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 4
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 4.
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: