Eligibility
Basic Federal Eligibility
To receive financial aid, a student must meet the following basic federal requirements. You may be asked to provide documentation to confirm your eligibility. If so, you will be given specific instructions of what documentation you will need to provide.
Citizenship
Eligible statuses are:
- A U.S. citizen or national
- A U.S. permanent resident
- A citizen of the Freely Associated States: the Federated States of Micronesia and the republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands
- An other eligible non-citizen. For specific questions regarding this category, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Name, Social Security & Date of Birth Matches
The name, social security number and date of birth that you provide on the FAFSA must match records of the Social Security Administration.
Selective Service
Men of ages 18 through 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System. If you are over the age of 25, you must have already registered, as the Selective Service will register only males age 18 through 25.
- EXEMPTIONS
- For information on those not required to register, or on the registration process itself, go to the Selective Service web site.
- FAILURE TO REGISTER
- If you are over the age of 25 and did not register with Selective Service, contact the Financial Aid office for information on how to possibly resolve your situation.
Defaults & Overpayments
Generally, a person is not eligible for federal student aid funds is he/she is in default on a federal loan or owes an overpayment on a federal grant or loan, and has not made a repayment arrangement for the default or overpayment.
Veteran Status
If you report on the FAFSA that you are a veteran, we must be able to confirm this with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or you will be asked to provide a copy of your honorable discharge papers (DD Form 214).
Dependency Status
When you fill out the FAFSA, your answers to questions 48 through 60 will determine whether you’re considered a Dependent or Independent student. The Department of Education has certain criteria to determine dependency status. Living with your parents, being claimed by them on their tax form, and receiving financial support from them are part of these criteria. If you’re considered dependent, you must report your parents’ income and assets on the FAFSA, as well as your own. If you’re independent, you'll report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you’re married).
2009-2010 Academic Year
For this year you are an Independent student if at least one of the following applies to you:
- You were born before January 1, 1986.
- You’re married as of the day you apply (or separated but not divorced).
- You are or will be enrolled in a master’s program at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.
- You have children who receive more than half their support from you.
- You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through June 30, 2010.
- When you were age 13 or older, both your parents were deceased, you were in foster care, or you were a dependent/ward of the court.
- You're an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence as of the day you apply.
- You're in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence as of the day you apply.
- You were determined to be an unaccompanied homeless youth by an appropriate entity at any time after July 1, 2008.
- Both your parents are deceased, or you are or were (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court.
- You’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- You're currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty for other than state or training purposes.
In highly unusual cases, the Financial Aid Office can determine that a student who doesn't meet the above criteria should still be treated as an independent student. Students who feel they may fall into this category should contact their Financial Aid Representative.
Back to top