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Eligibility Requirements for FAFSA (2025–26 Award Year)

To be eligible for federal student aid, you must:

• Demonstrate financial need for need-based federal aid programs.
• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (see below).
• Have a valid Social Security number (except students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
• Be enrolled or accepted as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
• Provide consent for your federal tax information to be transferred into your FAFSA form.
• Sign the FAFSA certification statement confirming you are not in default on a federal loan, do not owe money on a federal grant, and will use aid for educational purposes.
• Show you are qualified to pursue a college or career education.

Citizenship & Eligible Noncitizens

Many non-U.S. citizens qualify for federal student aid. You are considered an eligible noncitizen if:

You are:

• A U.S. national (including natives of American Samoa or Swains Island), or
• A U.S. permanent resident (I-151, I-551, or I-551C "green card").

Or you have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) showing one of these statuses:

• Refugee
• Asylum Granted
• Conditional Resident Alien
• Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)
• Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
• Victim of human trafficking (T-visa holder: T-2, T-3, T-4, etc.)
• Parolee (paroled into the U.S. for at least one year, with evidence of intent to become a citizen or permanent resident)

Not Eligible:

You are not eligible for federal aid if you have any of the following statuses:

• F-1 or F-2 student visa
• J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor visa
• B-1 or B-2 visitor visa
• G-series visa (international organizations)
• H- or L-series visa (temporary employment)
• Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464)
• I-94 stamped "Temporary Protected Status (TPS)"

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal and state regulations require students receiving aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completing their program. SAP is measured using qualitative and quantitative standards:

Standards

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C average).
• Complete at least two-thirds (67%) of attempted coursework.
• Degree-seeking students must complete their program within 150% of the published length (e.g., a maximum of 90 attempted units to complete a 60-unit associate degree).
• ESL students must complete their program within the regular published program length.

Attendance & Evaluation

• Certificate program students must enroll in at least 18 credit hours/week.
• Associate degree students must enroll in at least 12 credits/term.
• SAP is evaluated every 10 weeks by the academic and financial aid offices.
• Students not meeting SAP will receive a warning, probation, or dismissal notice.
• Students may still enroll and receive aid unless officially dismissed by the college.

Additional Notes

• Students missing class due to medical reasons must submit a doctor's note.
• Missing a final exam prevents progression to the next level, regardless of attendance or other performance.

Student Responsibilities

Students are responsible for monitoring their own SAP and maintaining eligibility. The Financial Aid Office provides regular evaluations and notifications if you fall below standards.