Failing a Class While Receiving Financial Aid From FAFSA:What Can Happen

Failing a class in college is something none of us want to do, but it is always possible. Know what can happen when you fail a class on the FAFSA!

Main image courtesy of College Finance. 

Everyone, no matter where you are in school, is absolutely terrified to fail a class. Not only do you fail the class, but there are other repercussions to failing a class, such as having that F show up on your transcript, having to spend more money to take the class again, and we all know that learning the same material again can be a hassle. 

Have you ever thought about what would happen if you failed a class in college, especially when it comes to your FAFSA? Are you worried that you won’t get as much money, or even that you won’t be eligible for the Pell Grant anymore? There are a lot of concerns that surround this potential issue, but we’re here to answer them for you!

Here is exactly what happens whenever you fail a class with money that you earned for applying for the FAFSA and what you can do!

What Happens When You Fail a Class in College?

There are a few things that can happen when you fail a class in college, so it’s important to know what they are!

Girl Stressed
Are you worried about what happens if you fail a class in college? There are some things that could occur if you do. Image courtesy of Juno. 

There are many points in the semester where you are worried that you could fail a class. If you didn’t do so well on an exam, a project, or whatever the case may be, the final exam could be stressful and overall determine if you pass or fail a class. Making sure you pass all of your classes is a goal that every college student has, but sometimes things just don’t work out that way.

Failing a class is stressful and there are definitely some things that can happen because you failed it. Some of these consequences of failing a class consist of:

  • A decrease in your GPA
  • Having to retake the class if it’s a part of your major
  • A potential dismissal if you have multiple failed classes
  • Having to pay a grant back
  • A cut in financial aid

Failing a class is a major disappointment while you’re in college, and while at the time it may seem like the end of the world, things will get better. It’s easy to become discouraged after failing a class, but you can always retake it and aim to do better. 

What Happens to Your Financial Aid Whenever You Fail a Class?

Are you worried about what could potentially happen to your financial aid? Here’s what we know!

Stress
Failing a class in college is stressful, and there could potentially be repercussions when it comes to your financial aid. Image courtesy of Savvy College Girl. 

Have you ever taken into consideration what would happen if you failed a class with money that you received from FAFSA? There are a few things that could potentially happen if you fail a class while also receiving financial aid, but one failed class won’t end your aid.

First off, when you fail a class, it is important to look at your GPA  afterwards. Depending on where your GPA stands, you could potentially go on academic probation. You may be wondering exactly what academic probation is, and it is essentially whenever your GPA falls below the school requirements and it is meant to be a corrective measure to give you motivation to help improve your grades next semester, or even do better if you’re retaking the class.

If you failed a class and do go into academic probation, you could still potentially receive financial aid, but it all depends on what school you go to and if you reach the minimum requirements to get out by the end of the probationary period.

If you fail a class in college, you could also potentially lose your aid and this can consist of:

  • Scholarships
  • Grants
  • Funding opportunities

There are some things you can do if you do lose your financial aid as well. This could be by applying for emergency student loans, private student loans, getting on a payment plan, finding a job to make some extra money, or even just to ask for help from friends or family members. 

What Should You Do When You Fail a College Class?

There are some things to think about whenever you fail a college class, but here are the best steps to take afterwards!

Woman Talking to Stressed Man
It is stressful failing a class in college, but it is important to note that there are things that you can do for it to get better! Image courtesy of ThoughtCo. 

Are you someone who just failed a class in college, and now you feel stuck and not sure what to do? Well, there are plenty of ways to be able to make a comeback, even though we know that this can be completely discouraging and even hurt you academically.

Here are some amazing ways that you can regroup and get back on your feet after failing a class:

  • Talk to your professor and make sure that the “F” is accurate
  • Ask to make your grade an “Incomplete” or “Withdrawal” if the policies allow it
  • Check up on your financial aid 
  • Plan to retake the class with your current professor or another one
  • Talk to someone about it to cope

 There are a lot of stresses and struggles that someone can go through whenever they fail a class. You may feel at the moment that it will prohibit you from succeeding even in your career after graduation, but just know that this is one bump in the road. Make sure to pick yourself back up and make a comeback.

There are some consequences that occur whenever you fail a class, but if you’re failing multiple times, it can affect how much financial aid you can get. If you’re in this predicament, make sure to talk to someone about what your options are so that you can keep your financial aid to continue your education.

Sara Nuss
Sara Nuss is a professional writer.
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