Student Eligibility

Policies, which govern student eligibility, are established by both the U. S. Department of Education and post secondary institutions. The federal policies are the same regardless of the institution one attends, but institutional policies vary and are not always the same. However to be eligible for most financial aid programs you must:

  • demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs.
  • have a high school diploma or a GED certificate, or pass an independently administered test approved by the U. S. Department of Education.
  • be enrolled as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program. You may not receive aid for telecommunications courses unless they are part of an associate’s degree program.
  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the institutional policy.
  • be enrolled at least half-time (six credit hours) for most federal and state financial programs.
  • not be in default on a Direct Stafford Loan or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL).
  • not owe a repayment on any federal financial aid program.