ncaa-manual

15.1 Maximum Limit on Financial Aid—Individual.A student-athlete shall not be eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics if he or she receives financial aidthat exceeds the value of the cost of attendance as defined in Bylaw 15.02.2. A student-athlete may receive institutionalfinancial aid based on athletics ability (per Bylaw 15.02.4.1) and educational expenses awarded per Bylaw15.2.6.4 up to the value of a full grant-in-aid, plus any other financial aid up to the cost of attendance. (See Bylaws15.01.6.1, 16.3, 16.4 and 16.12.) (Revised: 4/29/04 effective 8/1/04, 5/26/09, 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)15.1.1 Exception for Pell Grant. A student-athlete who receives a Pell Grant may receive financial aidequivalent to the limitation set forth in Bylaw 15.1 or the value of a full grant-in-aid plus the Pell Grant, whicheveris greater. (Adopted: 4/29/04 effective 8/1/04)15.1.2 Types of Aid Included in Limit. In determining whether a student-athlete’s financial aid exceedsthe cost of attendance, all institutional financial aid (per Bylaw 15.02.4.1) and all funds received from the followingand similar sources shall be included (see Bylaws 15.02.4.3, 15.02.4.4 and 15.02.4.5 for types of financialaid that are exempt from a student-athlete’s individual limit): (Revised: 10/31/02 effective 8/1/03, 4/29/04 effective8/1/04)(a) Government Grants. Government grants for educational purposes, except for those listed in Bylaw 15.2.5;(b) Other Scholarships and Grants. Other institutional or outside scholarships or grants-in-aid; (Revised:1/10/95 effective 8/1/95, 4/29/04 effective 8/1/04)(c) Gifts. The value of gifts given to a student-athlete following completion of eligibility in appreciation for orrecognition of the student-athlete’s athletics accomplishments;(d) Professional Sports Stipend. Any bonus or salary (no matter when received or contracted for) from a professionalsports organization;(e) Athletics Participation Compensation. Any other income (no matter when received or contracted for)from participation in an athletics event (except funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic Committeepursuant to its Operation Gold Grant Program) unless eligibility has been exhausted in that sport; and(Revised: 1/11/94 effective 8/1/94)(f) Loans. Loans, except legitimate loans that are based upon a regular repayment schedule, available to all studentsand administered on the same basis for all students.15.1.3 Recruited Student-Athlete Receiving Institutional Financial Aid. Unearned financial aid(excluding loans) administered by an institution to an athletically recruited student (per Bylaw 15.02.8) is subjectto the limitations set forth in Bylaw 15.1. Such aid is considered to be athletically related financial aid unless thefaculty athletics representative and the director of financial aid certify that the aid was granted without regard inany degree to athletics ability (see Bylaw 15.5.1.1). (Revised: 5/30/08, 5/28/09, 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)15.1.4 Reduction When Excess Aid Is Awarded. In the event that a student-athlete’s financial aid fromthe sources listed in Bylaw 15.1.2, which includes institutional financial aid, will exceed the cost of attendancefor the balance of the academic year, the institution shall reduce institutional financial aid so as not to exceed thecost of attendance. Payments credited to a student-athlete’s account that are not refundable by the institution tothe scholarship office or other appropriate institutional agency shall not become the student’s obligation. (Revised:4/29/04 effective 8/1/04)15.2 Elements of Financial Aid.15.2.1 Tuition and Fees. An institution may provide a student-athlete financial aid that includes the actualcost of tuition and required institutional fees.15.2.1.1 Permissible Fees. A student-athlete may be awarded financial aid that covers the payment of feesfor a course in which the student-athlete is enrolled, if the course is part of the institution’s regular curriculum(included in the institution’s catalog of classes), and the institution pays these same fees for other students enrolledin the course who receive fees as a part of a grant-in-aid or scholarship.15.2.1.2 Optional Fees. An institution may not pay fees for services offered on an optional basis to thestudent body in general.15.2.1.3 Noninstitutional Fees and Expenses. Fees paid by an institution are confined to required institutionalfees and do not include noninstitutional fees or expenses (e.g., the cost of typing reports for studentathletes).15.2.1.4 Fees and Related Expenses for Prospective Student-Athletes. An institution shall not waive,pay in advance or guarantee payment of the following expenses for a prospective student-athlete, unless suchbenefits generally conform to institutional policy as it applies to other prospective student-grantees:(a) The institution’s processing fee required prior to the admissions office’s evaluation of the prospectivestudent-athlete’s application;(b) The orientation-counseling tests fee required of all incoming freshmen;(c) The preadmission academic testing fee;194