Eligibility Under Title IV and the Higher Education Act (HEA)

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To be Eligible to receive Federal Student Aid, you will need to:

  • Qualify to obtain a college or career school education, either by having a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or by completing a high school education in a home school setting approved under state law.
  • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program.
  • Apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov and demonstrate a financial need. The school must have a current FAFSA on file to start the initial eligibility process.
  • Sign certifying statements on the FAFSA stating that:
    • you are not in default on a federal student loan
    • do not owe a refund on a federal grant
    • you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). More detailed information regarding the school’s SAP policy contained in this catalog.
  • Be enrolled at least halftime to receive assistance from the Direct Loan Program.
  • The Pell Grant program does not require half time enrollment, but the student enrollment status does affect the amount of Pell a student may receive. A student may receive Pell for a total of 12 payment periods or 600% Maximum Lifetime Eligibility. Once the student has obtained either a Bachelor’s Degree or reached their Maximum Lifetime Eligibility limit, students are no longer eligible to receive Pell Grants.

In addition, you must meet one of the following:

  1. Be a U.S. CITIZEN, an Eligible Non-Citizen or a U.S. NATIONAL
    You are a U.S. citizen if you were born in the United States or certain U.S. territories, if you were born abroad to parents who are U.S. citizens, or if you have obtained citizenship status through naturalization. If you were born in American Samoa or Swains Island, then you are a U.S. national.
  2. Have a GREEN CARD
    You are eligible if you have a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C, also known as a green card, showing you are a U.S. permanent resident.
  3. Have an ARRIVAL-DEPARTURE RECORD
  4. Your Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must show one of the following:
    • Refugee
    • Asylum Granted
    • Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)
    • Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
    • Parolee
  5. Have BATTERED IMMIGRANT STATUS
    You are designated as a “battered immigrant-qualified alien” if you are a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse, or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act.
  6. Have a T-VISA
    You are eligible if you have a T-visa or a parent with a T-1 visa.