Eligibility

Please read important details on financial aid eligibility.

Citizenship

Federal Financial Aid

U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required.

KGI International Student Loan

Available to international and DACA students

Enrollment Requirements

Each student must be enrolled as full-time or 12 or more credits that apply towards their degree at KGI to complete their program timely.

Federal Verification

Selected for Federal Verification? About one-third of all FAFSA applications are selected for a process called verification.

Verification is a routine part of the financial aid process and is in place to ensure that students are receiving all the federal aid they are eligible for. Don’t worry, being selected for verification does not mean that you have done anything wrong and some selections are done at random. Verification requires students to submit additional information, but most students are able to satisfy verification requirements without too much additional effort. However, if you encounter any challenges, the staff in the Financial Aid Office is here to help.

Once a FAFSA application has been selected for verification, you will receive initial notification at the time you submit the FAFSA. However, your FAFSA can be selected at any time during the school year. If that happens, the student portal will be updated with the new required documents, and the office will send a notice to you via email.

In general, current students who are selected for verification will not receive their award until all the required verification documents have been submitted and reviewed by the Financial Aid Office. For up-to-date information, renewal students can log on to their student portal and view their documents. However, if your FAFSA is selected for Verification mid-year, we will not be able to disburse additional aid until the verification requirements have been submitted and the process is complete.

It is also routine for the Financial Aid Office to make corrections to your FAFSA as we complete the verification process. The student will always receive a notification via email that FAFSA changes have been made; don’t worry and please do not change the data in your FAFSA unless we have asked you to. If you have any questions about the changes that have been made to you FAFSA, please contact us, we’re happy to explain any changes.

Additional information about verification can be found online on the Federal Student Aid website as well.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal law and regulations require that students receiving financial assistance from federal funds must maintain satisfactory academic progress. The measures used to determine satisfactory academic progress includes both the Qualitative Progress (GPA) and Quantitative Progress (timely completion of course credits) which are reviewed after each term. The following policy presents the standards adopted by Keck Graduate Institute for students receiving financial aid.

Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences (Riggs School)

Riggs School students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 each semester determined from grades received in KGI courses. Failure to meet this standard will result in academic probation. Students on academic probation are given one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0. Failure to meet this requirement will result in dismissal from the Institution. If a student is dismissed at the end of spring semester, they may complete an internship at the Dean's discretion, but not as a KGI student. International students should note that terms of their internship are subject to federal regulations and academic probation and dismissal may impact their immigration status; students in this situation must consult with the International Student Advisor.

Students obtaining a GPA of 2.9 or below are in jeopardy of not progressing successfully through the program and are expected to work with faculty, teaching assistants, tutors, and Student Affairs to ensure they avail themselves of every opportunity to succeed. 

Students attending Keck Graduate Institute must complete their program within 150% of the timeframe allotted for their program.

• MBS - 3 years/6 semesters
• MEng - 3 years/6 semesters
• MS - 3 years/6 semesters
• PPC - 1.5 years/3 semesters
• PPM - 1.5 years/3 semesters
• MSMDE- 1.5 years/3 semesters
• MSGC – 3 years/6 semesters
• MSGDA – 3 years/6 semesters
• PPA – 1.5 years/3 semesters

School of Pharmacy (SOP)

PharmD students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 each semester determined from grades received in KGI SOP courses. Failure to meet this standard will result in academic probation. Students on academic probation are given one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.5. Failure to meet this requirement will typically result in dismissal from the Institute. Students obtaining a GPA below 2.5 are in jeopardy of not progressing successfully through the program and are expected to work with faculty, teaching assistants, tutors, and Student Affairs to ensure they avail themselves of every opportunity to succeed. The maximum time allowed does not include periods of approved leaves of absence.

Students attending Keck Graduate Institute must complete their program within 150% of the timeframe allotted for their program.

• PharmD – 6 years/12 semesters

School of Health Sciences (SHS)

MSCM, MSGC, MSPA and OTD students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 each semester determined from grades received in KGI SHS courses. Failure to meet this standard will result in academic probation. Students on academic probation are given one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0. Failure to meet this requirement will typically result in dismissal from the Institute. Students obtaining a GPA below 3.0 are in jeopardy of not progressing successfully through the program and are expected to work with faculty, teaching assistants, tutors, and Student Affairs to ensure they avail themselves of every opportunity to succeed. The maximum time allowed does not include periods of approved leaves of absence.

Students attending Keck Graduate Institute must complete their program within 150% of the timeframe allotted for their program.

• MSCM – 3 years/6 semesters
• MSGC – 3.75 years/7.5 semesters
• MSPA – 3.4 years/10 semesters
• OTD – 3.75 years/12 semesters

SAP Standards

SAP monitors your academic progress in three categories: GPA, Pace of Progress and Maximum Time Frame. SAP is evaluated at the end of every semester once grades have been finalized and posted.

SAP Evaluations and SAP Statuses

SAP is monitored at the end of every semester once grades have been finalized and posted. You will receive an email notification after each evaluation notifying you of the results and your SAP standing.

SAP Statuses Information

Change in Contact Information

All students must update their contact information with KGI and their Loan Servicer.

Failure to report changes may result in the loss or delay of important financial information.

Donor Acknowledgement

Most of our scholarship funds exist because of generous gifts from donor endowments or one time donor gifts.

If you are awarded such funds, you may be required to write the donor(s) a thank-you letter, and attend specific events. Your cooperation is needed and expected since maintaining the good will of KGI's donors helps assure the availability of funds for the future.

Aid recipients who fail to comply with this requirement by the specified date may lose eligibility for KGI Scholarship funds.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

You have the following rights:

• You have the right to be notified when money is credited to your account.
• You have the right to privacy.
• You have the right to know what financial aid programs are available at KGI.
• You have a right to a complete explanation of the award process.
• You have the right to know the KGI Financial Aid Office's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.
• You have the right to know KGI's refund policy.
• You have the right to cancel a student loan within 10 days from the time the funds were posted to your account.

You have the following responsibilities:

• To read and understand all forms and agreements you sign.
• To ask for an explanation of any terms, forms or agreements that you do not understand.
• Follow all directions carefully.
• Submit honest and accurate information regarding your financial circumstances.
• Submit required documentation in a timely fashion.
• Complete Federal Entrance Counseling if you are a first time KGI borrower.
• Complete a Federal Master Promissory Note for each type of Federal Loan you borrow (Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS).
• Inform the KGI Financial Aid Office of additional sources of financial aid received.
• Submit your FAFSA and Graduate PLUS application(s) each year you will be borrowing.
• Complete Federal Exit Counseling when you leave your program (graduate, withdrawal, leave of absence).