Financial Aid Policies

Updated August 2026

A student who receives Federal Title IV funds (i.e., Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Direct Loans or Federal Direct PLUS loans) and withdraws from all courses at Nicolet College before the end of the term is subject to the Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation.

The R2T4 calculation is a federally mandated formula used to determine the amount of federal financial aid a student earned based on the length of time the student attended during the term. Any Title IV funds disbursed in excess of the amount earned must be returned to the federal government by Nicolet College and/or the student.

If a student received a financial aid refund intended for education-related personal expenses, the student may be required to return a portion of those funds to the school. This amount represents aid that was intended to cover educational expenses through the end of the term. The amount owed is based on institutional charges, refunds received, and the portion of federal aid that must be returned.

The amount of Title IV aid earned is calculated using the student’s official withdrawal date or, in the case of an unofficial withdrawal, the student’s last date of academically related activity.

An official withdrawal occurs when a student follows Nicolet College’s published withdrawal process prior to the course’s withdrawal deadline indicated on the student’s class schedule. 

To determine the amount of aid earned, Nicolet College’s Financial Aid Office calculates the percentage of the term the student completed. This percentage is equal to the number of calendar days completed divided by the total number of calendar days in the term. Scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the calculation. The resulting percentage is applied to the total Title IV aid disbursed or eligible to be disbursed to determine the amount of aid the student earned and is allowed to keep.

Any unearned Title IV aid must be returned to the federal government within 45 days of the date Nicolet College determines the student withdrew. The Financial Aid Office will notify the student if funds must be returned and provide instructions for repayment.

After the R2T4 calculation is completed, any funds returned are applied in the following order:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

3. Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

4. Federal Pell Grant

5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

6. Federal Teach Grant

A student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement if the student earned more federal aid than was disbursed prior to withdrawal. Any eligible post-withdrawal disbursement will be processed, and a refund issued within 14 days of the credit balance.

If the post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, Nicolet College must obtain the student’s written permission before disbursing the loan. Students may accept or decline all or a portion of the loan funds to avoid additional debt.

Nicolet College may automatically apply post-withdrawal grant funds to outstanding tuition and fees. The student’s permission is required to apply grant funds to other institutional charges. If permission is not granted, the student will be offered the funds directly. 

Students should be aware that accepting a post-withdrawal disbursement of funds increases total student loan debt and must be repaid under the terms of the Master Promissory Note. Accepting post-withdrawal grant funds will reduce the remaining lifetime eligibility for those grants.

Withdrawal Definitions

Official Withdrawal

The official withdrawal date is the date Nicolet College receives the completed Course Withdrawal Form or the student withdraws from the course in Self-Service.

Unofficial Withdrawal

A student is considered an unofficial withdrawal if a student receives:

• • All “FX” grades, or
• • A combination of “FX” or “W” grades for the term

A student who receives all “F” grades but participated in at least one course throughout the entire term and earned the grade of “F” will not be considered an unofficial withdrawal.

The student’s last date of attendance or participation in an academically related activity is used to calculate the R2T4 determination.

For courses offered in modules, a student is not considered withdrawn if Nicolet College obtains written confirmation that the student will return to complete a later module within the same payment period or period of enrollment no later than 45 calendar days after the module the student ceased attending. Prior enrollment alone does not constitute written confirmation.

No Shows

Students who fail to participate in a registered course(s) are considered “no shows” for those courses and will be administratively dropped per AP 2.18 Administrative Drops Policy. These courses are not eligible for financial aid.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing to discuss how a withdrawal may affect their financial aid. Students who wish to dispute a financial aid award or calculation must submit their concerns in writing to:

Financial Aid Manager
Nicolet College
PO Box 518
Rhinelander, WI 54501
financial_aid@nicoletcollege.edu

Updated August 2026

Students receiving financial aid must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward completion of course requirements for an associate degree or eligible technical diploma or certificate. Federal financial aid may only be used for coursework that is required for a student’s financial aid eligible program or for approved remedial coursework designed to prepare the student for success in that program.

All periods of enrollment (fall, spring, and summer terms) and all applicable credits are considered when evaluating SAP, including terms in which the student did not receive financial aid.

To remain in satisfactory SAP standing at Nicolet College, a student must meet all the following requirements:

1. Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement:

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Remedial coursework is included in GPA calculations.

For repeated coursework, only the highest grade earned is included in the GPA.

Transfer credits are not included in GPA calculations.

2. Completion Rate Percentage Requirement:

Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all credits attempted.

Attempted credits include all credits in which a student is enrolled, including remedial courses, repeated courses, withdrawals, incompletes, and transfer credits, regardless of whether financial aid was received.

Transfer credits are included as both attempted and completed for completion rate calculations.

3. Maximum Time Frame Requirement:

Students must complete their degree or eligible technical diploma within 150% of the published program length. Example: If a program requires 60 credits, the maximum allowable attempted credits is 90.

A student becomes ineligible for federal financial aid at the point it is mathematically impossible to complete the program within the 150% maximum time frame.

A new 150% maximum time frame begins when a student changes or adds a program after receiving an approved SAP appeal.

Special Course Considerations

Remedial Courses

Students admitted to an eligible program may enroll in up to one academic year of remedial non-program coursework that will be included in SAP evaluations.

Repeated Coursework

Once a student earns a passing grade in a course, federal financial aid may be used for one additional attempt to improve the grade. All repeated attempts count as attempted credits. Only the highest grade earned is included in GPA calculations. All passing grades are included in completed credits.

Incompletes

A grade of “I” (Incomplete) may be converted to a passing grade within one term if the student completes the course requirements. After one term, an unresolved “I” converts to an “F”. Incomplete grades are not counted as attempted credits or included in GPA calculations until a final grade is assigned. SAP is recalculated once the final grade is posted and prior to the next financial aid disbursement.

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are not included in GPA calculations but are included as both attempted and completed credits for completion rate and maximum time frame determinations.

Evaluation of SAP

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term or payment period (fall, spring, and summer terms) including periods in which the student does not receive financial aid. Evaluations occur once final grades are posted.

SAP Statuses

Financial Aid Warning

Students who fail to meet SAP standards will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one term and remain eligible for financial aid. If SAP standards are not met by the end of the warning term, the student is placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Financial Aid Suspension

Students who fail to meet SAP standards after a warning or probation term will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and become ineligible for federal financial aid.

Appeal Process

Students who fail to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may submit an appeal if they have documented extenuating circumstances that impacted their academic performance (e.g., illness, injury, death of a family member, or other significant circumstances). Appeals may not be based on lack of awareness of SAP requirements or financial need.

Students must submit a Financial Aid Appeal Form explaining the circumstances that prevented them from meeting SAP standards, how the circumstances have been resolved or addressed, and what changes have been made to support future academic success.

Appeals are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office. Students will be notified of the appeal decision and any requirements or conditions that must be met for continued financial aid eligibility.

Students may submit no more than three SAP appeals. 

Financial Aid Probation

Students with approved appeals are placed on Financial Aid Probation for one payment period. Students must complete an academic plan with their Success Coach and comply with all appeal conditions. Continued eligibility depends on meeting SAP standards or the terms of the academic plan.

Financial Aid Denial

Students who fail to meet the conditions of their probation or whose appeal is denied must successfully complete at least six credits with a 2.0 GPA in every course and no withdrawals before becoming eligible to submit another appeal.

Program Changes

• Students who change or add a program must meet with a Success Coach to complete a new program plan.
• Appeals may be required for continued or additional federal funding.
• SAP standards apply cumulatively across all programs.
• A new maximum time frame begins only after an approved appeal.