Award Information & Conditions
Calvin Scholarships
Most scholarships
are granted on the basis of the student’s academic record and potential; in some cases, other factors such as program of study, financial need,
and other designated criteria are taken into consideration.
Please refer to your scholarship announcement and to the scholarship search for information about conditions relating to any scholarships you have received.
Calvin Grants
Calvin provides money in these programs for students who qualify for need-based aid but are not eligible for or do not receive enough assistance in state and federal grant programs. The amount of this award may be adjusted later if you receive additional aid not currently listed on your Award Notice.
Denominational Grant
This is a grant given to members of the Christian Reformed Church to
recognize regular contributions received through churches in the denomination.
The amount of the grant depends on the location of the student’s
home and the student’s enrollment status. In rare instances the
amount of the grant may need to be reduced because of other awards the
student receives.
Canadian Exchange Grant
Canadian students at Calvin may be eligible for an Exchange Grant when there is difference between the U.S. and Canadian dollar. The amount of the grant is reevaluated periodically (in July for the fall semester and in November for the spring semester) and is dependent on current conditions. The actual grant is calculated at half of the 30-day average exchange rate and is applied to the student's account prior to each semester. A student's financial aid award package may include an estimated Exchange Grant, which is based on the cost of attendance ($32,310 for 2009-2010) less financial aid. The maximum grant is $2,500 for 2009-2010.
Korean Exchange Grant
Korean students at Calvin may be eligible for an Exchange Grant when the value of the won declines in value compared to the U.S. dollar. The amount of the grant is reevaluated periodically (in July for the fall semester and in November for the spring semester) and is dependent on current conditions. The actual grant is calculated at half of the 30-day average value compared to the average value over the previous three years. This grant is only available to returning students. A student’s financial aid award package may include an estimated Exchange Grant, which is based on the cost of attendance ($32,310 for 2009-2010) less financial aid. The maximum grant is $1500 for 2009-2010.
Michigan Competitive Scholarship and Tuition Grant
These are awards made by the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority based on their review of your FAFSA. They are for Michigan residents only. The amount indicated on your award notice is an estimate of what you are expected to receive. The actual amount of your award is determined when the state confirms your eligibility.
Michigan Adult Part-Time Grant
This grant program is for students enrolled less than full-time but taking three or more credit hours per semester. Recipients must qualify as independent students and must be residents of the state of Michigan.
Michigan Promise Scholarship
Students graduating from a Michigan high school, beginning with the graduating class of 2007, are eligible for up to a $4,000 Michigan Promise Scholarship from the State of Michigan.
Students with qualifying scores on the high school MEAP test of Michigan Merit Exam (MME) may receive up to a $1,000 scholarship installment payment for each of their first two years of college enrollment. Students may also receive up to $2,000 after the successful completion of two years of post secondary education with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Students without qualifying scores on the high school MEAP test may still receive up to $4,000 after the successful completion of two years of post secondary education with at least a 2.5 GPA.
If you qualify, you must certify your scholarship by November 15 of the academic year in which you wish to use your scholarship.
Federal Pell Grant
This is a grant funded by the federal government for U.S. students with the highest need. Normally, these grants are limited to students enrolled at least half-time; however, students attending less than half-time may receive a grant if their expected family contribution is especially low.
Federal
Supplemental Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal
program which provides funds through Calvin for needy students. Preference
is given to those who qualify for Pell Grants.
Federal
Academic Competitiveness Grant
An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for
the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second
year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for
a Federal Pell Grant, are U.S. citizens, and have successfully completed a rigorous high
school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and
recognized by the Secretary of Education.
Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant.
Federal
SMART Grant
A National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent)
Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years
of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal
Pell Grant, are U.S. citizens, and are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences,
mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined
critical to national security.
The student must also have maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.
Federal Perkins Loan
Your award notice indicates the amount you may borrow through the Federal Perkins Loan. If you wish to accept the loan, you will need to indicate this on the Accept Awards form.
The Perkins Loan is interest-free and no repayment is required while you are enrolled in school at least half-time (this applies to Calvin, to graduate school, or any other college or university in the U.S.). Interest on the loan during repayment is 5% simple interest. Repayment begins 9 months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time, with the minimum payment being $120 per quarter.
