Billions of dollars in financial aid is offered to students every year. But students must meet certain eligibility criteria in order to receive it. And the specifications can differ among federal, state, and institutional aid.
To qualify for financial aid, you must satisfy the requirements listed below.
Federal Financial Aid
Citizenship Status
You must have a valid Social Security Number unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. And you must satisfy one of the following requirements (see the Federal Student Aid site for more details on these specifications):
- Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- Be a U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C (green card)
- Have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Have “battered immigrant-qualified alien” status
- Have a T-visa or a parent with a T-1 visa
- If you are male (defined as male at birth), be registered with Selective Service (must register between the ages of 18 and 25).
If you are an undocumented student (which includes anyone under DACA status) or work with undocumented students, download the U.S. Department of Education’s Resource Guide for Undocumented Youth for assistance with college planning.
Academic Status
To receive federal student aid, you must meet all of these academic requirements:
- Have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, or a complete high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school
Financial Status
You must also satisfy both of these criteria related to your finances:
- Certify on the FAFSA® that you are not in default on a deferral student loan, do not owe a refund on a federal grant, and will use federal student aid only for education purposes
- Have financial need, which means that the Cost of Attendance at a college (which varies by school) is greater than your Student Aid Index (SAI). The one exception is the Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan, which can be offered to students regardless of financial need.
More Information
If you have any questions about your eligibility for financial aid:
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- Visit StudentAid.gov for information about your eligibility for financial aid from the federal government
- Contact each college’s financial aid office for details about your eligibility for financial aid from that college and from your state of residence
State Financial Aid
Eligibility for state financial aid is very similar to that of federal aid, though some states, including Massachusetts, allow students to apply for state aid regardless of citizenship status. As well, some states offer financial aid regardless of a student’s financial need. Check with your state of residence for specific eligibility criteria.
Institutional Financial Aid
Financial aid offered by colleges and universities (institutional financial aid) also closely follows federal guidelines in terms of eligibility, though some colleges do offer college financial aid funds (need-based and/or merit-based) to non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents. As well, many colleges offer significant amounts of merit-based aid, which does not take into account a student’s financial need. Check with each college to find out eligibility criteria for their institutional aid.
