BC3 Financial Aid Policies

Stay Informed, Stay Eligible

Understanding financial aid policies helps you keep your funding and stay on track to graduate. BC3 is here to make sure you know what’s expected — and how to get help if challenges arise. 

Key Policies

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Department of Education requires financial aid offices to establish a policy to monitor degree progression and consistently apply it to all students. BC3 reviews SAP at the end of each payment period (fall, spring, and summer).

Federal SAP Standards
SAP is cumulative (based on everything you've attempted or transferred into BC3).

Students must complete their degree within 150% of the number of credits required for graduation. Students will immediately receive a Max Time Frame Status when it becomes mathematically impossible to graduate within the Max Time Frame allotment.

Example: General Studies requires 60 credits to graduate; therefore, federal aid would be limited to 90 credits. Example: 60 x 150% = 90

Also, Terminated/Suspended students will immediately receive a Max Time Frame Status when it is mathematically impossible for them to regain Pace Rate within the Max Time Frame allotment.

Students must earn a cumulative minimum of 67% of the credits attempted.

Example: 9 credits completed ÷ 12 credits attempted = 75% Pace Rate

Students must maintain a cumulative minimum 2.00 GPA. 

How SAP is Applied for Different Classes, Grades, and Situations

All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted and completed. All credits are included in the cumulative GPA calculation.

All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted but do NOT count as completed. For cumulative GPA, F or I grades count as 0 points earned.

Financial Aid may be used to pay for a repeated class one time. All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace, all credits count toward attempted, but only the repeat credits count as completed (presuming the grade is a D or higher). For GPA, the new grade will replace the old grade in the GPA calculation.

All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted and completed. They are not included in the cumulative GPA calculation.

All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted but do NOT count as completed. For cumulative GPA, these grades are not included in the calculation.

All credits count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted and completed. For cumulative GPA, these grades are not included in the calculation.

BC3 students are only in one active program at a time. A change of program does not “reset” Max Time Frame. All credits from ALL programs count toward Max Time Frame. For Pace Rate, they count as attempted and completed. All grades from ALL programs are included in the cumulative GPA calculation.

All periods of enrollment are considered when calculating SAP, regardless of whether or not prior federal financial aid was received for those credits.

Being granted Academic Forgiveness through the Registrar’s Office does not change the SAP calculation. All attempted and earned credits are used when calculating Max Time Frame, Pace, and GPA.

SAP Status Definitions

Meeting the SAP Standards.

Failing to meet Pace Rate, GPA or both SAP Standards. Students on Warning are still eligible to receive federal aid. The student will return to Satisfactory if the SAP Standards are met after the next grading period.

Failing to meet Pace Rate, GPA or both SAP Standards immediately following a Warning semester. This status is ineligible for federal aid, which includes Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, Direct Loans, and Work-Study.

Terminated students that are granted their one-time appeal will be placed on Probation and granted a specific number of credits to complete within a defined number of terms. Federal aid will be reinstated and SAP will still be monitored at the end of each grading period. During the Probation term(s) students are to work with their advisors to determine course load, repeats and tutoring opportunities to progress towards SAP. Each term is reviewed and emailed to them with their updated SAP status and federal aid eligibility. Students who do not meet the probation plan will be notified of a Suspended status and will have to regain Satisfactory Academic Progress without federal aid eligibility.

Failing to meet Pace Rate, GPA or both SAP Standards immediately following a Warning semester. This status is specific for students that have already used their one-time appeal. They are ineligible for federal aid, which includes Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, Direct Loans, and Work-Study.

Meeting the SAP Standards, but reaching approximately 75% of Max Time Frame. Students remain eligible for federal aid, but should work closely with the Financial Aid Office to discuss when the funding will run out.

Met or exceeded 150% of the number of credits required for graduation in their program. This status is ineligible for federal aid, which includes Pell Grants, SEOG Grants, Direct Loans, and Work-Study.

SAP FAQ's

You may still be academically eligible to continue to take courses at BC3. However, you will not qualify for Federal Financial Aid until you meet Pace and GPA requirements (Satisfactory SAP Status) by paying out of pocket or with private loans.

You may still be academically eligible to continue to take courses at BC3. However, you will not qualify for Federal Financial Aid until you meet Pace and GPA requirements (Satisfactory SAP Status). 

You will be notified by email of your Terminated Status and how to appeal if you have extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances includes health reasons, death of an immediate family member or undue hardship. Third-party documentation may be requested. 

