Federal Financial Aid Eligibility
Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for federal student aid:
- demonstrate financial need (for most programs);
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
- 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);
- be registered with Selective Service, if you’re a male (you must register between the ages of 18 and 25);
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
- be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;
- maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school;
- sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form stating that
- you are not in default on a federal student loan,
- you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and
- you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes; and
- show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
- having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
- completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law (or—if state law does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential – completing a high school education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law); or
- enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the “ability-to-benefit” alternatives described below.
Students must be properly enrolled at the time of disbursement and participate through the end of the term to be fully eligible for financial aid and scholarships.
Financial aid cannot be disbursed until you as the student have satisfied all disbursement requirements within your InsideSOU account.
Ability-to-Benefit Alternatives
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’re qualified to obtain a higher education by:
- passing an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school) or
- completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours).