Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to ask a school:

  1. The names of its accrediting and licensing organizations.
  2. About its programs; its instructional, laboratory, and other physical facilities; and its faculty.
  3. What the cost of attendance is, and what its policy is on refunds to students who drop out.
  4. What financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state, local, private, and institutional financial aid programs.
  5. What procedures and deadlines are for submitting applications for each available financial aid program.
  6. What criteria it uses to select financial aid recipients.
  7. How it determines your financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal and miscellaneous expenses are considered in your cost of attendance. It also includes the resources considered in calculating your need.
  8. How much of your financial need, as determined by the institution, has been met.
  9. How and when you will be paid.
  10. To explain each type and amount of assistance in your financial aid package.
  11. What the interest rate is on any student loan that you have, the total amount you must repay, the length of time you have to repay, when you must start repaying, and what cancellation or deferment provisions apply.
  12. If you are offered a Federal College Work-Study job—what kind of job it is, what hours you must work, what your duties will be, what the rate of pay will be and how and when you will be paid.
  13. To reconsider your aid package if you believe a mistake has been made, or if your enrollment or financial circumstances have changed.
  14. How the college determines whether you are making satisfactory progress, and what happens if you are not.
  15. What special facilities and services are available to the handicapped.

It is your responsibility to:

  1. Review and consider all information about a school’s program before you enroll.
  2. Pay special attention to your application for student financial aid, complete it accurately, and submit it on time to the right place. Errors can delay or prevent your receiving aid.
  3. Know and comply with all deadlines for applying or reapplying for aid.
  4. Provide all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which you submitted your application.
  5. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you are asked to sign.
  6. Repay any student loans you have. When you sign a promissory note, you are agreeing to repay your loan.
  7. Notify your school of a change in your name, address, or attendance status. If you have a loan, you must also notify your lender of these changes.
  8. Satisfactorily perform the work agreed upon in a Federal College Work-Study job.
  9. Understand your college’s refund policy.
  10. Maintain good academic standing to retain your eligibility for financial aid.