Acceptance of the Federal Perkins Loan generally does not affect your eligibility for other types of financial aid. The amount of the loan or other aid may be adjusted later if you receive additional aid not currently listed on your award notice, or if we receive additional information that reduces your eligibility for financial aid.
Before the loan can disburse, you must sign the electronic promissory note and do Perkins Loan counseling online.
Prior to disbursement of the loan, a statement will be sent to you showing your total cumulative balance owed to Calvin College for the Perkins Loan and an estimate of the monthly payment amount needed to repay the balance.
Federal Direct Subsidized and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Your award notice indicates the amounts you may borrow through the Federal Direct Subsidized (need-based) and/or the Federal Direct Unsubsidized (non-need-based) Loan program. You may borrow less than the amounts listed on the award notice, but you should borrow the maximum for which you are eligible in the subsidized loan before borrowing the unsubsidized loan. If you wish to accept the loan(s), you will need to indicate this on the Accept Awards form.
If you accept the Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan(s), you must sign an electronic master promissory note and complete online loan counseling if you have not already done so.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan
The Parent PLUS Loan is a federally funded loan borrowed by the parent to help pay education expenses not covered by your financial aid award package. Parents may access the application here.
Parents will be required to pass a credit check. If approved, first time borrowers will have to sign a master promissory note (MPN). The promissory note can be signed on paper or signed electronically online.
The borrowing parent is responsible for repayment of the loan. The first payment will be due within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed. Repayment information will be mailed to the borrower from the Direct Loan Servicing Center.
PLUS Loan for Graduate or Professional Students
The PLUS Loan is available to students who are enrolled in a Graduate or Professional program at least half-time. The loan may only cover cost of attendance, less financial aid. You may access the application here.
You will be required to pass a credit check. Once the application is approved, first time borrowers will fill out a Master Promissory Note (MPN). This may be done on paper or signed electronically online.
The first payment will be due within 60 days after the loan has been fully disbursed. Information regarding repayment, payment options, deferment and forbearance will be mailed to the borrower by the Direct Loan Servicing Center.
Alternative Loans
If you will need more aid than the amount shown on your award notice,
there are other programs that provide long-term loans to Calvin students
and parents regardless of need or family income. These programs are intended
to supplement other student aid programs when the student needs more aid
than those programs provide.
Work-study and Student Employment
All students have the opportunity to apply to work on campus or to pursue a job off campus. A student working 10 to 12 hours per week in a campus job can expect to earn $2,000 during the academic year. If you are interested in a part time job and would like more information, please visit Student Employment Services.
Responsibilities & Policies
Academic Progress Requirements
Students who receive financial aid must meet minimum academic standards
to continue to be eligible for financial aid. These standards are established
to encourage students to complete courses for which aid is received and
to progress toward degree completion. The standards are similar to those
used for academic probation and dismissal.
Academic progress is measured by:
-
a minimum cumulative grade point average needed for continued enrollment, and
-
the number of credit hours earned at Calvin in relation to the number of credit hours attempted
The requirements are listed below:
| Number of Credit Hours Attempted | Percent Completion Required | Cumulative GPA Required |
|---|---|---|
| 16 or fewer | 66% | 1.00 |
| 17 - 31 | 66% | 1.30 |
| 32 - 49 | 68% | 1.45 |
| 50 - 67 | 70% | 1.60 |
| 68 - 85 | 72% | 1.75 |
| 86 - 104 | 74% | 1.90 |
| 105 - 123 | 77% | 2.00 |
| 124 or more | 80% | 2.00 |
-
The number of credit hours attempted is the number of hours for which a student is registered at the beginning of the second week of classes, not the number of hours registered at the end of the semester.
-
In calculating the percent completed, academic service courses and transfer credits are not counted in the number of credits attempted or earned, nor do they figure into the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
-
When a student repeats a course, that course is counted in the number of courses attempted by that student but not in the number of credits he/she has earned.
Financial aid is not available to undergraduate students who have attempted more than 155 credit hours, including transfer credits, or to graduate students who have attempted more than 40 credit hours.
