Office of Financial Aid

Financial aid awards are packaged for full-time enrollment. On Census date each semester your enrollment is locked in. If you are not enrolled full-time on Census date, your aid may be adjusted accordingly.

• Full-time: 12 + credits
• Three quarters time: 9-11.5 credits
• Half-time: 6-8.5 credits
• Less than half-time: Below 6 credits

You can view the schedule of fees to determine direct educational expenses. Keep in mind that these direct costs are before any financial aid has been applied and may vary per student based on their individual situation. If you do not waive comprehensive health insurance, you will have that charge reflected on your student ledger each term.

Please access your CAMS student portal where you can review your individual charges and pending financial aid. If you do not see any financial aid listed, you may have incomplete documents. Review your notifications and contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions.

You can also access our Net Price Calculator. Please note that the Net Price Calculator includes estimated educational expenses that you are not directly billed for by Paul Quinn. 

1. 1. Featured Scholarships – will rotate
2. Net Price Calculator- file that is downloaded when option selected. This is going to be different hopefully by November when our vendor Campus Logic creates a new one for us.

We encourage all students to apply for external scholarships. These processes are managed through individual and private scholarship agencies and may have different deadlines and requirements.

If you encounter a scholarship opportunity that you are unsure about, please contact our office and we can help you determine if it appears legitimate. We can also help you organize your application.

• Scholarship Access Link

Students may be offered as part of your financial aid offer. Federal loans have fixed interest rates and a variety of deferment and flexible repayment options. Private lender loans have terms that vary per lender. We encourage you to learn about federal loan eligibility before pursuing a private loan lender or utilizing a credit card to pay for your educational expenses.

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans

If you accept federal student loans, you are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling on the Student Aid website or funds will not disburse or post to your account. You can review our Student Loan Acceptance Policy here.

• If you’d like to revise your loan amounts, you may submit a Student Loan Adjustment Form to our office. Please contact us for more information.
• You must complete Student Loan Exit Counseling when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure you understand your student loan obligations and are prepared for repayment.

Paul Quinn College is part of the Federal Work College Consortium with opportunities to participate in the on-campus and corporate work programs. All residential, full-time students are required to participate in the Work Program regardless of their financial need. Students in the Work College and Corporate Work Program receive a scholarship that helps offset their direct costs along with a monthly stipend. Students who are not eligible for federal aid may be eligible for institutional work program scholarship opportunities.

• On-Campus Work Program students typically have a $7,000/year award which is divided between a Work Program Scholarship and monthly stipend.
• Corporate Work Program students typically have award ranging from $10,000-15,000/year which is divided between a Work Program Scholarship and monthly stipend. 

Participation and scholarship amounts may be different for each student depending on the student’s interests, our campus needs, and the staffing needs of our corporate partners.

Other Resources

• Viewing and Accepting Student Loans on CAMS
• Contact Information for Frequently Asked Questions

Paul Quinn College is the first HBCU to join the Guild Education network. This partnership opens the doors to some of America’s largest and most influential companies, including Walmart, Chipotle, Lowe’s, The Walt Disney Company, and Discover Financial Services, to PQC while providing more than three million workers an opportunity to earn a degree from one of the most unique colleges in the country.

Per program policy, students are required to apply and complete the financial aid process even if they believe they may not qualify for aid or they may not be eligible for the assistance from their employer. If you have a special circumstance as to why you cannot complete the aid process, please contact us.

Grants are a form of financial aid that students do not need to pay back except in the case of revised eligibility. This can include not being enrolled full-time or withdrawing from courses. Gift aid that you may be eligible for may include Federal Pell Grant, Federal FSEOG Grant, Tuition Equalization Grant (TX state aid) or private funding.

We offer a limited number of institutional scholarships. Selection and renewal criteria may vary.

In order to remain eligible for financial aid, you must be in good standing and meet enrollment requirements. This includes:

• Have a completed Financial Aid file including additional requested documents (if applicable)
• Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
• Be enrolled in at least 6 credits for most aid (including loans)
• Please note that some aid will be adjusted if you are in less than 12 credits (full-time).

