Eligibility Requirements

General eligibility requirements for state and federal financial assistance programs are listed here. Other requirements may apply for certain programs. Be sure you meet all requirements before applying.

1. Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen
   (NOTE: Undocumented students can apply for state grants as part of the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid) 
2. Have a valid Social Security number
3. Have a high school diploma from an accredited high school or a GED
4. Have a reading score on the ACT, SAT® or ACCUPLACER® test that meets the minimum requirement to complete a Certificate or Degree at Waubonsee. ACCUPLACER® testing is done by the Learning Assessment and Testing Services
5. Not be in default on any student loan
6. Not owe a refund on any grant or loan, and not have borrowed in excess of the loan limits, under Title IV programs, at any institution
7. Agree to use any student financial aid solely for educational purposes
8. Agree not to engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance during the period covered by federal student aid
9. Submit a Waubonsee New Student Application and select an eligible program. A certificate program must be at least 16 credit hours to qualify
10. Enroll in eligible courses. View the list of ineligible courses
11. Make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate as defined below
12. Be aware that financial aid does not cover audited courses or more than one repeat of a previously passed course
13. Accept the Terms and Conditions of all financial aid offered

In accordance with the regulations set forth by the United States Department of Education and the State of Illinois, Waubonsee Community College (WCC) hereby establishes the following Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. This policy applies to all students who apply for financial assistance through state or federal programs, including grants, loans, and/or work-study funds. This requirement does not apply to students who only receive the Illinois Veterans’ or Illinois National Guard grants. It is designed to ensure that students are making satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of their academic programs. The standards outlined herein apply to a student’s cumulative academic performance, irrespective of their financial aid application status in any given term. See below for the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy details:

• Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement:

Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to remain eligible for financial aid. This includes accounting for grades in repeated courses where credit is earned. Should the cumulative GPA fall below 2.0 over two or more terms, reinstatement can be pursued as outlined in the policy. See Appeal/Reinstatement below. 

• Maximum Time Frame Requirement:

Financial aid eligibility at WCC is limited to 150% of the total required credit hours for a student’s program or until the student earns an associate degree/certificate, whichever comes first. This includes accepted transfer hours from other institutions.

• Completion Rate Requirement:

To maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student must complete at least 67 percent of all credits attempted. This completion rate is calculated by adding transfer credits accepted and Waubonsee credits earned, then dividing by the total of transfer credits accepted plus Waubonsee credits attempted. Additionally, the completion rate for credits earned solely at WCC divided by credits attempted at WCC must also be at least 67 percent. For any term in which a student attempts 12 or more credits, they must earn more than 0 percent of these credits. Failure to maintain a 67 percent completion rate after two or more terms requires the student to meet specific reinstatement criteria outlined in the Appeal/Reinstatement section.

• Credit Hours Earned: Includes grades of A, B, C, or D in WCC courses and accepted transfer credits.
• Credit Hours Attempted: Encompasses all credit classes post-refund period and accepted transfer credits. Withdrawals after this period are included as attempted hours.
• Exclusions: Audits, courses below 050, proficiency tests, and noncredit courses are excluded from the totals. Repeated courses count in attempted hours but only once in completed hours unless repeatable by design.

Academic progress is evaluated after each term, assigning students one of the following statuses: NEW/PASS, WARN, FAIL, FAIL-A, DENIED, MAX-W, MAX, MAX-D, MAX-A, P-APPL, or FAAP-A based on their academic achievements and adherence to SAP standards. Definitions for each status are listed below:

Federal and State Financial Aid ELIGIBLE Statuses:

• NEW/PASS — The student is in their first term of enrollment and either has not yet received grades, has not enrolled in any credit-bearing courses, or is currently meeting all standards for academic progress.
• WARN —The student has failed to achieve the necessary completion rate or GPA as specified in this policy. However, the student is still eligible to receive financial aid while designated with a WARN status.
• MAX-W (Max Warn) — The student has attempted the equivalent total number of credit hours necessary for their degree or certificate, counting both attempted credits and transfer credits. While at this status, known as MAX-W, the student is eligible to receive financial aid.
• MAX-A (Max Approved) — The student's Appeal/Reinstatement Request, along with a Financial Aid Degree Audit, has been approved. To maintain this approval status, the student must successfully complete all courses attempted as specified on the FADA, without any F grades or withdrawals. Furthermore, the student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in each term following this approval until they have completed all the courses listed on the FADA. If the student still does not meet the minimum requirements, they will go to FAIL.
• P-APPL (Probation, on Academic Plan) — The student's Appeal/Reinstatement Request has been approved, granting them this status for a single term, during which the student may continue to receive FSA funds. During this probationary term, if the student achieves at least a 2.0 GPA and completes 67% of their coursework, they will advance to a PASS status. However, if the student fails to meet these minimum criteria, they will be moved to a FAIL-A status, or to a FAAP-A status if they have an approved academic plan in place.
• FAAP-A (Financial Aid Academic Plan - Approved) — The student has finished their probationary semester and is adhering to the conditions of their academic plan, but they still haven't reached the minimum Standards of Academic Progress (SAP). Students who are on an academic plan will maintain this status until they either meet the minimum SAP criteria or fail to comply with the conditions of their Financial Aid Academic Plan (FAAP).

