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Edvisors (“Edvisors Network, Inc.”) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans. Loan offers from participating lenders that appear on our websites are not affiliated with any college and/or universities, and there are no colleges and/or universities which endorse Edvisors’ products or services. Lender search results do not constitute an official college preferred lender list. Edvisors receives compensation from lenders that appear on this site. This compensation may impact the placement of where lenders appear on this site, for example, the order in which the lenders appear when included in a list. Not all lenders participate in our sites and lenders that do participate may not offer loans to every school.

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Home Student Loans FAFSA Financial Aid Eligibility and FAFSA Requirements
  • Contents
  • Basic Eligibility Requirements
  • Federal Student Aid Requirements
  • Federal Student Loan Eligibility
  • Federal Pell Grant Limits
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Requirements Relating to Previously Received Financial Aid Funds
  • Maintaining Federal Financial Aid Eligibility
  • Other Federal Financial Aid Requirements
  • Am I Eligible for Financial Aid If My Parents Are Undocumented?
  • FAFSA Eligibility 

Financial Aid Eligibility and FAFSA Requirements

Photo of Elaine Rubin
By Elaine Rubin
Updated on November 15, 2023
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The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) typically opens on October 1st of each year for the following academic school year.  This year the 2024-2025 FAFSA form is being revised and will be available by December 31, 2023.  Please make sign up for our newsletter so we can share with you all the changes you need to be aware of.

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Wondering if you are eligible for financial aid, if filling out the FAFSA will be helpful or not?  Below we explain eligibility requirements for receiving financial aid.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

There are some eligibility criteria you need to meet in order to qualify for federal student aid:

  • Complete the FAFSA and agree to use federal student aid for educational purposes.
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of student from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
  • Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate* program at a college or university that participates in federal student aid.
  • Have a high school diploma, the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma* (including a General Educational Development (GED) certificate), or have completed a high school curriculum in a home school setting that satisfies the state’s requirements for home schooling.
  • Students who first enrolled in an accredited college or career school before July 1, 2012, or are enrolled in an eligible career pathway program, may qualify by satisfying alternate criteria, such as passing an approved ability-to-benefit test or completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate.
  • Not be in default on a federal student loan.
  • Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or loan overpayment.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  • Students with intellectual difficulties may still be eligible for federal student aid. You need to be enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary (CTP) program, meet all basic eligibility requirements, except for the requirement of a high school diploma or GED, and you aren’t required to pursue a degree or certificate.

For males, your registration status with the Selective Service no longer affects your eligibility. The 2023-2024 FAFSA will no longer allow you to register for selective service using the FAFSA form. 

Drug convictions no longer will affect your financial aid eligibility. The question will not appear on the 2023-2024 FAFSA application. 

Note: If you do not meet these criteria, ask your school if they would still like you to complete the FAFSA®.

Federal Student Aid Requirements

To qualify for federal student aid, students must:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) 
  • Comply with verification requirements, if the student’s FAFSA is selected for verification by the college or university the student plans to attend or by the federal government.
  • Provide all requested material from school within the required timeframes – even if you’re not selected for FAFSA Verification, your school is required to clear up any conflicting information they may identify based on the information you provided on your FAFSA and other financial aid applications.
  • Demonstrate financial need, if applicable. Some federal grant, work and loan programs require the student to demonstrate financial need. The Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Grad PLUS Loan, and Parent PLUS loan do not depend on financial need.

Federal Student Loan Eligibility

In addition to the basic eligibility requirements, federal student loans require you to be enrolled in your program at least half-time. The Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loan program has loan limits for the total you can borrow each year, and total aggregate (overall) limits. If you’ve reached annual or aggregate borrowing limits in the federal program, you may need to consider private student loan options.

Federal Student Loan Eligibility for Undergraduate Students

If you are an undergraduate student, you are eligible for:
  • Direct Stafford Loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized loans

If your parent is willing to help you by borrowing a loan, they may be eligible to borrow a parent PLUS loan if you are a dependent undergraduate student. However, this is not a loan borrowed by you (the student), it would be borrowed by your parent.

