Developmental Courses and Financial Aid
Developmental Coursework Limitation
In their 2004-2005 Student Financial Aid Handbook, the U.S. Department of Education provided the following guidance to schools about how developmental courses may be funded. (Please note that the information on this web page only pertains to the developmental coursework limitation and a student must satisfy ALL USDOE, State of Texas, and STC eligibility requirements to be eligible for financial aid.)
"A student may receive federal aid for up to one academic year’s worth of developmental coursework. At community colleges, the limit is 30 semester hours."
The Office of Financial Aid complies with this requirement by reviewing all student records after the census day of each semester to see if any students are scheduled to receive financial aid for a developmental course when they have already attempted ten or more courses.
Any Pell Grant award made to a student who is scheduled to receive aid for their 11th or greater developmental course attempt will be re-calculated without the developmental course in the student's enrollment status.
For Example:
If a student is enrolled in a total of 12 credit hours, 3 of which are from their 11th developmental course attempt, their Federal Pell Grant award will be recalculated based on their taking 9 credit hours instead of 12 credit hours.