At University of Maryland Global Campus, we want to help you understand and simplify the financial aid process by providing you information on term award disbursement—the process in which financial aid funds are credited to your student account.

The below information should be used as a guide to help you identify your enrollment level and disbursement information for common types of financial aid awards. If you have questions regarding how enrollment changes could affect your aid, please visit Dropping or Withdrawing and Financial Aid.

Enrollment Level

The amount of your award will be adjusted throughout the term if your enrollment level changes because you added, dropped, or withdrew from classes. For the specific examples of financial aid we describe on this page, we use several terms to classify students' enrollment status. Here are the definitions of those terms:

Full-Time

Degree/Program Level Credits

Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Programs

12 or more credits per term

Graduate Programs

9 credits per term

Graduate Programs (Requiring DCL 600, CBR 600, and PRO 600) and MBA

6 credits per term

Doctoral Programs

6 credits per term

3/4-Time

Degree/Program Level Credits

Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Programs

9–11 credits per term

Half-Time

Degree/Program Level Credits

Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Programs

6–8 credits per term

Graduate Programs (Excluding programs requiring DCL 600, CBR 600, and PRO 600)

6 credits per term

MBA (Requiring AMBA 600)

3 credits per term

Doctoral Programs

3 credits per term

Less Than Half-Time

Degree/Program Level Credits

Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Programs

5 or less credits per term

Graduate Programs (Excluding programs requiring DCL 600, CBR 600, and PRO 600)

3 credits per term

Impact of Enrollment Level on Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Throughout the term, your Pell Grant will adjust to match your active enrollment. Students who are notified of their award prior to the semester are initially awarded at a half-time enrollment level. However, this amount will adjust to match your enrollment level once the term begins.

Your award will disburse as you meet the following enrollment levels based on your active course load:

  • Full-Time: 100 percent of the full-time term award

  • 3/4-Time: 75 percent of the full-time term award

  • Half-Time: 50 percent of the full-time term award

  • Less Than Half-Time: 25 percent of the full-time term award

Please note: Pell Grant disbursements do not occur until after the term has begun.

Your total term award is based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) range as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Your term award will be reduced for classes that are dropped, withdrawn, or receive an FN grade.

Example: Federal Pell Grant Disbursement

Caitlin registers as a full-time undergraduate at UMGC, signing up for 12 credits during the fall term. Of those 12 credits, she is registered for 

  • 3 credits in online session 1

  • 3 credits in online session 2

  • 6 credits in online session 3

Caitlin understands that the Pell Grant will disburse in increments that match her active enrollment. Therefore, her award will disburse after each start date during online sessions 1, 2, and 3.

After the start of online session 4, Caitlin withdraws from one 3-credit class. Her Pell Grant is then adjusted to reflect her new 3/4-time active enrollment level.

Please see the graph below as an example:

Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (Undergraduate Only)

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered for 3 or more credits during a term. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of your classes.

If you register for fewer than 3 credits during the term or if your enrollment decreases to fewer than 3 credits during the term, you become ineligible for this grant and the award will be canceled.

More Information on Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Learn more about the Federal Pell Grant program, including eligibility requirements.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Learn about the program for students with great need.

Impact of Enrollment Level on Federal Loans

UMGC employs a single disbursement process for federal loans:

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

  • Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

  • Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered at a half-time enrollment level or higher and have completed the required Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement (minus any applicable loan fees), at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks your active half-time enrollment status.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan recipients scheduled to graduate at the end of the fall term may be subject to an award reduction due to federal loan proration regulations. If you register at a less than half-time level or if your enrollment decreases to below a half-time level, you become ineligible for these loans and the award will be canceled.

Example: Federal Loan Disbursement

Walter registers as a half-time undergraduate student at UMGC, signing up for 6 credits in the fall term. Of those 6 credits, he is registered for

  • 3 credits in online session 1

  • 3 credits in online session 3

Walter understands that his federal loan cannot disburse until, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks his active half-time enrollment. In this case, Walter will be considered actively enrolled at half-time status starting in online session 3.