Federal Student Loan Eligibility for Graduate Students

If you are a graduate student, you are eligible for:

  • ONLY Direct Stafford Loans unsubsidized loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans for graduate and professional students

Federal Student Loan Eligibility for Parents of Students

Parents who want to help their child pay for college, may have an option to borrow a Direct PLUS loan for parents. Parents who wish to borrow a federal Direct PLUS Loan, must be the parent of a dependent (as determined by the FAFSA) undergraduate student.

Parents of independent undergraduate students or graduate students are not eligible to borrow Direct PLUS Loan. However, a parent may have some options if they were to review private parent student loan options.

Compare Featured Lenders

College Ave Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

5, 8, 10 or 15 years2

Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 5.59% APR1

Fixed rates as low as: 4.49% APR1

Apply Now More Info
College Ave Student Loans
  • Competitive fixed and variable APRs starting at 4.49%1
  • Multiple repayment options including: full principal and interest, interest-only, deferred, and flat payment
  • Flexible payment terms ranging from 5, 8, 10, and 15 years2
  • Coverage up to 100% of your school-certified cost of attendance ($1,000 minimum)3
  • No origination, application and processing fees, no fees for early repayment
  • Apply online in 3 minutes and get an instant credit decision
  • Applying with a cosigner can increase your chances of getting approved and could result in a lower interest rate

College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.

1Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation.

2This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.

3As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.

Information advertised valid as of 12/01/2023. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.

Cosigner Recommended

Sallie Mae Private Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

10-15 Years6

(undergraduate)

Interest Rates

Variable Rates: 6.37% APR - 16.70% APR1

Fixed Rates: 4.50% APR - 15.49% APR1

Apply Now More Info
Sallie Mae Private Student Loans
  • Variable Rates: 6.37% APR - 16.70% APR. Fixed Rates: 4.50% APR - 15.49% APR. Lowest rates shown include 0.25% interest rate discount with auto debit payments.1
  • Apply online in minutes and receive an instant credit result2
  • Multiple repayment options from in-school payments to deferred.1 No origination fee or prepayment penalty3
  • Last year, students were 3x more likely to be approved with a cosigner4 and it may help you get a better rate.
  • Borrow up to 100% of school-certified expenses, whether you're online or on campus5

Borrow Responsibly

We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Students and families should evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.

Loans for Undergraduate & Career Training Students are not intended for graduate students and are subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and school certification. Student must attend a participating school. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., attend school in the U.S., apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident), and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID. Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.

1Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent.  Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

2In 2022, instant credit decisions were provided to 97.8% of applicants.  Other applications typically received credit decisions in 3 to 5 business days.

3Although we do not charge a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as outlined in your promissory note-first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

4Based on the percentage of borrowers who were approved for an undergraduate loan with a cosigner compared to the percentage of borrowers who were approved for an undergraduate loan without a cosigner from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. 

5 For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school.  Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website may be subjected to a lower maximum loan request amount.  Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. 

6 Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44.  For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. 

Information advertised valid as of 08/25/2023.

SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.

Smart Option Student Loans® are made by Sallie Mae Bank. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Edvisors is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Sallie Mae loan customers.

© 2023 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

Ascent offers loans that power bright futures

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 years

Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 6.16% APR1

Fixed rates as low as: 4.53% APR1

Apply Now More Info
Ascent offers loans that power bright futures
  • AFFORDABLE variable rates starting at 6.16% APR with Automatic Debit Discount*
  • 1% CASH BACK Graduation Reward*
  • NON-COSIGNED option may be available for undergraduate juniors and seniors.
  • PAY AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL – Customize your loan with flexible repayment options – start payments after graduation.
  • FORGET FEES – No application, origination or disbursement fees. No prepayment penalty if you choose to pay your loan off early.
  • COVER UP TO 100% of your tuition and eligible living expenses.

* Ascent's undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs

Rates are effective as of 12/01/2023 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Rates

1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner.  Lowest APRs require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, and a cosigner, and are only available to our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores.  

