Financial Aid Policies

How Enrollment Changes Affect Your Financial Aid

• If you drop or withdraw from classes, your aid may be impacted (see below); it may also jeopardize future eligibility for student aid (including loans).
• If your enrollment falls below half-time, your financial aid awards may be adjusted, and the grace period repayment of loans will begin.
• If you withdraw from your last ongoing class and didn't complete more than 60 percent of the semester, you may have to repay financial aid according to the Return of Title IV (federal) Funds Policy. 

Dropping or Withdrawing 
Tuition and financial aid may be adjusted any time a student reduces hours. Withdrawing partial hours after the add/drop period does not typically affect current term aid; students will receive a grade of "W" for the withdrawn course(s). However, receiving grades of "W" can impact future aid eligibility by lowering credit completion ratio. See the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for more information about completion ratio requirements. 

If enrollment hours are retroactively reduced resulting in a student not meeting minimum enrollment for aid programs received, tuition assessment and eligibility for financial aid may be affected. This can occur at any point during the term, as well as after the term has ended. 

Unofficial Withdrawal 
Students who stop attending all classes during a semester and do not go through the university’s withdrawal process are treated as an “unofficial withdrawal.” Based on the last date of attendance, a portion of financial aid may be returned. 

Reduced Hours of Enrollment 
The amount of student aid eligibility is dependent upon the number of hours of enrollment and attendance. If a student reduces hours prior to the end of the add/drop period, financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. If a student receives a refund based upon higher enrollment, they may need to repay the funds after the adjustment. 

Please contact Stars Connect at starsconnect@dom.edu if you have questions.

Appeals of Special Circumstances 
Student experiencing a significant change in their financial circumstances may submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid to request a review of their eligibility for federal and/or state grants. Appealable circumstances may include the following reasons:

• Termination
• Layoff
• Retirement
• Loss of Unemployment Benefits
• Injury or Illness
• Disability
• Excessive Medical Expenses
• Death of a Spouse/Parent
• Divorce
• Loss of Child Support
• One-Time Lump Sum Payment 

Students are required to submit an appeal form, a detailed explanation of circumstances, and supporting documentation that illustrates a change in income. The Office of Financial Aid will review this information to determine if a FAFSA adjustment is warranted. Incomplete appeals will not be reviewed. 

Students who have a zero-dollar expected family contribution (EFC) are already receiving the maximum amount of federal and state aid, so even with a change in circumstance, they are eligible for additional federal or state grant assistance. Students may email finaid@dom.edu to verify their EFC or view their Student Aid Report. 

Appealing for an Increased Cost of Attendance 
Undergraduate and graduate students can also appeal for an increase in their cost of attendance. View the cost of attendance or reach out to finaid@dom.edu with questions. Reasons for an appeal for an increase in cost of attendance may include disability expenses, additional technology expenses, costs for care of dependents, or medical expenses. 

Appeal for Private School Tuition 
A sibling’s private school tuition, at an elementary or secondary school, is one of the circumstances that can impact a family’s ability to pay for college. In some cases, a student’s FAFSA may be adjusted to increase eligibility for federal or state aid. A copy of the private school tuition statement is required to appeal. To submit an appeal, request the appeal form at finaid@dom.edu. 

*Families that already have a zero expected family contribution (EFC) are not eligible to appeal. 

Appeal for Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Appeal) 
This appeal refers to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. Conditions may include:

• Human trafficking
• Being legally granted refugee or asylum status
• Parental abandonment or estrangement
• Parental incarceration 

Students who believe they qualify for an appeal of unusual circumstances should request an Appeal of Unusual Circumstances form from the Office of Financial Aid. 

Timelines for appeals to be reviewed 
The Office of Financial Aid strives to review appeals within two weeks of receipt of all required documentation. Students are notified of a decision once the process is completed.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires institutions of higher education participating in the administration of educational loan programs to develop and publish a Code of Conduct. Any Dominican University officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans is required to comply with this Code of Conduct as outlined below.

