Will dropping a course with lab affect my FAFSA aid or require repayment?

drop it!!! I failed ochem last yr and FAFSA put me on warning. not worth it trust me

This really depends on how many credits you're currently taking and your school's definition of full-time status. Most universities require 12 credits to maintain full-time status for financial aid purposes. If dropping this 4-credit course puts you below that threshold, you could be required to return a portion of your Pell Grant funds. Before making a decision, you should: 1. Check your current credit load and what you'd have after dropping 2. Look at your school's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy - failing might put you on financial aid warning for future semesters 3. Consider if a withdrawal (W) on your transcript is better than an F for your GPA Some schools have a financial aid calculator on their website that can estimate repayment amounts if you drop below full-time.

If you drop below full-time status (12 credits), you'll generally need to repay a portion of your Pell Grant. The calculation is based on the percentage of the semester you completed. The formula is something like: (Number of days attended ÷ Total days in semester) × Total aid = Aid you can keep For example, if you've completed 60% of the semester, you might get to keep 60% of your aid. But you'd need to return the other 40%. However, there's an important threshold: if you've completed more than 60% of the term before dropping, you often don't have to repay anything. Check exactly where you are in the semester timeline.

Have you looked into getting an incomplete instead of dropping? Some professors will let you take an 'I' grade if you've been attending regularly and have a legitimate reason you can't complete on time. Then you finish the coursework next semester without re-enrolling. This might help you maintain your credit load for FAFSA purposes while giving you more time to pass the class.

I was in this EXACT situation with my physics class last semester!!! Soooo frustrating. I ended up staying in and barely passed with a D- but it was the most stressful thing ever. If I could go back I would have just dropped it and dealt with paying back some money. Your mental health is worth something too!!

UGH the financial aid office's 2-week wait is ridiculous when you have a deadline coming up! I've been dealing with similar issues trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about my verification process. After several failed attempts, I stumbled upon this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual FSA agent in less than 10 minutes! It might work for reaching your school's financial aid office too. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or see their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Seriously, when you need answers about your aid before a deadline, waiting weeks isn't an option.

One other option to consider: see if your school offers any mid-semester mini-courses (sometimes called "late start" courses) that you could add to maintain your 12-credit full-time status even if you drop the lab class. Many universities offer these 1-2 credit condensed courses that start halfway through the term specifically for students in your situation. Worth asking your registrar about!

If dropping puts you at 10 credits, you'll definitely need to return some funds since that's below the 12-credit full-time threshold for FAFSA. The exact amount depends on your school's calculation method, but expect to repay roughly 1/3 of your Pell Grant since you're dropping about 1/3 of your credits (4 out of 14). However, before you make any decision, there are two critical things to consider: 1. Failing the course could impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), potentially jeopardizing ALL of your future financial aid 2. Some schools have a "first-time FAFSA warning" policy where they'll give you one semester to get back on track if you fail to maintain SAP Have you tried looking up your school's specific R2T4 (Return to Title IV) policy on their financial aid website? That should give you exact repayment information for your situation.

So glad you were able to get through to financial aid and get a concrete number! $1240 is definitely a significant amount, but you're absolutely right that it's better than risking your future aid eligibility. The incomplete option sounds like it could be a perfect middle ground if your professor is willing to work with you. Just a heads up - if you do end up having to repay, most schools will set up a payment plan rather than expecting the full amount immediately. And since you're making this decision strategically (rather than just disappearing from class), it shows you're being responsible about your academics and finances. Keep us updated on how the conversation with your professor goes! Rooting for you to find a solution that works.