Can anyone here offer any information on how financial aid works for someone pursuing a double major. I’m at a FL public Uni. This is not a thread to debate the merits of a double major, as I’m well aware of the Pros and Cons. However, I don’t know much about how financial aid will work for a double major. I’m a Junior (next semester) pursuing to BS degrees the degrees have overlap, but not an insane amount.
My question:
Will Financial aid treat courses from both majors as courses I need to complete and therefor cover them? For example, if I was to take 9 credits worth of courses from one major and 6 from the other will financial aid consider me part time and only cover my 9 credits of course for my first major or will they consider courses from both majors and cover me fully (I’m a independent student)?
All reply’s are welcome, but I’m really hoping for replies from students or parents that were in similar situations. Thank you.
I don’t believe federal aid will cover a 2nd major. Our state (NY) doesn’t either. Have you checked your school’s website for the rules to receive aid? You should contact your financial aid office for clarification too.
In my experience (trying to get full-time aid for my son’s only major), courses that don’t count for the primary major (or required gen ed and elective classes) don’t get counted toward the credits needed to be considered full-time. If you only take 9 credits that count toward your major I think you’ll only receive part-time aid.
In our state of California, the public schools don’t have the money to allow students to take extra courses. The CSU’s have started policies regarding taking too many units outside of the major. They have to graduate and get out. Anything additional is paid by the student.
Where I teach my understanding is that federal aid will cover any courses that are going toward meeting graduation requirements for degree, major(s), minor(s), including electives if you are within the number of total credits needed for graduation. So, if in a given semester you were taking (for example) 6 credits for first major, 3 credits for second major, 3 credits for minor you are a full time student, and all would be covered by federal financial aid. However, you should schedule a meeting with your financial aid office to make sure that you understand the policy at your institution.