_This is part of a series of information from the Financial Aid Office. Although this is an FA column, any and all billing, payment and refund of fees questions should be directed to the Student Accounts Office located in Old Main Room 100 or by calling 717-477-1211. _

In last week’s Financial Aid column, we mentioned that budgets and aid will be adjusted based on the credit hours you are scheduled to take. When you are initially awarded aid, it will be based on the assumption that you will be full time. But if your schedule changes, so will your bill and your eligibility for aid. Your final aid for the term will be based on your total credits at the end of the drop/add period for the term, when we “freeze” your credits.

Although 2013-2014 costs and budgets have not been set yet, there are estimated budgets on www.ship.edu/finaid.

There are two examples of how budgets differ for less than full time enrollment for one term. The first is for an off campus, undergraduate student who is a Pennsylvania resident.

The second is for an off-campus, graduate student who is a Pennsylvania resident. Graduate students are slightly different as they are considered full time with 9 or more credits, half time with 6-8 credits, and less than half time with 5 or fewer credits. (There is no three-quarter time status for a graduate student.) Again, costs are for one term.

*You may be asking why students who are less than half time are not eligible for room and board. This has to be do federal financial aid rules on what budget components can be included for students who are less than half time.

In some instances, a room and board allowance can be included. Federal aid for students who are less than half time is very limited, and you would want to consult with a Financial Aid Counselor if you were planning on attending less than half time.

All students will have pro-rated budgets if they are less than full time. That includes both in-state and out-of-state students, undergraduate and graduate students, and students who are living on campus, off campus or commuting.

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