Are all classes eligible for financial aid?
No, only courses that apply toward your declared major or are listed in your Degree Audit or your Education Plan will be eligible for financial aid.
Taking classes that do not meet these criteria may reduce or eliminate your aid.
Exclusions: This does not apply to the CA College Promise or the MiraCosta Promise programs.
If you enroll in any courses that do not apply toward your major or are not listed in your education plan, you will see an item in your TASKS called 鈥淐POS鈥� which stands for Course Program of Study.
What is a Course Program of Study?
The Department of Education requires you to be in a program that leads to a degree or certificate to get financial aid. Only the classes that count toward your degree will be used to decide how much financial aid you can get. The Course to Program of Study (CPoS) is a process the Financial Aid office uses to check if the classes you鈥檙e taking are needed for your degree or certificate.
What is an Education Plan?
The education plan also called EdPlan is a tool for you and your counselor to plan the classes you still need to complete your goal here at MiraCosta. This tool can help you plan your classes from your current semester through your last semester here at MiraCosta. .
How to Track your Academic Progress
- Degree Audit: Lists required courses for your program. (ex. Associates degree, etc)
- Education Plan: A personalized plan to complete your degree.
Students should meet with an academic advisor to help plan out classes and goals.
How do I check if the classes I picked are on my Education Plan or my Degree Audit?
- Login to SURF
- Click on to the Student Center, and select the box that says 鈥渕yEdPlan鈥�
- Then click on either tab to see your classes listed
You must meet with an Academic Counselor in order to update any change on your EdPlan or Degree Audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which types of financial Aid could be impacted?
All of the below may not necessarily be impacted but could be impacted. If you have questions about how your financial aid could be impacted, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Types of financial aid that could be impacted:
Any Federal Financial Aid, including:
- Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Grant
- Federal Direct Loans
- Federal Work Study
Some state grants, including:
- Cal Grant
- Student Success Completion Grant
- Dreamers Service Incentive Grant
How do I update my Educational Goal and/or Major?
Student Self-Service Major Change in SURF Instructions
Do I need to update the financial aid office once my courses, major or ed plan are updated?
No, you don鈥檛 need to notify us.
- Our system automatically checks your classes every day until the financial aid enrollment deadline.
- After the enrollment deadline (through the first day of registration for the next semester), after you've met with a counselor, the counselor will let us know if your courses need to be reviewed.
- Updates made after this time may still be reviewed if there are special circumstances.
If one of your classes is not eligible, you鈥檒l get an email and a to-do list notification. This process runs every night, so you鈥檒l usually be notified within a day or two.
If you make changes to fix the ineligible course(s), the system will automatically update your record, remove the to-do list item, and adjust your financial aid award within a day or two.
Are prerequisites eligible to be paid through financial aid?
If it is included in your education plan/degree audit and you are eligible to receive
financial aid payments then, yes! If you need to update your education plan or degree
audit to include your courses, you can schedule appointments with counselors online.
Check out the Academic Counseling website for more
information
Are remedial courses eligible to be paid?
Per financial aid regulations, students may receive aid for up to 30 units of remedial coursework as long as they are included in the degree audit or education plan.
Will transfer requirements be eligible to be paid?
If it is included in your education plan/degree audit and you are eligible to receive financial aid payments then, yes. If you need to update your education plan or degree audit to include your courses, you can schedule appointments with counselors online! Check out the Academic Counseling website for more information
What happens if I switch my major during the semester?
Go see a counselor to create an updated education plan. Students can schedule appointments with counselors online. Check out the Academic Counseling website for more information. To check if your major change will impact your financial aid, reach out to the Financial Aid Office.
What majors are available at MiraCosta?
Check out our majors on the MiraCosta website鈥檚 catalog: HERE
Can I go to my own counselor in the program that I already work with to get my Education Plan and/or Goal/Major updated?
Yes! If you have a counselor that you normally work with through a specific program, they can help you get your education plan and/or goal major updated. We have provided the information on scheduling an appointment with each of the departments below:
- EOPS
To schedule an appointment with an EOPS Counselor, call the EOPS office at 760.795.6680. You can see hours and information about EOPS services on the EOPS website. - Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
To schedule an appointment with a SAS Counselor, call the SAS office at 760.795.6658. You can see hours and information about SAS services on the SAS website. - Military & Veterans Services
Schedule an appointment with a Veterans Counselor. You can see hours and information on the Military & Veterans Services website. - Transfer Counseling
To schedule an appointment with a Transfer Counselor, call the Transfer Center at 760.795.6880. You can see hours and information about the Transfer Counseling website. - Academic Success and Equity (ASE) Programs
To schedule an appointment with your ASE Program Counselor, (Umoja, PUENTE, Mana, UPRISE, RAFFY, SPHERE, and/or Transitions) reach out to those programs directly.
How to Ensure Your Classes Qualify for Financial Aid
- Check Your Classes:
- Log into SURF.
- Go to the Student Center and select myEdPlan.
- Review your listed courses under the tabs. Make sure to as well check both tabs 鈥淒egree Audit鈥� or 鈥淓dplan鈥�.
- Update Your Degree Audit or Education Plan:
- Schedule an appointment with an academic counselor.
- Use the Academic Counseling website to book an appointment or there are available drop in hours
- Checking Your Task List in Surf:
- If one of your courses does not qualify for financial aid you will have a to do list item in your Surf Account that notifies you that you are taking one or more courses not required for your declared major or listed on your Educational Plan with instructions on your next steps.
Need Help?
- Financial Aid Office: Contact us for questions regarding eligibility or adjustments.
- Counseling Appointments: Schedule online via the website.
- Financial Aid Resources: Explore our and for more support.
