Students must be accepted and classified as degree-seeking to be eligible for and to receive financial aid. Eligibility requirements include:
- Enrollment is based on classes that count toward degree completion. If a class is not required to earn the degree, then that class will not be used to calculate a student’s financial aid enrollment.
- Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Students may not receive aid in excess of their cost of attendance.
- Students must not be in default on any federal educational loan or owe repayment on a federal grant at this or any other institution.
- Students must provide all information requested for the completion of their file.
- Students must apply annually for financial aid.
- Students must be a U. S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. Eligible non-citizens include I-151, I-551, and I-688 cardholders as well as some I-94 classifications.
- Students must have a high school diploma or GED certificate on file in Admissions and Records prior to aid being awarded.
- For need-based programs, students must show a financial need as computed on the FAFSA.
- All male applicants must be registered with Selective Service, if applicable
Independent Students
Students will be classified as independent for financial aid purposes only if at least one of the following applies (supporting documentation will likely be required):
- you are 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
- you are married;
- have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30th of the school year;
- have children who receive more than half of their support from you;
- a ward/dependent of the court;
- a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or currently serving on active duty for purposes other than training;
- at any time since you turned age 13, if both parents were deceased, you were in foster care or were a dependent or ward of the court;
- as determined by a court in your state of legal residence, you are considered an emancipated minor;
- as determined by a court in your state of legal residence, you are in legal guardianship;
- at any time on or after July 1, 2017, your high school or school district homeless liaison determines that you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless;
- at any time on or after July 1, 2017, the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determines that you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless; or
- at any time on or after July 1, 2017, the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determines that you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
Determining Your Dependency Status
The following video offers additional information that is helpful in understanding FAFSA dependency status.