Determining Eligibility
Financial Aid is offered to students in accordance with the guiding principles and formulas established by the Federal Department of Education.
When your FAFSA is processed, a formula, established by law, is applied to the information you provided. The formula result is called the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. The EFC is a measure of your family's financial strength and is based on your family's income and assets. The EFC indicates how much money you and your family are expected to contribute toward your cost of attendance.
Students are automatically considered for all aid programs. If your EFC is below a certain number, you will be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements. The amount of your Pell Grant depends on your EFC, your cost of attendance, and your enrollment status:
Undergraduates:
|
Full time |
Three Quarter Time |
Half Time |
Less than Half Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
12 credits or more |
9 - 11 credits |
6 - 8 credits |
3 - 5 credits |
The student's Financial Need determines the amount of financial aid offered a student. To determine financial need, the EFC is subtracted from the cost of education (tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and supplies, personal and transportation expenses).
Cost of Education - Expected Family Contribution = Need
In addition to demonstrated financial need, aid applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Qualify for financial aid (except for certain loans);
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education;
- Be admitted and enrolled in an eligible degree program;
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
- Have a valid Social Security Number;
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school;
- Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant.
- Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
Last Modified: 5/11/23 10:16 AM | Website Feedback