The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

Earnest Private Student Loan

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

5, 7, 10,15 or 20 years

Interest Rates

Graduate Rates

Fixed: 4.42% - 14.30% APR1

Variable: 5.89% - 15.97% APR1 

Undergraduate Rates

Fixed: 4.42% - 15.90% APR1

Variable: 5.62% - 16.20% APR1 

Apply Now More Info
Earnest Private Student Loan
  • Check your eligibility in just 2 minutes
  • Flexible repayment options you can choose from
  • No fees for origination, disbursement, prepayment, or late payment3
  • Skip a payment once per year (once repayment period restarted)4
  • Will cover up to 100% of the school's certified cost of attendance
  • 9-month grace period (3 months more than most lenders)2
  • Apply over the phone with the Client Happiness Team
    • Call 866-492-1222, Monday through Friday, 5 A.M. - 5 P.M. PST
    • Mention us when you call in to start your application

This information is for graduate and undergraduate students attending participating degree-granting schools. Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents if the school is located outside of the United States. Non-U.S. citizen borrowers who reside in the U.S. are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident) and are required to provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity. Applications are subject to a requested minimum loan amount of $1,000. Current credit and other eligibility criteria apply.

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.67% APR to 16.15% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.87% APR to 16.35% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.

 

1You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.

2Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.

3Earnest does not charge fees for origination, late payments, or prepayments. Florida Stamp Tax: For Florida
residents, Florida documentary stamp tax is required by law, calculated as $0.35 for each $100 (or portion thereof) of the principal loan amount, the amount of which is provided in the Final Disclosure. Lender will add the stamp tax to the principal loan amount. The full amount will be paid directly to the Florida Department of Revenue. Certificate of Registration No. 78-8016373916-1.

4Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 10/30/2023. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice.

Earnest loans are originated by Earnest Operations LLC. California Finance Lender License 6054788. NMLS # 1204917. Earnest Operations LLC is located at 303 2nd Street, Suite 401N, San Francisco, CA 94107. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest.com/terms-of-service, e-mail us at [email protected], or call 888-601-2801 for more information.

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PAYMENT OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS OFFER.

 

 

Sallie Mae Private Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget

Interest Rates

Variable rates as low as: 5.99% APR (with autopay)*

Fixed rates as low as: 4.44% APR (with autopay)*

Apply Now More Info
Sallie Mae Private Student Loans
  • Variable Rates: Starting variable rates range from 5.99% APR to 14.83% APR (with autopay)*, and will never exceed 13.95% (sometimes lower in certain states as required by law)
  • Fixed Rates: Fixed rates range from 4.44% APR to 14.83% APR (with autopay)*
  • Easy online application!
  • No origination fees, late fees, and no insufficient fund fees. Period
  • Up to four repayment types (including no payments while in school) and multiple repayment terms help you find the loan that fits your budget
  • 0.25% discount when you set up autopay*

*UNDERGRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.44% to 13.80% annual percentage rate ("APR") (with autopay), variable rates from 5.99% to 14.30% APR (with autopay). GRADUATE LOANS: Fixed rates from 4.99% to 13.60% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 5.99% to 14.10% APR (with autopay). PARENT LOANS: Fixed rates from 6.50% to 14.83% APR (with autopay), variable rates from 6.32% to 14.83% APR (with autopay). For the SoFi variable-rate product, the variable interest rate for a given month is derived by adding a margin to the 30-day average SOFR index, published two business days preceding such calendar month, rounded up to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (0.01% or 0.0001). APRs for variable-rate loans may increase after origination if the SOFR index increases. Interest rates for variable rate loans are capped at 13.95%, unless required to be lower to comply with applicable law. Lowest rates are reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. If approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, the repayment option you select, the term and amount of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Information current as of 11/15/2023.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or other eligible status and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, evaluation of your creditworthiness, years of professional experience, income, and a variety of other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Income Share Agreement

Stride

Recommendation
Best for Private Funding
Repayment Terms

Payments based on a fixed percentage of future income for up to 60 months after graduation

Only pay when earning more than the $30,000 minimum income threshold.

Payments stop early if you ever hit the payment cap (2.0x your initial funding amount)

Interest Rates

Payments based on a fixed percentage of future income.

 

Lower (or no) payments when you're unemployed or underemployed.

