Registration Compliance Tracking
Federal and state financial aid regulations require that students may only receive financial aid for courses necessary for their degree program. Loans, grants and work-study are included for both federal and state aid programs. It is highly recommended that students enrolling in courses not required for their program reach out to the Financial Aid Office immediately to discuss the impact to their financial aid.
Each semester prior to disbursement of any financial aid funds, SUNY Cortland will verify whether your credits count toward your degree program.
It is the student's responsibility to know if their courses are required for their degree program. Students can verify course eligibility by using the Registration Compliance Tracking (RCT) tool by:
- Logging into their myRedDragon account
- Select the "Student" or "Admissions" tab and navigate to the financial aid section
- Select "Registration Compliance Tracking" and review your registration compliance
- The registration compliance results indicate "Not Eligible" if a course does not meet financial eligibility requirements
How will RCT benefit students?
When students only enroll in courses required for their degree program, they can graduate faster, spend less money and reduce loan debt. Additionally, there are lifetime limits to financial aid so graduating sooner will help ensure students do not run out of financial aid eligibility.
Do you need to be full-time in credits toward your degree program?
No. Students may be eligible to receive financial aid based on fewer credits, but the amount of aid eligibility may vary. To be eligible for full-time aid, you must enroll in 12 or more credits toward your degree program.
Please note: if you are in your final two semesters and receive state financial aid, we recommend you contact your financial aid advisor to determine your aid eligibility.
What types of coursework are considered required?
- General education requirements
- Major courses
- Concentration areas required for specific major
- Courses outside of major that are specific in the degree audit
- Upper-level courses needed to achieve the 45 credit hours in upper-limit requirements
- Electives needed to earn enough credits for graduation after all general education requirements and major course are considered
What are my options if a course is flagged as "not required"?
Students should contact their academic advisor or academic department if you disagree that a class is not required. Options:
- Change your schedule: If you do not need the non-required course(s), it is recommended that you drop the course and add another that is required for your degree program. This will help you graduate quicker and save money. Consult your academic advisor to identify courses required for your degree program.
- Update your Degree Works: If a course substitution or exception is needed, please have your academic advisor complete required forms with the Registrar’s Office.
- Stay enrolled in the course(s) not required: You may remain enrolled in the non-required course(s), however, this may result in a reduction or cancelation of your financial aid. Reach out to the Financial Aid Office to determine the impact to your financial aid funding.
- Final or second to final semester: If you are in your final two semesters and receive state financial aid, we recommend you contact your financial aid advisor to determine your state aid eligibility.
How will I be notified that a course is not aid eligible?
It is the student’s responsibility to verify their course work is required for their degree program. Students will be notified through their Cortland.edu email address if financial aid adjustments must be made due to enrolled courses not being eligible for financial aid. While we try to notify all students prior to the end of Drop and Add week, there are times when schedule changes and timing may limit this ability. It is the student’s responsibility to pay any bill these financial aid adjustments may create.
There is a course I want to take but it’s not required for my degree program. What should I do if I need financial aid to pay for it?
As long as a student is enrolled in at least 12 credit hours required for the degree program, they will qualify for federal and state financial aid.
*An important exception is the Excelsior scholarship, which requires 30 credit hours per year to maintain eligibility.
Will changing my major effect my financial aid eligibility?
This will depend upon when the major change takes place and if the courses you are enrolled in at that time are required for the new or old major. Only courses required for your current major are eligible for financial aid. Please contact your financial aid advisor if you receive financial aid and plan to change your major.
Can I repeat courses and still receive financial aid?
Federal Aid: Students may repeat a course one time and receive federal financial aid. Note that withdrawals do not count as a previous attempt for the repeat policy (but all withdrawals are included in the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress calculation).
State Aid: Only courses previously failed may be retaken for state aid. The one exception is if a student’s program requires that a certain grade be achieved in a specific course and the student earned below the minimum, the student may retake the course and still receive state aid for it.
For more information on retakes and the effect it may have on financial aid, please refer to the college catalog.
I want to take a course to enhance my degree or help get into graduate school or another program.
Courses you would like to take that do not fulfill a graduation requirement are not eligible for financial aid. However, by taking a combination of required and non-required courses, students can still receive financial aid.
I do not receive federal or state financial aid. Does this apply to me?
These regulations only affect students receiving federal (including loans) and state aid. If you pay for courses on your own, you are free to take whatever courses you choose. However, taking courses outside of what is required for your major may prolong the time it takes to obtain a degree, which will cost more. We encourage you to perform a degree audit periodically to ensure you are on your way to completing your degree.