• The university shall not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender.
• No officer or employee of the university who is employed in the Office of Financial Aid of the university or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall solicit or accept any gift (any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount) from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans.
• An officer or employee who is employed in the Office of Financial Aid of the university or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
• The university shall not for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender; or refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
• The university shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans (as defined in section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act), including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the University providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with:
  • A specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under this title;
  • A specified loan volume of such loans; or
  • A preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
• The university shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or Office of Financial Aid staffing. Assistance will be permitted for:
  • Professional development training for financial aid administrators
  • Providing educational counseling materials, financial literacy materials, or debt management materials to borrowers, provided that such materials disclose to borrowers the identification of any lender that assisted in preparing or providing such materials, or
  • Staffing services on a short-term, nonrecurring basis to assist the University with financial aid-related functions during emergencies, including State-declared or federally declared natural disasters, federally declared national disasters, and other localized disasters and emergencies identified by the Secretary of Education.
• Any employee who is employed in the Office of Financial Aid, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid of the University, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

Dominican University, as a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), also follows the standards established in NASFAA’s Statement of Ethical Principles (pdf opens in a new window) and Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals (pdf opens in a new window).

Financial aid disbursements occur after the add/drop period of the term has ended. View add/drop dates. Students must be enrolled in the term to receive any financial aid and student loan recipients must be enrolled at least half-time as defined by the student’s program. 

Students must also meet satisfactory academic progress requirements or have submitted an appeal that was approved to receive financial aid for the term. 

Financial aid including scholarships, grants and student/parent loans are posted directly to the student’s account to cover tuition, fees, room and board charges. Financial aid resources in excess of direct cost charges may be refunded to the student. 

View information on the refund process. 

The Department of Education publishes information on how financial aid is received at https://studentaid.gov/complete-aid-process/receive-aid. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (708) 524-6809 or finaid@dom.edu with questions about the disbursement of aid.

By law, the university must refer to the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) any credible discovered information that indicates an applicant for federal student aid may have engaged in fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with their aid application. 

Common types of fraud or misconduct include false claims of independent student status, false claims of citizenship, use of false identities, forgery of signatures of certifications, and false statements of income. 

If a university employee suspects that a student, another employee, or some other party has misreported information or altered documentation to fraudulently obtain federal student aid, the employee with such suspicion is required to bring that information to the attention of the university’s Director of Financial Aid. The Director of Financial Aid will work with university legal counsel to review the documentation and determine if a referral to the OIG is required. 

Any decision to refer information to the OIG will be coordinated by university legal counsel in accordance with the guidance provided in the Federal Student Aid Handbook. The relevant student file will be held in the office of the Director of Financial Aid to ensure that all information is secure once a report is made.

Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grants, which do not need to be repaid, are available to students who demonstrate financial need, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act Application. 

For a MAP-eligible student, the initial Financial Aid Award assumes the student will be enrolled for a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester. If a student enrolls in fewer than 15 credit hours any semester, the MAP award will be reduced proportionately for that semester. 

Additional MAP Grant eligibility requirements, policies and information on how to apply can be found on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website.

Institutional scholarships and grants are awarded for four years to students who began as freshmen at Dominican University and are continuously enrolled. Transfer students are eligible for institutional scholarships and grants for three years if continuously enrolled. 

Institutional scholarships are not awarded in the summer term. Institutional grants may be replaced with donor funded scholarships when students demonstrate strong academic merit and financial need. No overall reductions in a student's total aid award will occur when these adjustments take place. Students who receive donor funded scholarships may be asked to write a thank you letter and attend the annual scholarship brunch. 

Scholarships are awarded to students enrolled full time. Students who have an extenuating circumstance that requires part-time enrollment (6–11 credit hours) in a semester must contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@dom.edu to discuss their scholarship eligibility and if warranted, the appeal process. 

Students who receive the Presidential or Dean’s scholarship need to maintain a 3.0 or greater cumulative GPA to remain eligible for their scholarship. 

Students do have the right to appeal for an additional one or two semester extension as they attempt to meet the minimum GPA requirement. Details on the appeal process are shared when a student is notified they are no longer meeting the GPA requirements. 

