Implementation at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ begins Summer 2026

What is CPoS?

Course Program of Study (CPoS) is a federal requirement that ensures financial aid is only applied to courses that count toward a student’s officially declared degree program. Courses that do not apply toward a student’s degree, major, or approved minor may not be eligible for federal financial aid.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that students enroll only in courses needed for their program of study in order to receive federal aid (Pell Grant, Direct Loans, FSEOG, Federal Work Study, TEACH Grant).

CPoS FAQ

ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ will begin CPoS reviews in Summer 2026.

CPoS impacts federal financial aid programs including:

  • Pell Grant
  • Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, Grad PLUS)
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Federal Work Study
  • TEACH Grant

No. HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships are state programs and are not affected by federal CPoS requirements.

Students will be notified by the ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ Office of Financial Aid via their ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ email if any registered courses do not count toward their declared program of study.

Students will be able to see the courses that are not applicable on DegreeWorks.

  • Reviews begin about one week after registration opens. Review will start in February 2026
  • Reviews continue if courses are added or dropped.
  • A final review occurs at the end of the drop/add period.
  • If a student adds or drops a second-session course, it will also be reviewed at that time.

Students should submit major changes well before classes begin to ensure CPoS accuracy. ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ recommends the following deadlines:

  • Fall – July 1
  • Spring – December 1
  • Summer – April 1

Yes, but those courses may not be covered by federal aid. Students can still take additional courses by paying out-of-pocket or using non-federal aid (e.g., HOPE, scholarships, or personal funds).

Electives must count toward the requirements of your declared major. If you receive notice that an elective does not count for federal aid purposes, contact your academic advisor for review.

No. Scholarships and most state or institutional aid are not affected.

Your degree program and requirements can be viewed in DegreeWorks.

Log into DegreeWorks to review your plan. If you are unsure why a course is flagged, contact your academic advisor. Advisors can verify whether the course should count and help resolve issues.

Only required courses for your program will be eligible for federal aid. Example: if you only need 3 credit hours to graduate but register for 6 hours to qualify for a loan, the additional 3 hours may not be eligible.

Graduate students are reviewed the same way as undergraduates. Federal aid for graduate students is limited to Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans. You must be enrolled in at least 5 eligible hours for the semester.

  • Standalone certificates are not eligible for federal financial aid.
  • Embedded certificates (taken as part of a degree program) may count if they fulfill degree elective requirements.

Yes. Required courses for an officially declared second bachelor’s degree are eligible for federal aid, provided you meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. Students must take at least 6 eligible hours per semester to receive federal Direct Loans.

SAP is based on all attempted hours, not just aid-eligible hours. All courses you register for will count toward SAP calculations.

Course substitutions must be processed by the Registrar’s Office. Substitutions submitted after the first day of class may not be reflected in time for CPoS.

Remedial (learning support) courses such as ENGL 0999 or MATH 0999 are eligible for federal aid, up to a maximum of 30 attempted hours, if you are otherwise eligible.

If your degree has enough elective hours, you can use those to cover your minor. If you do not have enough electives available, then the minor courses will not be covered.

  • If you repeat a course, it counts toward CPoS only if that repeated version is required by your Program of Study or substitution is properly processed.
  • There are rules about how many times a course can be repeated and whether repeated courses (even if passed) still count for aid eligibility.

Academic Advising

  • Find your advisor through DegreeWorks

Financial Aid

  • Email: finaid@valdosta.edu
  • Phone: 229-333-5935

Registrar’s Office

  • Email: registrar@valdosta.edu
  • Phone: 229-333-5727