. If the student does not repay the funds, the student is not eligible for federal Title IV funds at any institution until the over payment is paid.

6. Return of Unearned Title IV Funds

The College allocates the return of Title IV funds and any over payment funds collected from the student, by reducing or eliminating outstanding balances on the funding source, received by the student for the enrollment period for which he/she was charged. The return of funds is processed within 45 days from the date of determination of withdrawal, in the following order:

• Unsubsidized federal Stafford loans
• Subsidized federal Stafford Loans
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Other grants

Post-withdrawal disbursements: If the calculation results in earned funds that have not been paid to the student account, a post-withdrawal disbursement may be calculated. If student loans are included in the aid that has not yet been paid, the student will have the option to decline the loan funds so he/she does not incur additional debt. A post-withdrawal disbursement of loan funds is not an option for first-time/first-year borrowers who withdrew during the first 30 days of enrollment because loans cannot be disbursed. The College may use all, or a portion of, grant funds eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement toward tuition, fees and room and board charges without student permission. If the student has any other charges, the student must give permission to use the grant funds.

NOTE: The federal regulations governing Title IV aid refunds are separate from the College’s refund policy for tuition and charges. Withdrawing from classes may also impact satisfactory academic progress.

*In this example, funds the student must return are related to the Pell Grant. As stated in 5.b above, federal regulations exempt the student from returning grant funds if the balance is less than 50 percent of the original grant total. The student would not have any amount required to be returned in this example.

The Class Withdrawal and Refund Policies use the official notice date to determine tuition refund percentage and not the last date of attendance.

The example does not reflect all the different combinations of refund situations that may exist. More information on Title IV return calculations can be found at the OneStop Office. The College reserves the right to amend this procedure to comply with federal regulations.

Return of Unearned Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the Department of Defense (DOD) policy, Baker College returns any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned directly to the military service branch from which the funding originated and not to the student.

In instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Baker College works with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion, in compliance with the DOD policy.

Schedule for the return of Unearned TA Funds

To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policy, Baker College returns any unearned TA funds through at least 60% of the semester on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date of withdrawal from the course.

After 60% of the semester has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD.

Baker College will not bill the DOD until after 60% of the billing period has passed, in an effort to reduce the amount of incorrect TA funds being disbursed by the DOD to Baker College. We only bill for the amount the student earned given his or her enrollment.

Note: Semester weeks are defined as 7 days, Monday through Sunday.

Note: Semester weeks are defined as 7 days, Monday through Sunday.

Note: Semester weeks are defined as 7 days, Monday through Sunday.

Note: Semester weeks are defined as 7 days, Monday through Sunday.

Course Lengths Other Than Listed Above

Unearned TA funds are returned on a prorated basis, depending on the length of the course. To determine the amount of TA that needs to be returned, the institution determines the date the withdrawal was submitted and then divides that by the number of days in the term to determine the percentage of TA that was earned by the student.

Example: The student enrolled in a course that was 5 weeks (35 days) in duration. The withdrawal was submitted on the 15th day. The institution would perform the calculation to determine how much TA was earned by the student’s attendance: (15 divided by 35 equals 42.9%. 43% of the TA authorized was earned by the student, which means 57% of what was authorized will be returned to the DOD).

Repeat Course Policy

Students may repeat courses to improve their grades. Financial aid eligibility for repeated courses varies based on the type of aid:  

• Federal financial aid may be available to help pay for a repeated course if the student’s existing grade in the course is an F or W. If the student received a passing grade (D- or better), financial aid may be used to repeat the course only one time. 
• State financial aid may be available for repeated courses until the minimum grade for the student’s program is earned. 
• Financial aid is not available for coursework completed in a previously earned certificate or degree program. 

A third attempt on any course must be approved by an Academic Advisor. Students may be required to pay all related tuition and fees for a third attempt. If a student repeats a course, the higher or highest of the grades will be used in computing the student’s GPA. However, all grades will remain on the student’s official transcript and will be included in the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation. 

An attempt is defined as a course completion in which a student is assigned a grade. 

Some programs are subject to exceptions to the third attempt policy based on licensing, accreditation and standards, which may stipulate fewer attempts.

Financial Aid Census Date

Baker College uses the financial aid census date to determine a student’s enrollment status for awarding Pell Grant funds. The census date is typically the 7th calendar day of the semester.

The courses that students are registered for at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the financial aid census date will determine Pell Grant eligibility. This means if a student adds or drops courses before the census date, the amount of Pell Grant for which he or she is eligible will be affected. If courses are added after the census date, the Pell Grant award will not increase; however, if courses are withdrawn or dropped after the census date, Pell Grant funds may be reduced.

The financial aid census date does not apply to other forms of financial aid. Enrollment changes after the census date may affect the amount of other grants, scholarships and loans the student may receive. Students are encouraged to contact the OneStop Office for details about how enrollment changes (including withdrawals) will affect their financial aid awards.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

For a student to receive federal, state or institutional aid, regulations require that the student maintains satisfactory academic progress toward completion of his or her current academic program. All students will have their progress reviewed, whether or not they are receiving financial aid, since these rules decide eligibility for future terms.

There are three academic standards that all students are required to maintain to remain eligible for future financial aid assistance. The standards required to maintain eligibility for financial aid are grade point average (GPA), pace and maximum time frame. In addition, students must be accepted for continued enrollment under the policies defined in the Baker College Catalog and Student Handbook. Detailed information regarding Baker College’s Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Students can also obtain copies by contacting the OneStop Office.