Policies
Renewal Requirements

Renewal Policy: It is necessary to reapply for financial aid for each year of study. Returning students must file the CSS PROFILE as well as the Renewal FAFSA by April 15, 2010. The filing deadline for all forms, including signed copies of both parents' and student's 2009 federal tax returns, is April 15, 2010. Your application will not be reviewed until the FAFSA, PROFILE, Lehigh application and the federal income tax forms are received and complete. Late applicants risk not being aided due to lack of fund availability. Renewal of aid is limited to four years, for a four year program. Extensions beyond that time period require petitions to the Committee on Undergraduate Financial Aid. To complete a petition to be aided for your fifth year, fill out this petition form.

Refund/ Withdrawal

Withdrawal/Refund Policy: An undergraduate student in good standing who formally withdraws or reduces his or her course enrollment below twelve credit hours before 60% of the semester has been completed during the fall and spring semesters will be eligible for a tuition refund. The tuition refund for a student who withdraws or drops a course(s) is calculated on a daily basis. The date used to calculate refunds is based on when a properly authorized withdrawal or drop/add is received by the Registrar's Office. Students receiving financial aid that drop below full time status must have their financial aid package re-evaluated by the Office of Financial Aid prior to the issuance of any refund check. The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for determining the appropriate redistribution of charges and refunds when students receive any financial assistance. These decisions are made on the basis of federal, state and institutional policies. Any refunds due to the Title IV programs will be refunded in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan; Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan; Federal Perkins Loans; Federal PLUS Loan; Federal Pell Grant; Federal SEOG; Any other Title IV program.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Generally speaking, Satisfactory Progress includes 1) remaining in good standing (based on your GPA), 2) advancing a minimum of 24 new credits per academic year (minimally, 12 credits per semester) and, 3) keeping pace with your class, progressing from freshman to sophomore, etc. This is dependent upon your academic program. For university need-based aid, unless otherwise stated, you are expected to pass a minimum of 12 new credits, with a 2.0 grade point average each semester, while maintaining a 2.0 cumulative average. Evaluations of SAP are made at the end of each academic year. The complete university policy on satisfactory academic progress is available in this pdf document. Dropping below any of these expectations may require summer study or a petition to the Committee on Undergraduate Financial Aid. To petition the Committee on Undergraduate Financial Aid complete the petition process. The petition is considered incomplete and will not be considered for review until all steps have been completed and received in the Financial Aid Office.

Students' Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to know:

  • the cost of attendance;
  • the refund policy for students who withdraw;
  • the financial assistance available from federal, state and institutional sources;
  • procedures and deadlines for submitting applications for financial aid;
  • how financial aid recipients are selected;
  • how eligibility was determined, including all resources the aid office considered available to the student;
  • how and when funds will be disbursed;
  • an explanation of each type of award received;
  • for any student loan received: the interest rate, total amount to be repaid, when repayment begins, the length of the repayment period, and the cancellation or deferment provisions of the loan;
  • for any Federal Work-Study or university-funded job: a description of the job, the hours to be worked, the rate of pay, and how and when the student will be paid;
  • the criteria used to determine satisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes; and how to appeal a decision by the Office of Financial Aid concerning any aid award.

It is the student's responsibility to:

  • read directions thoroughly, complete all application forms accurately, and to comply with any deadlines;
  • provide any supplemental information or documentation required by the Office of Financial Aid or other agency if applicable;
  • read, understand, and keep copies of any forms the student is required to sign;
  • repay any student loans received;
  • attend an entrance interview and an exit interview if federal, state or university loans are received while in attendance at Lehigh;
  • notify the Office of Financial Aid of any change in enrollment status or financial status (including any scholarships or grants received from outside sources); changes of address and enrollment status must also be reported to lender(s) for any loan(s);
  • satisfactorily perform the work agreed upon in a Federal Work-Study or university-funded work program; and
  • know and comply with all requirements for continuation of financial aid, including satisfactory academic progress requirements.
External Scholarships

Outside Scholarship Adjustment Policy: The majority of our financial aid packages are based on financial need and therefore, require us to monitor aid from all sources. Receipt of an outside award will first reduce any unmet need, then reduce grant and self-help equally. Students receiving need based aid in combination with a merit or athletic scholarship award have their need met with grant assistance. In these cases, a dollar for dollar reduction, to the need based grant, is necessary.

Appeal Process

Appeal/Petition Process: Students on academic or disciplinary probation are not normally eligible for university grant aid during any period of the probation. Students not maintaining satisfactory progress, as defined by Lehigh or the appropriate governmental agency, may be ineligible for all forms of federal aid, including loans and employment. Appeals, based on extenuating circumstances, may be submitted to the Committee on Undergraduate Financial Aid. The Committee meets the first week in January, and after each summer session to evaluate requests.
View the petition form (PDF).