Federal Financial Aid Requirements

To receive federal financial aid, you must:

• demonstrate financial need, except for some loan programs.
• have a high school diploma or GED, or have passed an independently administered, approved "ability to benefit" exam.
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at least half time in a degree or certificate program at a college, vocational school or correspondence program approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
• make satisfactory academic progress.
• possess a valid Social Security number.
• have complied with U.S. Selective Service registration requirements.
• file a FAFSA.
• not owe a refund on any state or federal educational grant and not be in default on a student loan (you'll need to sign a statement on the FAFSA).

Get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid instantly, even before your senior year, and shorten the time it takes to complete the FAFSA by using FAFSA4caster, available in English and Spanish at the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Gateway Web site.

For questions regarding citizenship, see the FAFSA, contact your financial aid office, or call toll free 800.4.FED.AID. Not all schools participate in all federal programs, so check with your financial aid office first.

Certain types of financial aid may have additional eligibility requirements. To learn more, see paying for college.