Federal and State Financial Aid INELIGIBLE Statuses:

• FAIL — If the student does not reach the required completion rate or GPA by the end of the WARN term or attempts to enroll in any courses during a term but does not successfully complete any credits, they will become ineligible for federal and state financial aid programs.
• FAIL-A (Fail after Appeal) — If a student fails to meet the minimum Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) after their probationary term, or fails to adhere to the conditions of their approved academic plan in later terms, their status will be updated to FAIL-A
• MAX — The student has attempted credits in excess of 150% of its published program credit requirements including transfer credits.
• MAX-D (Max, has Degree) — The student has earned an associate degree or higher. 
• DENIED — The student's request for appeal or reinstatement has been rejected.

Appeal requirements are based on the student's ineligible status.

FAIL — The student may submit an Appeal/Reinstatement Request. To be approved, the student must meet one of the following:

• Appeal – There must be documented mitigating circumstances, like medical, that affected the student's academic performance. Failure to provide the required documentation for mitigating circumstances will result in denial.
  • Required Documentation:
    • Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal/Reinstatement Request Form, and
    • Medical Issue – Supporting medical documentation, or
    • Death of a Family Member – Obituary or funeral program, or
    • Assault/Domestic Violence – Police report, or court documentation, or letter from clergy, social worker, counselor, or health professional. - and-
    • Financial Aid Academic Plan (FAAP.)
• Reinstatement – The student can request reinstatement based a review of their last term of attendance. The student must have completed all courses attempted (no withdrawals or grades of F) earning a minimum of six credits with a semester GPA of 2.0. Earned hours must have increased by six.

If the submitted Appeal/Reinstatement Request meets one of the above requirements, the student will then be notified that they must meet with an Academic Advisor to prepare a Financial Aid Academic Plan. This Plan must be signed by the student and an Academic Advisor and be submitted to the Financial Aid Office before the Appeal/Reinstatement Request will be approved for the upcoming term. The Financial Aid Academic Plan will specify the point in time when the student should be meeting the standards. Until the student re-establishes eligibility by meeting the minimum SAP requirements (see above), the students will be at a status of Probation-Academic Plan (P-APPL).

MAX — The student is required to appeal and submit a Financial Aid Degree Audit signed by an Academic Advisor. The Degree Audit lists the courses that are required for the student to complete their degree or certificate program. Students can also appeal to complete preparatory courses required for acceptance to an academic program at another school by submitting a letter from the other school listing the courses that are required for admission. If approved for the additional courses, the student's status is changed to MAX-A.

MAX-D — An appeal and Financial Aid Degree Audit signed by an Academic Advisor may be submitted for the pursuit of an additional degree other than an AGS, Certificate, or for preparatory courses required for an additional degree. Only courses on the Financial Aid Degree Audit are recognized for the receipt of financial aid. If the student applied to graduate but has not completed all required courses, the student can change their graduation term by emailing graduation@waubonsee.edu.  If approved for an additional degree, the student's status is changed to MAX-A.

Appeals need to be submitted by the official Drop with Refund deadline for the fourth quarter of each semester to be eligible for consideration. Any appeals received after this deadline will be considered for the next semester.

The committee will evaluate appeals individually. Students will receive notification of the committee's decision via email within 14 calendar days after the committee receives a fully completed appeal, which includes any required documentation, Financial Aid Academic Plans (FAAPs), or Financial Aid Degree Audits (FADAs). The appeals committee's decision is conclusive and final.

A student who does not meet the required Completion Rate and/or GPA can regain eligibility by attaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and/or completing 67 percent of their attempted courses. However, this is only possible if the student has not reached the MAX status, which occurs when they attempt credits more than 150% of the credits required for their program, including transfer credits, or the MAX-D status, which is assigned upon completion of an associate degree or higher. Once the student meets these criteria, their status will be updated to PASS.