Eligibility Requirements

Basic eligibility requirements for federal financial aid.

The U.S. Department of Education has established certain basic eligibility requirements for all federal financial aid. Scholarship, Work-Study, and/or other loan programs may have different eligibility requirements.

Federal student aid eligibility requirements

  • U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
  • Be admitted to a degree program
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal grant program
  • Make satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of your degree or certificate
  • Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a degree-seeking program
  • Have a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) or its equivalent

Note: All ineligible statuses must abide by the rules set forth in our "International" section, then may be eligible for certain private loans with a U.S. citizen as a cosigner.

Students with "Temporary Protected Status" stamped on the I-94 are not eligible for federal aid.

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