What is the Financial Aid Census Date?
Baker College uses a census date to determine a student’s enrollment intensity for awarding Pell Grant funds. The financial aid census date refers to the point at which your enrollment credit hours are locked for Pell Grant purposes. The financial aid census date does not apply to other forms of financial aid (loans, state aid, institutional aid, etc.).
The number of credit hours a student is registered for at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the census date will determine Pell Grant eligibility.
Baker College Financial Aid Census Dates
- Summer Semester 2024: May 26, 2024
- Fall Semester 2024: September 1, 2024
- Spring Semester 2025: January 12, 2025
- Summer Semester 2025: May 25, 2025
How do class withdrawals, drops and adds impact Pell Grant Eligibility?
Prior to Census Date: If a student adds or drops classes before census date, the amount of Pell Grant will be adjusted.
After Census Date: If a student adds a class after the census date, the Pell Grant award will not increase; however, if classes are withdrawn or dropped after the census date, Pell Grant funds may be reduced.
Pell Grant Enrollment Intensity
Beginning with the 2024-2025 aid year, Pell Grant disbursement amounts are calculated using Enrollment Intensity, which is a percentage value based on the number of credits a student is enrolled for during a term. For example, if a student is enrolled in 8 credit hours on census date, they would be eligible for 67% of their full-time Pell grant award.
- For federal student aid purposes, full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours.
- The chart below illustrates enrollment intensity relative to full-time enrollment. Note that enrollment intensity cannot exceed 100%.
Table 1: Enrollment intensity by credits
| Credit Hours |
Enrollment Intensity |
| 12 and above |
100% |
| 11 |
92% |
| 10 |
83% |
| 9 |
75% |
| 8 |
67% |
| 7 |
58% |
| 6 |
50% |
| 5 |
42% |
| 4 |
33% |
| 3 |
25% |
| 2 |
17% |
| 1 |
8% |
Enrollment changes after the census date may affect the amount of other grants, scholarships and loans the student may receive. Students are encouraged to submit a request if they have questions about how enrollment changes (including withdrawals) will affect their financial aid awards.