How To Apply for Financial Aid

Eligibility Criteria For Federal Financial Aid Programs

Federal Financial Aid Programs

• Federal Pell Grant (Pell)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins)
• Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) / Nursing Student Loan (NSL)
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
• Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Sub and Unsub)
• Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students

To receive maximum funding from the above programs, you must:

• file the FAFSA by the priority deadline (for FSEOG, Perkins, HPSL, NSL, FWS)
• provide documentation by your designated due date (SFAO receipt date) of any information requested by the Student Financial Aid Office (except for Pell Grant and Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and PLUS Loans)
• demonstrate financial need (except for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and PLUS Loans)
• have a high-school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or
  • pass an ability-to-benefit test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or
  • complete a high-school education in a home-school setting which is approved under state law
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• have a valid Social Security number (www.ssa.gov)
• maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility
• certify, by means of your signature on the FAFSA, that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
• register with the Selective Service, if required
• be enrolled at least half time (except for HPSL and FSEOG, which require full-time enrollment; and Pell Grant, which allows less-than-half-time enrollment in most cases) in classes which you are taking for credit (i.e., not auditing).
• not have a bachelor's degree to be eligible for Pell Grant and FSEOG (eligibility will not extend past your quarter of graduation)
• meet other responsibilities as stated in Rights and Responsibilities
• not have outstanding Federal Perkins Loans or Federal Stafford Loans (either Federal Direct or Federal Family Education Loans) in excess of the annual or aggregate loan limits
• not be in default on a federal student loan nor owe money on a federal student grant, and certify this by means of your signature on the FAFSA and by your signature on a promissory note