Financial Aid Extension 
Students who need an additional one or two terms to complete their degree requirements may petition for consideration of an extension of institutional aid. In order to petition, complete the following steps:

• Write an appeal letter explaining why the additional time is needed and what extenuating circumstances led to a delay in graduating. Letters should be sent to finaid@dom.edu
• Students should contact their academic advisor to secure a letter of recommendation regarding the appeal. Advisors should email them directly to the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@dom.edu 

Appeal decisions will be sent to the student's DU email address. Appeals should be received at least four weeks prior to the term start for which the extension is being applied.

Other Notes

• Students must sign up for the university’s payment plan if an institutional aid extension is approved.
• Students enrolled in the joint undergraduate degree program with IIT receive their scholarships for five years.
• Appeals for a sixth year are not an option.
• If a student withdraws from classes during a term and their tuition is prorated, institutional scholarship awards will be prorated as well to reflect the percentage of tuition being charged.
• Students receiving an institutional scholarship and are eligible for an alumni discount will have the scholarship subtracted from tuition charges before the discount is calculated.

New Students 
All qualified U.S. resident students will be admitted and awarded merit scholarships without consideration of their citizenship status. 

Any new U.S. student not eligible to complete the FAFSA who seeks additional financial assistance is encouraged to apply for TheDream.US. Dominican University participates in both the Opportunity and National Scholarship programs as a partner with TheDream.US. Learn more and apply here. 

Dominican encourages all Illinois residents who are ineligible to file the FAFSA to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid at https://www.isac.org/ 

Students who live in the residence halls may receive the Residence Life Grant, but no other additional Dominican University gift aid. For other students who are residents of the United States ineligible to complete the FAFSA, Dominican will not routinely award additional institutional aid. 

Returning Students 
Residents of the United States who are ineligible for federal financial aid can apply for additional funding from the university, as well as from university partner organizations. Students who enroll as freshmen receive their awards for four years and transfer students have three years of aid eligibility. 

Dominican University will renew institutional aid awards even if the student applies for and receives state of Illinois MAP grant funding through the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid—unless the student’s total financial aid award exceeds tuition and fee charges. 

Please note that the total institutional scholarships, grants and state grant funding cannot exceed tuition and fee charges for the year. These resources, excluding the Residence Life Grant, only cover tuition and fee charges. Outside scholarship organizations set their own terms of what the resource can cover, including direct and indirect expenses.

This policy applies to students who complete 60% or less of the enrollment period for which they received Federal Title IV aid. A student who drops and/or withdraws from a class but still completes one or more classes that span the full length of the term does not qualify for the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) policy. 

A student who withdraws from a program offered in modules (courses that do not span the full length of the term) is not considered to have withdrawn for R2T4 purposes if the student successfully completes:

• All the requirements for graduation from the program of study or
• One module that includes 49% or more of the number of days in the payment period; or a combination of modules that when combined contain 49% or more of the number of days in the payment period or
• Title IV-eligible coursework equal to or greater than what Dominican University considers to be half-time enrollment for the payment period. 

When reviewing to determine if a student has successfully completed 49% or more of the number of days in the payment period, scheduled breaks must be considered. They include all of the days in the period (typically the first day of class through the last day of final exams) minus:

• Any scheduled break of five or more consecutive days if the break applies to all students who enroll in the period; and
• All days between modules in the period (not the days between the modules in which the student specifically enrolls). 

Enrollment in a full-term course does impact the number of countable days in the period when looking at scheduled breaks of five or more days (first bullet above). For a scheduled break of five or more days to be excluded, it must be common to all modules and any full-term courses, as well as common to all students in the period (whether that break falls between modules or within modules). 

The 49% denominator for a term will be the same figure for all students within the same program of study. Please note that the 49% is not rounded. 

The term “Title IV aid” refers to the following Federal financial aid programs: Direct Loans, Federal PLUS (Parent) loans or Graduate PLUS loans, Federal Pell Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) and TEACH grants. 

