General Eligibility Requirements
Financial need is merely one of the criteria used to determine eligibility for U.S. federal and New York State Need Based Aid. In general, students must also meet the following criteria:
- Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate,
- Be working toward a degree or certificate (be a matriculated student),
- Be enrolled in an eligible program,
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,
- Have a valid Social Security Number,
- Register with the Selective Service if required (you can use the paper or electronic FAFSA to register) and
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and Enrollment Status once in school.
Students who drop or withdraw from classes may lose part or all of that semester's financial aid and should consult a financial aid counselor before changing enrollment status. Changes in enrollment status can have consequences beyond the loss of a semester's worth of financial aid. A change in enrollment status can result in:
- Increased "out of pocket" payments towards tuition,
- Having to repay received funds back to U.S. Department of Education,
- The loss of part or all of the following semester's financial aid,
- A student loan being forced into repayment
