Eligibility criteria for Federal student aid assistance
To receive aid from the student aid programs discussed in your profile, you must:
- have financial need, except for unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans;
- have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate, pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or meet other standards your state establishes that are approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See your financial aid administrator for more information;
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program. (You may not receive aid for correspondence or distance courses unless they are part of an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree program.);
- 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) ;
- sign a statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) certifying that you will use Federal student aid only for educational purposes;
- sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that you are not in default on a Federal student loan and that you do not owe money back on a Federal student grant; and
- register with the Selective Service, if required. If you are a male 18 through 25 years of age and you have not yet registered with Selective Service, you can give Selective Service permission to register you by checking a box on the FAFSA. You can also register through the Selective Services System website at http://www.sss.gov.
Certain adult drug convictions may make you ineligible for federal student aid. Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, complete and submit your FAFSA because you may be eligible for state or school financial aid. For more information about Drug-Related Convictions see Question 31 Worksheet (Get Adobe Reader) or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-433-3243.
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Eligibility criteria for non-citizens
Generally you are an eligible non-citizen if you are: (1) a U.S. permanent resident and you have an Alien Registration Receipt card (I-551); (2) a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or (3) an other eligible non-citizen with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from Department of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: "Refugee", "Asylum Granted", "Parolee" (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), or "Victim of human traffcking," T-Visa holder (T-1,T-2,T-3, etc.) or "Cuban-Haitian Entrant". If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations), you must answer "Not citizen or eligible noncitizen. You are not eligible for federal student aid. However, you may be eligible for state or college aid and should complete the application. If you're not sure how to answer, FAFSA on the Web provides additional information to help you answer these questions.
Student's Alien Registration Number
If you are an eligible non-citizen, you will need your eight- or nine-digit Alien Registration Number.
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Determining who is your parent
Answer these questions as of the date you will submit your FAFSA. Grandparents, legal guardians, and foster parents are not considered parents for this section unless they have legally adopted you.
- If your parents are living and married to each other, answer the questions about them.
- If your parent is widowed or single, answer the questions about that parent. If your widowed parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and the person to whom your parent is married (your stepparent).
- If your parents are divorced or separated, answer the questions about the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent. If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and the person to whom your parent is married (your stepparent).
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Loss of job (or decreased hours) due to increased imports; and definition of a dislocated worker
To receive certain types of assistance, an individual must have been laid off or put on a reduced work schedule (hours of work reduced to 80 percent or less of his or her average weekly hours and wages reduced to 80 percent or less of his or her average weekly wage) on or after the "Impact Date" and before the ending date of certification.
The term "dislocated worker" refers to those individuals who have lost their jobs and are unlikely to return to their previous industries or occupations. This includes workers who lose their jobs because of plant closures or mass layoffs; long-term unemployed persons with limited job opportunities in their fields; and farmers, ranchers and other self-employed persons who become unemployed due to general economic conditions. Under certain circumstances, States may also authorize service for displaced homemakers.
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Determining whether you are a U.S. veteran
Answer "No" (you are not a veteran) if you (1) have never engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) are currently an ROTC student or cadet or midshipman at a service academy, or (3) are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for training. Also answer "No" if you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2009.
Answer "Yes" (you are a veteran) if you (1) are or have engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard) or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for purposes other than training, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or attended a U.S. military academy preparatory school, and (2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also answer "Yes" if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30, 2009.
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Determining if you must register for Selective Service
With some exceptions, all male U.S. citizens and male aliens living in the U.S. who are ages 18 through 25 must register with Selective Service. To check to see if you are registered, or for complete information on how to register, visit the Selective Service System website.
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Determining whether you are an independent or dependent student
For the year in which you would like to enroll, you are automatically determined to be an independent applicant for Federal student aid if you meet one of the following criteria:
- were born before January 1, 1985;
- are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
- are enrolled in a graduate or professional program (beyond a bachelor's degree);
- are or will be married as of the date you sign your FAFSA application;
- are an orphan or ward of the court, or were a ward of the court until age 18;
- have legal dependents other than a spouse; or
- both of your parents are deceased.
Dependent students are those who meet none of the above criteria for independent students, and typically receive at least half of their living expense support from parents or guardians.
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What is a legal dependent?
