The financial aid information provided in the student handbook is an overview of the CF Financial Aid policies and procedures. For complete information, please see the college catalog.
In order to be eligible to receive financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, referred to as FAFSA, each academic year. This can be done online at studentaid.gov any time after Oct. 1. The FAFSA should be completed and all required forms submitted by July 1, the college’s priority deadline for the fall term, if you wish to be considered for all possible forms of aid and to be awarded by the time your fees become due. You may be eligible for federal aid, which includes grants, federal work study and student loans. Other types of aid include state aid, institutional aid and scholarships.
The College of Central Florida has more than $1 million of scholarships available to eligible CF students. In order to be considered for one of these scholarships, a separate application must be completed each academic year. This application can be found on the MyCF portal by selecting My Financial Aid and clicking on the scholarship application link.
For more information, visit CF.edu/FinancialAid or view the college catalog at CF.edu/Catalog.
Rights and Responsibilities of the Financial Aid Recipient
You Have the Right to:
- Information regarding financial aid application procedures, cost of attendance, aid available and renewal requirements.
- Confidential protection of student financial aid records. The contents of a financial aid file are maintained in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
- Request a review of decisions made by the CF Financial Aid staff. A letter explaining the student’s situation in detail should be submitted to the director of Financial Aid.
You Have the Responsibility to:
- Complete applications correctly and on time.
- Read and understand all materials sent to the student from the Office of Financial Aid and other financial aid agencies by mail and electronic communication, including the student’s Patriot Mail; keep copies of all forms and materials submitted.
- Know and comply with the rules governing aid program(s).
- Comply with the provisions of any student loan promissory notes and all other agreements that are signed.
- Register for the appropriate number of credits for the aid program and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Register only for courses required for the student’s current program of study.
- Request personal assistance is the student has questions or does not understand the information provided.
- View the student’s financial aid status on the MyCF student portal for up-to-date information.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Purposes
Students receiving certain federal, state and institutional aid must meet the standards of progress outlined below. The requirements for those standards are set by federal regulation 34 CFR Sections 668.16(e), 668.32(f) and 668.34.
Financial aid is awarded and continued contingent upon maintenance of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as follows:
- Maintain a cumulative and CF 2.0 grade point average.
- Make progress toward your degree, known as a completion ratio. Minimum progress requires students to earn 67 percent of all credit hours attempted, including transfer courses accepted (hours earned / hours attempted = completion ratio).
- Attempt no more than 150 percent of the total credit hours in the current degree or certificate program.
The above information is an overview of the SAP policy. Contact the Office of Financial Aid or refer to the CF catalog for a complete explanation of the Standards of Progress, suspension of financial aid and the appeal process. It is important to understand withdrawing from classes can adversely affect a student’s completion ratio and may drop the student below 67 percent. For financial aid purposes, remaining enrolled in a course for credit beyond the official add/drop period counts as an attempt. All attempted courses are counted, even if taken as part of a different degree program.
Student Financial Aid Verification
The federal government requires that some aid applications be reviewed for accuracy through a process called verification. If a student is selected for this process it will be specified on the Student Aid Report that is sent to the student from the federal processor and the student will be notified by the college through the mail or by email. If selected for this process, the student will be required to turn in additional documentation. The student’s financial aid file will not be considered complete and ready for verifying until all missing eligibility information has been received and processed. The student will not receive an aid notification until verification is complete.
The verification process can take one to four weeks to complete depending upon how quickly the student submits accurate and complete information and documents. Needed information is displayed on the MyCF student portal by selecting Financial Aid/My Financial Aid/Missing Documents. Students selected for verification should check this link regularly to determine what documents are still required to complete the process. Students are also encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office if they have questions concerning their verification status.
Book Charges
Textbooks, rentals, school supplies and computer accessories required for enrollment may be charged against students’ accounts if they have been offered Title IV aid* in excess of tuition and fees. Students are not permitted to charge food, drinks, clothing or convenience items. Before charging books and other materials for the first time, students must complete a Book Authorization form on the Financial Aid tab of MyCF.
Students with book charging eligibility may begin charging their books before the first day of fall, spring and summer classes based on the published schedule. The specific dates are announced in Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, MyCF and the CF Bookstore for each semester. Returning books for credit against a financial aid offer is only allowed during the same period as charging books.
If for any reason the student does not have financial aid to cover the bookstore charges, he or she will be responsible for any unpaid bookstore charges. If the charges are not paid, the college will turn over unpaid charges to an outside collection agency and the Credit Bureau if charges are not resolved. Additional collection costs owed to the collection agency will be the responsibility of the student.
*Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, etc.
Financial Aid Enrollment Levels
These enrollment levels apply to all three semesters - fall, spring and summer.
Students will receive an initial aid offer based on full-time (12 or more credit hours) enrollment. After the add/drop period, the aid offers are adjusted to each stuident’s enrollment in fundable coursework.
For financial aid consideration, only coursework that is required for the student’s current program of study is considered when determining aid eligibility. Students who attend only the A term or B term in a semester may have a lower cost of attendance and may see a reduction in their financial aid eligibility. Please refer to the college catalog about enrollment and how the census date will impact financial aid each semester.
Verification of Attendance
Attendance will be verified by instructors during the first few weeks of class and can be linked to some type of activity assigned by the instructor. Information about assignments or activities required for attendance reporting can generally be found in the course syllabus. If the instructor is not satisfied that a student has attended, it can have an adverse affect on the disbursement of financial aid, specifically federal financial aid.
Federal Definition of Attendance:
Attendance must be active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study that:
(1) Includes, but is not limited to -
- Attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students;
- Submitting an academic assignment;
- Taking an assessment or an exam;
- Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction;
- Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution; or
- Interacting with an instructor about academic matters; and
(2) Does not include, for example -
- Living in institutional housing;
- Participating in the institution’s meal plan;
- Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation; or
- Participating in academic counseling or advisement.
Outstanding Fees and Disbursement of Aid
Each student’s fee statement will show the amount owed to the college and any financial aid offered. If the student fee statement is more than financial aid offered, payment of the difference must be made to the cashier to clear the account. If the student fee statement is less than offered financial aid, the student may receive the balance of financial aid funds in a refund after student accounts are credited.
The Business Office is responsible for processing refunds. Students should keep the college apprised of current contact information (address, email, telephone, etc.) so that refunds will be received promptly.
Students can review their aid information on the Financial Aid tab of the MyCF student portal. Aid will appear as intended, accepted or credited. If the aid is credited, it has been disbursed to the student account. Once credited, any applicable refund will usually apply to the student’s Bank Mobile account within three business days. Any further questions regarding disbursements, once they are credited to the student account, can be directed to studentaccounts@cf.edu.
What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from classes or if I stop attending classes?
When a student who receives a net disbursement of Title IV funds* ceases attendance resulting in failure or withdrawal, the college is required by federal regulations to determine whether or not the student must repay a portion of the net disbursement to the U.S. Department of Education. The Financial Aid Office will notify the student in writing of the amount owed, procedures for repayment and the consequences of nonpayment within the allotted timeframe. Detailed information on repayments is available at www.CF.edu/financialaid.
Students who receive Bright Futures awards should consult the Bright Futures website (https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPBFMAIN/SAPBFMAIN/) for current information regarding the impact on a student’s award and future Bright Futures eligibility if the student withdraws from a class or does not complete the class successfully.
*Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, etc.
Remember: You are responsible for withdrawing from a class. If you receive any type of financial aid, consult the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing to determine if you will have to repay any portion of the aid disbursed to you and if there will be other eligibility consequences.
Important Financial Aid Contact Information
Visit CF.edu/FinancialAid and select the get In Touch button at the bottom of the page to access current hours of operation, helpful phone numbers and more.
Telephone and Email
Contact the Financial Aid Office at 352-873-5801 or AskFinancialAid@cf.edu by using your Patriots Mail email address. Please include your name and your CF student ID number. The Financial Aid fax number is 352-873-5875.
Un miembro del equipo de trabajo que habla español está disponible para brindar información y respuestas a las preguntas sobre ayuda financiera en el College of Central Florida. Por favor llame al 352-873-5800 o envíe un email a espanol@cf.edu.
Office Locations
CF Ocala Campus
Bryant Student Union, Office 106
3001 S.W. College Road
Ocala, FL 34474
CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus
3800 S. Lecanto Highway
Lecanto, FL 3446
CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus
15390 N.W. Highway 19
Chiefland, FL 32626
Refunds and Disbursements
The refund process does not begin each session until after the add/drop period has passed and attendance has been verified. Expected disbursement dates are shown on the Financial Aid tab of the MyCF student Portal.
CF has partnered with BankMobile Disbursements (formerly Higher One), to process refund disbursements to our students. Financial aid and tuition refunds are disbursed to CF students according to your refund preference selection. Once the aid is posted on your account, barring any unforeseen circumstances, your refund will be sent to BankMobile Disbursements.
Students choose one of two ways to receive refunds and disbursements:
- ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT Money is transferred to another account the same business day BankMobile receives funds from CF. Typically, it takes two business days for the funds to be received at Bank Mobile, then 1-2 business days for the receiving bank to credit the money to your account.
- ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT TO BANKMOBILE VIBE ACCOUNT If you open a BankMobile Vibe account (upon identity verification), money is deposited the same business day BankMobile receives funds from CF.
To set up your BankMobile account and refund/disbursement selection:
- Log in to your student portal
- Click the Finances tab
- Scroll down to Refunds and Click on the BankMobile icon.
If a refund is credited to your CF account, BankMobile will have it within 3 business days.
The BankMobile student support phone number is 1-877-327-9515.
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