Financial Aid

The following information is provided by the NCAA’s National Letter of Intent (NLI) website:

Institutional Financial Aid Reduction/Cancellation

If a student-athlete is receiving institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability, that financial aid MAY be reduced or canceled during the period of award (e.g., during that year or term) only if the student-athlete:

1. Renders himself or herself ineligible for intercollegiate competition;
2. Misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent or financial aid agreement;
3. Commits serious misconduct, which warrants a substantial disciplinary penalty (the misconduct determination must be made by the university’s regular student disciplinary authority); or
4. Voluntarily quits the sport for personal reasons.  In this case, the student-athlete's financial aid may not be given to another student-athlete during the term in which the aid was reduced or canceled.

Institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability MAY NOT be reduced, canceled or increased during the period of award:

1. Based on a student-athlete’s ability, performance or contribution to a team's success;
2. Because an injury prevents the student-athlete from participating; or
3. For any other athletics reason.

Please contact the certifying institution or conference for additional information.  You also may contact the NCAA membership services staff at 317/917-6222 if you have further questions

Institutional Financial Aid Renewal/Nonrenewal

Aid based in any degree on athletics ability cannot be awarded in excess of one academic year; the decision of whether a student-athlete is awarded institutional financial aid is made on a year-by-year or term-by-term basis, depending on the regulations of the institution. If a student-athlete is receiving institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability, the institution must notify the student-athlete in writing on or before July 1, whether the aid has been renewed or not renewed for the next academic year. This written notification comes from the institution’s financial aid authority and not from the athletics department.

If the institution decides not to renew the aid or is going to reduce the aid, the institution must notify the student-athlete in writing that he or she has the right to a hearing. This hearing is held before the institutional agency making the award.

Keep in mind that the decision to renew or not renew the financial aid is left to the discretion of the institution, to be determined with its normal practices for students generally.

Please contact the certifying institution or conference for additional information. You also may contact the NCAA membership services staff at 317/917-6222 if you have further questions.

[NOTE: This is not a complete list of NCAA regulations regarding the NLI program or financial aid. Please call or write the NCAA or the NLI office if you have specific questions.]

For More Information

For further information, visit the NLI Web site (www.national-letter.org) or contact the NLI staff at:

National Letter of Intent
P.O. Box 7132
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7132
877/262-1492 (toll free)
317/223-070

See also on this site:

» National Letter of Intent

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