Q: Who is eligible to receive Federal Student Aid??

A: To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements. You must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • Have a valid Social Security number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau)
  • Comply with Selective Service registration, if required (see www.sss.gov for more information)
  • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate or pass an approved ability-to-benefit (ATB) test
  • Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a school that participates in the federal student aid programs.

ALSO

  • You must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan.
  • You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)
  • If you have past drug convictions, we encourage you to complete the Drug Conviction Worksheet to determine if those convictions affect your eligibility.

Aug. 20, 2005.