Apply Now More Info
Stride
  • No cosigner required.
  • Income based repayment, once you're graduated and employed.
  • No payments when you're unemployed or earning below $30,000/year.
  • Shorter repayment. Only 5 years of payments.*
  • Get a quote in less than a minute. Quick and easy application process. Transparent calculator and comparison tool.
  • Must be BA, MA, or PhD student WITHIN 2 YEARS OF GRADUATION, enrolled in a program that meets our outcome-driven eligibility criteria.

* Your Maximum Payment Period is inclusive of any months where Monthly Payments are made as well as any months that are Deferred Months; this will only be extended if you receive Forbearance, which will extend your Maximum Payment Period on a one-for-one basis.

To be eligible for a Stride Income Share Agreement, students must fall into the following criteria:

  • Attending a four-year Title IV college or university.
  • Within two years of graduation.
  • Enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate program.
  • Enrolled in an academic program that meets our outcome-driven eligibility criteria. 
  • Reside or attend school in a state we serve:  Currently, we provide Income Share Agreements for all states in the U.S., except Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, South Carolina, and Washington. 
  • U.S. Citizen or permanent resident attending school in the U.S.
  • Current G.P.A. is greater than 2.9.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call (214)775-9960.

 

Sallie Mae Private Student Loans

Recommendation
Best for Private Loans
Repayment Terms

5 , 7 , 10 and 15 years

Interest Rates

Variable: 4.98% APR - 12.79%APR1

Fixed: 4.48% APR – 12.29% APR1

Apply Now More Info
Sallie Mae Private Student Loans
  • Prequalification: Prequalify to estimate your rate without affecting your credit score
  • Online Application Process: Submit online application in minutes
  • Flexible Repayment Options: ELFI offers immediate, interest only, partial payment, and fully deferred repayment options
  • No Fees: No application fees, origination fees, or prepayment penalties
  • Low Rates: Fixed rates from 4.48% to 12.29% and variable rates from 4.98% - 12.79% 
  • Award winning Customer Service: Individually paired Student Loan Advisor to guide you through the application process

*Education Loan Finance is a nationwide student loan provider offered by Tennessee based SouthEast Bank. ELFI is designed to assist students financially with receiving their education. Subject to credit approval. See Terms & Conditions. Interest rates current as of 04-01-2023. Variable interest rates may increase after closing but will never exceed 18.00%. Interest rates may also differ from the rates shown above. The term of your loan, financial history, and other factors, including your cosigner’s (if any) financial history can affect the interest rate. For example, a 10-year loan with a fixed rate of 7% would have 120 payments of $11.61 per $1,000 borrowed. Rates are subject to change.

 

Federal Pell Grant Limits

Only undergraduate students, who have yet to earn a bachelor’s degree, are eligible for Federal Pell Grants. Under the Federal Pell Grant program, you will be limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funds, or 600% lifetime eligibility. What does this mean? Well, if you are Pell Grant eligible your school will determine your total award amount for the year. That total amount is considered 100% of your eligibility for that year. The actual amount you receive throughout the year will be used to determine your use.

For example, if you are awarded $5,000 for an award year. Your school will give you $2,500 for your fall semester, and $2,500 for your spring semester. You attend during the fall and receive your $2,500 award. You are then unable to attend spring semester, and do not receive financial aid. You would have only used 50% of your Pell lifetime eligibility.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

FSEOG is only available to undergraduate students who have yet to earn a bachelor’s degree. While there is not lifetime limit on this award, this award will only be offered to student’s who attend a school who participates in the FSEOG federal student aid program. Your annual award will be based on your financial need, and the availability of funds at your school

Requirements Relating to Previously Received Financial Aid Funds

There are a few additional requirements if you have previously-received federal student aid funds. You must:

  • Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal student grant or loan overpayment. If you borrowed in excess of your federal student loan limit, annual or aggregate, you have to return the excess funds. If this has ever applied to you, your school would have contacted you to correct the problem.
  • If you fraudulently received federal student aid funds, you must have repaid all the fraudulent funds before you would regain eligibility for federal student aid.
  • Not have property subject to a judgment lien for a debt owed to the U.S. government.

