Your Responsibilities
The Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office awards aid based on need and merit. If you receive aid for which you are ineligible, you should contact our office prior to your use of the funds.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pass/Fail Effects on Financial Aid
Classes where a student gets a S+ or S will count in hours earned. Classes where a student gets a U will not count in hours earned.
No. Changing to pass/fail does not change your current hours earned.
Pass/fail courses do not count into a student’s Upstate GPA. So, if you change your grade to a S+, S or U, this new grade will have no effect on your Upstate GPA.
Pass/fail courses do not count into a student’s Upstate GPA. So, if you change your grade to a S+, S or U, this new grade will have no effect on your Upstate GPA.
The Registrar’s Office provides a tool to help students determine how changes will affect their GPA. View the GPA calculator.
Failing courses could potentially affect your ability to receive financial aid.
Receipt of Other Financial Assistance
Federal regulations require our office to consider all estimated financial aid in determining your eligibility for federal student aid. It is your responsibility to notify us of any financial aid that you receive from other sources not provided through the FAFSA. If you receive additional assistance after our initial assessment of your award package, your aid may be adjusted. Our office will notify you by email and letter that an adjustment has been made. If further action is needed, this information will be disclosed in the letter.
Other financial assistance includes but is not limited to: university scholarships, non-university scholarship, tuition reductions, assistantships, traineeships, fellowships, grants, and loans.
Fee Classification
The Office of South Carolina Residency determines if you are an in-state student or an out-of-state student. Sometimes, updates to residency occur based on information provided to their office. Any change in residency can affect your tuition and financial aid. If your residency status updates after we have determined your eligibility for aid, your awards will likely be adjusted to reflect the updated fee assessment. Our office will notify you by email and letter that an adjustment has been made to your awards.