To conform to the policy, Dominican University must determine the student’s withdrawal date. The withdrawal date is based on the earlier of the two:

• The last date of attendance at an academically-related activity by a student or semester midpoint for a student who earns no credit in the term and ceased attendance (unofficial withdrawal), or
• The date the student began the withdrawal process or officially notified Dominican of his/her intent to withdraw (official withdrawal).

The required calculation determines a student’s earned and unearned Title IV aid based on the percentage of the enrollment period completed by the student. The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the period. Calendar days (including weekends) are used, but breaks of at least five days are excluded from both the numerator and denominator. 

Until a student has passed the 60% point of an enrollment period (unless enrolled in module courses), only a portion of the student’s aid has been earned. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid for the enrollment period. 

Earned aid is not related in any way to institutional charges. In addition, the university’s refund policy and Return of Title IV Funds procedures are independent of one another. A student who withdraws from a course may be required to return unearned aid and still owe Dominican for the course. 

The responsibility to repay unearned Title IV aid is shared by Dominican University and the student. For example, the calculation may require Dominican to return a portion of federal funds to the Federal Title IV programs. Dominican University must return the funds within 45 days of the date of determination the student withdrew. In addition, the student may also be required to return funds based on the calculation. A student returns funds to the Federal Direct loan programs based on the terms and conditions of the promissory note of the loan. A student who receives Federal Grant funds may be required to repay 50% of the funds received. 

You do not have to repay a grant overpayment if the original amount of the overpayment is $50 or less. The return of federal aid is in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans, Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans, Federal Direct PLUS received on behalf of the student, Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) and TEACH grants.

Post Withdrawal Disbursements
In general, universities may not disburse federal loans to a student who has ceased to be enrolled because the student is no longer eligible. In some circumstances, however, a student who has withdrawn from Dominican may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement of all or some portion of a Federal Direct or PLUS loan. A student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement if Dominican determines the student earned more aid than was disbursed for the period the student attended. Note, however, that if the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, Dominican must use all available grant funds prior to using any loan funds for that purpose. 

Dominican may automatically use all or a portion of post-withdrawal disbursement of grant funds for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with Dominican). 

Overpayments 
Students who owe funds to a grant program are required to make payment of those funds within 45 days of being notified that they owe this overpayment. 

During the 45-day period, students will remain eligible for Title IV funds. If no positive action is taken by the student within 45 days of being notified, Dominican will notify the U.S. Department of Education of the student’s overpayment situation. The student will no longer be eligible for Title IV funds until they enter into a satisfactory repayment agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. 

During the 45-day period, the student can make full payment to Dominican of the overpayment. The college will forward the payment to the U.S. Department of Education and the student will remain eligible for Title IV funds. 

If a student is unable to pay their overpayment in full, they can set up a repayment plan with the U.S. Department of Education. Before doing this, please contact the Dominican Office of Financial Aid. You will need to make sure we have referred your situation to the U.S. Department of Education before any repayment plan can be set up. 

To contact the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid, please visit studentaid.gov/help-center/contact. 

For examples of the Return of Title IV Funds calculations or questions regarding the overpayment policy, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Find details on undergraduate and graduate student standards here.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be considered for federal grants and loans, state of Illinois grants, and institutional need-based resources. Students must adhere to the Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible for financial aid. 

General federal and state financial aid requirements:

• Be fully admitted
• Complete the FAFSA
• Students who are non-degree seeking are not aid eligible unless they are enrolled in courses required for teaching licensure/endorsement by the state
• Complete verification if selected.
• Resolve all requirements noted by the financial aid office, such as submitting documentation to resolve social security administration conflicts or unusual enrollment history
• Not be in default of a student loan
• Be registered or intend to enroll in the term(s) for which they are packaged 

Each federal and state grant, as well as student loans and institutional resources, has its own eligibility requirements. 

