Awarding Process

Awarding of Federal (Title IV) Aid at MUIH

1. All Title IV funds are awarded based on the information received from the FAFSA. You must complete the FAFSA to be eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid.
2. MUIH’s academic year, for the purposes of administering federal Title IV financial aid programs is defined as:
   • Three consecutive 14 weeks trimesters during which graduate students must enroll in at least 3 credit hours per trimester(half-time) to qualify for financial aid.
   • Enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours per term is required in order to be considered a full-time student for Title IV federal aid purposes.
   • The Academic Year starts in Fall and ends in Summer. For students who start their program in Spring or Summer they will get awarded financial aid for the remaining of the trimesters in within that academic/award year and then will have to reapply by completing the new FAFSA to continue receiving financial aid for the following academic year.
   • Once the student’s FAFSA is received and there are no issues preventing awarding Financial aid office sends out award letters 2-3 months before the start of the trimester and the process can go as late as a week before. If the Trimester has started already awarding take place in 1-3 business days.
3. Based on a student’s academic program and enrollment status, an estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) will be assigned for packaging purposes.  The COA includes the following items:
   • Tuition and Fees
   • Housing and Meal (Living Expenses)
   • Books and Supplies
   • Transportation Cost
   • Other Educational Cost
4. The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is subtracted from the COA to determine each student’s demonstrated financial need.
   • COA – EFC = NEED
     • The sum of all need-based awards will not exceed the need of the student.
     • The sum of all awards (need and non-need) will not exceed the COA.

Over awards must be resolved and may result in funds being returned to an aid program and a student owing the university money.
When the total of all aid received by the student exceeds the student’s cost of attendance budget, offers in the package will be adjusted (cancelled or reduced) in order to eliminate the over award. Loans will be reduced before any reduction is made to any other awards.