Any child of the student who receives more than half support from the student (the child does not have to live with the student), including a biological or adopted child or a child to whom the student is legal guardian. Also, any person, other than a spouse, who lives with the student and receives more than half of his or her support from the student now and will continue to receive more than half support from the student during the award year.
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What is a Pell Grant?
A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. (A professional degree is typically earned after earning a bachelor's degree in a field such as medicine, law, or dentistry.) In some cases, you may receive a Pell Grant for attending a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program. For many students, Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added.
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What constitutes less than half-time, half-time, and full-time enrollment?
For undergraduates, an enrollment status of "full time" generally means taking at least 12 credit hours in a term or 24 clock hours per week. "3/4 time" generally means taking at least 9 credit hours in a term or 18 clock hours per week. "Half time" generally means taking at least 6 credit hours in a term or 12 clock hours per week. Note that schools may choose to set higher minimums than these.
You must be attending school at least half time to be eligible to receive Direct or FFEL Program loans. Half-time enrollment is not a requirement to receive aid from the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study, and Federal Perkins Loan programs.
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Determining amount of Federal income tax paid
This is the total amount of U.S. income tax paid by you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) on your most recent Federal tax return. Make sure this amount does not include any FICA, self-employment, or other taxes from tax form IRS 1040. Do not copy the amount of Federal income tax withheld from a W-2 form.
If you (and your spouse's) income tax paid is:
- $100,000 or more, enter 99999
- Zero, or did not file a tax return, enter 0
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Determining whether you are eligible to file either IRS Form 1040A or 1040EZ or if someone in your household received benefits from a means-tested Federal benefits program
In general, a person is eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ if he or she makes less than $100,000, does not itemize deductions, does not receive income from his or her business or farm, is not required to file Schedule D for capital gains, and does not receive alimony. If you filed a 1040 only to claim Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credits, and would have otherwise been eligible for a 1040A or 1040EZ, you should answer "Yes."
Detailed instructions are available through the Internal Revenue Service website.
Means-tested Federal benefits programs include:
Supplemental Security Income
Food Stamps
Free or Reduced Price School Lunch
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Dependent students report benefits received for all of your parents' household members. Include in your parents' household:
(1) your parents, yourself, and your spouse, even if you don't live with your parents;
(2) your parents' other children if
(a) your parents will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, or
(b) the children could answer "No" to every question on the Dependency Determination page; and
(3) other people only if they live with your parents, your parents provide more than half of their support, and your parents will continue to provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. An unborn child who will be born during the 2008-09 award year may also be counted in the household size.
Independent students include
(1) yourself (and your spouse if you are married)
(2) your children if you will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009,
(3) other people only if they live with you, you provide more than half of their support, and you will continue to provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.
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Reporting Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, TANF, Social Security and other benefits
Calculate your total untaxed income and benefits from the list of categories below. These are to be listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Worksheet A and are included on your Federal form1040 or 1040A or other forms as noted.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Additional child tax credit from IRS Form 1040 or 1040A
- Welfare benefits, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Do not include food stamps or subsidized housing.
- Social Security benefits received, that were not taxed (such as SSI), for all household members
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Reporting additional untaxed income and benefits
Calculate your total income exemptions from the list of categories below. These are to be listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Worksheet B and are included on your Federal form1040 or 1040A or other forms as noted.
- Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans (paid directly or withheld from earnings), including, but not limited to, amounts reported on the W-2 Form in Boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H, and S
- Deductible IRA and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and Koegh and other qualified plans
- Child support received for all children. Don't include foster care or adoption payments
- Tax exempt interest income
- Foreign income exclusion reported on IRS Form 2555 or 2555EZ
- Untaxed portions of IRA distributions from IRS Form 1040. Exclude rollovers
- Untaxed portions of pensions. Exclude rollovers
- Credit for Federal tax on special fuels (Get Adobe Reader) (non farmers only)
- Housing, food, and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy, and others (including cash payments and cash values of benefits)
- Veterans noneducation benefits, such as Death Pension or Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and VA Educational Work-Study allowances
- Other untaxed income not reported elsewhere, such as workers' compensation, untaxed portions of railroad retirement benefits, Black Lung Benefits, disability, etc. Tax filers only: report combat pay not included in adjusted gross income. Don't include student aid, Workforce Investment Act educational benefits, combat pay if you are not a tax filer, or benefits from flexible spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria plans)
- Money received, or paid on your behalf (e.g., bills), not reported elsewhere on this form
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Reporting benefit adjustments and income exemptions
Calculate your total income exemptions from the list of categories below. These are entered on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Worksheet C for students and parents and are included on your Federal form 1040 or 1040A.