A student who is denied financial aid because his/her total attempted credit hours exceed these amounts may be considered for additional financial aid if there is a change in major or program. Appeal procedures should be followed to request reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.
Enrollment Requirements
For purposes of financial aid, students are classified as full time, three quarter time, half time or less than half time. The number or credit hours required for each enrollment status is as follows:
| Credit Hours per Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
UNDERGRADUATE |
GRADUATE |
|
| Full time | 12 or more | 9 or more |
| Three quarter time | 9 to 11 | 6.75 to 8.75 |
| Half time | 6 to 8 | 4.5 to 6.5 |
| Less than half time | less than 6 | less than 4.5 |
Students who enroll less than full-time but at least half-time are eligible for aid in most programs. In most cases, the amount of aid will be reduced based on the student’s enrollment status.
Eligibility for students enrolled less than half time is limited to:
- the Federal Pell Grant, which is available for those who meet the federal need criteria
- the Michigan Adult Part-Time Grant, which is available to students taking at least 3 but fewer than 12 credit hours per semester
- the Denominational Grant, which is based on the number of hours for which a student is registered
If you plan to attend less than full time and wish to know how this will affect your aid, you are encouraged to contact us.
Verification
Each year, approximately 30% of those who apply for financial aid are selected to be verified. In these cases, the federal government requires that students and parent(s) (or spouse) supply supporting documentation to verify the information they provided on the FAFSA.
If your application is selected for verification, you will need to provide the office of financial aid with a copy of your and your parents’ or spouse’s federal income tax return along with other information. If there are differences between the information on your FAFSA and the information provided at the time of verification, adjustments may have to be made to your financial aid.
Withdrawing from Calvin/Institutional Withdrawals
If you discontinue your enrollment before completing 60% of a semester, your financial aid eligibility for the semester must be reevaluated based on your revised tuition charges and the period of time for which you were enrolled. You may be required to return a portion of the aid you originally received to the appropriate programs. A calculation will be made based on your official withdrawal date and the resulting revised tuition charges.
Get more information about refunding tuition and financial aid »
Evaluating Progress
Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each academic year to determine eligibility for the following year. Students who have not earned the number of credit hours required or the minimum grade point average required at the end of second semester based on the number of credits attempted are not eligible for aid for subsequent semesters in most financial aid programs.
There are some circumstances under which the requirements can be adjusted or the student can receive aid on probation for a semester or a year if the requirements have not been met. These are as follows:
- The student is making up incompletes.
- There were extenuating circumstances, such as illness or a death in the family, which prevented the student from earning the number of credits required.
- The student discontinues after the beginning of the second week of classes because of extenuating circumstances.
Appeals
Students who fail to make satisfactory progress and have extenuating circumstances that should be taken into consideration should discuss these with the Associate Director in the office of financial aid.
Those who are denied financial aid because of failure to make satisfactory progress may write an appeal letter to the Committee on Scholarships and Financial Aid by May 15. The decision of the Committee is final.
- describe the special circumstances on which you are basing your appeal
- include any supporting documentation (such as a letter from a doctor or counselor) that would help the committee in its review of the situation
Scholarship and Financial Aid Communication
All communication regarding your scholarships and financial aid awards is sent to your Calvin email address. You should regularly check your Calvin email account for this and other important information from Calvin. You can access your scholarships and financial aid information at any time through KnightVision. Simply log in to KnightVision and click on the “My Resources” tab. Then look for the “Student Scholarships and Financial Aid” section.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 helps protect the privacy of student records. The act provides for the right to inspect and review educational records, the right to seek to amend those records, and to limit disclosure of information from the records. More information is available at the Registrar's Office.
Student Records & Privacy: Parental Access
Calvin’s operational policy regarding college/student communication is that the primary communication link from the college is through the student. Even though this communication policy is the operative principle, parents may still gain access to student record information as follows.
FERPA states that parents may gain permission to access student records if the student is currently claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes. However, out of common courtesy and respect for the student's rights, parents should still request access to those records and statements through the student who would then authorize that the requested information be released to the parents. More information is available from Parent Relations.