As college tuition and fees continue to rise, more people are relying on federal student financial aid to help cover the costs of higher education. Federal aid like student loans or grants is usually based on financial need and other factors. It’s important to know the general eligibility guidelines of federal student financial aid programs.
To receive federal student aid, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Display financial need
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass an ability-to-benefit (ATB) test approved by the U.S. Department of Education and meet the other requirements your state has established that is recognized by the Depart of Education
- Have a valid Social Security Number (those from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau are exempt)
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in school
- Certify that the student aid will only be used for educational purposes
- Not be in default for any other federal student loan
- Not owe money on a federal student aid grant
Determining eligibility
The information you put in your FAFSA is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Colleges and universities use your EFC as an index to determine how much financial aid you should receive if you attend their school.
The federal financial aid you’re entitled to receive is based on your EFC number.
Sign up on the box at the right to see what other school cost saving options are available to you.
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