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is required by law to formulate standards to measure a student’s progress toward completion of a program of study while receiving financial assistance through federal, state, or institutional student aid programs by applying both qualitative and quantitative measurements to academic work. [34 CFR 668.34].

Students that receive financial assistance at PQC of any type (federal, state, institutional, or outside scholarships/grants) must follow the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and demonstrate both qualitative and quantitative satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. At the end of the spring semester of each academic year, the Office of Financial Aid evaluates the qualitative and quantitative academic progress of each student receiving financial assistance. This evaluation determines a student’s eligibility to receive financial assistance in the next academic year.

In determining whether an undergraduate student is making satisfactory academic progress in order to continue to receive financial assistance, the following factors are considered:

• The PQC cumulative GPA
• The percentage of credits completed/earned versus credits attempted at PQC
• Maximum time frame

Satisfactory Academic Progress Review Timeline

• SAP is assessed at the end of every term.
• Students who do not meet SAP requirements are notified of their financial aid suspension and instructions on how to regain eligibility.
• Students who are eligible for a warning term for not meeting SAP, are notified of their financial aid warning status implications.

SAP Measures Summary

Qualitative Measure – GPA

• Cumulative Grade-Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00.

Quantitative Measure – Unit Completion

• All students must complete a minimum of 67% of all cumulative coursework attempted.
• Pace is determined by taking the cumulative completed units and dividing them by cumulative attempted units. For example, if a student attempted 24 credits during the academic year and completed 20. Their pace would be 83.3% (20 completed divided by 24 attempted).
• All transfer work is counted towards pace.
• Repeated course enrollments will be counted in the completion rate and against the overall maximum time limit required to complete the program of study.
• Grades of “I”, “W”, “NR”, “NC”, “IP” and “IU” will be counted as hours attempted, but will not be counted as hours successfully passed.

Maximum Timeframe

A student may apply for and if eligible, receive financial aid for attempted credit hours that do not exceed 150 percent of the minimum number of hours required to complete the student’s primary program of study. All hours attempted toward the completion of a program of study will be counted regardless of whether financial aid was received. Credit hours transferred to PQC are counted when calculating the 150 percent maximum. 150% at Paul Quinn is 180 attempted credits. Students approaching 180 attempted credits without degree completion are subject to being placed under SAP suspension. Per PQC institutional policy, students with 145 or more attempted credits will need to complete a SAP appeal.

SAP Appeals

• A student who has been placed on financial aid suspension for not meeting the required SAP guidelines may appeal their suspension if there were unusual or extenuating circumstances that contributed to the student’s failure to meet these guidelines.
• If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on a SAP Probation Status and will be allowed to receive financial aid.
• A student who wishes to appeal must submit a completed appeal form to the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships. Financial aid will only be awarded if an appeal is approved.

SAP Appeals with Academic Plans

• Students may be placed on a SAP academic plan based on their individual circumstances and/or if they are not mathematically able to meet SAP within one payment period.
• If the student is still not meeting SAP requirements as stated in the academic plan by their next review period, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will be ineligible for financial aid. Students may appeal Financial Aid Suspension.
• If a student does not meet SAP but meets the terms of their approved SAP academic plan, they will continue on financial aid probation until their status is reviewed again at the end of the next review period.
• If the student’s appeal is denied, the student will be ineligible for financial aid until the student meets the SAP requirements.

Regaining Eligibility

• To regain financial aid eligibility, a student must be on financial aid probation through an appeal process or meet SAP policies.
• Although paying from own resources while on financial aid suspension is allowed, it does not reinstate Title IV eligibility.
• The student’s progress will continue to be reviewed at the end of each semester of enrollment. Eligibility will automatically be reinstated for the next term of enrollment upon successful completion of a term of enrollment in which the student meets the required SAP standards described in this section.

The Department of Education requires all institutions to follow certain guidelines if a student’s Title IV funds create a credit on the student’s Bursar account. Title IV funds include Federal: Parents PLUS Loans, Stafford Loans, Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Work Program, SMART Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant and Teach Grant. I understand that this authorization will remain in effect throughout the duration of my Paul Quinn student career. A written request to cancel this authorization must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by emailing finaid@pqc.edu and it is not retroactive. 

1. Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Non-Institutional Charges: Federal student financial aid can only cover “institutional charges” as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. This definition includes current year charges for tuition and fees, and on-campus room and board. Authorization allows Paul Quin to apply your federal financial aid to your non-institutional charges such as: health fees, bookstore charges, library fines, parking fines, damage fees, returned check fees, mailbox fees, lost key fees, judicial fines or any other charges not directly tied to taking a class.
2. Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Prior-Year Charges above $200: Federal student financial aid can only cover the “current” academic year institutional charges as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Authorization allows “prior year” charges to be covered with your current academic year’s financial aid. If you have enough financial aid to cover your current year’s charges and have excess financial aid that you would like to apply to pay off a prior year balance due on your student account. Prior year charges below $200 do not require authorization.
3. Authorization to Apply Work Program Scholarship: Paul Quinn College is a federally funded work college. All residential, full-time students are required to participate in the Work Program regardless of their financial need. As part of their participation, students work between 300 and 400 hours per academic year to earn a Work Program Scholarship and stipend.

The VA Certifying Official in the Office of Financial Aid certifies veteran benefits for veteran students and dependents. In order to utilize your Veteran Benefits, please follow the following steps:

1. Review the VA education and training benefits page for instructions on how to apply for GI Bill® and other education benefits. Once the VA reviews your application, if approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility. Please note that we are not able to obtain your eligibility letter from the VA and that it must be requested by you.
2. Submit a VA Benefit Request Form (VBRF) for each semester that you would like to utilize benefits. Benefits will not be certified without this form. Submit a new VBRF if you have schedule changes.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding VA Education Benefits

• I have a parent who is a veteran, how can I learn more about eligibility for benefits for myself?
  • Visit the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program (Chapter 35) and Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) to Spouse and Dependents pages for additional information.
• How long does it take for me to start receiving funds?
  • The VA Certifying Official in the Office of Financial Aid certifies requests in the order received, usually within 7 business days. After that, the VA processes the requests and makes payment determination.
• Who do I contact if I have questions about my application to the VA?
  • The Department of Veteran Affairs website has helpful FAQ’s and contact information.
  • While we can certify your enrollment through your completed VBRF, we are not able to request documents on your behalf.
• How do I request a replacement Certificate of Eligibility?
  • If you have lost or otherwise need a replacement Certificate of Eligibility you can contact the VA through Ask VA, chatbot, phone or in-person.
• Where do I review the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) rates?
  • You can view the current Rate Tables by benefit on the Department of Veteran Affairs Website.
  • The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments you receive for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® are based on the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents. The Department of Defense adjusts the military BAH rate every calendar year (January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. Rates can either go up or down.
  • Please note that actual amounts are determined by the VA and can vary based on enrollment status and enrollment period length. For example, if you are not enrolled for a full month, you won’t receive a full-month rate.
• What happens to my benefits if I drop a class?
  • If your enrollment has already been certified and you drop a class or classes, notify our office.
  • We will need to report it to the VA and in some cases this may lead to an adjustment in your benefits and in funds owed back to the VA.
• What happens if I do not pass or complete a class?
  • If you receive a “non-punitive” grade (a grade that doesn’t count as earned credit and that doesn’t affect progress standards for graduation) you may be required to repay money you received for such classes. Examples of non-punitive grades are “W” / Withdrawals, “NC” No Credit, and “I” Incompletes.
  • If you fail a class you may receive what is called a “punitive grade” for that class. This means that the grade you receive earns credit towards your degree, even though it may bring your GPA down. Since this grade counts towards your degree requirements (even negatively) you are entitled to GI Bill® benefits for any class you receive such a grade in.
  • If you are unsure if a class will be punitive or non-punitive, please contact us.

If you decide to withdraw from the College, we are required to process a withdrawal calculation (Return of Title IV funds) to determine how much of your financial aid you are eligible to keep. Withdrawing from the College may result in you owing back funds that have been posted or issued to you as a refund.

If you would like to request a term withdrawal, please contact your academic advisor. The withdrawal date will be reviewed by Academic Affairs and the Office of Financial Aid will use the dates provided to determine if there are Title IV, state, and/or institutional funds that must be returned. In some cases, students who received a refund may owe funds back.