Please see the graph below as an example:

Overawards

An overaward occurs when a student's financial aid awards exceed their total Cost of Attendance (COA) and/or their financial need. An overaward is usually the result of changing circumstances after financial aid has been awarded or disbursed. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:

  • Cost of Attendance (COA) reductions as a result of changes in your enrollment or residency status

  • Receipt of additional funds from sources including federal, state, institutional aid, third-party, or private scholarships after the initial financial aid award is made

  • An increase to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as a result of the documentation you provided for verification

Aid Adjustments Due to Overaward

When an overaward occurs, UMGC is required to take necessary actions to resolve it. Once the issue has been resolved, an updated aid notification is delivered to the student/borrower. Overaward resolution often results in a balance due to the university — any balance on your Student Account after aid has been adjusted is your responsibility.

More Information on Federal Loans

Federal Direct Loan

Read about the Federal Direct Loan program, offering long-term, low interest loans.

Federal Perkins Loan

Review information on the need-based Federal Perkins Loan program.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

Explore a loan for your dependent child's education.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

Learn about using Federal loans for graduate studies.

Impact of Enrollment Level on Institutional Grants and Scholarships

Adjunct Faculty Scholarship and Spouse and Dependent Scholarship

You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the first class of the term. Your award will be reduced if you drop classes.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (Undergraduate Only) and President's Scholarship

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered at a half-time enrollment level or higher. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks your active half-time enrollment status. If you register at a less than half-time level or if your enrollment falls below a half-time level, you become ineligible for this scholarship and the award will be canceled.

Completion Scholarship

In order for your Completion Scholarship to disburse, you must be registered for 3 or more credits during a term. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of your class marking your enrollment status of 3 or more credits. Your award will be reduced if you drop or withdraw from classes. If you register for less than 3 credits during the term or if your enrollment falls below 3 credits during the term, you become ineligible for this scholarship and the award will be canceled.

President's Grant

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered for 3 or more credits during a term. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of your class marking your enrollment status of 3 or more credits. If you register for less than 3 credits during the term or if your enrollment falls below 3 credits during the term, you become ineligible for this scholarship and the award will be canceled.

Impact of Enrollment Level on Maryland State Grants and Scholarships

UMGC students frequently inquire about the disbursement process for several State of Maryland grants and scholarships.

Howard P. Rawlings Grants

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered at a full-time enrollment level. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement after the start date of the final class of your semester. If you register at a less than full-time level or if your enrollment drops to below a full-time level, you become ineligible for these grants and the award will be canceled.

Delegate Scholarship and Senatorial Scholarship

Full-time enrollment level: You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks your active full-time enrollment status.

Half-time or 3/4-time enrollment level: You will receive 100 percent of the part-time term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks your active half-time enrollment status. If you register at a less than half-time level or if your enrollment drops to below a half-time level, you become ineligible for this scholarship and the award will be canceled.

Edward T. Conroy and Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered at a half-time enrollment level or higher. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement, at the earliest, six to eight days prior to the start of the class that marks your active half-time enrollment status. If you register at a less than half-time level or if your enrollment drops to below a half-time level, you become ineligible for this scholarship and the award will be canceled.

Part-Time Grant Program

In order for your award to disburse, you must be registered at a half-time or 3/4-time enrollment level. You will receive 100 percent of your term award disbursement after the start date of the final class of your semester. If you register at a full-time level or at a level that is less than half-time or if your enrollment rises to a full-time level or drops to a level that is less than half-time, you become ineligible for this grant and the award will be canceled.

More Information on Federal and State Programs

Federal Grants and Scholarships

Find out which federal grants and scholarships are available to you.

Maryland Financial Assistance Programs

Learn about State of Maryland financial aid programs.

Note on Disbursement Schedule

Disbursements occur on Tuesday and Thursday each week with exceptions for holidays and federal government or state closures. Undergraduate and graduate sessions are typically scheduled to begin on Wednesday, so the earliest possible disbursement date is the Tuesday prior to the start of class (eight days). MBA sessions and graduate sessions requiring DCL 600, CBR 600, and PRO 600 are typically scheduled to begin on Wednesday, so the earliest possible disbursement date is the Tuesday prior to the start of class (eight days).

Learn more about how to receive your financial aid refund if you're eligible.

Financial Aid Help

Get help with financial aid at UMGC.