- Education credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits)
- Child support you paid because of divorce or separation or as a result of a legal requirement. Don't include support for children in your (or your parents') household
- Taxable earnings from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs
- Student grant, scholarship, and fellowship aid to students or parents included within Adjusted Gross Income. This includes AmeriCorps benefits (awards, living allowances, and interest accrual payments), as well as grant or scholarship portions of fellowships and assistantships.
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Determining your Adjusted Gross Income
The amount of Adjusted Gross Income will be found on your most recent Federal income tax return form. Adjusted Gross Income is your total income, including wages, interest, dividends, capital gain distributions, and the taxable portion of IRA distributions, pensions, annuities, and social security benefits and other sources of income less adjustments to income such as IRA deductions, student loan interest deductions. and Health Savings Account deductions. Itemized deductions (or your standard deduction), along with personal exemptions, are deducted from Adjusted Gross Income to arrive at taxable income.
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Determining your earned income from work
Include wages, salaries, tips, etc. found on their W-2 forms from employers, business income or loss; income from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, trusts (Federal Schedule E ) farm income or loss (Federal Schedule F), and the amount from Box 14 of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). Dependent students need to answer this question even if parents filed a tax return.
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Determining your spouse's earned income from work
The amount of your spouse's reported income will be found on your most recent Federal income tax return form Include wages, salaries, tips, etc. found on their W-2 forms from employers, business income or loss, income from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, trusts (Federal Schedule E ) farm income or loss (Federal Schedule F), and the amount from Box 14 of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
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Determining your expected cost of attendance
For the 2005-06 academic year, annual prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board were estimated to be $10,454 at public colleges and $26,889 at private colleges. Between 1995-96 and 2005-06, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public colleges rose by 30 percent, and prices at private colleges rose by 21 percent, after adjustment for inflation.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, (2006). Digest of Education Statistics, 2005 (NCES 2006-030), Chapter 3.
The financial aid administrator must use the definition of "cost of attendance" given in the law to determine which education-related expenses may be considered. The financial aid administrator at a school usually develops an average COA for different categories of students. For instance, some programs of study might have lab fees or higher charges for books and supplies than other programs.
Students living off campus might have slightly higher allowable costs for room and board and transportation expenses than students living on campus. For other aid programs, your financial aid administrator takes your cost of attendance and then subtracts your EFC, the amount of a Federal Pell Grant you are eligible for, and any aid you will receive from other sources. The result is your remaining financial need:
If you're attending at least half time, your cost of attendance is the sum of
- your actual tuition and fees (or the school's average tuition and fees)
- the cost of room and board (or living expenses for students who do not contract with the school for room and board)
- the cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses (including a reasonable amount for the documented cost of a personal computer)
- an allowance for dependent care
- costs related to a disability
- reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs
Costs unrelated to the completion of a student's course of study are not included in calculating that student's cost of attendance.
Sources: Federal Student Aid website
Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid (Get Adobe Reader)
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Reporting current cash, savings, and checking account balances
Include the balance of checking or savings accounts as of the date you apply.
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Reporting value of and debts against real estate and other investments
Investments include real estate (do not include the family home), trust funds, UGMA and UTMA accounts, money market funds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities, Coverdell savings accounts, 529 college savings plans, the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition plans, installment and land sale contracts (including mortgages held), commodities, etc. For more information about reporting educational savings plans call 1-800-4-FED-AID. Investment value means the current balance or market value of these investments as of today. Investment debt means only those debts that are related to the investments.
Do not include the value of life insurance, retirement plans (pension funds, annuities, noneducation IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.) or cash, savings, and checking accounts
already reported.
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Reporting business and/or investment farm value and debt
Business and/or investment farm value includes the market value of land, buildings, machinery, equipment, inventory, etc. Business and/or investment farm debt means only those debts for which the business or investment farm was used as collateral. The net worth of a small business should not be reported if the family owns and controls the business and employs fewer than 100 full-time or full-time equivalent employees (FTE). Farms that a parent, student or student's spouse lives on and operates are also excluded.
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