Appeal Packets must be submitted no later than the 5th day of classes of the semester for which you are requesting a reinstatement of federal aid. You may be responsible for tuition, fees, and book expenses while the Appeal Packet is being reviewed.  

Appeals are confidentially reviewed by a committee of 7 team members consisting of Administrators, Faculty and Advisors throughout the academic year.   

Students granted a “Probation” SAP Status are required to complete an Academic Plan for SAP. The Plan includes the required number of credits they need to complete within a specific number of terms to regain a “Satisfactory” status.

Appeals that are denied will change to a "Suspended" SAP Status. The student can no longer appeal. Financial Aid notifies them of non-federal resources and what is needed to regain eligibility with their Pace and GPA requirements. Students who regain eligibility meeting the Pace and GPA requirements will be notified of their Satisfactory SAP Status and their eligibility to receive federal aid.

Sample Appeal Request

Sample Academic Plan for SAP

Withdrawal & Refund Policies

Before making changes to your schedule, be sure to check the Refund Schedule for important deadline dates. Whether you’re “dropping” or “withdrawing” depends on when you take action.

  • You’ll receive a full refund.
  • The class will not appear on your transcript.
  • It won’t count toward your Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

If you drop ALL classes:

All financial aid (federal, state, and institutional) will be canceled.

If you drop some—but not all—classes:

Your aid may be adjusted based on your new enrollment level.

If you fall below 6 credits:

  • You’ll lose eligibility for Federal Loans, Work-Study, PA State Grant, and Federal SEOG.
  • You’ll receive an email to complete Exit Counseling if you borrowed federal loans.
  • You may enter repayment or a grace period on prior loans. Visit StudentAid.gov for details.

  • You may receive a partial refund if you withdraw during the 60% or 10% refund windows.
  • No refund is given after the 10% refund period ends.
  • The class will appear on your transcript with a “W” grade.
  • Your SAP status will be reviewed at the end of the term.

If you withdraw from ALL classes (Complete Withdrawal):

  • Your financial aid may be recalculated based on how much of the semester you completed.
  • PA State Grants may be canceled; Federal Pell Grants may be adjusted.
  • You’ll receive a letter explaining any tuition balance owed to BC3.

If you stop attending without officially withdrawing:

  • You’ll receive “F” grades and be marked as an Unofficial Withdrawal.
  • Aid will be recalculated just like a Complete Withdrawal, and you’ll be notified of any tuition owed.

If you withdraw from some—but not all—classes:

Your aid may be adjusted based on your new enrollment level.

If you fall below 6 credits:

  • You’ll lose eligibility for Federal Loans, Work-Study, PA State Grant, and Federal SEOG.
  • You’ll receive an email to complete Exit Counseling if you borrowed federal loans.
  • You may enter repayment or a grace period on prior loans.

If you completely withdraw (officially or unofficially), the Financial Aid Office must calculate how much aid you earned based on your last date of attendance. You may need to repay unearned funds:

  • Undisbursed federal loans will be returned to the lender.
  • Undisbursed grants will be adjusted to reflect the amount earned.
  • If you withdraw during BC3’s refund period, tuition charges will still apply.

You’ll receive a letter outlining any repayment obligations. If you owe money to the Department of Education (called an “overpayment”), you won’t be eligible for federal aid at any school until it’s resolved. BC3 will return federal funds within the required 45-day window.

 

We’ve created examples to show how withdrawing can affect your financial aid. If you’re considering a withdrawal, contact the Financial Aid Office—we’re here to help you understand your options.

Example 1

Example 2

Drug Conviction and Aid Eligibility

If you’ve been convicted of a drug offense while receiving federal student aid, your eligibility may be affected. View Policy.

Student Consumer Information

We’re committed to transparency. As required by federal law, BC3 shares key information about costs, outcomes, and policies to help you make informed decisions. View Student Consumer Information. 

When You’ll Receive Financial Aid

Federal, state, and third-party financial aid begins disbursing five weeks after the start of the term. After that, funds are disbursed weekly as students meet eligibility requirements. To receive aid, your courses must:

  • Be at least 10 weeks long, or
  • Be a combination of courses that span the full term

Pell Recalculation Date (PRD)

The Pell Recalculation Date is the deadline to add or drop classes that count toward your Pell Grant award. At BC3, the PRD is the same as the last day to get a full (100%) tuition refund. After that date, we don’t adjust Pell Grant amounts—even if your course load changes.