Winter 2021 > Financial Policies and Information > Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for financial aid, a student must:

1. Demonstrate financial need (for most programs).
2. Be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen;
3. Have a valid Social Security number;
4. Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
5. Maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation;
6. Have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent;
7. Not be in default on any federal student loan nor owe a refund on a federal grant received at any postsecondary college or institution;
8. Sign the certification on the FASFA that he/she will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.  

  Find more details about eligibility requirements at StudentAid.gov/eligibility

In addition, please note the following program-specific requirements:  

• Students must be scheduled for enrollment on at least a half-time basis to receive funds under the Federal Direct Student Loan Program.  
• Eligibility for Federal Pell Grants and Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grants is estimated each semester or trimester based on the number of credits scheduled that will apply to the student's program of study.  If a student does not begin attendance in a scheduled course, eligibility will be recalculated based on the revised enrollment status.  
• Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree or a first professional degree cannot receive a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant or a Federal SEOG award.  
• Students incarcerated in federal or state penal institutions are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grants, or Federal SEOG awards.  
• Students subject to an involuntary civil commitment following incarceration for a sexual offense are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grants, or Federal SEOG awards.  

For more details about eligibility requirements at StudentAid.gov/eligibility.  

The table below defines half-time for each enrollment level: 

Conditionally Accepted Students:

Because half-time enrollment status or greater is a requirement for federal loan eligibility and federal grants may not be used for preparatory coursework, students who are conditionally accepted and enrolled on a less than half-time basis in any given semester/trimester must complete the preparatory coursework on a cash pay basis or through private loans.  

Students who are conditionally accepted and enroll on at least a half-time basis each semester/trimester may utilize the William D. Ford federal direct student loan program to help cover tuition costs if they otherwise qualify.  The student must be able to complete all preparatory coursework within one calendar year.