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Accelerated Combined Learning (ACL) Program Benefits

Participation in the ACL program provides a distinctive academic experience designed to seamlessly bridge undergraduate and master’s-level study. As you pursue this accelerated pathway, you’ll benefit from academic advancement paired with dedicated financial support.

Personalized Financial Aid Support

Our goal is to meet with you as often as necessary to ensure your financial aid remains aligned with your individualized academic plan and progression through the program.

Continued Undergraduate Financial Aid Eligibility

Your strong academic performance allows you to retain eligible undergraduate Financial Aid while enrolled in master’s-level courses.

Full-Time Status and Credit Requirements

To maintain full-time undergraduate financial aid eligibility, students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester.

FAFSA Status Updates

Once you are enrolled exclusively in master’s-level courses, you must update your FAFSA to reflect your graduate status. At that point, financial aid will be processed at the graduate level, with the exception of applicable institutional aid.

Enrollment and Financial Aid Considerations

Participation in the ACL program creates a unique enrollment and financial aid situation each term. Because you may be taking a combination of undergraduate and master’s-level courses, your aid eligibility can vary as you progress through the program. Below is important information regarding how different types of financial assistance are impacted.

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid is prorated based on the number and level of credit hours in which you are enrolled.

• Undergraduate Coursework: Minimum of 12 total credit hours required.
• Master’s Coursework: Minimum of six credit hours required; Financial aid is prorated based on a 12-credit-hour standard.

Donor Scholarships

Eligibility requirements are determined by the donor. Scholarships may be adjusted if enrollment or academic requirements are not met.

Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grants may only be awarded for undergraduate coursework.

Federal Direct Loans

• Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for federal loans:
  • 6 credit hours as an undergraduate student
  • 3 credit hours as a graduate student
• When enrolled exclusively in master’s-level courses, your FAFSA must be updated to reflect graduate status. At that point, you will only be eligible for graduate-level loan funding.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

• Available only for undergraduate coursework.
• Requires a minimum of six credit hours.
• SEOG is prorated if fewer than 12 credit hours are taken.

Florida EASE (FL EASE) / Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)

• Available only for undergraduate coursework
• Requires a minimum of 12 credit hours

Bright Futures Scholarship

Bright Futures funding is adjusted based on undergraduate enrollment:

• If you are enrolled in the ACL program and have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, you may receive Bright Futures funding for both undergraduate and graduate coursework, provided you are enrolled in at least six credit hours.
• If you have completed your undergraduate degree and are enrolled only in graduate-level courses, you may receive one term disbursement of Bright Futures for graduate enrollment, provided the state confirms remaining eligibility.
• To receive this one-term graduate disbursement, you must be enrolled in at least six credit hours. No additional Bright Futures funding will be available after that term.

Master’s Assistance Contract (MAC) Waivers

Students with a Master’s Assistance Contract (MAC) may not be eligible for institutional aid if the MAC covers full tuition and fees. If the MAC does not cover the full cost of enrollment, institutional aid may be prorated accordingly.