Keeping Your Aid

Keep your financial aid intact by following these few simple rules:

1. Submit your FAFSA by February 1 of each calendar year.
2. Check renewal requirements for scholarships you are counting on from organizations outside of Southwestern College.  Make sure you reapply.
3. Complete your degree in a timely and successful manner - the Department of Education calls this maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Your federal loan and grant may experience a change if the following happens:

1. You alter your enrollment from previously agreed-upon plans - such as changing from full-time to part-time or taking classes that are not part of your degree.  If you are planning a change, we strongly recommend you contact the Office of Financial Aid for information.
2. If you receive the Federal TEACH grant, you must continue working toward a degree in a qualified high-needs field as determined by the state where you plan to teach, maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA, and renew your annual Agreement to Serve and subsequent annual Entrance Counseling.
3. You have reached your annual or aggregate loan limits. (Explore annual and lifetime limits.)
4. You decided to drop or withdraw from a class.  We strongly recommend reading the college's Return of Title IV Funds policy and visiting the Exiting Southwestern page.

Your main campus, institutional scholarships may experience a reduction or will change if the following happens:

1. You move off-campus (PDF). See Item #4 under Policies Governing Southwestern Scholarships and Grants.
2. You decide to attend part-time.  (Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for options.)
3. You take more than 10 semesters to complete your degree.

Page Updated 11/12/2026