Taking a leave of absence can have financial implications. If you are considering a leave of absence, please consider the following:

Your University Merit Scholarship

• Generally requires that you maintain continuous, full-time enrollment (defined as enrolling in 12 or more credits per semester as an undergraduate), and a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA or better.
• You may take an approved leave of absence for up to 2 consecutive semesters and retain merit scholarship eligibility provided that you continue to meet all other eligibility requirements.
• Leave of absence requests must be fully approved and processed before the start of classes for the semester.
• If considering, you should contact your School or College Student Services Office to discuss taking a leave of absence and to initiate the necessary application.
• Only semesters in which you actually receive a scholarship payment count toward the 8 semester maximum scholarship eligibility limit.

Your Financial Aid

• If you are enrolled and take a leave, your financial aid will be canceled (subject to the tuition refund period).
• Financial aid is re-evaluated annually based on the each academic year's FAFSA. Be sure to submit the upcoming academic year FAFSA by the priority deadline of February 1. Financial aid award offers for returning students will be available starting in June once all requested information has been submitted and reviewed.
• If you previously borrowed student loans - Federal student loans or private educational loans, you should contact your loan servicer to discuss how a leave would impact your loan repayment.
  • Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loans have a one-time, 6-month grace period.
    • Students who have not previously used their grace period will likely use the grace period during any leave of absence and may enter repayment on existing loans.
  • Private loan repayment terms vary from lender to lender.