Determining Eligibility For Financial Aid
A student is eligible for financial aid when he or she meets all of the following criteria:
- Enrollment, or acceptance for enrollment, in a degree-seeking program of study.
- U.S. citizenship, or qualification as an eligible non-citizen.
- Satisfactory academic progress.
- Completion of the necessary financial aid applications and forms by the appropriate deadlines.
Eligible Non-Citizens
In order to quality as an eligible non-citizen, students must be permanent residents with an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, I-151, I-94A, or I-94, with a currently valid expiration date. Passports stamped with the notation: Processed for I-551, Temporary Evidence of Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence, with a valid expiration date, are also acceptable. No federal or state financial aid is available to International Students.
Enrollment Status
The majority of financial aid programs are designed for full-time undergraduate students seeking their first baccalaureate degree while enrolled in programs for which the full rate of tuition is applied. Full-time status is obtained by being enrolled for at least 12 credits per term. Students enrolled for less than 12 credits but at least half-time (6 credits) are eligible to apply for Federal Direct Loans. Students registered for a minimum of 3 credits and who demonstrate sufficient financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. The amount will vary depending upon financial need and the number of credits enrolled.
Repeated Courses
Federal financial aid regulations limit the number of times a student may repeat a course and receive federal aid. Regulations prevent the Financial Aid Office from paying for a course that has been passed and repeated more than one time. You may only repeat a previously passed course once (a total of two attempts). If you enroll in a previously repeated and passed course for a third time, this course will not count towards your enrollment for financial aid purposes. These regulations may impact your financial aid eligibility and awards, including Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, and others.
Summer Enrollment
Most federal, state, and Barry scholarships and grants are only available in the Fall and Spring semesters. Federal Pell Grant and Direct Loans are available during the summer terms. Students should submit a Summer Aid Request Form to notify the Financial Aid Office of their intent to enroll and receive aid for the Summer semester.