Maintaining Federal Financial Aid Eligibility

To retain eligibility for federal student aid, the student must:

  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Each school will have their own policy, and they will require you to at least maintain a C average (2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) and for you to be make progress toward a degree or certificate that is consistent with graduation within 150 percent of the normal timeframe for completion. However, if your school’s  policy is more strict than the federal minimum, your school rules would apply for SAP.

Other Federal Financial Aid Requirements

In addition, a student’s eligibility for federal aid may be affected by such factors as remedial coursework, correspondence study, study via distance education, program of study and incarceration.

For example, incarcerated students are  ineligible for federal student loans. Students who are incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution are generally ineligible for the Federal Pell Grant—the exception is for incarcerated students which qualify for the Second Chance Pell program. However, if you are incarcerated in a local, municipal, or county correctional facility, or committed to a juvenile justice facility, and you do meet the other criteria for financial aid, you could be eligible for Federal Pell Grant funds. While incarcerated students remain eligible for Federal Work-Study and FSEOG, they are unlikely to receive such aid. Eligibility is restored after release from prison, except if the student is subject to an involuntary civil commitment for a sexual offense.

Am I Eligible for Financial Aid If My Parents Are Undocumented?

Yes. To qualify for federal student aid, the student must be a legal U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible noncitizen. It does not matter if the student’s parents are undocumented, under-documented, or foreign citizens.

Some tips to keep in mind when filing the FAFSA, if the student’s parents are undocumented:

  • When filing the FAFSA, enter 000-00-0000 as the social security number. Do not enter a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or a stolen social security number. (This will create issues with the application, because those numbers will fail to data match with the Social Security Administration.)
  • Undocumented parents will not be eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT), as they do not have valid social security numbers.
  • If the student’s FAFSA is selected for verification, the parents will be required to provide an IRS tax transcript by filing IRS Form 4506-T. Requesting an IRS tax transcript online will speed up the process.

Note that undocumented students are not eligible for federal student aid. However, some states do extend in-state tuition to undocumented students who graduated from a high school in that state. It’s best to reach out to the financial aid office to discuss your situation.

FAFSA Eligibility 

When it comes to the FAFSA, the basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid will be considered. Essentially, you need to be a U.S. citizen (or eligible noncitizen) enrolled in a school and program that participates in federal student aid. Not all federal student aid is need-based, however, non-need-based aid is essentially federal student loan.

The FAFSA is used by schools and states to award financial aid from their own programs, which could have their own criteria and income thresholds. Some schools will also require you to file the FAFSA, even to receive merit aid. If you do not meet the citizenship requirements, your school may still ask you to complete the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid for their own programs.

If you are concerned about meeting the basic eligibility requirements, it’s best to set up some time with your school’s financial aid office to discuss your concerns. They will be able to guide you and let you know which financial aid applications to complete.

 

Related Content

Filing the FAFSA 2023-24: A Simple Guide for Students
Elaine Rubin
October 01, 2021
Understand how and when to file the FAFSA, and get answers to the most common questions students and parents encounter when applying for federal financial aid.
Read Article
FAFSA Deadlines for 2023-2024
Elaine Rubin
June 17, 2020
FAFSA deadlines can vary. The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year opens on October 1st and remains open until June 30, 2025. However to improve your chances of getting more aid, file as soon as you can and certainly well before any applicable deadlines noted below. 
Read Article
FAFSA® FAQ - Your FAFSA® Questions Answered
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December 02, 2021
FAFSA questions answered! Quick simple answers to the most common questions asked about the FAFSA.
Read Article
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Edvisors provides expert advice on planning and paying for college. On Edvisors.com easily compare student loan lenders, learn how to apply for financial aid, and discover scholarships. Learn about federal and private student loans for students and parents, how and when to apply to college, and more!

Edvisors (“Edvisors Network, Inc.”) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans. Loan offers from participating lenders that appear on our websites are not affiliated with any college and/or universities, and there are no colleges and/or universities which endorse Edvisors’ products or services. Lender search results do not constitute an official college preferred lender list. Edvisors receives compensation from lenders that appear on this site. This compensation may impact the placement of where lenders appear on this site, for example, the order in which the lenders appear when included in a list. Not all lenders participate in our sites and lenders that do participate may not offer loans to every school.

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