{"additionalLinks": [{"href": "/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens", "id": null, "target": null, "value": "Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions", "id": null, "target": null, "value": "Eligibility for Students with Criminal Convictions", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/intellectual-disabilities", "id": null, "target": null, "value": "Eligibility for Students With Intellectual Disabilities", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/understand-aid/types", "id": null, "target": null, "value": "Types of Financial Aid", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/h/apply-for-aid", "id": null, "target": null, "value": "Apply for Financial Aid", "widgetType": "anchor"}], "href": "/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements", "id": "32452", "language": "en", "mainContent": [{"headerSize": "2", "id": "criteria", "value": "Basic Student Eligibility Criteria", "widgetType": "text_header"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "Our basic eligibility requirements are that you must", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "demonstrate financial need for <a class=\"glossary-term\" data-glossary-href=\"/glossary/needbased.json\">need-based</a> <a class=\"glossary-term\" data-glossary-href=\"/glossary/federal-student-aid-programs.json\">federal student aid programs</a>;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "be a U.S. citizen or an <a class=\"glossary-term\" data-glossary-href=\"/glossary/eligible-noncitizen.json\">eligible noncitizen</a>;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a <a class=\"glossary-term\" data-glossary-href=\"/glossary/regular-student.json\">regular student</a> in an eligible degree or certificate program;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "maintain <a class=\"glossary-term\" data-glossary-href=\"/glossary/satisfactory-academic-progress.json\">satisfactory academic progress</a> in college or career school;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly into your <em>Free Application for Federal Student Aid</em> (FAFSA<sup>\u00ae</sup>) form;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "sign the certification statement on the FAFSA form stating that you\u2019re not in default on a federal student loan, you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and you\u2019ll only use federal student aid for educational purposes; and", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "show you\u2019re qualified to obtain a college or career school education.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "listStyleType": null, "listType": "ul", "null": "Off", "reversed": "False", "start": null, "widgetType": "list"}, {"cardHeaderSize": "4", "cardStyle": null, "cardTitle": null, "classes": null, "data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "You can show you\u2019re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "having a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or\u2014if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential\u2014completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the <a href=\"/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements#ability-to-benefit\">\u201cability-to-benefit\u201d alternatives</a> described below.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "listStyleType": null, "listType": "ul", "null": "Off", "reversed": "False", "start": null, "widgetType": "list"}], "widgetType": "card"}, {"data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "<strong>IMPORTANT:</strong> On the FAFSA form, a contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent&#039;s spouse) who&#039;s required to provide information on the FAFSA form. If a required contributor doesn&#039;t provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred into your FAFSA form, you won\u2019t be eligible for federal student aid\u2014even if they manually enter tax information into the FAFSA form.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "null": "Off", "target": null, "widgetType": "highlight"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "Additional eligibility requirements can apply in certain situations including for <a href=\"/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens\">non-U.S. citizens</a>, <a href=\"/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions\">students with criminal convictions</a>, and <a href=\"/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/intellectual-disabilities\">students with intellectual disabilities</a>.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "Some federal student aid programs have their own eligibility criteria in addition to the general requirements listed above. Check with your college\u2019s or career school\u2019s financial aid office if you have questions about a particular program.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "null": "Off", "target": null, "widgetType": "highlight"}, {"headerSize": "2", "id": "ability-to-benefit", "value": "Ability-to-Benefit Alternatives", "widgetType": "text_header"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "If you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012, or if you are currently enrolled in an eligible career pathway program*, you may show you\u2019re qualified to obtain a higher education by", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"data": [{"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "passing an approved ability-to-benefit test* (if you don\u2019t have a diploma or state-recognized equivalent, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school) or", "widgetType": "paragraph"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "completing six credit hours, 225 clock hours, or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours or 225 clock hours).", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "listStyleType": null, "listType": "ul", "null": "Off", "reversed": "False", "start": null, "widgetType": "list"}, {"classes": null, "id": null, "value": "*For more information about these criteria, talk to the financial aid office at your college or career school. Your financial aid counselor can tell you whether your school offers an eligible career pathway program and can advise you about any ability-to-benefit tests the school uses.", "widgetType": "paragraph"}], "metadata": [{"type": "description", "value": "Basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid include financial, citizenship, enrollment, and academic requirements, among others. Find out if you qualify.", "widgetType": "metadata"}, {"type": "keywords", "value": "qualify for financial aid, financial aid eligibility, eligible for financial aid, high school counselor, high school graduate, students with disabilities, intellectual disabilities, eligibility requirements, financial aid eligibility requirements", "widgetType": "metadata"}, {"type": "page_audience", "value": "customer", "widgetType": "metadata"}, {"type": "page_category", "value": "Content", "widgetType": "metadata"}, {"type": "user_journey", "value": "Apply for and Receive Aid", "widgetType": "metadata"}], "pageLayout": "static_page_273", "pageTemplate": "default", "pageTitle": "Eligibility Requirements", "preface": [{"alignment": "left", "data": [{"headerSize": "1", "id": null, "value": "Eligibility Requirements", "widgetType": "text_header"}], "null": "Off", "type": null, "widgetType": "hero"}, {"data": [{"href": "/", "value": "Home", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/h/understand-aid", "value": "Understand Aid", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/understand-aid/eligibility", "value": "Financial Aid Eligibility", "widgetType": "anchor"}, {"href": "/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements", "value": "Eligibility Requirements", "widgetType": "anchor"}], "widgetType": "breadcrumb"}], "prologue": [], "secondaryContent": [], "sideNav": [{"generate": "True", "widgetType": "side_nav"}], "summary": [{"generate": "True", "widgetType": "side_nav"}], "translatable": false}