College · Family Resources

Keep the aid you have,
one year at a time.

Financial aid is not automatic after the first year. Enter your credits and dates, and the checklist works out your pace against the common 67 percent rule, watches the 150 percent credit limit, and keeps the FAFSA steps and priority date in front of you.

Add an aid yearWhat you get

Aid years

The worked example is made up: a university sophomore at 62 percent pace with the priority date 20 days away, and a community college student past the credit limit. Records save on this device only.

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What you get

College · Family ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per aid year with the college, priority date, state deadline, GPA, credits attempted, completed and required, and enrollment; five FAFSA steps and six steps to keep the aid; pace and credits left; flags for pace under 67 percent, GPA under 2.0, credits near or past 150 percent, a close or passed priority date and enrollment under half-time.
Who it is for
College students renewing aid, parents and other FAFSA contributors, and high school counselors preparing seniors for what comes after the first award.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per aid year. Prints one year, all of them or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Family Resources space in Caveat College.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. In October, look up the college’s priority date and your state’s deadline.
  2. Copy your credits and GPA from the student portal.
  3. Submit the FAFSA and get consent from every contributor.
  4. Read the college’s progress policy; if a flag shows, talk to the aid office before the term ends, not after.
  5. When the award arrives, accept or decline each part.

Add an aid year

When things happen

A renewal year, month by monthOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugFAFSA opensby Oct 1Many priority datesDec to MarState deadlinesoften MarSpring gradesSAP checkedAward and billsummerA renewal year, month by monthOctFAFSA opensby Oct 1DecMany priority datesDec to MarMarState deadlinesoften MarMaySpring gradesSAP checkedJulAward and billsummer
Typical timing only. Your college and state publish the exact dates.

What satisfactory academic progress means

Federal rules require every college to check progress at least once a year: a grade standard (by the end of the second year, at least a C average or the college’s equivalent) and a pace standard (credits completed out of credits attempted, often 67 percent). Aid also ends once attempted credits pass 150 percent of the program’s length, such as 180 credits for a 120-credit degree. Withdrawals and failed courses count as attempted.

If you fall short

Most colleges allow an appeal when something outside your control got in the way, such as an illness, an injury or a death in the family. An approved appeal usually comes with an academic plan for the next term. The college’s policy says what to send and by when.

Sources

  1. Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 668.34: satisfactory academic progress (qualitative and pace standards, maximum timeframe of 150 percent, appeals).
  2. Federal Student Aid. Staying Eligible and Filling Out the FAFSA Form, including contributors and consent (studentaid.gov).
  3. Federal Student Aid. Federal Student Aid Handbook, volume on school-determined requirements (fsapartners.ed.gov).
  4. Federal Student Aid. Direct Loan eligibility: at least half-time enrollment; entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note (studentaid.gov).

The worked example is made up. Each college writes its own progress policy within the federal rules, and states set their own aid deadlines. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.