Student Rights 
You have the right to:

• Know which financial aid programs are available and the application deadlines
• Know how financial aid will be packaged and the basis for these decisions
• Know how your financial need was determined and how college expenses are considered in your budget
• Know what resources were considered in the calculation of your need
• Know how much of your financial need, as determined by the school, has been met
• Request an explanation of the various programs in your aid package
• Know the school’s tuition refund policy
• Know what portion of the financial aid you received must be repaid and what portion is grant aid. If the aid is a loan, you have a right to know all the terms of the loan before you accept it. Your financial aid award and Direct Loan Checklist includes more information.
• Decline any portion of the aid offered
• Know how the school determines if you are making satisfactory progress towards your degree. View the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. 

Student Responsibilities
You must:

• Be aware of and comply with the annual financial aid application deadline
• Provide correct information. Knowingly misrepresenting information on financial aid application forms is a violation of law and may be considered a criminal offense which could result in indictment under the U.S. Criminal Code.
• Provide all follow-up documentation and/or information requested by the financial aid office
• Keep the financial aid office informed as to the progress of your aid application
• Be responsible for reading and understanding all forms that you are asked to sign and keeping copies of them
• Accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign
• Be enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward a degree
• Report outside assistance, including employer benefits, to the financial aid office
• Be aware of the refund procedures
• For on-campus employment, students need to work the maximum hours assigned to earn a full work-study award. Students will receive a paycheck for their hours worked.

Dominican University encourages all students to consider studying abroad as part of their college experience. Dominican University scholarships and need-based grants as well as state and federal grants and loans may be used for the approved Dominican study abroad programs. 

Students attending approved Study Abroad/Study Away programs are considered enrolled at Dominican University and eligible for financial aid based on their enrollment status. 

The study abroad coordinator develops cost of attendance budgets for each program in consultation with the financial aid office staff. Those budgets, which include reasonable travel costs, are used to evaluate aid eligibility. If the cost of attendance for the study abroad/away program is less than the cost of attendance on campus, the student’s aid will be adjusted accordingly. Tuition remission and tuition exchange program benefits may not be used for study abroad program except those programs offered exclusively by Dominican faculty. However, students may use their original merit scholarship to help with study abroad costs. 

Students should make an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid to discuss their financial aid package.

Federal Verification is the process of confirming the accuracy of the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Schools must verify the data on applications that the FAFSA federal processor selects. 

Students selected for verification are required to submit supporting documentation to enable the financial aid office to complete the review. Selected students will be contacted via e-mail regarding the required documents to complete the verification process. Required documents will also be added to the MyDU Student Portal. 

Students who do not have their financial aid file completed prior to the start of the semester will be responsible for any late charges/fees that may be added to their student account. 

Required Documentation 
Verification documents may include verification worksheets, tax transcripts or any other supporting materials. Be sure that all documents are signed, all required sections of forms are completed, and that any relevant tax or alternative documents are submitted. 

Copies are acceptable and a signature on a copy is as valid as an original signature (i.e., a handwritten or “wet” signature). If a copy of the tax return is used, the filer (or at least one of the filers of a joint return) must sign it or the tax preparer must provide their name and SSN, EIN, or PTIN. 

All documentation must be submitted in, or translated into, English. Dominican cannot accept documentation written in another language without accompanying English translation. 

If an applicant is selected for verification and the student and/or contributor has given consent to transfer their federal tax information they will not be required to submit tax transcripts. If tax transcripts or verification of non-filing letters are required, the Office of Financial Aid will notify you. Visit https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript for more information. 

Victims of identity theft cannot obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript until the issue has been resolved by the IRS. Since resolution can take a significant amount of time, please provide a copy of the Transcript Database View (TRDBV) tax transcript to the Office of Financial Aid, along with a signed and dated statement by the tax filer indicating you were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft. You may obtain a copy of the TRDBV from the IRS by calling 1 (800) 908-4490. 

If a student’s application is selected for verification, they must complete the verification process or forfeit their federal and state student aid eligibility. 

Financial aid administrators will ask for documentation that is necessary to complete verification. In addition, the Department of Education requires that a student have a valid Student Aid Index (SAI) on their FAFSA to process a financial aid award package. If documentation is submitted too close to the end of the semester, and changes the student’s aid eligibility, the school may not be able to disburse any federal or state. For this reason, all documentation must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the last day of the semester. 

View and download financial aid verification forms.