CPOS Overview

To receive financial aid, you must be enrolled in a degree program and take courses that count toward your degree, as outlined in the academic catalog.

This requirement follows guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education and applies to financial aid such as:

UT Martin uses a process called Course Program of Study (CPOS) to track whether your classes apply to your degree.

Your financial aid is based only on courses that count toward your program. If you enroll in courses that are not part of your degree requirements, your financial aid may be reduced or canceled.

Maintain CPOS

Some types of financial aid have specific enrollment requirements, semester/term restrictions, and CPOS requirements. The University recommends you carefully review requirements outlined for your specific financial aid awards to ensure you meet all requirements to receive your specific financial aid awards. 

Fall and Spring Semesters

Full-time Enrollment: To remain eligible for full-time federal and state financial aid, you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours specific to your degree program each semester. If you enroll in fewer than 12 credit hours specific to your degree program each semester, your federal and state financial aid will be adjusted based on the remaining number of qualifying credit hours within your degree program for that semester.

Part-time Enrollment: To remain eligible for part-time federal and state financial aid, you must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours specific to your degree program each semester. If you enroll in fewer than 6 credit hours specific to your degree program each semester, your federal and state financial aid will be adjusted based on the remaining number of qualifying credit hours within your degree program for that semester.

Summer Term

If you are enrolled in the Summer term, you may be eligible for financial aid; however, summer aid is determined differently than aid for fall and spring semesters. Summer financial aid awards are typically limited to the remaining funds from the current academic year (fall and spring semesters), so the available summer award amount may differ from the award amounts for fall and spring semesters. Once the available award amount has been calculated, you will be awarded financial aid based on enrollment and CPOS requirements specific to your financial aid awards.

Make Sure Your Courses Count

Before you register for courses, we recommend you meet with your academic advisor and review your Flight Plan in your UTM Portal to ensure you are registering for courses that are required for your degree program per the Academic Catalog. If you have already registered for courses, you can verify your schedule meets CPOS requirements by completing a CPOS Evaluation.

Locate CPOS Eligible Courses

The Flight Plan in your UTM portal can help you find courses that are required for your degree program per the Academic Catalog.

Review Schedule for CPOS Eligibility*

Once you have registered for courses, you can double-check your course schedule’s CPOS-eligibility by using the CPOS Evaluation tool in your UTM Portal.

  1. Log in to the UT Martin Portal
  2. Locate the “Financial Aid & Scholarships” tab
  3. Select “CPOS Course Program of Study”
  4. Select the semester/term schedule you would like to evaluate
  5. Follow on-screen prompts to determine CPOS Eligibility

* Important: CPOS eligibility for future terms is not available immediately and will update after final grades for the current term are posted and your financial aid and scholarships have been applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I need to change my course schedule?

If you change your course schedule, you can review your CPOS eligibility again in the portal. Updates may take up to a day to appear, so check back if you don’t see changes right away.

Can I appeal to have a non-qualifying course considered for financial aid eligibility?

Please talk to your academic advisor and ask if the course can be added as a qualified course within your degree program. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships does not review appeals on individual courses.

What if I want to change my major?

If you’re considering changing your major or adding additional degree programs, it is important you discuss updates with your academic advisor to better understand how this may affect your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.

What if it is my last semester and I need fewer than 12 credit hours?

Your federal and state financial aid eligibility will be calculated based on the remaining number of CPOS eligible course you must take to graduate.

If all CPOS-eligible courses for my major are full, can I substitute a course to ensure I qualify for my financial aid?

Contact your academic advisor to see if a different course can be substituted for the unavailable CPOS-eligible course.

I have to retake a course in my major. Will the course still meet CPOS requirements?

If the course requirement has not been fulfilled, the course will continue to be CPOS eligible until you pass the course and/or retake a course with a passing grade for one additional attempt.